Get Flat AbsThe foods, the moves and a quick trick to help you lose the muffin-top now that it's beach season.

FUEL UP
Foods rich in protein help you build muscle, while soluble fiber - found in oats, beans, fruits, and veggies - shrinks belly fat. A study from Wake Forest found that for every 10-gram increase in soluble fiber people ate daily (about two small apples, a serving of oatmeal, a half cup of pinto beans, and a half cup of peas), their belly fat decreased by almost 4% over five years.

FIGHT WITH FIBER
Adding ground flaxseed to your diet - mix a teaspoon or two into cereal or yogurt - helps prevent constipation. (It's hard to have flat abs if your pipes are backed up.) To avoid stomachaches, increase fiber slowly and up your water intake, advises Jessica Crandall, R.D., spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
Related: 15 Foods That Fight Fat

GO FOR A FAT BLAST
In a Duke University study of 196 sedentary, overweight adults, aerobic training significantly

Oatmeal's not just a great way to start your day; it can be a satisfying mid-afternoon snack as well. And thanks to the variety of flavors of Quaker Instant Oatmeal , it can also be a semi-sweet ending to a light, nutritious meal. Come to think of it, oatmeal is a great way to satisfy your hunger any time of day. Check out these fun and funky oatmeal toppers that can turn your heart-healthy, fiber-packed breakfast into a delightful, anytime treat. Quaker has 9 varieties of instant oatmeal; here's a topping idea for each one:

Original - For those who prefer their oatmeal on the savory side, try sprinkling your original flavor oatmeal with Parmesan cheese and diced sun-dried tomatoes.

Raisin, Date and Walnut - Once you try this combination you'll never think of oatmeal the same way again. Top off your raisin, date and walnut bowl with some fresh figs and mascarpone cream.

Strawberries and Cream - As if strawberries and cream weren't enough, add a few banana slices and some

Celebrity trainer and creator of "Sunday Set-Up" Kathy Kaehler gave us some great advice on meal planning for summer. Kathy created "Sunday Set-Up" to help make eating healthy super easy. Instead of stressing about what to eat everyday, the program sets a routine that each Sunday you "set up" your food for the week.

Sunday Set-Up

The concept is quite simple: you make a list of what to buy (your favorite grain and lean protein, along with fresh fruits and veggies) and store it in glass-lock containers. It takes just 45 minutes on Sunday (or any day of the week) to prep and chop. It's the simplest way to eat healthy all week. Kathy prepared some of her favorite nutritious meals and snacks in her kitchen when we stopped by, including "breakfast in a jar", chopped vegetables (such as broccoli and carrots), hummus, vegetable soup (made with her chopped ingredients), and delicious baked pears.
 


Stars such as Angie Harmon, Tiffani Thiessen, Lisa Rinna, and Rebecca Romijn are

It's easy to turn oatmeal into a delicious breakfast treat.












Oatmeal is heart-healthy, high in fiber and quick and easy to make... and it can be fun to eat, too! If you're thinking oatmeal's ho-hum, you should know that these tasty morning breakfast ideas require just a few ingredients you probably already have on hand. You'll never look at breakfast the same way again!

Like blueberry pancakes but don't have time to whip up a batch? Take 1 tablespoon maple syrup, a handful of blueberries and add it to a packet of Quaker Instant Oatmeal for a quick version of everyone's favorite breakfast.

Have a cherries jubilee smoothie for breakfast! Add a handful of dried cherries to your oatmeal, add a teaspoon of almond extract and add a dollop of vanilla ice cream on top. Garnish with slivered almonds.

For a peach cobbler smoothie, add ice cream, a small can of peach nectar and Quaker Instant Oatmeal to a blender, add a tablespoon of honey and thin with milk as needed.

Instead of buying a slice of banana bread with your morning coffee, mash

Ever wonder how to use some of the fitness tools in your gym? Well, Amy Dixon, Equinox Group Fitness Manager in Santa Monica, CA stopped by "Summer Shape Up" to give us the skinny on the coolest fitness equipment that will fight the battle of the bulge. Here are five get-fit tools that you may or may not already be familiar with.

ViPR- (Viper) ViPR is an acronym for Vitality, Performance, and Re-conditioning. The rubber tubing varies in weight between 8 - 44 pounds. You can do any movement with this fitness tool and it will build lean muscle, while shredding calories.

Bosu Ballast Ball - This weighted stability ball doesn't roll away when doing various exercises such as Russian twists, crunches, and any plank variation.

Bosu Balance Trainer- This versatile fitness tool is great for exercises such as push- ups, mountain climbers, and side planks. The Bosu Balance Trainer enhances balance and adds to any cardio or strength training.

Kettlebell- Although the kettlebell

Some liquids can boost your workout — and others will bust your exerciseThirsty before hitting the gym? The question of what to drink before a workout has long been up for debate. Everyone has their pre-exercise ritual, whether it means chugging down a sports drink or not eating or drinking anything for fear of negative side effects during exercise. Yet, regardless of the diet we follow pre-exercise, most of us are unsure of what really is the best before we head to the gym.

Click here to see the Best and Worst Drinks to Sip On Before a Workout

To add to the confusion, the beverage industry has inundated us with a plethora of energy and sports drinks that claim to be improve performance and increase endurance. It is easy to get caught up in the hype and chose a drink without really knowing if it will actually help or harm you exercise regimen.

Click here to see 8 Drinks to Boost Your Metabolism

One thing that is for certain is it is important to stay hydrate during exercise. Keeping well hydrated allows you to replenish fluids lost as you exercise,

Try peanut butter and jelly oatmeal.













If your morning workout routine includes a workout for your abs but you are not seeing any results, the problem might be related to what you're eating. Your body's overall metabolism needs to be working top notch to really have all that exercise pay off. The foods you eat can play a huge role in how well your metabolism works. Eating oatmeal may be the secret to powering your workout and boosting your metabolism.

Two years ago I started working out and having a more active lifestyle. In the first year I lost almost 20 pounds. However, the last 10 pounds were the hardest to drop. After a lot of research I realized that by giving my body some better fuel in the morning and adding a little bit of cardio, I could set it up for a full day of calorie burning. The best fuel in the morning is a mix of whole grains, fruit, and dairy. However, if you are like me, healthy eating can get boring. So, I discovered healthy eating recipes on the Quaker website .

My favorite oatmeal breakfast has

This week, Summer Shape Up paid a visit to celebrity fitness trainer Jackie Warner to discuss her new book "10 Pounds In 10 Days," which divulges her secret formula for getting her star clients red carpet-ready. The program shows you how to lose a quick 10 pounds and how to continue losing weight over 30 days if you have more weight to lose. The book also includes simple food plans and workouts to enhance fat-burning and toning.

The New York Times best-selling author says her five "intensity techniques" are key to burning calories. These exercises jump start your metabolism and help make you look and feel better overall:

1. Cardio-acceleration: a short but intense cardio burst between strength-training exercises, such as jumping rope or using an elliptical machine.

2. High-intensity interval training (HIIT): alternating bursts of high-intensity and low-intensity aerobic activity, such as alternating a three-minute jog with a one-minute sprint.

3. Supersets: sets of two different