Trim your tum in 5 days

By Jade Pickering

Nutrition/diet

27 June 2011 10:47

If you’re losing weight, but your clothes still feel tight then bloating may be the culprit. Follow Yoursdietclub.co.uk nutritionist, Catherine Matthews’, top tips on how to beat the bloat and get a flatter tum in just five days.

Cut out belly-bloating foods
These differ from person to person but there are common offenders. If you have a bulging belly after eating a sandwich, then white bread could be to blame. Yeast likes warmth and your stomach is the perfect place for it to brew and release gas.
Avoid takeaways and processed meals too, because of their high salt content can cause water retention, which leads to a swollen tum and sometimes wind.

Switch to tummy flattening foods
To encourage a slimmer tum, probiotic yogurt is fantastic for easing digestion and supporting the growth of good bacteria – great for keeping pesky bugs at bay. Cranberry juice, the age-old favourite, is still recommended for tackling water retention, plus it flushes out toxins too. Cutting down on carbs and filling your diet with fish and poultry instead will make a huge difference to a bloated stomach, they are lower in fat but contain plenty of protein for promoting strong bones.

Change the way you eat
A good mealtime routine will encourage healthy eating and to stop you feeling bloated. Make sure you always sit at the dinner table, to help encourage better posture and ease digestion. Chew your food slowly and fully without gulping – fast eaters swallow just as much air as food!

Blast fat
As we all know exercise is key when trying to beat the bloat, but what actually counts to helping you lose weight? Adults are recommended to get at least 30 minutes of physical activity five times a week. But this doesn’t mean you have to join a gym – anything that gets your heart rate going is good. Brisk walking can burn up to 150 calories in 30 minutes and swimming 240 calories over the same period.

Work out your tummy
Tummy muscles can become stretched as we get older, so it’s important to keep them strong. No need for fancy exercise equipment, just find a space on your living room floor for this simple exercise. Lie on the floor on your back, bend your knees and let them fall towards the floor – your back should still be flat on the floor. Place both hands behind your head and slowly lift your shoulders off the floor until your left side contracts. Return to the start position. After completing a set of 10, repeat with the opposite side. Do this every day and you’ll soon see results. 

For more health and diet advice see the latest issue of Yours Magazine – out now!