Bad news girls, there is no magic diet or treatment to get rid of that stubborn belly fat. I am by no means a diet expert or fitness guru, nor am I a wudu shrink or lifestyle coach. I am a full-time working mum who can only share what works for me.
90% is what you eat and drink:
About 80% of your diet should be protein based – and I don’t mean fried bacon or well done steaks (though you can treat yourself occasionally!). I mean lean poultry, chicken, turkey or fish. This you can eat in combination with anything green.
About 10% of your diet should be fibre and a good source of vitamins and minerals. So all green veg – broccoli, asparagus, green beans, you name it – is allowed. How you prepare it is up to you. Honestly, I’m not a big cook myself. If you ask my husband, he’ll say I don’t cook at all! So I eat most of these fresh, and I think the less something’s cooked the more vitamins and minerals it retains. After sticking to this for a few weeks you can start introducing other vegetables and colours into your meals. As the diet progresses the more colourful your dishes will become. I try to avoid starchy veg like potatoes, sweet corn and pumpkin, however. Fruits are allowed but I choose only one a day and in limited proportions. It’s best as a snack in between meals.
10% of your diet should be another source of fibre like cereals or grains. I’d stick to special raw cereal and eat it in the morning. You can pick this up in any good health food store and places like Planet Organic and Whole Foods. Always watch the carb count and sugar added though.
I stick to water and herbal teas. Sugary drinks and juices are pointless calories so if I’m really craving something sweet I’ll have occasional diet coke or a glass of wine.
To stay healthy and make sure that you have full vitamin intake I recommend adding things like spirulina powder and various types of seeds to your meals, (pumpkin and chia are great) or making the occasional green smoothie with wheatgrass.
Things to stay away from:
Dairy (substitute dairy for soya, almond and make sure no sugar is added), starchy foods ( potatoes, bread, pasta, rice) , all sweet things/desserts – sorry!(for those of you with a sweet tooth like me my saviour snack is the Ketoslim protein bar available from Whole Foods.
I don’t limit my portion sizes so long as it’s all healthy, and sometime I have 4-5 meals a day. I try not to eat after 6pm, however.
Exercise:
I try to exercise at least once a week and it doesn’t have to be strenuous training. I do 50 squats and 20 crunches in front of the TV in the evening, and if I have time I’ll go for a jog in the park.
Once a week I try to fit in one Form Studio class or an hour gym class, like cycling or Pilates. For those that want to push it to the next level, try indoor Bootcamps. There are so many great ones in London. I’d recommend Barry’s Bootcamp or 1Rebel – I’ve tried both and they’re an absolute killer!
The most important thing here is stamina and willpower. All of us are different but if you make it a lifestyle choice you’ll no longer associate it with depriving yourself. Stick to your eating routine and allow yourself treats from time to time Lord knows we all need a glass of bubbly sometimes – just make that jog a little longer tomorrow!
