Geaux Health & Fitness Magazine June 2014 | Page 5

geaux fit Tips and Tricks to be a Hot Mom Written By: Leslie Lancaster | www.thehotmombod.com One thing is for certain, no matter our age, we all want to be a hot mom. My definition of hot is feeling proud when looking in the mirror, overflowing with happiness and confidence, extending love to ourselves and others and walking in our purpose. My journey to hot came after having two children. Feeling matronly and not so proud of my skinny-fat body, I decided to embark on my own self-created makeover journey. Not knowing a thing about health or fitness, it was a slow process. I had to teach myself the very basics, like how to use equipment in the gym and then dived deeper as I learned what foods would work to best to fuel my body transformation. After years of hard work, I finally succeeded. My success can also be your success and I want to share with you five tips and tricks to help you get started today. 5 Tips and Tricks to be a Hot Mom 1. Do not be afraid of the gym. This is not just a place for men to work out. Women need to be there, too. Weights are the foundation for how you will change your body. Did you know as we age, we begin losing muscle mass? In order to keep it, you have to work it. Use it or lose it, as they say. Getting over any fear requires exposure. In order to get over a fear of going to the gym, you must muster the courage and go. Through repeated exposure, your fear will subside. 2. Begin making healthier eating choices. Food that comes boxed or bagged, processed foods, sugar, and fast food restaurants will all thwart your efforts in making progress and seeing results. To eat healthy, ask yourself this question: “Did my grandparents eat this?” If not, chances are, it’s not healthy. In addition, become a label reader. If you cannot pronounce the ingredients on the back of a label, chances are they are man-made and are not good for your body. Shopping the outside isles and skipping the middle ones is another useful tip. The outside perimeter is where all the fresh produce, meats and dairy are locate