Singapore Personal Trainer|The Fitness Truth

I was 10 years old when I first heard Britney Spears’ virgin single, Baby One Time. I loved her squeaky clean image, her demure good girl persona but above all, I loved her body! She was toned, sculpted with a firm booty and a slim yummy tummy!

Take a look at the Britney Spears picture above. Britney Spears observed a tiny waist with a sculpted midsection.

Is it not what you want? A flat tummy?

So typically you will do a zillion crunches everyday thinking you will get the Britney Spears look. This is where you are fooled! I can bet my money that you would tell me right now that after a zillion crunches you did, your tummy is still the same as before or perhaps even wider and thicker!

The problem is, a lot of you out there still believe in the old theory of spot reduction that with spot reduction, you are able to target that problem area and work that problem exclusively. You are obsessed with the notion of; the more crunches the slimmer their tummy will be. In fact performing too much direct ab, oblique work and spot reduce would serve
you otherwise.

Instead of getting that slim yummy tummy, you will observe an increase girth of your core muscles from training with such a high volume and frequency. This is termed as the Britney Spears Syndrome.

If this is not enough to stop you from doing zillions and zillions of crunches, does having thicker waist appeal to you? I bet no! When you fall off the wagon in your fitness and nutriton, you would not only have a wider waist but a thicker one too.

This was exactly what happened to Britney Spears. It was reported that Britney Spears’ training regime includes 1000 crunches everyday! That is bad news for a female who is trying to keep a slim midsection. The picture below demonstrates my point.

Now you choose. Do you want to still stick to 1000 crunches everyday, develop wider and thicker abs or would you rather look like the younger Britney Spears?

Top 3 exercises for that slim yummy tummy

1) Walking lunge

Note: Perform 6-10 reps on each leg (12-20 total reps per set). Perform 3 sets. Keep your body upright and take long strides. Before you take the next stride and step forward, hold for 2 secs at the lowest position.

2) Bench push-up

Note: Perform 15-20 reps per set. Perform 3 sets

.

3) DB Romanian deadlift

Note: Perform 15-20 reps per set. Perform 3 sets. Be in a standing position with one dumbbell in each hand. Rest the dumbbells on the front of your thighs, push your hips back and bend your knees slightly until the dumbbells are just below knee level.

Before you attempt on the recommended exercises above, read further.
Let’s talk about Britney Spears’ life. As of late, we have been hearing a lot about Britney Spears in the media that we cannot help but think that her life is in a mess. Britney Spears needs to get her life sorted out of the clutter that has been messing with her mental and emotional health. It is sad to see a young and talented women going down the dumps when life was supposed to have just begun.

She had so much going on for her; a successful career, the birth of her children and her family. I am sure many of you share the same success as her. How many of you set many great expectations for yourself that your life become so cluttered? You fail to prioritise, you became a victim of procrastination and you set so many unrealistic goals for yourself. Soon eveything overwhelmes you, your life seems like it has forsaken you and you fail to achieve your goals.

How many of you feel this way?

Then, you might also suffer from the Britney Spears Syndrome too.

Just like achieving a slim tummy you need to set realistic goals and put these goals into action. Plan your time carefully and follow the right system to get towards your goals.

In embarking on any fitness program, start with a positive mind. You can have the best training system in the world but if you are always having negative thoughts, you will never be happy with what you have achieved. I met a friend two weeks and she has dropped 4 inches off her waist but instead of cheering in accomplishment, she was so unhappy. It was then I realised having a thinner waist has taken over her sanity. It has become an obsession to her.

Do not let your mind take control of your life. Be in control.

*Do note that the pictures above were before Britney Spears’ pregnancy for a fair comparison.