BODY SCULPTING fitness for people who work at home: Part 2

New ways to use Inversion Tables … Electrical Muscle Stimulation Belts … and more!

An article in the series: How I lost 30 pounds in three months

In this, my second body sculpting article, I am going to tell you about even more devices that helped me succeed when “I lost 30 pounds in three months.”

Some of these are a bit more expensive than the devices listed in Part 1, but they can really help you decrease the size of your mid-section and reset yourself into an incredible new shape.

You may notice that the devices I’m going to discuss are not exactly considered weight loss products, but then again … what is weight loss?

In my estimation, weight loss is not only about achieving approval from the almighty bathroom scale, but it is also about losing inches, toning, and smoothing out areas of your body that do not seem to reflect your new, lower weight.

And since the worst problem areas are often around your waistline, I’m mainly going to discuss devices that make decreasing the size of your waist a done deal.

First, allow me to suggest the inversion table.

What’s an inversion table?

Basically, an inversion table looks like an iron lawn chair, spread out flat so that you can lay on it or hang by your feet (invert) from it and twist around if you want to.

I have used inversion tables for years, and I find that these devices are very helpful for reducing waist size.

Back when I got my first inversion table, I was dealing with back pain and a repetitive motion injury.

And I knew that the action of hanging and stretching out my spine (decompression) relieved this pain.

At the time, I was stretching my spine by hooking knees over a rung on the monkey bars at a nearby park, allowing myself to stretch out and hang down to the ground.

Yes, this maneuver does seem to provide some measure of spinal decompression.

And hey, anyone can hang from the monkey bars! It’s not that hard and it is a free option for inversion.

I remember seeing an ad for inversion tables on TV, showing a person strapped in by their feet, hanging and twisting around all over the place in a fully inverted position (hanging down towards the floor.)

But since this fully inverted option seems unpleasant to some, I’m here to tell you that there are other, gentler ways to use an inversion table, and these methods can easily help reduce the size of your waist.

In fact, the great thing about this device is that simply laying comfortably on the table in a flat or slightly inclined position can still stretch out and lengthen your waist.

Laying or reclining on the table’s flat surface encourages improved posture, as well as a smoother and more supple body.

I like that you can easily change the table’s position by shortening the length of the cord, by which you can set the table in a horizontal, slanted, or vertical position …

Personally, I get great results when I arrange the table into a slightly slanted, almost flat position.

One benefit of using the inversion table at a slightly slanted angle is that it not only provides spinal decompression but also offers a great off-the-floor position for doing curl-ups and sit-ups.

Literally every time I get on my inversion table, I do curl-ups, and even better … the table turns out to be an ideal place to do inclined cross-the-body curl-ups (a very effective waist whittling exercise!)

Personally, I seem to experience body shape improvement almost immediately after using this device!

And luckily, you don’t have to be a gymnast or an exercise genius to use an inversion table successfully, because it’s designed for the average Joe.

I recently put a friend of mine on my own inversion table for only two minutes. Then I put myself on the table for two minutes. When we were walking out of the room, my friend said, “Hey, you’re taller!” I looked at her and whispered: “I also feel thinner!”

This may have occurred from the stretching activity of the table, or it may simply be a reaction to a decompression of spinal discs — making space in the spine — a known benefit of inversion.

I’ve noticed that people who often sit at a desk can get sort of bunched up in the waist, so that parts of their midsection resemble a tire.

In my view, the inversion table offers a unique solution to this condition because it’s one of the only devices that provides an easy way to stretch the lowest area of the body, creating space in the lower abs and lumbar region.

In fact, my only concern when ordering these tables is making sure I have a large enough space for it, and it is good to check the listed measurements online and then measure your space accordingly.

Personally, I have only used the Teeter company’s versions of the inversion table, and I really trust Teeter for a good, reliable, inversion experience.

I should also say that if this device is meant to be used by a person who is frail or disabled, it would be a good idea for them to only use it with stand-by supervision until they get used to the inversion experience.

And although it is important to begin your inversion excursion carefully — slowly increasing your intervals of use — I have found that inversion can rejuvenate the spine, effectively increase circulation, and provide a stable, life-changing health opportunity for the whole family.

Sculpt your waist with Electrical Muscle Stimulation

Now, I’d like to tell you just how valuable Electrical Muscle Stimulation (EMS) has been for me, and how you can use it to slim and tone your waist.

