Lose Fat On The Mat: Weeks 3 & 4

By Nicole Beland

The fourth week I stuck to my schedule and spent some time on the mat every day--even if it was just a short meditation in Child's pose. With the DVDs I'd bought (I returned the loaners to their rightful owners), I never had to do the same workout twice in a row. My teachers, even though they were just 6-inch figures on the screen, felt like personal trainers.

I finished my experiment 4.5 pounds lighter than when I started, and I've lost another half pound since then. Does yoga work for weight loss? It has for me. And it's getting to a point where if I don't do any yoga all day I feel like I'm missing out on something fun, relaxing, and satisfying. I'll even close the door to my office, take off my shoes, and do a few Sun Salutations or twisting postures to get my blood flowing. It's a far cry from that "Ugh, I have to work out" feeling that used to plague me. When I finally slipped back on those size 27 jeans, I found myself more interested in the 2 percent stretch than how my butt looked in the mirror. What good is a pair of pants if you can't do Triangle pose in them?

Week 1
Week 2

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