Everyone wants a flat belly; everyone is hoping to find a flat belly diet on the internet to help them get rid of their bulge.
There is lots of information on line, but how do find the best flat belly diet?
The Flat Belly Diet Plan
There is a diet plan called “The Flat Belly Diet” co-authored by Liz Vaccariello and Cynthia Sass.
It is a 1600 calorie a day, the Mediterranean diet that has an emphasis on unrefined foods like vegetables, fruit, lean protein, wholegrains, beans, seeds and very small amounts of red meat.
It claims you can lose 15 pounds in 32 days, and they have tested a trial group to prove their claim.
Vaccariello and Sass claim that the secret to the success of their flat belly diet is monounsaturated fats, which they call MUFAs. Monounsaturated fats are found in foods like avocados, dark chocolate, flaxseed, nuts, olives and olive oil, seeds, soybeans and sunflower oil, and are an important part of a healthy diet.
The authors say that MUFAs “whittle away belly fat”, MUFAs “target belly fat” also help control satiety, so by adding one MUFA at meals and snacks it is easier to stick with the weight loss program and lose belly fat,” according to Cynthia Sass.
Exercise is an optional extra in this Flat Belly Diet. In fact, the ads for the diet claim that a flat belly is achievable without “a single crunch.” This is a shame, because without cardio exercises to burn extra calories, and simple abdominal strength exercises to tone the belly area, results will be disappointing.
The inference is that exercise is not necessary but extensive research has shown the opposite to be true – physical activity is a vital part of a healthy lifestyle and achieving a flat belly.
An alternative flat belly diet
An alternative to Vaccariello and Sass’s diet plan, that could give you better flat belly results and be easier to follow, involves knowing what foods to eat and what foods to avoid. Obviously, the foods to avoid are fatty, highly processed and fast food.
The best foods to eat on a flat belly diet are lean protein like skinless chicken, fish, non-fat dairy products, dried beans and lentils. Then we need carbohydrates, and those that are slow to be digested are the best.
Generally, these are fruit and vegetables, whole grain cereals and breads. They have the added advantage of containing vitamins, minerals and anti-oxidants that we need to be healthy.
No flat belly diet is going to be effective without activity. Exercise that gets your heart beating faster and has you breathing harder is going to burn extra calories, which you need to get rid of belly fat.
Vary your cardio activity to prevent boredom and to use different muscles, and try to vary the intensity or speed during your workout.
Varying intensity will increase your fat burning. You also need to do some simple abs toning exercises, 3 times a week. Good ones include sit-ups, squats and planks, to strengthen your muscles and tone up your belly to give it the flat, toned look you want.
