Body Beauty: In your Competitions be Elegant-Perfectly Toned and Fit for that Sash and Crown

It is tempting to avoid too much exercising and simply eat less or adhere to a strict diet while preparing oneself for a beauty competition. However, the fact of the matter is that you can get in shape and actually increase your strength and tone without "bulking up." The information below will help your overall look when you are in a fitness competition as well, you will have to make the distinctions, depending on the competition itself.

There are several kinds of programs out there that focus on lengthening the muscles instead of pumping them up. In addition, there are plenty of cardiovascular exercises that can help you burn calories and focus on specific muscle groups such as jazzercise and other aerobics.

Pilates is a new and popular kind of exercise that targets specific groups of muscles. Yoga, again, targets specific groups of muscles and can have a similar affect on the body - LENGTHENING the muscles instead of bulking up. Yoga, as a matter of fact, is basically a series of stretching - there is virtually no cardiovascular benefit. However, each of these stretches can increase the muscle tone, flexibility, balance and - in short - beauty of your body.

When you workout by lifting weights, without specific instruction or direction to best suit your needs, you may not accomplish the body figure you want. If you bulk up too much you may look like someone to avoid in a dark alley wearing your strapless gown. Not sexy - it is much better looking to have toned, (not buffed - up) beautiful arms.

If you are fit and lovely, you have an advantage over those who are only thin and lovely, by common opinion. Judges look for that healthy, strengthened and toned look in virtually all beauty competitions.

However, not only is it healthier to be fit, but many believe that soft, toned skin is a sexier look overall. The difference between beauty and fit beauty comes in tone, shape and even posture. There is a certain beauty in the soft, unfit arms and bodies of women, of course. But if you are going to focus on muscle tone and general body shape, exercise can really help you enhance your feminine features.