By Alex Ababio
A flat stomach isn’t just something celebrities are born with—it’s something they work hard to get and maintain as well. With these 5 proven ways to get a flat stomach fast, you can follow in their footsteps and achieve that rock-hard midsection you’ve always wanted, without starving yourself or wasting your money on crazy diet tricks.
1) Eat healthy fats
Eating healthy fats is one of the best ways to help keep your stomach flat. It’s true that eating fat will make you gain weight, but as we learned earlier, this is not true for everyone and it depends on your genetics. Even if you are predisposed to storing more fat on your stomach, eating healthy fats will ensure that those extra pounds are less likely to settle in that area.
Healthy fats are best consumed in plant-based foods such as nuts, seeds, and avocado. Fish is also an excellent source of healthy fats, which will help you keep your stomach flat. Avoid consuming unhealthy fats like trans fat and saturated fat from processed foods. Focus on whole foods instead.
How much should I eat? Now that you know what you should eat more of and what you should avoid, it’s time to talk about portion control. Remember that all foods have calories, so the key is moderation. What does moderation mean? For most people, moderation means eating between 1500 and 1800 calories per day (depending on how active you are). If you’re trying to lose weight or get a flat stomach fast, consider cutting down to 1200-1500 calories per day.
2) Cut out sugar and refined carbs
It is recommended that you cut out sugar and refined carbs from your diet as much as possible. One way you can do this is by avoiding foods with refined sugar, like packaged cereals and other breakfast goods, as well as any soda or fruit juice containing high amounts of sugar. Cutting out processed foods also plays an important role in getting rid of excess belly fat. This includes things like donuts, chips, or any food with too many artificial ingredients or high sodium content. You should also avoid drinking too much alcohol.
Carbs are another food group that you should avoid in order to lose belly fat. Refined carbohydrates, such as white bread and other processed grains, can cause your blood sugar levels to spike, leading to an energy crash and cravings later on. Whole grains, on the other hand, are digested slowly and will help keep you full for longer. Try switching from white bread or pasta to whole wheat varieties and see how much of a difference it makes.
3) Keep your portions in check
Believe it or not, the type of food you eat matters. A variety of colorful vegetables will help you stay healthy while also keeping your stomach flat. Start by eliminating or cutting back on fatty and unhealthy foods like refined carbs, sugar, processed meats, and red meat. Then gradually introduce healthier whole grains like oatmeal and quinoa as well as fruits and non-starchy vegetables into your diet.
You’ll also want to make sure you’re getting enough lean protein from sources like fish, chicken, and plant-based protein powders. And don’t forget that water is essential for keeping your body healthy while losing weight. The Institute of Medicine recommends adult men drink roughly 13 cups of water a day and adult women drink 9 cups daily, but you may need more or less depending on your age and activity level.
4) Do HIIT workouts
HIIT workouts are an amazing way to get your body moving and see the results you want. If you’re not convinced, here are 5 reasons why HIIT is the way to go!
• You can do it anywhere: There’s no need for weights or equipment; all you need is yourself.
• You won’t dread getting out of bed for that early morning workout.
• Get in shape with those summer beach bod dreams!
• You’ll get better results in less time. Do four minutes of HIIT and you’ll burn twice as many calories as from regular workouts that last 30 minutes or more.
5) Drink lots of water
Drinking water can help you feel full so you are less likely to eat junk food, but more importantly it can hydrate your cells and help them function more efficiently. One of the best ways you can stay healthy is by hydrating your body with water all day.
Incorporate water into your daily life and you’ll feel more energetic, your skin will be healthier, and you can even prevent problems like bloating and constipation. Start drinking water from the moment you wake up. If it’s too hard for you to drink enough all at once, start with a glass of water when you get out of bed and keep going until you’ve reached your target.