I must confess, I’m a little relieved that swimsuit season is almost over. It takes a lot of hard work and mental tenacity to be satisfied with the way we look when billboards, magazines and television commercials are featuring images of seemingly perfect bodies. Yes, we know these images are technically enhanced to give the illusion of perfection, yet it still can be challenging not to allow them to affect our self-image. What’s a girl (or guy) to do?

Well actually I believe there are several things we can do to feel good about the way we look. First, we can remind ourselves that God made our bodies and He made them all differently. You and I need to learn to accept and love our bodies. Matthew 22:39 says, “Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” So in obedience to His Word, we must love ourselves…and that includes loving our bodies.

Then if we want to improve or change something about ourselves, I think we should go for it! I am in favor of anything that improves the quality of our lives as long as it is safe and our motives are right.

And of course by exercising and eating healthy, we’ll not only begin to look better, we’ll feel better too.

Are Washboard Abs Possible?

“But Marty, I really want a smaller waist,” you might say. Or “I really want those washboard abs the infomercials promise.”

Well, me too! After having three children, I know how much determination and hard work it takes to attain a high fitness level—but it is doable. We can improve the way we look—it’s even possible to have toned, firmer abs. Will it happen overnight? No. How fast we lose weight or inches depends on a number of different factors.

Much of your weight loss will be determined by your diet and exercise routine. Your genetic makeup has something to do with it as well.

Something else you should realize that you won’t learn from those infomercials is this: It is impossible to “spot reduce.” By that I mean, you can’t exercise your abdominal muscles and expect to lose weight or inches solely in your abs. You can’t exercise your legs and expect weight loss to occur only in your legs.

Why is that? Because the body’s fat compartment is one system.

By exercising and burning calories, you can lose weight and inches. But depending on how you’re genetically wired, you may lose in your thighs first, even if you’re exercising your abdominal muscles.

Don’t let that discourage you. In most cases, by exercising and strengthening your abdominal muscles you can eventually have tighter and firmer abs. Enduring all those crunches will pay off!

If you’re still not convinced “spot reduction” is nothing more than a myth, consider the results of studies cited in an article published Oct. 4, 2004, in the News Journal:

In one study conducted several years ago, researchers compared the circumferences and fat deposits in the right and left arms of accomplished tennis players. The investigators proposed that if spot reduction worked, the racquet or playing arm of an athlete should have considerably less fat than the inactive arm. Although circumference measures in the playing arm were greater because of more muscular development, skin fold thickness measurements revealed no difference in fat deposits between the two arms.

In another study conducted at the University of Massachusetts, 13 men underwent a vigorous abdominal exercise program for 27 days with each performing a total of 5,000 sit-ups over a certain period. Fat biopsies from their abdomen, buttocks and upper back were taken before and after the exercise program. Results showed fat decreased similarly at all three sites—not just in the stomach area.

Next post, we’ll talk about how to get started in reaching your health and fitness goals.