6 Tips For A Flatter Belly and Firmer Abs

There is no secret to achieving toner and tighter abs; we all know that the best way to a flatter tummy is through a combination of both regular exercise and a healthy diet, yet many of us can’t seem to get it right. You see, knowing it theoretically isn’t enough to get you there. Here are 9 practical tips to doing it right.

Watch Your Posture

Ever noticed how slouching causes tummy rolls and unsightly creasing? By simply straightening up and sitting upright, you instantly look slimmer and more confident without even having to break a sweat! That’s how easy it is. Maintaining a good posture as part our your everyday ab-building, tummy-trimming routine will help strengthen your abdominal muscles and get you well on your way to a flatter and firmer stomach.

Fight the Fat

While working hard on defining those ab muscles, you mustn’t forget about getting rid of that excess belly fat either. After having put in all that effort into your abs, you certainly wouldn’t want your fat tummy to get in the way, would you? To budge belly fat, pay attention to what you eat and try adding some high-intensity cardio into your workouts.

Relieve Stress

We are oftentimes under the impression that exercise and diet are the only two factors that affect how much fat is stored in our belly. Stress, too, has a significant impact on the circumference of our waist. Also known as the stress hormone, cortisol is secreted when one is stress. The greater the stress, the higher the levels of cortisol produced in our body. Learn to manage your stress because too much of cortisol has been proven to increase the amount of fat stored at our belly.

Avoid the Bloat

Eating foods that are too high in fat will inevitably grow the size of your tummy. Fat aside, there are certain types of food that can possibly help slim your middle and others that will bloat you like a balloon. Along with your workout plan, avoid eating stuff that cause bloating, such as broccoli, coffee, carbonated drinks, beans, artificial sweeteners, starches, excessive salt, and greasy foods.

Go Lean

Following what was mentioned earlier about fighting belly fat, it is also important to avoid the intake of fat by eating healthily. Avoiding fatty food is obviously the first step to a healthier, leaner body. Change your diet gradually by reducing fat-laden foods and replacing them with lean protein. Lean protein, which includes fish, egg whites and tofu, helps burn fat and keeps you feeling full for longer periods of time.

Work Your Entire Body

Don’t focus so much on your abdomen that you end up neglecting your other muscles. Washboard abs sure look good, but they wouldn’t look quite that good if the rest of your body isn’t as firm. Work your core muscles, including your glutes, back, arms, and legs. A good form of exercise that incorporates all core muscles groups is Pilates, so if you’re up for it, go ahead and sign yourself up for some lessons.