Flatten Your Tummy for the Summer

As you get ready to head for the lake or lay out by the pool this summer, you may feel that your belly isn’t as flat as you want it to be. Whether you want to get really toned abs or are just looking to reduce some of the fat in your mid-section, we want to help you look great in your swimsuit. With over 20 years in the health and fitness business, we know how to get you looking and feeling great, and we’ve compiled a list of the most helpful ways to do so.

Eat Right

Cut out the fatty, starchy, high-carb foods and move toward lean meats, fiber-rich vegetables, whole grains and fresh fruit. This will not only keep your digestion going strong but keep your body in high-metabolism mode.

Don’t eat too much food that is high in salt/sodium. These snacks retain more fluid giving you a bloated, “fluffy” look. Along with salty snacks like chips and pretzels, frozen meals and processed foods have high daily values of sodium, so it’s best to steer away from those when possible.

Avoid eating 3 hours before you go to sleep. Allowing food to digest while you sleep limits its effectiveness.

Drink Water

Studies have shown drinking water throughout the day helps fill you up leaving you less hungry at meal-time.

Proper hydration also aids digestion.

By drinking water, you are hopefully staying away from sugary soda or alcohol, which are calorie-loaded and weight-inducing.

Incorporate Ab and Full-Body Exercises

Even though you may be focusing on reducing your belly fat, it’s important to incorporate fully-body exercises and cardio workouts, which help get rid of excess weight. Start each workout with a quick jog or power walk outside or on a home treadmill.

We also recommend using workout weights to increase muscle mass. Cardio and strength training increase your metabolism and help you burn more calories.

Don’t forget to do targeted workouts focusing on improving your abdomens. There are a number of exercises that focus on the 9 different regions of the core. These may be as simple as crunches on a medicine ball or as complex as using a Body-Solid Home Gym. As you advance, increase intensity by either adding weight or reps. You can, for example, do crunches while holding a weight plate to your chest or tossing a medicine ball to your partner or trainer.

About the Author: Fitness Equipment Etc. has the largest showroom of work-out equipment and gear in New England. We specialize in providing you exactly what you need whether it be an elliptical cross trainer machine or floor mats for exercise. Browse our collection today, and find what you’re looking for!