How to Achieve a Flat Stomach
Sam Carpenter explains how to achieve toned abdominals or a flat stomach - the healthy way.
Many people who set their sights on a flat stomach or perfect abdominal muscles (abs) often immediately head to the gym and set out to do as many crunches as they can. However, what a lot of people do not know is that in recent years dieticians and scientists alike have discovered that a flat or defined stomach can only be created with the right combination of diet and exercise. A decent workout might be essential for getting the abs you want, but no amount of spin classes or hours logged on the treadmill are going to give you the results for any fitness goal without the proper diet. If you have a goal in mind for your body or fitness routine, you always need to plan a corresponding diet to get there in the healthiest way possible. Depriving yourself of healthy foods and hearty meals is never the way to achieve a fitness or weight goal and is also wholly unnecessary for burning fat.
Eating smart and avoiding fad diets
However, healthy eating does not have to mean sticking to a fad diet with strict rules and unappetizing options, many of which can end up negatively impacting your health in the long run. There are plenty of diets to suit everyone's needs, even when keeping unique dietary needs and restrictions in mind. Popular diets like the Raw or Paleo diets are full of healthy foods and meals that can help cut down belly fat. Vegetarian, vegan, or gluten-free diets, when done correctly and including all the proper nutrition and supplements, can also be excellent for those with dietary restrictions or allergies. When done correctly, these examples are also great for getting rid of unwanted fat.
Keeping to one of these diets can seem intimidating at first. If you are not ready to take the plunge, it can be beneficial to substitute certain foods in your diet with healthier options. Some essential foods inherently contribute to fat deposits around the midsection that can easily replace healthy and nutritious meals and satisfy your cravings.
What you need to know about Sugar and Carbohydrates
| If your goal is to slim down and achieve a perfectly flat stomach, your sugar and carbohydrate intake are the first thing you need to examine. Not only has sugar consumption been associated with life-threatening diseases like diabetes and heart complications, but it is also the number one culprit in creating fat deposits around your midsection. It can also be tricky to avoid. There are plenty of foods with high sugar content, like soft drinks and candies, but others might seem healthy but contain a high sugar content. Carbohydrates can also be tricky, with their 'good' and 'bad' forms. While complex carbohydrates provide your body with a healthy source of energy, simple carbohydrates end up creating fat deposits in the midsection, just like sugary foods. |  |
While sugar or carbs in artificially sweetened foods inevitably cause belly fat, those that occur naturally in fruits, nuts, and veggies are vital in making sure you are healthily fuelling your body. It is why when you are craving something sweet. It is better to swap out your morning fruit juice for a piece of fresh fruit and try out an omelette recipe, including spinach instead of cheese. If you are craving a burger and chips, order yourself a sandwich with lean meat like turkey or chicken with a side of roasted sweet potatoes. A great tip to keep in mind is that the simpler the ingredients and more whole foods, the healthier the meal. Even foods you can add are believed to help burn fat and boost your metabolisms.
Making meals work for you
Overhauling your diet, or even substituting healthier foods as much as possible, can seem like a daunting task at first. If you keep these tips and tricks for healthy eating in mind, you can easily make sure that you are getting rid of those culprits that inherently deposit fat around your midsection along with the right amount of nutrition in your diet. The first step is to make a meal plan and a grocery list that include healthy foods. It is essential to keep in mind that you cannot always be completely strict with yourself, especially when first starting. When you are craving takeaway or do not have time to cook, consider using delivery services like Deliveroo. It can help stick to a healthy diet since they offer various healthy options and full menus that make it far easier to choose a healthy dinner from a good restaurant when you do not have time to cook.
| When your goal is to cut out unwanted fats and achieve a toned stomach, healthy substitutions are essential in overhauling your diet. Combined with a good exercise regime, you will start to see results while still healthily fuelling your body. Researching healthy foods and creating meal plans with nutrition and fitness in mind is more than worth it in the long run, but it is also essential to keep in mind that you do not entirely have to cut out takeaway meals or snacks that satisfy your cravings. What is necessary is to make sure that you are choosing alternatives to foods that create belly fat to reach your goals healthily. In doing so, your body will not only be looking great, but you will also be healthier and happier in the long run, and the results you will achieve will be longer-lasting. |  |
Page Reference
If you quote information from this page in your work, then the reference for this page is:
- CARPENTER, S. (2017) How to Achieve a Flat Stomach [WWW] Available from: https://www.brianmac.co.uk/articles/article229.htm [Accessed
About the Author
Sam Carpenter is an experienced journalist with a passion for nutrition and well-being. She studied journalism in one of the top universities in Ireland, where she started working as an assistant editor for a fitness magazine. She is now working as a freelance writer and publishes her articles on numerous websites and blogs across the web.