Mum didn't have visible abs until her 40s – but simple changes toned her tummy

A mum in her 40s revealed how she got visible abs later in life – and it only took 10 simple changes to tone her tummy.

Shannon Collins, who goes by @thegymnurse on , is your go-to for online and tips, and isn't shy about letting her followers in on her personal transformation. Not long ago, she sported a very different look until an epiphany struck her - change was essential.

To amplify her well-being and vitality, she embarked on a quest to revamp her lifestyle - a decision she's since embraced wholeheartedly. Attaining muscle definition, however, required extra work.

Shannon claims it wasn't until she implemented 10 specific practices that she began to see "true" muscle development. Key among these was ensuring she consumed enough calories to fuel her intense workout sessions.

Besides monitoring her calorie intake, she shifted her focus to the quality of her exercises, rather than merely increasing the amount of time spent in the gym. Committing to one training schedule for several weeks enabled her to perfect each routine, enhancing her overall performance.

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Shannon didn't stop there, as she outlined other impactful changes, stating: "Got uncomfortable, took sets to failure or very close to instead of just going through the motions. Took proper rest periods in between exercises to recover instead of doing things to keep my heart rate up.

"Stopped trying to burn calories and break a sweat during my workouts. Realised that my sleep and rest days were equally as important as the training.

"Stopped fearing the scale and trying to weigh some number I had in my head. Quit expecting to look a certain way by a certain time. Kept my eyes on my own paper and didn't compare my progress to anyone else.

"Those few I listed are the big mental roadblocks that often stop us from being consistent, and often lead us to giving up or changing directions - like thinking you need to go back to a calorie deficit."

Since Shannon shared her post, it has received hundreds of likes and her followers were quick to comment too. People thought her tips were absolutely essential to aid progress.

One person said: "All of these can completely shift the outcome! I can attest to them also." Another wrote: "Love all of these! Tracking your workouts is key."

Shannon often shares her workout tips online, and points out where people go wrong when it comes to fitness. She encourages women to get fit without imposing too many restrictions, as she thinks eating and living well is essential. Here are her top 10 tips.

10 tips Shannon used to tone up

Eating enough calories to fuel her body

Getting quality training time

Being consistent

Didn’t let failure stop her

Scheduled in rest days

Realised not all workouts involve sweating

Got plenty of sleep

Stopped being fixated on the scales

Banished expectations

Didn’t compare herself to others