#Collaborative post
Whilst many of us dream of washboard abs, very few of us actually take the steps needed to achieve them. Although it’s definitely easier said than done, we can all tone up a little if we put our minds to it and put the work in. Whilst we don’t need to be perfectly toned all over, even seeing the slightest improvement can give us a massive confidence boost and show us what we’re capable of. So, today we’re going to have a look at some steps that you can consider today to reduce stomach fat and tone up.
Something to note as well – if you’re wanting to get rid of excess stomach fat before you start your fitness journey, then getting a tummy tuck is very accessible these days and an avenue for you to contemplate. There’s no shame in it either – we all have our reasons, whether you’ve always struggled with your stomach or if your body’s changed after giving birth. It’s something that you can think about if you feel you want to explore your options – it’s also a lot more common than you’d think.
Now, we’ll get into how to tone your abdominals, whether you decide to go under the knife or not.
Think About Diet
Now, your diet plays a big part in your abs-enhancing journey. Whilst it’s a good idea to be in a healthy calorie deficit, you also want to concentrate on consuming high-fibre dishes. Particularly soluble fibres, as these make you feel fuller for longer. Try to incorporate the following foods into your diet:
- Beans – dried beans, lima beans, black beans
- Fruit – avocado (yes, they’re technically a fruit!), pears, strawberries, citrus fruits, apples
- Vegetables – turnips, brussels sprouts, sweet potato, broccoli, peas
- Oats
Sugar is something you’ll want to consume in moderation, as well as alcohol. However, good news for the coffee and tea drinkers out there: having unsweetened versions of these beverages, as well as plenty of water throughout the day, can be great for burning fat and calories. Green tea is particularly beneficial. I’ll drink to that!
You can also consider incorporating supplements like Tea Burn into your diet as they contain green tea as a key ingredient and help in weight management.
Intermittent Fasting
There are a lot of contrasting reports out there on fasting, but many believe that it has a multitude of different health benefits when done properly and safely. One of these benefits is flattening the stomach. With intermittent fasting, there are various different methods, but generally, one of the most doable ways of trying it is by limiting your eating to certain hours in the day, which could be from 11am to 7pm, or whatever hours they prefer – 8 hours is a good rule to follow though. This makes it easier to regulate calorie intake, and if you’re then eating the foods above, your belly will thank you for it after a few weeks.
Other potential benefits from fasting are allegedly improved brain functioning, slowed ageing, speedier metabolism, better blood sugar management and disease prevention. Fasting isn’t necessarily suitable for everyone though, so it’s wise to speak to a health professional prior to going down this route.
Lifestyle
Generally, you need to consider your lifestyle – you want to be doing stomach exercises at least a few times a week, ensuring you’re getting the right amount of sleep, as well as doing cardio and getting your heart rate up on most days (even if just for a short amount of time). Every little action adds up.
Your journey to rock hard abs starts here – we believe in you!