ABS

Ok, I've literally had tons of emails since I posted my "ab update" photo on facebook. I, by no means, have perfect abs. I think the big response from my friends is simply because, I've NEVER had abs like this in my life, and I have a little kiddo. I still have plenty of work to do on my midsection. Besides my thighs, it's the one other place on my body that is the quickest to show me when my diet isn't up to par. :) And I'm still trying to figure out my own tricks to getting the "perfect set of abs". Here is what has worked so far for me:

1. Drink TONS of water. I drink at least a gallon a day, usually more. If you have stretch marks, this makes them less noticable too. I can tell when I'm low on water because my "stretchies" look extra stretchy. :)

2. Just say no to sugar - and probably alcohol while you're at it. I've cut sugar completely out of my diet. I rely on fruits as my source of sweetness for the most part. I do use stevia (a natural sweetner - like splenda, but natural) to sweeten my coffee and oatmeal, but that's about it. If you need syrup for pancakes - get sugar free...it only tatses weird the first few times, then you get used to it! As for alcohol....kind of a given. Sure, have your glass of wine once a week, but if you're drinking Long Island Iced Teas every weekend, it's not going to help you out on that six pack. And let's not even go to beer.

3. Choose your carbs wisely! If it's white - just put it away! If it says "made with whole grains" it's still not that good. Go for 100% whole grain carbs. Sure, I eat pasta - but I make sure it's 100% whole wheat. Not sure? Check the ingredients...if it has a million things listed, don't get it. The pasta I buy has one ingredient: 100% whole grain wheat. Seriously. This also goes for bread. I like eziekel bread/wraps/englis muffins, etc. They are in the freezer department. So good for you, and not too bad tasting either! Also go for brown rice instead of white - being married to a puertorican, this will be a tough one for me when Enrique gets home! :) Potatoes are a great option...just don't smother them with butter and salt! Cereal...my favorite food in the world. I stick with Kashi brand. They are usually pretty healthy. Just check the sugar - I try to stay with anything under 9g. I could go on and on about carbs...just don't be fooled by all the "healthy" options out there...if it's super convienent, it's probably packed with sugar. Carbs are not bad, they are very essential - you just have to choose them very wisely!!!

4. LEAN protien!! This ones pretty easy...don't go buy 85/15 hamburger! Stick with chicken/turkey breast, fish, lean red meat, eggs. I also eat a lot of greek yogurt, cottage cheese and protien shakes.

5. Think FRESH when it comes to produce! I don't even go down the aisle filled with canned fruits and veggies at the grocery store. If that stuff can sit on a shelf for years, just imagine what's in there! No thanks. Go for the fresh stuff. The produce section has so many foods that are FILLED with nutrients! It sometimes amazes me, and I'm reminded of how awesome our God is. Everything we need for optimal nutrition comes straight from the earth. Some of the most nutrient-rich foods come straight from the ground, to the store. So awesome. Maybe I'm a nerd, but I think that's pretty cool. :)

6. Good fats, good fats, good fats. You don't want a fat-free diet. No bueno. BUT you do want to incorporate good fats into your diet. What are these? I call them polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats. These fats are good for you. Unlike saturated and trans fats that sit in your gut and turn your six pack into a keg and raise your cholesterol, these two actually lower cholesterol. Monounsaturated fats, in particular, help with weight loss - especially in the midsection. These fats are found in nuts, avocados, olive oil, and canola oil. This includes peanut butter!! I put a tablespoon in my protien smoothies everytime!

7. Doing 100 crunches a night will NOT give you a six pack stomach. The old saying goes "Good abs are made in the kitchen." This is so true!! Honestly, I used to do abs everyday in my previous workouts. What a drag to do all that work and still have a spare tire around my waist. It's 80% diet. You have to feed your body the right foods to shed the excess fat around your waist. Everyone has a FABULOUS set of abs waiting under there to be revealed by a good diet. Consistant, clean eating will lead to great abs. Now, I did read somewhere that whether or not you have a 2, 4, or 6 pack is all dependent on your genetics. I'm not sure of this, but I've seen some very ripped people with only 4...so be happy with what you were blessed with.

That's my main advice. Keep in mind, these are the things I've done that have worked for me...everyone is different, some people need more or less carbs, some people have to cut down on fruit to get their abs showing...but this is a good starting point for most. I'm still trying to figure out my perfect ab equation. :) Good luck!