Back, well kind of, by popular demand, is SUITE's Brand New series. This time we'll be concentrating on getting toned up for an important event in your life that is only a few months away...like a wedding. And since that big day is coming up for me at the end of October, I will be the guinea pig, er, I mean, the subject, this time! :-)

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Month four...and another sigh. My doctor set me up with an appointment with a gastroenterologists, who are medical doctors specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the digestive system, such as hepatitis, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, and colon or rectal cancer.

Now before anybody freaks out on me...NO I do NOT have even the threat of cancer there, at least, not that we've found. My regular doctor wants me to be checked out because he agrees with me....calories in = less than calories out, you lose weight. He believes, and that's why he's sending me to a specialist, for further proof, that I suffer from IBS.

IBS is commonly referred to as irritable bowel syndrome. The word syndrome means a group of symptoms. IBS is a syndrome because it can cause several symptoms. For example, IBS causes cramping, bloating, gas, diarrhea, and constipation. I learned something new, because I thought it only dealt with diarrhea. Without going into all the gory details...IBS is not a disease. It's a functional disorder, which means that the bowel doesn't work as it should.

The only thing I'm dreading is the test that has to been done...a lower GI series, to put it in a much nicer sounding light, entails having barium put into my body in places that were never intended for that kind of invasion! But, if the results prove my doctor to be on the mark, then I'm all for it.

Now my doctor, being the kind of doctor that he is, put me immediately on medication for this "condition". Selnorm. OMG! Within two hours of taking the first dose I felt, and saw, immediate relief! The bloating in my abdomen went down considerably. That night, I actually got to eat an entire meal, and I didn't feel so uncomfortably bloated that I hurt! It was sweet I tell ya, sweet! Of course, the entire meal wasn't that much since my stomach has shrunk so much during this period, but it's a start. I have noticed some reduction in inches, and I have started working on tightening my abs up even more. When all this gets under control I want to have a belly I can show off!

Here's what I'm doing: I warm up for 5 minutes before performing any abdominal exercises. You can do this by simply walking. If you are performing other strengthening exercises on the same day, save these abdominal exercises for last in the routine.

If you are a beginner, perform one set of each exercise three times weekly on nonconsecutive days. If you have been exercising for six to 12 months, perform two sets and those exercising regularly for more than a year, perform three sets of each exercise. I perform the three sets.

Each exercise should be performed to the best of your ability working to a point where you feel you can no longer complete one more repetition.

Perform each exercise for 30 to 90 seconds. If you can't last for 30 seconds, the exercise may be too hard. Build up to 30 seconds as best you can. If you can perform 90 seconds, the exercise needs to be more challenging for you. Execute each exercise with control, letting the muscles do the work.     more >>