7 Ways to Flatten that Belly!

   Whenever you can incorporate ways to flatten that belly without cutting calories JUMP at the chance! According to this month's Shape magazine, there are seven belly fat traps you can avoid and lose some inches.

~ Living on a busy street ~ Regular exposure to traffic noise makes you 29% more likely to have a bigger waistline. Yes, lots of noise may spike your cortisol, a hormone associated with abdominal fat. Using soothing music, white noise apps or noise cancelling ear buds can help.

~ Your diet soda habit ~ Yes, in a 9 plus year study, diet soda drinkers gained more inches (3.2) than regular soda drinkers (under an inch). There is science behind this, but really just give up all the soda for a healthier you! If you need bubbles, flavored seltzer works.

~ Mental multitasking ~ People who are able to focus on singular tasks carry a pound less belly fat on average. Mindfulness is the key. Regular exercise helps along with a physical/mental practice such as yoga.

~ Skimping on calcium ~ Studies show that consuming a calcium rich diet (three servings a day) will help you lose more belly. Mix it up with low fat dairy and non-dairy foods like broccoli, spinach & pumpkin seeds.

~ Your commute ~ Simply stated, the more time you spend on your commute the less time you have for workouts. Find ways to get more steps in your day like parking your car further away from your destinations, taking stairs.

~ Tossing & turning ~ Yes, a longer night's sleep (6-8 hrs) & more quality sleep will get you a thinner waistline. Turn off blue-light emitting devices at least an hour before bedtime & turn in earlier!

~ Watching food TV ~ Logically, those who watch more than 3 hours of TV a day have significantly more belly fat than those that watch under an hour. Interestingly, tuning into cooking shows (which don't always cook the healthiest of recipes) boosts your risk of gaining weight even more to the tune of 10 pounds! Lesson here: find your (healthy) recipes online or from friends.