I hope you didn't click on this article expecting to read about some pill or food that will instantly flatten your stomach. If you did, SHAME ON YOU and that probably means you have been sucked into the hype.
OK, I admit. I tricked you with the title didn't I? But that's OK, at least I have your attention.
I don't care what ANYONE tells you, there is no one food or pill that will flatten your stomach in a healthy way. There are pills out here that may make you lose weight temporarily, but they mess with your metabolism. That means once you stop taking them, you run the risk of gaining more weight even faster than before.
I don't know if you've noticed but almost every pill that is introduced gets pulled from the market in a few months because the FDA discovers they are not safe. Yet people STILL buy into their claims.
If you want to flatten your stomach, the best way to do it is to start with a healthy diet. Cut down on the bad carbs like white bread, white rice, potatoes and pasta. Replace them with the whole grain varieties and increase your fruit and vegetable intake. Load up on proteins from grilled chicken, tuna, white fish and egg whites. Also watch your sugar intake (yes, drinks too!) and refresh your body with at least 64 ounces of water per day.
Then get your heart moving by doing cardio exercises. That could be anything from aerobics, jogging, running to Tai Bo, cycling or swimming. The point is you need to elevate your heart enough to burn the fat. Exercise at least 3-4 times per week for 30-45 minutes per day.
Losing weight in the stomach area involves TOTAL body fitness. You can't just flatten your stomach without losing everywhere else. The body does not know how to spot tone one area. So if you are one of those that eats cheeseburgers everyday and then goes home to do 250 ab crunches, you will never see results.
Well, actually you WILL see results, just not the kind you want. In fact, your stomach will likely increase in size because you're building muscle on top of your existing layers of fat. Crunches can tone your abs, but only if you are performing cardio exercises and watching what you eat.
I hope you've learned a lot from this article, and the next time you see a headline about miracle weight loss, you'll refrain from clicking on it. :-)
Here's to your health!
Lisa Irby is the author of the myth busting site, www.flat-stomach-exercises.com She wants you to educate yourself on the facts about diet and exercise so you don't get suckered into the media hype of weight loss. | |
