1. That muscly curvaceous feel.
I like that tight toned mass of musle under the skin of my abs. Melanie Brown told People, “I do half an hour of cardio and 200 sit-ups three times a day.” “I’ve always been obsessed with doing abs. I change positions every 10 reps. I like how quickly—if you stick to it—you can see results.” She also toldSeventeen how to stay motivated, saying, “Start a club. Start where you’ll partner with your friends and have workout buddies. It becomes not just about you, but the whole team. That’s what I think works best anyway — instead of beating yourself up, like ‘C’mon! You can do it!’, it’s nice to have friends to rely on also. That’s where I come from. I’m all about women embracing women and giving each other motivation and strength.Mel B even fits in a workout when she is having a rough day. She says, “I think the best thing you can do is take a nice, long bath. Play your music, light your candles, and just be good to yourself. I guess that should be the end of the day, actually. But, work out! Get yourself active; get your heart rate up. Whether it’s going for a bit of a hike outdoors … there’s great parks and places you can go.” (Since my schedule is super crazy busy I no longer have the time to do that all the time, instead, i crunched my tummy almost all the time instead.)
2. I loved how I can burn fat faster.
He says: "Mel looks incredible - she's never been in better shape despite being a mum of two. She works hard and the results speak for themselves."
Mel weighed 11-and-a-half stone (160 pounds) after Angel was born. But she was soon doing 90- minute workouts six days a week and following a strict diet. Now she is back at her target weight of nine stone. "Mel has been a joy to work with," says Joey. "I started working with her five days after her baby was born. She was determined to get back her sensational looks - and she has."
The pair followed a routine, which included a Brazilian combination of martial arts and dance called Capoeira, yoga and swimming, and a healthy, balanced diet plan.
"The right food and nutrition are vitally important. Everything Mel eats is organic and she has flax seed oil, and salmon at least three times a week to help burn stomach fat," he says.
Mel confirmed this, saying: "He makes me eat salmon and I hate it. But I lost 10lb and a lot of inches in a little over a week."
Judging by her great new shape, it's certainly working for Mel - and we can show how it could work for you...
A bit of inspiration...
Your meal planner
Choose from one of the following each day. Try to get a good combination of cereals, lean protein (fish or chicken) and lots of fruit and veg a day.
Breakfasts
- Muesli with low-fat yoghurt
- Two slices of granary toast with peanut butter
- Banana milkshake using skimmed milk with low-fat banana yoghurt.
- Oats topped with a handful of blueberries. Made with skimmed milk
- Boiled egg with two slices of granary toast and a kiwi fruit
Mid Morning
- Protein shake (1 scoop in water or skimmed milk)
Lunches
- Smoked mackerel salad and a jacket potato
- Sardines in tomato sauce on two slices of brown toast
- Avocado and bacon salad, with one grilled rasher of bacon, half an avocado, lemon juice, black pepper
- Tuna and sweetcorn sandwich on wholewheat with
- Jacket potato with spicy tomato salsa, soured cream and salad
Mid Morning
- Protein shake (1 scoop in water or skimmed milk)
Dinners
- Grilled trout with flaked almonds, new potatoes and vegetables
- Chicken in black bean sauce with sliced green pepper and rice
- Baked cod in foil with herbs, new potatoes, carrots, broccoli and green beans.
- Salmon steak with tomato and cucumber salad and couscous
- Wholemeal pasta with tomato sauce and grilled, Mediterranean veg
* Would you like a Diet & Workout Plan based on Mel B's body?
We can set up a plan in just 48 hours. More info here
DIET RULES
Ditch ready meals and sodas: The additives in many processed foods and drinks produce excess gas and can create a bloated, swollen feeling in your belly.
Reduce salt and sodium: It makes you retain water and it's hidden in everything these days, so read labels and watch the sodium content. Anything with over 1 gram of salt is not good.
Drink more water: Drinking 1-1.5 litres a day will help keep your weight steady. Plus, it will ward off the bloated belly look that dehydration causes.
Swap to wholemeal: White or refined grains in the form of cakes, cereals, bread and pasta are high GI carbs. They can over-stimulate the body's insulin response and make you store tummy fat. Swap for low GI wholegrain versions instead and tuck into granary bread, porridge, wholegrain pasta and brown rice.
5 FOODS TO EAT
(1) Low-fat yoghurt Studies show a couple of servings of low-fat yoghurt, semi-skimmed milk or soft cheese will help burn fat around your midriff.
(2) Almonds High in essential fatty acids, calcium and magnesium, which help banish water retention. The vitamin E balances your hormones to stop PMS cravings, too.
(3) Broccoli It's high in chromium, that helps the pancreas stabilise insulin release, which stops fluctuating blood sugar levels that lead to food cravings and bingeing.
(4) Salmon It's a great source of the protein leptin, which acts like a hormone in the body and controls your appetite so you don't over-eat.
(5) Mushrooms High in vitamin B3 (niacin). It helps your body convert protein into energy so you don't feel tired - and more likely to binge on sweet treats.
3. That look without unwanted bulges or unnecessary muffin top.
oh well, everyone looks better without fats hanging and dangling from that way too tight bra.
Forget killing yourself doing hundreds of sit-ups - it might be in vain.
"It's very easy to do them incorrectly," says celebrity fitness trainer Paul Botten. "And you can end up pushing your tummy to stick out even further - the exact opposite of what you want to achieve."
Your best bet for a flatter belly is either to lie over a fitness ball while you crunch, which forces your "core" back and stomach muscles to tighten or, better still, try the plank.
"The beauty of this move is that it takes far less sweat and effort than sit-ups - and you only need one spare minute a day to do it," says Botten.
The Plank
How To Do It: Lie face down then lift yourself up on your toes and forearms, with your elbows bent at 90 degrees. Hold for 10 seconds and build up to 40 seconds. Repeat three times a day.
So there it is. An insight into how Melanie B. shaped up post pregnancy. Now it's your turn to shape up and lose those excess pounds!
