Luthando Shosha aka Lootlove has been embracing the summer with crop tops and we can’t help but notice her sexy abs.
Here are some guidelines to getting these washboard ABS and toned tummy through exercise and diet. DIET.
1. Eat six times a day
Alternate larger meals with smaller snacks and eat every 2 to 3 hours. It will keep you full and satisfied, which reduces the likelihood of a diet-destroying binge.
2. Drink smoothies on a regular basis
Smoothies can act as meal substitutes and powerful snacks. Just make sure you use low fat and nutrient-dense ingredients to get the best results.
3. Decrease your saturated fat and sodium intake
These fats are often called ‘bad fats’ as research indicates they may contribute towards the risk of developing many diseases. They are found in all animal products such as meat fat, chicken skin, full cream milk, full fat cheese, etc.; so try cutting the fat off your meat before you cook it, grill instead of fry and choose low fat options where possible. Sodium (found in table salt) can make you bloated, so try cutting down on it too.
4. Increase your fibre intake
Fibre keeps you regular and your metabolism up. Increase your intake of fresh fruits and vegetables with skins intact; include beans, peas and legumes in your diet and stick to wholegrain breads and cereals.
5. Hydrate!
Water not only assists with filling you up (thirst is often misinterpreted as hunger), but also flushes out the waste products your body makes when it breaks down fat into energy or when it processes protein. Water is also partly responsible for transporting nutrients to your muscles to keep your metabolism going. Otherwise, the best drinks you can have are low-fat milk and green or rooibos tea.
6. Exercise!
Weight train – use time wisely while at the gym. Check your form, don’t use momentum and focus on quality rather than quantity. Cardio is also important as your core muscles get a workout when you exercise on an unstable base — like when you’re standing on one leg or on top of a wobbly rubber disk – because your weight is off-centre, causing your core to kick in a little harder. The standard crunch can pack major benefits if done correctly, but you can also use a ball to get more out of your crunches.
7. Eat probiotics
Probiotics are the ‘good’ bacteria that we need in our gut – they help keep your immune system strong as well as (together with fibre) keep you regular. Try eating a yoghurt daily or pop in at your local pharmacy to get your daily dose. Prebiotics are the ‘food’ for probiotics, and these are also essential.
8. Cheating it
We wont lie, getting Luthando’s abs will take a long time though so while you work on them it doesn’t mean that you can’t walk around with a flat tummy. Milady’s has created a new range of jeans called Wonderfit that will help you do just that. The high–rise design and clever stitching in the front pockets slims from within, flattening the tummy and flattering the curves. An added benefit is that they also slim, shape ad lift your bottom.
