Losing weight can be one of the hardest things in life. Especially when you have trouble areas that you would specifically like to target. Let's take the mid section as an example. I've tried and tried to lose as much fat as I could from that particular region of my body but nothing has really seemed to work. I tried massive amounts of cardio, sit ups, waist trainers and eating right. My biggest problem would have to be doing all these things at once. Although I've been at it for years, I finally found something that works and it's pretty simple.

I simply stay busy and now I'm noticing the inches fall off of me like sweat, literally! The key to losing weight or just getting in shape for personal health goals is to not workout and eat healthy food that doesn't fill you up but it's to make all the exercise and work you do feel like fun. Also it's staying busy so you are less focused on food, but still having small snacks through out the day to regulate your metabolism. Now everyone is different and the way our bodies function has more to do with genetics than anything else, but we do have some variables that are within our control. Living a healthy life is one of them and it can be done by coming to the realization that the opposite way of living is actually no fun at all.

Let's take my personal experience as a lesson. I wake up at around 6 on week days and make it to the gym by 8 a.m. I clear my head by working out intensely and sweating as much as possible. I work with teens on a daily basis, so I need a stress reliever. But most importantly, I need high energy and my morning workout does that for me. I workout for an hour and to reward myself for my hard work, I hit the sauna or the steam room to relax. I then go to work from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The work I do is very engaging; I'm constantly on my feet and thinking which calls for some granola every once in a while with some strawberries or a banana in between times. I have to talk a lot, so I'm constantly drinking water too. Once work is over, I have the option to catch a bus downtown or walk to the train. I chose the walk because I know it will give me a boost while calming me down from the day's work. I get home, water the plants, do the dishes, do some work for work and I may make dinner depending on how I'm feeling. I make it a priority to read before I go to sleep and take vitamins with a glass of milk.

This may seem like a schedule full of hard work but to me it's not. Why? Because I have control over my mind and my mind controls my body. If I think of this as work, it will become work but I look at every step as a way to make me grow. I find the good in every step that is beneficial to me and shine light only on that part. My morning workout gets switched up so I have some adventure to look forward to. I may swim, run, or walk the neighborhood. No matter what, I stay busy and I keep going so I don't have time to complain or get caught up in the "work" part. On the weekends, I treat myself to something sweet or salty and I don't workout, instead I go out with friends. I pick Sundays to commune with God, whether that be at church or in my room alone, secluded from everyone else.

Through all this, I let my mind remind me of my goals and that I should have fun doing everything I do to get to them. I've made so much progress not just in losing stomach fat but in the way I feel and you can too. Wake up every morning knowing you are one step closer to where you want to be.