3 steps to a flat stomach for summer…
Memorial day is the unofficial start of summer but is your body feeling summer-ready?
Summer is supposed to be carefree, fun and full of adventure!
If a little extra fluff around the middle or belly bloat has you feeling down, insecure or uncomfortable in your own skin then I’ve got you covered.
The Summer Solstice is officially the start to summer and it’s just around the corner so there’s still time for you to get a flat stomach so you can wear your summer wardrobe carefree.
And it doesn’t require counting calories, crash dieting or spending hours at the gym.
Because the fact of the matter is, belly fat or bloating is NOT always from eating too much and exercising too little. In fact, calories-in versus calories-out is a dying school of thought.
I previously wrote a calorie counting blog showing just how broken the calorie-counting and crash-dieting approach is. In fact, cutting calories and crash dieting can actually cause weight gain long-term.
Everywhere you turn you’ll see all kinds of marketing, promotional products and advertising geared towards the calories-in versus calories-out method for weight-loss and finding that flat stomach.
And yet, people still struggle to lose or regulate weight, even when they’ve tried almost every diet and exercise routine out there.
And what about the people who have stick-skinny arms and legs but are round in the middle – what’s their story?
What’s up with that belly fat or bloating that just won’t budge?!
The accumulation of fat, particularly around the midsection, and bloating is way more complex than what is portrayed in mainstream health.
Calories and exercise actually play a small role in your overall health with all things considered. In some cases, eating “healthy” and exercising can even contribute to fat accumulation and bloating.
The biggest contributors to pudgy tummy and bloating are:
- Inflammation
- Digestive upset
- Stress
In this week’s video and blog, I give you 3 steps to getting a flat stomach instantly so you can feel comfortable in your own skin and have carefree fun all summer long!
As I said before, calories aren’t the culprit but what you’re eating could be.
The first two steps to a flat stomach do involve your diet as it relates to inflammation and digestive upset which alone can cause bloating but also contribute to inflammation.
When I work with clients, figuring out what foods are right for their body so it can function at its potential is the first thing we focus on. And as a result they always immediately notice a reduction in their waistline and an increase in energy.
Step #1 is to avoid inflammatory foods.
You are unique therefore the foods that cause inflammation for you would be unique too. Doing a food sensitivity test is the best way to pinpoint foods that aren’t doing you justice.
But there are some foods out there that are inflammatory for everyone and should be avoided based on their molecular structure, how they interact with the body and the load of toxins they contain.
The top inflammatory foods for everyone, regardless of a sensitivity, to avoid are:
- Gluten
- Dairy
- Sugar
- Soy
Cutting these foods out completely will quickly get you one step closer to that flat stomach for summer. Keep in mind it can take a few days to get these toxic and inflammatory foods out of your system completely, but once you do you’ll definitely notice a difference!
Step #2 is to eat the right ratios of proteins, carbs and fats for your body.
Eating the wrong ratios of proteins, carbs and fats for your body can cause digestive upset leading to bloating and inflammation resulting in that spare tire feel. Plus, this could be a big source of your energy and sleep struggles which don’t help your flat stomach game either.
When you eat the right ratios you can avoid digestive upset, boost your energy and ensure your body is getting the nutrients it needs to achieve your health goals.
So how do you know what the right ratios are? Lucky for you I’ve put together a food and body language log to help you figure this out and dial it in.
Click here to get the log and lock in your ratios for a flat stomach.
Step #3 is to de-stress, especially around meal time.
Stress in general can lead to a pudgy tummy, and especially stress around meal times.
Stress of any kind triggers your body to release the hormone cortisol, and too much cortisol causes your body to deposit fat right where you don’t want it, around your midsection.
And if you’re eating while stressed then you can’t adequately digest your food resulting in that uncomfortable belly bloat, food cravings and low energy.
Stress de-activates the digestive system as your body’s way of conserving resources to deal with the stressor, which is a brilliant mechanism if there was a true threat trigger you needed your fight or flight response for, but even low-grade stress from watching the news, sitting in traffic or having a tough conversation with a loved one sends your body into stress fighting action.
The cool thing is that you can turn off the stress response to aid in digestion, banish bloating and flatten your stomach just as quickly as it was activated. All you have to do is adopt the deep, rhythmic breathing patterns of a relaxed person and voila!
To do this…
Inhale for the count of 5 seconds
Hold for the count of 5 seconds
Exhale for the count of 7 seconds
And repeat 5-10 times.
Do these 3 steps and I promise your stomach will look and feel flatter in less than a week!
And keep doing them to look and feel your best for the long run 🙂
Remember, you don’t have to count a single calorie or run yourself into the ground working out to get the results you’re looking for. There are many pieces to the puzzle to consider.
If you’d like to get your hands on the right lab tests and resources so you can find the missing pieces to your health puzzle and get back to feeling like yourself again, click here to schedule a complimentary Ideal Health & Weight Discovery Session.
