Look 10 Pounds Slimmer in 60 Seconds with Proper Posture

A woman stopped me in the produce section of the grocery store and said, "Hey, Susie Shina! What can I do about this?" and she grabbed a big handful of her tummy. I told her very simply to STAND UP STRAIGHT.

It’s true. If you want to look slimmer, just stand up straight. Go stand in front of the mirror and slouch…really let it all hang out. What do you think? Do you look your best? NO! So why do you do it? You might argue that it’s more comfortable but…let me share a little story with you…

When I was a little girl, a family lived down the street from us and their grandmother lived with them. I was scared of her…she was a hunchback. Seeing her everyday at the bus stop burned an image in my mind that would stay with me forever. I made a vow all those years ago that I would always stand up straight. As a 12-year-old girl, already towering over everyone at 5ft, 8in tall, a vow like that was a major deal. I was already the tallest person in my school except Coach Thompson. Nonetheless, a promise is a promise and I always stand up very straight. And today, at 5ft, 11in tall, I’m taller than my husband!

Alright, the point of the story is this: Posture is important on so many levels. When you stand up straight and exercise correct posture, lots of muscles are working - upper and lower back, abdominals, hips and more. So, here we go! Roll your shoulders back tighten your tummy, lift your chin and lengthen your spine. It is uncomfortable because you’ve probably been slouching for awhile. Like anything else, by practicing correct posture, you will build endurance for these postural muscles. Correct posture is beyond vanity, it’s about functional longevity. Imagine the hunchback of Lee’s Trace!

Try this…set a timer for 15 minutes and stand up or sit up straight for the entire time. Start doing this four times each day and build from there. Suddenly you’ll be practicing seven times each day for 30 minutes a shot. Next thing you know you’ll be walking tall without even thinking about it. It will be the slouching that’s uncomfortable!

Now that I’ve said my piece, do yourself a favor and enjoy the great benefits of perfect posture. In just a matter of seconds, you can look slimmer, exercise several muscles and also prevent common back injuries and postural deviations. Now get out there and stand up straight!