Beat the bloat and show off that bod!

Summer is fast approaching and although many of us are happy with our general size and weight, it is becoming increasingly difficult with, dare-I-say-it, age to keep a toned physique. As bikini season arrives, it’s time to show off those abs… And any trainer will tell you, the mid-section is one of the toughest areas to tone.

We spent some time talking to nutritionist and personal trainer Sarah Craig and got her hot tips on how to get a flat stomach this summer. Seriously though, it’s not going to happen overnight is it? Hours need to be put in to achieving the beach body – believe me, it’s worth it in the end!

Nutrition

● Eat a lot of fibre and avoid starchy carbs such as pasta and white bread. Fruit, vegetables, seeds, pulses and nuts are all good sources of fibre. Try to snack on nuts, fruits and seeds, and make healthy dinners like red lentil dahl accompanied by a wholemeal pitta.

● Drink two litres of water every day. You’ve heard it before, here it is again. The water aids digestion and keeps you regular.

● Avoid alcohol. Not very easy, but try to avoid alcohol in the weeks leading up to your target date and in the final week avoid the booze altogether.

Exercise

● Try to do a pilates workout once every week. This is the ideal form of exercise as it tones the whole body whilst concentrating on the core area. We’ve helpfully added a short pilates video below – it’s ten minutes of belly-busting moves.

● Do one minute of plank and one minute on each side plank every single day. It’s only three minutes but it feels like forever. You reap some reward within a week but this exercise really is the gift that keeps on giving!

● Keep up your cardio work to burn calories and keep you trim. Running, cycling or swimming for 40 minutes three times a week should have you fit as a fiddle in no time.

Good luck!

Try out ten minutes of pilates – this really concentrates on the core