Are you currently on some type of diet and fitness plan to burn belly fat, lose ab fat, and get six-pack abs? Are you also frustrated that your ab fat loss plan isn't working and your efforts to burn belly fat are a big waste of time? It's not easy getting results even when you think you are doing all the right things. According Mike Geary, Certified Nutrition Specialist and author of The Truth About Six-Pack Abs, "there has never been a more confusing time regarding proper nutrition for consumers. Every so called "expert" out there seems to disagree and contradict each other on what's the best way to eat for fat loss and overall good health." But you don't have to be confused anymore. The following Q & A with MG gives you 5 easy to follow diet strategies for ab fat loss that work for everyone.
Do you need to be on a diet to burn belly fat?
MG: Your diet doesn't need to conform to any of the fad diets. You don't need to go "low carb" or "low fat", or high or low anything for that matter to be successful in losing enough body fat to get lean enough to be able to see your abs. I like to try to simplify things for my readers. I think that balance is the key to success along with eating a diet that is made up of nutrient dense foods in their natural state (as unprocessed as possible). In general, it is the heavy processing of foods that makes it wreak havoc inside our bodies. Most foods in their natural unprocessed state are inherently good for us. Of course there are always exceptions... a salad of poison ivy leaves is "natural and unprocessed" but certainly would not be good for us!
Why do fat loss experts recommend that you get enough quality protein?
MG: Not only does it have a higher thermic effect than carbs and fat (so you burn more calories digesting it), but it also creates satiety so your hunger is satisfied longer. Plus it's a building block for maintaining and building lean muscle... And remember that the amount of lean muscle you carry is one of the main factors for controlling your metabolism.
Is it o.k. to eat carbs when trying to lose ab fat and if so what type?
MG: Think fiber! When it comes to carbs, make sure that almost all of your carbohydrate intake is from higher fiber sources like vegetables, fruits, and high fiber unrefined grains. Try to avoid refined sugars and refined grains as that is one of the main reasons so many people struggle with body fat. I personally don't eat many grains as I prefer to get most of my carbs from veggies and fruits, but I do use sprouted grain breads fairly regularly too. I generally recommend looking for carbohydrate sources that have at least 2-3 grams of fiber per each 10 grams of total carbs. Remember that fiber helps fill you up and also slows down the glycemic response of the foods you eat, all beneficial for getting lean.
What about fat? Should you eat low fat for six-pack abs?
MG: Don't be afraid to eat fat! Many people try to go way too low on their fat intake and this can negatively affect hormone levels in your body as well as causing more cravings. Try to eat enough healthy fats daily. Good sources are all nuts and seeds, nut butters, avocados, olive oil, organic meats and eggs, coconuts and virgin coconut oil. On that note, saturated fats from tropical oils are VERY misunderstood, even by many nutritionists and other health professionals. Yes they are composed highly of saturated fats, but are actually beneficial (but that's way beyond the scope of this article).
What foods should you avoid if you want lean toned abs?
MG: Avoid the two worst things in our food supply at ALL COSTS:
- artificial trans fats from margarines, shortening, and hydrogenated oils that are in most processed foods and deep fried foods.
- high fructose corn syrup, which is in almost all sweetened products on the market
What kind of results can somebody expect when they follow these diet guielines?
MG: I always contend that once you get a handle on these 4 main points of your diet detailed above, the rest starts to take care of itself as you gain control over your appetite, blood sugar levels, hormones level, etc. It all falls into place, and you eventually gain total control over how lean you want to get.
Get Mike's free report, Training & Nutrition Insider Secrets for a Lean Body. It's 65 pages of awesome tips on how to burn belly fat and get six-pack abs. Click the link or the icon below: The Truth About Six-Pack Abs
