At last, summer is nearing and bikini season is fast approaching so ensure your torso is toned and beach ready with Stephanie Moore’s ultimate flat stomach top tips.
With problem areas most commonly being the upper arms, thighs and most significantly the stomach most women find themselves crash dieting and being at a loose end before summer. However, there are many things to be done to help reduce fat around the stomach area and reduce water retention and bloating.
StyleNest have teamed up with Stephanie Moore, Clinical Nutritionist, Weight and Health Coach and Eating Disorder Counseller to bring you her top five tips on how to achieve a healthy flat stomach all year round.
Step 1. Eat Bitter Food
Eat bitter foods such as broccoli, cabbage, pickles and natural yoghurt and sour dough bread which help encourage the production of gastric juices and improve digestion. This prevents foods from stagnating in the gut, building up gases. A key reminder when eating is to remember to chew your food thoroughly, especially raw veggies as this can cause indigestion.
Step 2. Don’t Get Carried Away
Don’t over do it with the stomach crunches and sit-ups. Crunches aim to work-out your six-pack muscles which are superficial muscles and too many can shorten these muscles, resulting in bulking up, instead of giving you the slender torso you so desire. Deeper abdominal muscles and your oblique muscles are at the sides of your waist and will give you a more desirable shape, by core strengthening exercises such as the plank and the side plank.
Step 3. Probiotic
Take a high potency probiotic for seven days every few months to maintain a healthy gut bacteria which will ensure a healthy digestive process and regular bowel movements.
Step 4. Fruit on a Full Stomach
Try not to eat fruit on a full stomach as it will ferment, creating gases and cause bloating. Stewed fruits and berries after a meal are OK but the worst are sweeter fruits such as melon, mango, banana and grapes.
Step 5. Pilates Ball
Whilst at your desk, sit on a large Pilates ball to help strengthen your core muscles and lower back whilst tighten up your abdominal muscles. Posture is key to a flat stomach as standing and sitting straight will change the shape of your spine, dropping the shoulder blades down and pulling your tummy in.
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