Truth is, if you want to slim down, you need to eat less and move more. Do that and, depending on your diligence, you could start seeing results in a matter of days. What's that, you say? You need to look slimmer today? Well, luckily for you, perception is reality, and there are a number of things you can do between now and then to alter the harsh reality that beer, ribs and ice cream taste good (and that it's a little too hot/cold/rainy to be running outside right now). And to keep getting lean all day, every day, check out our exclusive report on the 30 Best Ways to Boost Your Metabolism After 30!
1
Get pumped
If you're a guy, chances are that the extra weight you're carrying is around your middle. Although you can't get rid of that flubber in 15 minutes, you can use that time to slightly increase the size of other parts of your body so that your waist appears smaller in comparison. It's what bodybuilders call "getting a pump." One of the best ways to do this is to bang out some push-ups. Perfectly executed push-ups work several body parts, but in particular, engorging your chest and shoulder muscles with blood will make you seem tighter in the middle. Remember: Muscles are 70% water, so to prolong that pump, hydrate before, during and after your drills.
2
Stand up straight
Yes, it's as simple as that. Experts suggest that bad posture can make someone look ten pounds heavier than they actually are. When you're slumped over, you lose inches in height, so you're scrunching your body mass toward your midsection. The result? You look shorter and wider. So stand tall! And while you're standing tall, pull your shoulders back. This will get your shoulder-weight ratio closer to 1:6 — also called the Adonis Ratio. Studies have revealed that women are most attracted to men with that triangular torso proportion. It'll make anything you're wearing look sharper. Make sure you own the 15 Items Every Man Should Have in His Closet — we've picked the best brands from head to toe!
3
Empty your pockets
For the last 12 to 15 years, pants have been getting slimmer. At the same time, phones have been wider, longer and flatter. While our pants and phones have been evolving in diametrically opposed ways, it was decided that the belt-mounted phone holster would be embraced by precisely no one. The upshot: We're walking around with packed pockets that make the waist look much wider than it is. Your move? Pare down to the absolute essentials. Sign up for Apple Pay, replace your bulky wallet with a sleek stainless-steel clip for your essential cards, take seldom-used keys off your ring, and stash your phone in the inside pocket of your jacket when you're wearing one. When you're not, hold your phone in your hand. (It's there most of the time anyway.)
4
Pull your damn pants up
As pants have become more streamlined, the rise — the distance between the middle of the crotch seam to the top of the waistband — has shortened. Rise is important because it determines where your pants sit on your body, which in turn creates your perceived waistline. Low-rise pants look great — provided you're in the minority of men sporting less than 8% body fat. If you're rocking even a modest amount of chub, they become the plinth upon which you display your muffin top to the world. Wear your pants so that the waistband lives up to its name and sits at your natural waist. While you're at it, be sure you're following the 25 New Rules of Office Style!
5
Untuck your shirt
Use your judgment — are you in an environment in which wearing your shirt untucked is acceptable? If it is, get your shirt out of your pants. Tucking will being the shirt closer to your frame, bringing attention to a belly and other problem areas. So prevent your shirt from clinging to your man boobs like grim death. It'll make your torso look longer.
