It has always been more difficult for women to win the battle of the bulge. Compared to their male counterparts, losing that excess load becomes a bit more challenging when we look at the physiological make-up of the ladies. For one, women have naturally slower metabolisms. Add this to the fact that men naturally burn more calories and can thus eat more without the worry that the excess intake will show in the most obvious places.

This is partly one of the reasons why most fitness regimens are catered towards women. The fairer sex need lots of encouragement, support and more effective routines to lose that excess baggage. Successfully getting that elusive curve becomes even more challenging right after pregnancy when the demands of motherhood often lead women to neglect their figure-only realizing a year or two later that the fat has grown to, ehem, unmanageable proportions!

If you're caught in such a quandary, always remember that fitness is a choice. You can choose to be healthy or allow that excess fat to ruin your life. Ladies on the heavy side, if you want to seriously look svelte and sexy, here are some tips you might want to keep in mind:

1. Eat frequently. This might sound counterproductive to all you've heard, but it isn't. Eating 5 times a day-full meals and snacks combined-enables you to feel full all throughout the day. This lessens the chances that you'll binge on sugary concoctions like donuts, cakes and chocolates after having nothing the entire morning. Always have a piece of fruit or some nuts like almonds, on hand. Yogurt and tuna are also healthy, filling and delicious snack time favorites. Of course, for your main meals, make sure that you have enough grains, fruits, vegetables and protein in your diet. Go easy on the fat.

2. No soda, please. Restricting your daily soda habit-including the "diet" variety-can make you lose about 10 pounds in a week. Sodas are notorious for letting women gain weight because of water retention.

3. Exercise. Keep moving to break a sweat, burn extra calories and lose weight.

4. If you want to look toned, lift weights. Contrary to popular belief, lifting weights three times a week won't let you become bulky. Instead, it will optimize your body and makes you look toned.

5. Stay motivated. Get a bikini that are two sizes too small for you. Hang it in a place where you can best see it as you exercise. This will keep you motivated.

6. Go to your doctor. If you're beginning any workout, it would be best to seek medical opinion first to ensure that you can withstand the rigors of exercising to attain that supermodel figure.

Without the willpower and determination to succeed, those flat abs and curves will continue to remain an elusive dream. But by hungering for success, a healthy lifestyle and a trimmer you, achieving that elusive curve won't be so difficult after all.