Eat, drink and still shrink

Fortunately, there are plenty of proven strategies for melting off excess ab flab.

Adapted from Look Better Naked

Eliminate Added Sugar
The average Australian eats about 43 kg of sugar per year in the form of processed foods such as soft drinks, baked goods, breakfast cereals, fruit drink, and even flavoured yoghurt—about 688,000 empty kJ’s worth! Plus, all that sugar increases insulin production, which slows metabolism.

Pump Up Your Protein Intake
Substituting meat, fish, dairy and nuts for carbohydrates can reduce the amount of fat you have around your waist region. Researchers at McMaster University in Canada assessed the diets of 617 people and discovered that when they switched carbs in favour of an equal amount of protein, they reduced overall belly fat.

Order Smart at Happy Hour
Replace your kilojoule-packed margarita with our Look Better Naked cocktail or a glass of wine. Research shows that beer drinkers, in particular, have the most belly fat. And then pace yourself: A US study found that binge drinkers (people who typically down more than three or four drinks at a time) have more ab fat than people who sip the same quantity of alcohol over several days.

Don’t Fear Fat
Research shows that diets containing more than 50 per cent fat are just as effective for weight loss as those that are low in fat. “Fat is filling and adds flavour to food—both of which help prevent you from feeling deprived, so you’ll be less likely to overeat,” says nutritionist Alan Aragon. Eat foods rich in mono-unsaturated fats, aka MUFAs, the celebrated belly fat-targeting foods; research has even found that it’s okay to enjoy whole foods that contain saturated fat (including milk, cheese and butter) in moderation.

Beat Bloat
No matter how much ab fat you lose or muscle you tone, if you’re bloated, you won’t look (or feel!) your best. Carbonated beverages and even good-for-you foods such as beans and broccoli, can make your stomach swell. And lighten up on salt (and salty snacks and processed foods): Nutritionists suggest you keep your daily sodium intake to under 1,900 milligrams—considerably less than the 6,000 milligrams most of us ingest per day—so that you don’t retain excess fluids.