Stretching exercises calm and help

In order to lose weight and maintain your new weight once you've obtained it, you need to continue your exercise routine.

And stretching exercises should be part of your exercise routine.

There's controversy about this. Some experts say that stretching should be done BEFORE working out, others say that it should be done AFTER working out.

For myself, I stretch before and after.

Stretching exercises are very simple, and require no equipment like balls or ropes (although I suppose if you want to invest in those things to do things "different" now and again, it's okay, but you really don't need them.)

Sit down, placing both legs straight out in front of you. Then bend forward and try to touch, or touch, your knees with your forehead. (If your belly gets in the way..well, that's why you're wokring to lose weight.) If you can touch your forehead to your knees, try to lower your whole upper torso onto your thighs for a good stretch. Do this ten times.

Then, spread your legs wide apart, and try to touch your forehead to the floor, in between your two legs.

Then, bend from side to side to try to touch your forehead to each knee.

Then, bring the soles of your feet together, so that your knees stick out to the side, and again touch your forehead to the soles of your feet.

Stand up, and try to gradually slide into the splits position. Don't bounce or try to force yourself down. Only go down as far as is comfortable.

Finally, standing straight with legs at shoulder width, reach up with your hands as if you were trying to climb into the sky. Then, bend down from this standing position, and try to touch your forehead to your thighs or knees.

Then, just to finish off, rise up and down on your toes between ten to twenty times. This stretches out the Achilles tendon at the back of your ankles, and shapes the calves.