Abs Are Made in the Kitchen: How to Lose Stubborn Belly Fat

One of the biggest areas of concern we see from people trying to lose weight is getting rid of stubborn belly fat. The bottom line is abs are made in the kitchen, not the gym.

Most people don’t realize exercise alone isn’t enough to get a flatter stomach; you have to change your diet and your exercise for effective and long-lasting results. Keep reading to learn how to make abs in your kitchen with our easy-to-follow tips.

Reduce Carb Intake

One of the worst things you’re doing to your stomach is loading up on carb-loaded dishes, primarily if you work a desk job. When you don’t exercise or work a sedentary job, your body isn’t burning off those carbs and storing them as fat. This means fewer sandwiches at work and paying attention to how much pasta you consume. 

If you still want those carbs, make sure you’re getting exercise that day. Your body wants carbs to burn for energy, and a brisk run or 30-minute workout is all you need to enjoy the extra helping of pasta.

Drink Less Alcohol

One of the worst things you can do to your body is consume alcohol. There’s a reason people call it a beer belly. Alcohol has no nutritional value and is empty calories in your diet. Plus, when you drink, you tend to make worse nutritional decisions, such as eating fatty foods you normally would.

When you drink, your body looks at the alcohol as poison, so it does everything it can to get rid of it. This means it’s working on burning the alcohol in the drink rather than the sugars or carbs in it. Pair this with the unhealthy food choices you make while you drink, and you’re only adding weight to your hips and stomach.

Now, even we enjoy drinks from time to time, it’s important to remember to do it in moderation. If you’re planning a night out to drink, pre-make healthy food options so when you get home and eat, you’re not destroying your progress.

Choose Healthier Snacks

There are healthy snacks options out there! We get it, some people just need to snack, and that’s okay. What isn’t okay, though, is reaching for greasy chips or fatty foods to get your fill. Opt for healthier snacks, and you’ll slowly start to see your stomach shrink.

On the flip side, completely cutting out your snacking will help you see your progress quicker. If you’re trying to cut out snacks, choose one day each week where you’re going to commit to no snacking all day. Then, slowly increase that to twice a week, and so on.

Soon, you won’t crave food in between meals, and you won’t need to get snacks!

Eat More Protein

If you’re trying to lose weight, as well as improve your muscle definition (hello six-pack!), eating protein at every meal is a must. Working out alone isn’t enough – remember, abs are made in the kitchen. To increase your protein intake, add eggs to your next meal, or have a side of Greek yogurt. 

Once you add more protein to your diet, you’ll also notice you’re fuller for longer. Not only does protein jumpstart your metabolism, but it also helps your body feel more full and makes you less likely to eat something.

Get More Sleep

Of course, it’s easier said than done, but your body needs sleep! When you’re sleep-deprived, your body increases its cortisol levels, which in turn can decrease your metabolism. This causes you to gain weight!

Not getting enough sleep can also increase your stress levels. As you know, when you’re stressed out, your body isn’t working at full capacity. It makes you store more fat or causes you to stress eat.

Make sure you’re setting a sleep schedule and sticking to it.

Have Cheat Meals

Some people call this a re-feed, but I like to call them cheat meals. Once a week, have a meal that has a ton of calories and carbs to replenish these in your body.  

This way, your body can continue to burn those carbs, and calories when you workout and prevent your system from storing fat since it doesn’t think it’s getting more.

However, a cheat meal should still be healthy. Don’t go to McDonald’s and order a big mac and call it a day. Choose meals with healthy proteins, like chicken, with pasta and potatoes. 

Don’t Forget Exercise

While we know, abs are made in the kitchen, that doesn’t mean you can forget exercise altogether. Keep your workout routine fresh, and try new activities to keep progressing your body.

Remember, sit-ups alone won’t burn enough fat off your stomach! Include cardio workouts and full-body workouts so your body can burn fat everywhere. We recommend working out at least three times a week, especially if you’re just getting started.

It Gets Easier

Once you start forming these habits, you’ll realize how easy it is to eat right and exercise. You’ll notice your stomach shrinking and that you’re keeping it off.

Just remember to start small and make manageable changes. When you do this, it becomes easier to form new habits that come as second nature over time.

Abs Are Made in the Kitchen: Get Started Today

Now that you know why abs are made in the kitchen and how to make healthier food choices, it’s time for you to implement them today! Start small, and continue to create new habits each week. These changes will soon become second nature, and you won’t even realize you’re doing it.

If you’re ready to take the next step in your personal training journey, contact Peak Physique today! We’ve helped people just like you reach their fitness goals, and we can’t wait to help you too!