How to Get Rid of those Last Couple Pounds this Summer
So you have made the commitment to a body transforming fitness program.
You read (and follow the advice in) every Train To Sweatt blog post.
You are eating healthy and have made quite a bit of progress.
But, oh no, summer is now here and there are still those last couple of pounds that you JUST HAVE to lose before you can step out on the beach and show off your new bod, er… I mean bathing suit. Itsy Bitsy, Tinnie Weenie, Yellow, Polka Dot Bikini anyone.
What’s a person to do?
These are the questions that I have been asked at the club and sent to me via email recently. So today I will share with you some tips I gave to one of these questioners in the hope that the advice will help you finally rid yourself of those last couple pounds.
Q: Paul,
I have been following your Train To Sweatt blog since you went live last September. Since I have started reading your articles, I have stopped doing 3 sessions of 45-60 minutes of regular cardio a week and have replaced them with intense 15-20 min interval workouts. Also, I am keeping myself active by moving around more though out the day. I have reached my goal weight but still have a tiny roll of fat on the lower part of my stomach that just won’t go away. Since I don’t want to lose any more weight, are there any ab exercises that will help tone it up. Thanks for your help! - B.
A: First off B., congratulations on reaching your goal weight. Second, since you are an avid reader of my blog you should know that spot reducing is not possible. The best way to get rid of that roll and flatten your stomach is to clean up what you are eating. Your diet determines 80+% of how your body looks especially around your stomach. So even though you have swapped your cardio for (the more beneficial) intervals (hopefully you are doing some resistance training as well) the more dramatic, stomach flattening effects will come from what and how you eat.
So make sure you follow these stomach flattening nutrition tips:
1.) Stock your kitchen with only healthy, waist trimming foods. First, get rid of all the refined crap you have lurking in your kitchen. Make sure you check EVERY nook and crannie (and label) as junk food likes to hide in some of the least obvious places. Second, go read about the 9 Flat Stomach Foods You MUST Have in Your Kitchen and make of list of what your need. And finally go to the grocery store and stock up.
2.) Keep yourself honest. I am sure that you believe that you are eating as healthy and clean as you can at least 90% of the time. Are you resisting temptation? Do you really deserve your cheat meals? Are you conveniently “forgetting” about certain unhealthy snacks you “might” have had? Not so sure of yourself now are you? To only way to make sure, that you are eating that way you need to be eating to get rid of those last few pounds, is to write it all down. So, for at least the next 7 days keep a detailed food journal. Doing this will make you realize just how much you are eating and it will also help you to see just how consistent you are with your healthy and clean eating. Because too many calories even from healthy foods and/or having just as many bad days as good will keep you fat.
I swear everything in this food journal is 100% accurate.
3.) Check for possible food allergies or intolerances. While you are keeping your food journal also write down if you seem more bloated, sluggish and/or cranky after eating certain foods. Doing this can help you figure out what foods you might need to eliminate from your diet to finally reach your hard body goal. Because who wants to work out when they are tired, moody and feel too fat for the gym outfit they packed today. Dairy and wheat are big culprits.
One (or more) of these foods could be keeping you just fat enough.
4.) Eat as many fruits and veggies as you can stand. There is not a better more tastier way to resisting temptation and getting a flat stomach than eat fruits and veggies. They are low in calories and high in nutrients. Think of them as Mother Nature’s little fat burners. Mangiare.
If that picture doesn’t make you want to eat your veggies I don’t know what will.
So, if you want to get rid of that last bit of stomach fat and finally flatten that bad boy up, don’t focus on what stomach exercise you can do. Instead make sure you are eating the right amount of healthy foods everyday. Do this and you want want to hide under that over-sized t-shirt this year.
Your friend and trainer,
Paul F. Sweatt
The Wellesley Weight Loss Expert
Posted by Paul | in Nutrition, Weight Loss Strategies | No Comments
