As usual, Mama was right! Do you ever remember your mother telling you to stand up straight? Good posture can have an instant slimming effect by making your body appear approximately five pounds lighter!
When you stand up straight you reap many health benefits. Not only do you appear slimmer, but also your clothes look better on you. By practicing good posture you also can breathe more easily and much more deeply. Good posture can also make you look younger and help with digestion and circulation. As well, by practicing proper posture your diaphragm will open and your voice will sound clearer. Standing tall will also give the appearance of a person who has confidence in themselves.
Practice these steps for good posture and instant slimness:
1. Stand up straight and make sure that your shoulders are back, squared and not slouched over.
2. Pull your tummy in and keep your ribcage high.
3. Keep your neck straight, hold your head and make sure that you keep your chin upright and not tucked in.
4. Keep your hips and pelvic area straight.
5. Make sure to keep your feet pointed forward and not turned in an outward direction.
6. Whether you are sitting down in a chair or standing up concentrate on keeping your spine straight. Do not allow your shoulders to round and your back to slouch.
7. The ideal sleeping position in terms of body mechanics is on your back. Avoid sleeping on your stomach, which is bad for your spine. Do not stack pillows. Avoid elevating the head and neck.
Sometimes it is just the position that we carry ourselves in that causes us to appear heavier than we really are. It might not seem to make a huge difference in our weight, but when we do practice good posture our bodies are healthier for it and our clothes actually fit, feel, and look better on us.
Angel Lynn writes in weight loss, single parenting, and health.