Belly Be Gone

Eat flat-belly foods.
Consuming more protein which you’ll find in meat, fish, dairy, and nuts, in exchange for carbs helps reduce overall belly fat. Some specific examples of flat-belly foods: almonds, beans, spinach, instant oatmeal, eggs, peanut butter, olive oil, whole grains, whey (protein powder). Want a specific diet plan? Check out The Abs Diet for Women (Fully Booked, P798) by David Zinczenko, editor-in-chief of Men’s Health US.

Be wary of sugar content.
It’s a no-brainer, but you won’t believe how sugar can lurk in the most innocuous of foods, from that extra plop of ketchup to the diet soda that’s lulled you into a false sense of “low-calorie” calm. Processed foods are major culprits. Take time to read nutrition labels. Use natural sweeteners like honey or cinnamon which won’t give you a sugar high and spike up the calories.

Be wary of salt content.
You’re on vacation; you want your belly to be as flat as possible, so you lie prone on the deck chair (that kinda flattens your tummy out)… and then promptly reach for the giant bag of chips. We know that salt retains water, so nutritionists suggest you keep your salt intake under 2,000 milligrams each day. Read the nutrition labels.

Relax.
You’ve heard of friends losing weight because of work or personal problems, but who the heck wants to lose weight being stressed out? Those friends are exceptions anyway. Yale University researchers say that your belly is four times as likely to store stress-induced fat compared to the rest of your body. Worry, and you produce extra cortisol, a hormone that prompts the body to store fat.

Get some exercise.
Three sessions a week will do. Do exercises that not only work out individual muscles but the entire core so that you’re getting the double-benefit of burning more fat while getting toned. The best workouts for the core and torching belly flab? Pilates, by far. Running comes next. Water sports can even be great core builders. Must-try: Stand-up paddleboarding; a sport that builds endurance and engages your core to keep your balance. There’s a group that explores various parts of the Philippines on their paddleboards.

Source : Femalenetwork