Ladies, we’ve all heard it.. “abs are made in the kitchen”.
How true is this reallllly though? I personally spend tons of time in the kitchen.. still no abs 😒 Well there’s actually quite a bit of truth behind this saying, and I’m here to help breakdown why. To be honest, it’s much easier to consume calories than it is to work them off. I know we don’t want to believe it, but it’s true - and you know what I’m talking about. You’re running on the treadmill for what seems like an hour and you look down - only 100 calories burned, WTF. You can't depend on a rigorous workout regime to balance out a sh*t diet. Not only is this exhausting, but without the proper nutrition, you aren’t going to see much results in the gym anyways.
The gym is great for toning up and building muscle, but a lean healthy figure can in fact be achieved through diet alone (if that’s what you’re after). Don’t get me wrong, at the end of the day it’s about calories in, calories out. But no amount of crunches is going to work off that supersized McDonald's meal (well maybe, but you’re going to be there a while). Abs may be built in the gym, but they’re revealed in the kitchen - simple as that. Without the right diet, you’re wasting your efforts.
Even though you may be able to achieve your desired figure through diet alone, that’s no reason to give up on your fitness goals. Exercise is not only great for building strength and cardiovascular health, but it’s also very closely linked to positive mental health. A healthy mind is super important in and of itself, but also helps eliminate negative relationships with food like stress/ binge eating. Annnnd let's not forget about your metabolism. Building lean muscle can actually increase the amount of calories you burn at rest - making more room for pizza, right?!
Another enemy of your tummy, and I think we can all agree, is bloat 😩 Certain foods can be harsher on your digestive system than others, and cause a number of issues. No matter how hard you’re working to get that tummy back to flat, certain foods can totally throw you off track - even some healthy ones!
Some foods to avoid if you struggle with bloat:
- Beans & lentils
- Wheat/ Barley/ Rye
- Carbonated Drinks
- Sugary Alcohol & Beer
- Dairy
As if this wasn’t enough to deal with, some foods not only cause abdominal inflammation but also are more likely to be stored as fat in your mid-section by throwing your liver out of whack. High fructose foods and unhealthy fats can affect your glucose/insulin levels and cause not only inflammation in this region but also the storage of fat cells. No Thanks! Here are some foods to avoid:
- Carb-dense Foods (even whole grains)
- Unhealthy Fats
- Processed Meats
- Fried Foods
- High fructose fruits (yes.. Even fruit)
- Garlic, Onion, high fiber vegetables
In all seriousness, what you put into your body is where it all begins, so without a healthy diet you’re kinda f*cked. BUT, I’m not suggesting you give up on exercise. Sure, you may be able to keep a lean figure by following a strict, but where’s the fun in that?
It’s all about balance babe, and we got your back!