I often use an electrical muscle stimulation belt to help me slim my waist, and I find the Slendertone Belt to be quite an effective shape-enhancing tool.

The Slendertone Belt uses electrical pulses to stimulate the muscles, thus creating the contractions that occur during exercise.

To make this happen, wires send out electrical pulses to sticky pads in the belt, and you can control the pulse patterns as best suits your workout needs.

I’ve used several types of Slendertone Belts over the years … early on, I used the original model, which you plugged into the wall.

When you use this plug-in model, which works rather well, you kind of need to stay near an electrical outlet.

But I currently use a newer, rechargeable mobile-style model that has a light blue squarish control center, which snaps to the front of the belt, in the middle.

I love these things, and at one point I even tried an off-brand muscle stimulation belt that did not use the sticky pads.

And although I wanted it to work – it was cheaper than Slendertone – I was never happy with the “padless” EMS belt because it did not give me that warm fuzzy pleasant sensation that I always got from the muscle stimulating pads.

Using the sticky pads may be addicting, but hey, that sort of addiction is okay!

What happens when you use a Slendertone Belt regularly for a few weeks?

For myself, after consistent use of Slendertone, I have experienced a smaller, more pulled-in waist, better circulation, and greater definition in the upper abs, plus flatter — more toned – lower abs (It’s a miracle!)

I also have a Slendertone Arms EMS machine that plugs into the wall, as well as a Slendertone butt-and-thigh EMS machine, which is also a plug in unit.

I can verify that the Slendertone Arms is absolutely the best trim and tone your arms machine the I have ever used! And the Slendertone butt and thigh machine works well for enhancing your lower body look and refining muscle tone!

One thing to know is that EMS devices always seem to work more efficiently when paired with some type of exercise.

For example, I have had my best results from pairing Slendertone with a simple foam roller workout (I explain foam rollers in my Body Sculpting article, Part 1,) and/or a quick cardio routine on an exercise bike: often using a waist compression belt (also see Body Sculpting, Part 1.)

In fact, I generally do a quick workout and then sit to complete paperwork while wearing the Slendertone Belt.

I’m going to provide you with a link for my favorite Slendertone Belt at the bottom — so you can check it out — but if price is a concern I recommend that people shop around.

This is because sometimes you can locate Slendertone Belts at a discount … and you may even find a still-in-the-box plug-in model on the cheap at some reputable online store. (They work just fine.)

And remember, even though Slendertone Belts can be pricey, I’m here to tell you that they are worth saving up for!

The TENS Unit

While still on the subject of EMS devices, I want to sing the praises of the TENS unit.

While regularly used to loosen up stiff back muscles – or to relieve back pain — you can actually use a TENS unit on almost any part of the body that is stiff and sore.

I have even used it successfully on sharp pains!

Although often employed at physical therapy offices to relax the muscles before a treatment, the TENS unit is available as a mobile device you can use at home.

By sending electrical stimulation through sticky pads that are often smaller (and more numerous) than those used by the EMS belt, a TENS unit can treat multiple muscle groups at the same time.

In fact, when I was working to reduce swelling in an area of my back just below the waist, I found that a TENS unit took care of the swelling and increased circulation for me in no time!

In my opinion, the two most important things to check when ordering a TENS unit are: is it easy to use? Are the numbers on screen easy to see? Do you understand how it works? (Watching the product video might help.)

And … is the unit long enough to stay put in your waistband when you walk around while wearing the device?

The first question is important because I have found that some TENS units are easier to operate than others.

And the second question is important because the beauty of using a TENS unit is that you can use the device and remain mobile at the same time.

You can even use it while working in an office if you get one that hooks on and won’t easily fall off of your pants!

Exercise Bikes Rule!

I was surprised to learn that many people consider a good-quality exercise bike to be out of their price range.

But there are plenty of comfortably priced indoor biking options out there.

In fact, the workman who assembled my own exercise bike — in my home – told me that he had recently put together a bike-with-desk-attached for a nice lady in my community who worked from home.

She was thrilled with the finished product, and she is planning to do some of her professional work while sitting on the bike!

And keep in mind that upright exercise bikes are often preferred to the incline model.

Stay tuned to this website for a future article about low priced items that can help you improve your shape on the cheap!

This article was written by Vanna Silverwood, medical writer and outspoken advocate for natural medicine. See more at simplynaturalmedicine.com. Encouraging stability, helping you clarify your health goals … we are always “Natural by Nature.”