This Article definately caught my attention. Ways to trim that TUMMY...Foods
Best:Beans and berries. White beans, blackberries, dried apricots and winter squash are high-fiber winners, says John Allred, PhD, professor of nutrition in the department of food science and technology at Ohio State University in Columbus. Not only is fiber great for weight loss because it makes you feel full, but it also prevents constipation, which can make your belly look larger. Aim for 25 to 35 grams (g) a day. Note: If you're not used to eating high-fiber foods, increase your intake slowly and spread it throughout the day. Too much, too fast can cause bloating and discomfort.
Worst:
Anything eaten in excess. Eating too many calories—whether they're fats, carbohydrates, or proteins—can expand your waistline.
Drinks
Best:Ice-cold water. It's calorie-free and fills you up, so you eat less. It can also help flush away premenstrual bloating. Drink it ice chilled, and you'll even burn a few extra calories as your body warms it up.
Worst:Alcohol. Beer and liquor tend to raise levels of cortisol, a hormone that appears to steer fat toward the tummy. You're also more likely to get the munchies when you've been drinking.
Supplement
Best: Calcium. This mineral is essential to keep your bones strong and prevent osteoporosis, which can lead to fractures in your spine. Those fractures produce a slumping posture and a protruding belly. (When vertebrae fracture, the spine and abdominal cavity shorten, pushing the stomach outward.)
If you're a woman age 50 or older, shoot for 1,500 milligrams (mg) of calcium a day. For women under 50 and men, the target is 1,000 mg.
Worst:
"Fat-burning" pills. These so-called wonder drugs promise a trimmer tummy without any mention of the words "exercise" and "nutrition." Your money would be better spent on a good pair of walking shoes!
Sports
Best: Kickboxing, racquetball, swimming (crawl stroke) and tennis (singles). Any type of aerobic exercise will burn off belly fat. But these are rated best because they involve movements—rotating, pulling and swinging—that use the waist muscles too. And they all burn more than 475 calories an hour.
Worst : Bicycling. For abs, that is! Those muscles are not engaged at all. But you do have calorie burn: Biking at a moderate 12 mph pace burns 544 calories. So if you like it, stick with it—just focus on keeping your abs tight as you ride.
Habits
Best: Standing and sitting up straight. Slouching forward accentuates your belly. But good posture is an instant belly flattener—and over time, it will become second nature.
Worst:
Smoking. Those who puff tend to have larger waistlines than nonsmokers and former smokers. The culprit here seems to be cortisol, the hormone of stress (which may itself be fueling the habit).
If want to hide your tummy fast, these debloating and camouflaging tricks can take an inch or more off your waistline in 12 hours.
Tummy Tips
- Drink water. Carbonated drinks and those with lots of sugar can blow your belly up like a balloon, says Peter McNally, DO, spokesperson for the American College of Gastroenterology.
- Skip the chips. Salt makes you retain water, especially before your period. Processed and canned foods also tend to be high in sodium.
- Give your jaw a break. Chewing gum can cause you to swallow excess air.
- Get some java "to go." If you're feeling overdue for a bathroom session, studies show that a cup or two of coffee can get things moving.
- Shape up underneath. Body shapers, or high-waisted spandex waist nippers and panties, can take off an inch or more. The more spandex (Lycra) they contain, the more control you'll get. Note: Excess bulge can squeeze up and over, so avoid clingy tops, says Jan Larkey, a Pittsburgh-based image consultant and author of Flatter Your Figure (Simon & Schuster, 1992).
- Buy the dress that fits now. Forget sizes! No one will see the tag, but if it's too snug around your middle, you might as well yell, "Hey, check out my belly!" Show off your strongest feature to draw attention away from your tummy. Great arms? Go sleeveless. Tina Turner legs? Wear a shorter hemline. Sexy shoulders? Choose thin—or no—straps. If you prefer a dressy suit, choose a long jacket worn over a straight, slim skirt.
Hopefully these tricks work. Hahaa!!!
