My Minimal Fitness Routine.

The fear of not being able to lift my body when I get old and even looking older than my age gripped me so much that, every time, I always make a new decision to be consistent with doing exercises. The goal was to look fit and have my flat belly. When I look at my two sisters' flat tummies, I always envied them. They never went expensively to achieve that; they'd lived a simple lifestyle and were involved in simple exercises that made them become that way.

Every time I search online for tips to lose weight, I am recommended to different videos or apps that I should download, and I would feel motivated to try them, but after enduring the second week, I am back to my normal life and then look away, not minding the goal again.

Sometimes, I would say I cannot kill myself, but again, when I hear from my sisters, cautioning me on reducing the amount of food I eat because I eat a lot, and it wouldn't help me, I would think about my life, go back to exercising, but find myself regressing.

I used to think I lacked an accountability partner, but it wasn't until my big sister reminded me that no one would come and help me that I had to push myself to get what I want.

One thing about me is that I love to eat in big portions, as little food cannot satisfy me. I may eat a meal meant to be eaten twice and would eat in one sitting, but what it means is that I wouldn't eat anything for that day again. So, literally, I eat once or twice daily.

Funny how I was determined to sign up at a gym centre early this year, so I could be serious with my life, thinking if I put in my money, that would motivate me to get up early in the morning and get on my goal, but it's six months already and I never signed up for one; I knew I was the problem. Hahaha...

It dawned on me that I don’t need a gym membership, or expensive gear, or signing up on apps to get what I need. There are a few exercises I have been engaging in my room every morning that have been doing the magic on my tummy.

If there is one thing about me, I don't spend money unnecessarily unless it calls for it because I would have to consider many factors and see other ways around it and if it could give me the same result, why then should I waste money?

There are ways I have been maintaining consistency with my fitness goal that doesn't cost money at all.

I remember getting this fitness equipment called waist trimmer two years ago and I was more consistent in using it for the first few months of buying it, there was an improvement in my tummy until I stopped and life got busy on me.

I have returned to it again, and it has been helpful since all I need to do is within my room and for 5-10 minutes, I have practised different exercises with the equipment.

Another one is drinking this herbal tea because one of the benefits is to reduce belly fat, and I take one cup of it in the morning before eating. My meals are taken from noon because I also do intermittent fasting, which I have registered for the free package for over two months - just for the purpose of my tummy.

The idea is to restrain me from eating too early while I still maintain the hours of eating, which are eight hours and 12 hours for fasting. Intermittent fasting has been helpful, too and recommended by my sister, who had been doing it for years; something that helped her achieve a flat tummy.

I also maintain my fitness goal by taking a long walk. I love where I am staying, and taking a walk to get things at the mini market takes approximately one hour to and fro. The beautiful part is that there is not always a bike in sight that would have discouraged me from such a walk.

Most times, when I don't even have anything to get across the street, I intentionally take a walk, either early in the morning or late in the evening, to burn calories and benefit my tummy, too. This also helps me take fresh air instead of locking myself in the room all day as I normally do.

_{Dancing: part of my exercise for flat tummy.}

Lastly is walking around the house, standing up for some time and doing some stretching. I find myself just taking a walk from my kitchen to the room, and most times playing fast songs to allow me to dance too fast and would sweat it out. I usually feel so refreshed and notice how it has affected my body.

With all these, they have been helping me on my fitness goal and allow me wear some tops that I couldn't wear before because it look obvious as if I am pregnant, but now, I feel so proud of myself that, I don't even need to break the bank to achieve this, with simple exercises like this, done daily which most times, it's like you just doing your normal chores but also having its effect on you - just like killing a bird with two stones.

I am also planning on getting a skipping rope, which I will order online soon, as I couldn't get it anywhere around me. I believe this will also fast-track the goal for me when I practice with it every morning or maybe 2-3 times in a week.

These are just the ways I maintain consistency with my fitness goal and for someone like me who could give up too soon or get tired and think life shouldn't be this hard, staying focused with them around the house could bring great results because it doesn't involve much energy, aren't stressful and most importantly, do not cost money.

A minimalist lifestyle shouldn't be too hard, but you just have to find the simple things that make life easier, softer and less expensive because at the end of the day, you will still achieve the same result.

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_{All images are mine}