Article by Fab after Fifty
The weather may be growing colder, but that doesn’t mean women everywhere aren’t looking forward to the opportunity to show off their curves in that perfect little black dress. Of course, making the most out of the party season can be a nightmare for people who are uncomfortable with their weight, or appearance – so how exactly can you drop that unwanted weight and get the figure of your dreams in less than 12 weeks?
The little black dress challenge could be the perfect solution for women of any age who want to lose weight for Christmas. It’s ideal for women aged 50 and over who want to slide into the ideal LBD and start shining.
Lose Weight for the Holidays
Studies have found that more than half of the population of women say that they start feeling as though they want to lose weight around Christmas time. Aiming to fit into an incredible dress is a great motivation, and starting early means you can lose anywhere up to two stone by the time you’re hitting the dance floor. In other words, you could stand to lose 2 dress sizes! The Little Black Dress Challenge is designed to:
- Help you lose weight
- Keep you focused
- Boost your motivation
Week 1-3:
A lot of the Little Black Dress challenge is based on motivation. You set a clear goal to be achieved within a specific period of time, and ensure you mark your progress every step of the way. The LBD challenge works as a fantastic way to encourage the use of home fitness equipment, and weaving more workouts into your everyday schedule. During week 1 to 3, take photos, measure and weigh yourself, and write a nutritional, healthy meal plan to help structure your weekly shopping trips. From there, you can start writing down the things that you eat to ensure that you have somewhere to hold yourself accountable, and begin walking or cycling slowly for short distances, preparing your body for an increased level of activity by week 3.
Week 3-5:
By week three, you should be looking to accomplish around thirty minutes of cardio at least three times a week, while consistently maintaining a nutritious diet. If you don’t feel like heading out to the gym on a regular basis, or spending your hard-earned cash on some expensive exercising equipment, you might find that exercise bike hire is the best solution for you. It’s a great and low-impact method of getting your heart pumping and your blood racing- click here to find out more.
Week 6-8:
By now, you should be looking to achieve around an hour of cardio three times of week. You can get your cardio in any way that appeals to you – whether that means hopping onto your exercise bike, checking out the treadmill, or even turning up to regular Zumba and spin classes. Just make sure that you keep pushing yourself, and don’t allow yourself to fall victim to any diet-crushing cravings.
Week 8-10:
Take all of your key body measurements from around your stomach, waist, thighs, hips, and tops of your arms. You’ll take those measurements again on a regular basis to see how your figure is starting to change. Often, when we begin to lose weight, it can seem as though the number on the scales is barely changing, but at the same time you could be losing centimetres from your body! Try to focus on measurement instead of weight, and remind yourself to keep going – regardless of how tough the task may seem – you’re doing great! If you can increase the intensity of your workouts during this period, it’ll pay off in the long run. If you feel you can’t do that, then why not throw in an extra exercise class each week or go for an extra 30 minute run to really help increase your stamina.
Week 10-12:
Stay on track and make sure you keep pushing yourself during your chosen fitness regime. The end is finally in sight, and you should start to get a good idea of how far you’ve come on your journey. Don’t forget to celebrate your fitness achievements, and make sure you stay motivated whenever things start to seem tough. Just keep doing what you’re doing with that vision of the LBD in your mind to help keep you on track.
At week 12, measure yourself again and enjoy the benefits of all your hard work in the form of a stunning, LBD-ready body.
Share your 12 week challenge progress in the comments below 
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