Diet for a Flat Stomach

Achieving a flat belly requires a healthy diet and workout plan. If you stick to your plan, your body will respond favorably.

Portion Control
Don't try a fad diet plan that only works in the short term. When you properly portion your food intake on a regular basis, you will consume fewer calories. Your stomach is the size of your fist, and consuming more food than that in a single setting causes the stomach to stretch. The full feeling that registers in your brain occurs when your stomach begins stretching after food consumption. For over-eaters the stomach can stretch four or five times greater than its initial fist-size. A healthy serving for a portion of meat is about the size of the palm of your hand, and a serving of pasta should be no larger than your fist.

Meal Schedule
To boost your metabolism, start eating five or six small meals per day as opposed to three large meals. Always start with breakfast as this is provides your body with a healthy metabolism boost to begin the day. Eat a snack about two or three hours later followed by lunch a couple hours after that. Eat another snack two hours after lunch, followed by dinner. Finish the day with your final snack a couple of hours after dinner

Cardio Exercise
A cardio workout is necessary because it burns large quantities of calories. A good cardio program consists of increasing your heart rate for thirty consecutive minutes two or three days per week on non-consecutive days. You can walk, run, job, cycle, hike or perform any other activity that you can enjoy for this time period.

Abdominal Focus
An abdominal focus is necessary because it works the exact area that you desire to tone. Exercises for the abs work the muscle group located directly in the stomach area. Select a program that works every aspect of the abdominals. Focusing on one exercise will not be productive. When you design your program, be sure to perform the movements correctly and slowly. This is what works the abs most effectively. Do your abs program two or three days a week--on opposite days from your cardio program.

Patience
The key to a flat stomach and maintaining it is patience. There is not an overnight or quick-fix solution. With a good diet and exercise regimen you will see results. Stay consistent with your approach. Tweaking and changing eating habits because you don't see a quick result will not help. Allow your body the time it needs to get accustomed to the new routine, and it will start to work for you.