The best way to monitor portion control is by measuring out the food we eat. But let’s face it, for many busy moms this is not likely to happen. Here are some useful tips to keep tabs on the amount of food you’re eating: Continue reading »

1.  Eat Less Food!
This one is number 1 for a reason.  No matter how good your exercise regimen is, no matter how good the quality of the food you eat, if you are eating too many calories, your abs have no chance.  The number 1, MOST IMPORTANT thing you can do if you want great abs is to eat less food.  Cut back on the calories!  A good way to start is to weigh yourself, then track how many calories you eat each day for a week, and weigh yourself again at the end of that week.  If your weight is down, congratulations, just keep up the good work!  If it’s the same or higher, cut back your daily calorie amount by about 500 calories, and weigh again next week.  Once you find the number that works best for you, stick to it!
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Eating a healthy diet is the most important thing you can do to lose weight. But with so many different diets to choose from, and different sources of information available, how do you know which diet is right for you?

The amount of information available can seem overwhelming at times, but eating healthy really is not that complicated. There are a few simple rules to follow if you want to look, and feel your best. Limiting your calories is definitely the most important thing you can do if you’re looking to drop some pounds, but here are 6 other tips you can use to make your food choices simpler, and your waist line smaller.

1. Eat Healthy, Whole Foods
What does that mean? It means you want to eat foods that are as close to their natural state as possible. You should limit, or eliminate, foods that come in bags, boxes, or packages. Read food labels, and if you don’t recognize an ingredient, don’t eat it! Continue reading »

The body experiences tremendous change throughout the course of pregnancy, and one of the most frequent requests from new moms is for exercises to strengthen, and tone up the tummy. The abdominal muscles are designed to stabilize the spine, not to flex it forward. This is why it’s important for everyone, and especially new moms, to focus abdominal training on exercises that promote strength and stability in the mid-section. The best way for a flat stomach is not to do 1000 crunches!

Here are 3 of the best ab exercises new moms can do to get a tight, toned tummy. Now, keep in mind that the exercises here will give you a tight, lean mid-section, but the only way you’re going to see it is by being consistent with your diet.

Exercise #1: The Plank

Planks are a great way to build strength, and stability in the abs. To perform a plank, get down on the floor in push-up position with your feet spread about shoulder width apart, and rest your upper body on your forearms instead of your hands. You want to keep your hips low, and your stomach muscles tight! Make sure you continue to breathe, and keep your head down in a neutral position. Maintain this position for as long as you can without feeling any discomfort in your lower back. Time yourself, and try to work up to being able to hold the position for 1 minute. Perform 2-3 timed sets as a part of your full body workout, and try to add a little time to your planks each week. Continue reading »