5 Tips on How to Tone Your Belly Before Summer

Summer is fast approaching - which means more sun and less clothes.

You’ve probably heard the saying, “abs are made in the kitchen”, right? It’s true, what you eat and drink does have a major effect on your ability to develop and maintain a set of abs. 

In this article, we will cover our top 5 tips on how to tone your belly before summer - both in the kitchen and in the gym.

1. Water Intake

Water is essential for our survival. Water is also essential if you’re looking to grow some rock-hard abs before summer comes. When we drink water, we’re helping our bodies maintain the proper fluid balance and prevent water retention - one of the most common causes of bloated bellies). In addition, water helps the body to feel full, therefore you’ll be less inclined to snack throughout the day, and more likely to eat less at meal times. As if those reasons weren’t enough, water also works to break down our fat and use it for energy, by moving nutrients to the muscles and increasing the body’s metabolism rate. 

2. Drink Tea

Believe it or not, one of the best ways to achieve a slim stomach is to consume tea - green tea, peppermint tea and ginger tea to be specific. 

• Green Tea - Green tea has a plethora of benefits, with reducing belly fat as one of them. Thanks to the many antioxidants, such as catechins, that green tea contains. So, for extra belly fat burning power, try sipping a cup of green tea prior to working out. 
• Ginger Tea - Did you know that ginger helps calm your GI tract, leading to a reduction in stomach bloating? It’s true. Adding some fresh ginger to hot water in order to create a tea, then drinking it before a workout, has been shown to reduce stomach bloat.
• Peppermint Tea - Many restaurants offer peppermint candies for customers to enjoy after their meal. This is no accident. Peppermint is a digestive aid, helping to clear out the digestive tract. Brew a peppermint tea or add peppermint leaves to water or green tea and drink the liquid before hitting the gym.

3. Ban Alcohol

This one is hard… But if you’re serious about reaching your goal of a toned belly before summer, staying away from alcoholic beverages is key. Alcohol may provide you with the liquid courage to come out of your shell at a bar on a friday night, but believe me - alcohol is not your friend. In fact, alcohol consumption makes your body hang on (or store) more of the fat that you eat, all while slowing down the fat you’re burning by up to 36% (from the level your body would normally burn off fat). As if those facts weren’t reason enough to stop drinking in your quest for a hot summer bod, this next one will. Drinking alcohol has been shown to inhibit the body’s natural production of fat-burning hormones. Yikes!

4. Smoothie-Up

One of the best ways to keep your body hydrated and ensure it’s receiving all important nutrients, is to start making smoothies. Smoothies are packed with essential vitamins and minerals our bodies crave, especially when we are spending time working out at the gym. Try making a watermelon smoothie for a boost of hydration, or whip up a pineapple smoothie and enjoy the many benefits of bromelain (a vitamin found in pineapple).

5. One Word: CARDIO

Cardio is the absolute best form of working out if you’re fighting the battle against belly fat. In fact, Duke University did a study that found aerobic exercise to be the most effective way to burn deep, visceral belly fat. In addition, cardio such as an aerobic workout will burn 67% more calories than resistance training or any other regimen that combines both resistance and cardio. Straight-up cardio is the best way to slim down your tummy and get rid of that stubborn belly fat before the up-coming swimsuit season.

P.S. You are beautiful JUST the way you are! BikiniShop’s encourages women to embrace the wonderful, powerful, and beautiful body they’ve been blessed with!