How to Find Ways to Flatten the Tummy

How to Find Ways to Flatten the Tummy
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Everyone wants a trim waistline, whether for vanity reasons alone or for the health benefits. Losing weight from the midsection and flattening the tummy takes a bit of time and discipline. The waistline is a reflection of how many calories are consumed versus how many calories are expended. Cleaning up your diet and moving more will flatten the tummy and help melt fat off fast to reveal a slim and trim stomach.

Step 1

Ditch the junk food. Choosing health foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean meats will help to keep your waist trim. These foods are low in sodium, therefore they will not cause bloating of the midsection and they contain fiber to keep you full longer.

Step 2

Skip the alcohol. Drinking alcohol is consuming calories that are not necessary and will result in weight gain or keeping weight around the midsection. According to the Mayo Clinic, drinking too much alcohol of any kind will lead to an increase in belly fat.

Step 3

Eat small portions. Portion control will keep your calorie count in line and cravings satisfied. Overeating leads to weight gain and portion sizes are nearly double or triple the actual healthy serving size. When eating at home, read food labels to ensure you eat the right amount and when dining out split a meal or take half home.

Step 4

Train aerobically. The only way to reveal a trimmer waistline is to melt the fat off the abs first. Cardio training will help to burn calories and shrink the midsection. The American Council of Exercise recommends choosing aerobic activity that you enjoy so you stick with it longer. Aim for cardio training five to six days a week when trying to lose weight.

Step 5

Break a sweat with interval training. Interval training helps to blast calories in a short amount of time, because it uses short bursts of exercise followed by a recovery period. Use a treadmill, bike or even stair climber and try working at a moderate pace for two minutes followed by a 30 second sprint, repeating the interval for 30 minutes.

Step 6

Target the tummy. Working the core will help to strengthen the trunk of the body. Mix up your exercises to ensure you work the entire midsection. Try varying your core workout with planks, bicycle twists and reverse crunches. A combination of exercises will give your tummy a fighting chance at getting flat.

References

Article reviewed by Lynda Moultry Belcher Last updated on: Sep 2, 2010

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