4 Habits That Are Giving You Belly Pudge
Turns out, certain behaviors that have been hyped as healthy actually add fat to your middle. Ugh. No worries - we have the fixes. Muffin top, consider yourself warned. (And watch out for these so-called healthy foods that can pack on pounds.)
1. You Skip Meals
This tactic always backfires. You end up so hungry later on that you can't help but overeat. And when you do, more fat will inevitably find its way to your midsection. Eating small- to medium-size meals every three to four hours, however, fills you up without resulting in a layer of flab. You don't have to skip meals, or even diet to lose weight. Here's how.
2. You Go Vegetarian
Women will often avoid foods from the meat, fish, and dairy groups because they think they are packed with calories and fat. But remember, these foods are protein superstars that help boost your metabolism so you can fend off tummy pudge. Opt for low-calorie, low-fat choices, like cottage cheese or tuna (one 6-ounce can fulfills three-quarters of your daily protein requirement).
3. You're Crunch-Crazed
Sit-ups tone muscle, true, but they don't have any effect on the layer of fat covering them. So doing 50, 100, or even 500 crunches won't make your jeans feel any looser. What does work? Cardio. Instead of wasting all your time on crunches, spend an extra 10 minutes on the treadmill. To make the most of your workout try these tips from celeb trainers.
4. You Booze a Lot, but Infrequently
Alcohol has lots of calories yet doesn't fill you up at all. So when you binge-drink, nutritionists say, you're basically inviting flab to settle on your midsection. That's why cutting down on drinks is one of the best weight loss tips ever.If you crave a drink, make it red wine; research suggests it may actually help fight pooch.
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