Then, McDowell saw a post on Prevention's Facebook page asking busy women to test Lean for Life in just 10 minutes a day - the first program to combine 10-minute meals with 10 minutes of easy exercise a day for lasting weight loss and total-body toning. (You'll find all the info to follow the program in the April/May issue of Prevention, out now). While she was a little skeptical if 10 minutes of extra exercise could really change her body, she signed up to try the plan for 8 weeks.
"One of my biggest motivators for doing the program was to show my 6-year-old daughter, Ruby, that eating right and exercising isn't just about being thin or pretty," says McDowell, who works part-time for a nonprofit organization that educates children about food and nutrition. "As an older mom of a young child, I want to be healthy and strong for her for as long as possible."
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Making that goal a reality became a lot easier when McDowell discovered the power of this program. Within weeks of cleaning up her diet with 10-minute meals and squeezing in just one of the 10-minute sculpting routines each day, McDowell started to notice changes. Her energy was going up as her belly went down. "In the past, I always knew what I was supposed to do when it came to healthy eating and exercise, but it was really tough to stick with anything because I'm a foodie with a really crazy schedule," she says.
The 10-minute meals appealed to Ali for multiple reasons. First, she loved that the recipes relied on fresh, whole foods. "They're really yummy and easy to put together. I couldn't believe that I could eat homemade food this delicious and still lose weight," she says. Second, it made her look at the labels of foods she always thought of as healthy more closely. "I was shocked to realize that many of the foods I kept in my pantry were loaded with sugar," she says.
The 10-minute daily workout quickly became a part of her lifestyle. "I'd say to my husband and daughter, 'I have to go do my 10 minutes,'" and they knew exactly what I meant," says McDowell. "It was great because I could do it at home and then get back to work or spending time with my family." It also helped her set a healthy example for her daughter. One morning, when McDowell was doing one of the 10-minute routines in her living room, she noticed Ruby watching her intently. When McDowell finished, she turned around and asked her daughter, "Why do you think Mummy exercises?" Ruby thought for a moment, then said: "To be a strong woman." Her answer made McDowell smile.
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After 60 days, McDowell couldn't believe her transformation. Not only had she dropped nearly 4 kilos, she could see a real difference in her body. "Overall, everything is tighter and more toned," she says. "I have more definition in my arms, my thighs look slimmer, and my abs are much stronger." Now, Ali is down a total of 5 kilos and isn't planning on stopping her 10-minute program anytime soon. "It's part of my lifestyle," she says. "I love it."
Why Ali Loves Fit in 10
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You can do it at home. "My daughter hates the gym's day care, so it's really nice for both of us. I love spending more time with my family."
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