Belly Blaster!

Summer is here and it's time to out away the sweathsirts and sweatpants.  Winter clothes can hide those extra bulges and rolls but t-shirts, tank tops, and swimsuits aren't as forgiving.  While we all want to look good, extra fat around your waist can also be deadly. Research shows that people with "apple-shaped" bodies (with more weight around the waist) face more health risks than those with "pear-shaped" bodies who carry more weight around the hips. Grab the tape measure, click here to calculate your hip to waist ratio.

So- how do you get rid of your belly fat?  Here it is in 3 steps.

• Step One: No more junk.
  The best way to do this is by cleaning out your kitchen. Throw out the sugary, processed and fat-filled foods. Once the junk has been cleared out, don’t buy any more of it. Remember that your beach-ready abs depend on what you eat – don’t eat junk!
• Step Two: Eat whole foods.
  Replace the junk food in your life with plenty of the following: cooked and raw vegetables, fresh fruits, whole grains, moderate amounts of seeds and nuts, lean meats and low fat dairy. Clean eating really is that simple.
• Step Three: Workout with intention.
  Get a workout plan that excites you!  Go hiking, join a bootcamp, go swimming, or hit the gym!  Whatever moves you – do it. 

A few more tips...
-Don't go crazy with the crunches, you need cardio to burn off that layer of fat.  Women- look to pilates/yoga for a strong core. Crunches and other ab intensive exercises will make you stronger, but those muscles will stick out. Men like to have 6 pack abs, women like a flat tummy.

-Don't starve yourself.  A dramatic drop in calories will give you short term weight loss, but you will slow your metabolism, causing you to ultimately gain it back, and then some.   Your body needs a certain amount of calories to function- just make sure they are nutritious calories. 

-You don't have to give up carbs, just switch to whole grains rather than processed white flour and sugar for energy. 

A few changes in diet, increase the exercise and you will be beach body ready in no time!