Slim Down by Losing Inches Not Weight

The holidays are over, but the effects of my bingeing are here to stay. You know what they say: "A minute on the lips, forever on the hips." Hmpf! In my opinion, the biggest downside to working from home is having to spend most of my time in front of the computer. With no road traffic and DTR systems to beat, I ended up packing in weight and inches (in the wrong places) within a year. Add that up with the holiday binge eating and drinking and ... Ew! Now the weight I don't mind that much, but the inches bother me for several reasons:

1. Limited choice in clothes. When I go out, I usually have to spend at least 30 minutes more trying to put myself together. (Read:  I have to change into and out of a dozen outfits before I could leave my room.) For most girls, that may seem normal, but not for me. Sure, I can be kikay and vain, but I'm quick with make up and I have a knack for visualizing tomorrow's outfit today, so leaving a heap of clothes on the bed just isn't my style. 
2. The loathsome bloated feel. Feeling and looking heavy leaves me literally short of breath most of the time. To make matters worse, I get these little beads of sweat on my forehead after a couple of outfit changes (See item #1)--even if I had just gotten out of the shower!
3. Feeling and looking unhealthy. Aside from the sluggish feeling, for me, the worst thing about gaining these unwanted inches is knowing that I'm not as fit as I want myself to be. It's a vicious cycle; the chubbier I'll be, the more difficult it's going to be to get back in good shape, and the lazier and more impatient I'll get in working out.

When I was in my early 20's, my weight and waistline used to fluctuate automatically without my having to exert much effort. I could eat 5 big meals a day and not get fat. On the rare occasions that I did get a bit chubby (like when I spent a summer in the East Coast), my metabolism went into an overdrive and I was back to my old size in a jiffy (Okay, I meant 2 weeks, approximately). Now, it would take a fairy godmother and a genie to make that possible. So this year, I promised myself that I'm going into an inch-loss (not weight-loss) program. I computed my BMI,  and as it turns out, I'm within the ideal weight range for my height. I want to be slim but fit as well, so I'm not going to risk losing muscles instead of fat. Here are some things that I think will help me accomplish my slim-down goals:

More Diet Resources: Diet Reviews, Healthy Recipes, and Health News

• Taking body measurements. On January 1st, I took out the tape measure and got my body measurements, paying special attention to my waist, arms, hips, and thighs. Believe me, it was a mortifying experience that made its way to my journal. I made sure to measure the "meatiest" parts. It was a tough job taking a cold, hard look at my bounty, but someone's got to do it! I find the measurements unfit for publication, so in future blog entries documenting my progress, I'll just say how much I shall have lost then.
  
• Daily 30-minute cardio workout. My favorite workout is Shaun T's Hip Hop Abs. I absolutely adore Shaun T! His workout DVDs (Fat Burning Cardio, Ab Sculpt, Total Body Burn, Secrets to Flat Abs) make me feel as if I'm just out partying instead of sweating it out. Plus, since I'm into dancing, the  choreography how-to session that's part of the DVD keeps me from losing my groove. This is the part that I love the most. Not only does it make me feel energetic; it teaches me new dance-floor moves.
  
• Increasing my water intake. I know it's cliche, but this is the only way to go. Aside from giving me a full feeling and curbing my appetite for frequent snacking, water flushes out toxins. Also, our body retains water if our water intake isn't sufficient, so with our body made up of 70% water, you do the math.
• Choosing what I eat. Starving myself would slow down my metabolism even more, and I don't want that. Instead of extreme calorie counting, I'll just focus on getting a healthy diet. Everything in moderation.
• Reflexology/Slimming machine. I don't know how effective this is, as I'm just beginning to use it now. According to its manufacturer, my reflexology/slimming machine stimulates blood circulation and helps the body burn fat and eliminate toxins. 

I'll be taking my body measurements again next month. Let's see what happens. I hope I don't embarrass myself too much then. If you have some slim-down tips of your own or tricks you've managed to pull out of the magician's hat, do let me know.