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Katie writes, "I am a 27 year old woman with a four year old son and I have finally lost my pregnancy weight however my stomach is still overly soft almost hanging from the weight gain/loss. I have set my physical goal sights on Jan to have a toned tummy. Is this realistic and how can I get there. I have a well balanced diet and get plenty of cardio in on a daily basis." Answer: Your goal is certainly attainable, however, as cruel as the truth may be, the fact remains that as women, we are designed to store fat in the abdomen. It's not easy to achieve a perfectly flat abdomen, and in some cases, it's impossible. But you can greatly improve your abdominal area. When you perform your abdominal exercises, focus on the exact area that is being worked. If you don't really focus on what you're doing, it's very easy to allow other muscles to do some of the work. If you allow your neck or hip flexors to help you out, your abdominal muscles won't get fatigued or toned. Practice proper breathing technique when working your abs. Always exhale on the exertion. This decreases internal air pressure, allowing you to fully involve the abdominal muscles. Eating habits are just as critical to leaning up your midsection. Replace sodium, sugar and preservative laden foods with fresh whole unprocessed foods. Drink as much water as you can all day long to flush away bloating. Drink ice chilled water and you'll burn a few extra calories as your body works to warm it up. Also, keep your diet balanced, eating a healthy ratio of carbohydrates, fats and proteins. And, keep in mind, calories do count. Eating too many calories - whether they are fats, carbohydrates or proteins, will keep you well padded in the midsection area. Avoid beer and other alcoholic beverages. They have been associated with a rise in cortisol, a hormone that seems to steer fat toward the tummy. I'm sure you've heard of the ole beer belly. There may just be some truth to that. When performing abdominal exercises, f your abs are not fatigued with 20 or 30 repetitions, add another 10 or 20 more. Just keep in mind, 10 or 20 well executed crunches or reverse crunches are more beneficial then 50 sloppy ones. An every other day abdominal workout is sufficient, however, if you'd like to be more aggressive, that's great. You won't over-train your abs, unless you're adding heavy weights. Finally, train your abdominal muscles by simply keeping them contracted when performing all your other exercises, when sitting, standing or driving. Consciously holding them in can reduce back strain and help to flatten your entire mid-section.
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