Body shaping for ladies must first start with a clear understanding of the term's
meaning. All too often the term is misused and confused with other fitness related
phrases, methods or activities - such as bodybuilding or muscle toning, just
to name a few. This is one of the reasons why so many women never achieve the body
shaping results they truly desire.
Body shaping is the wise use of certain principles of exercise, fitness and smart
nutrition to manifest desired changes in the body. Much too often, the term is confused
with other types of exercise programs that are not conducive to firming and shaping
the female body, safely and efficiently.
There are several elements of body shaping, although not all elements apply to all
women. Fat removal, cellulite reduction, skin tightening, feminine muscle shaping,
inches lost, changes in body composition levels, shaping curvy thighs or a rounder
butt, toning up the arms and shoulders, losing stomach flab - these can all fall
under the heading of body shaping for women.
Two ladies with very different goals can follow the same type of fitness program
while adhering to nutritional plans that are structured to be in line with their
goals, and dependent on their starting points, with measurable progress and consistent
success.
A woman who is sixty-three pounds over weight and wanting to lose body fat has the
same 'body' (a human body) as a woman who is slightly under weight and wants to
gain some muscle weight, through body shaping exercises, while improving her overall
level of fitness. Although there may be differences in natural abilities of coordination
or strength they can both do the same exercise routine. Differences in caloric intake
and the quality of foods eaten will be the factor that brings each of these women
closer to their individual body shaping goals.
Cardiovascular exercise may be slightly different. The woman who wants to lose body
fat to achieve body shaping results, will devote a larger amount of time to cardiovascular
exercise (25 - 40 minutes) as compared to the woman who wants to build up certain
areas of her body to become more shapely (15 - 25 minutes).
Some body shaping programs try to combine the resistance exercise with cardiovascular
exercise. While this is not easy, and most programs fall short of doing this successfully,
it is possible - especially when the body shaping program uses body-weight exercise
principles.
A body shaping program is not usually found in the gym setting. You either have
individual programs of weight training and machine exercises or large group classes
doing some form of aerobics with some basic body shaping moves. True body shaping
takes advantage of gravity, body-weight and kinesiology to bring about changes in
the female body through full body conditioning and targeted muscle shaping exercises
and workouts.
When these factors are combined properly, you can realistically expect to see definite
results within three to four weeks - especially when a moderate amount of attention
is paid to nutritional intake and daily calories.
The best body shaping programs should be portable - meaning you can do them anywhere
and anytime, leaving no room for the typical excuses of not sticking with 'the program'.
Thus allowing you to make continuous progress toward the body shaping goals you
have defined for your self.