Monday mornings are never easy to deal with. After spending the entire weekend binging on your favorite foods and drinks, Mondays can be unbearable. This guide will help you get a flat belly by Friday if you have belly bloat.
Waking up on Monday feeling all bloated, there’s no doubt that your food choices are to blame. You shouldn’t be surprised to learn that overindulging, even for a day or two, can make you gain up to two pounds or more. Luckily, the weight gain is normally temporary. You can get rid of the excess weight in days. Here’s what you need to do to get a flat belly by Friday.
1. Cut Down on Carbs
An increase in your carb intake can make it difficult for your body to burn stored carbs. Instead, the body enters into a fat-storage mode, a situation that makes it daunting for you to lose weight.
Decreasing your carb intake allows the body to turn to its stores. You’ll burn the stored carbs (glycogen) into energy. Moreover, the longer you go without eating anything, the more the body burns fat.
So, increase your intake of proteins, especially during breakfast. It ensures you’re satiated, reducing the likelihood of overeating or frequently eating during the day.
2. Reduce Your Sodium Intake
You may want your food to taste, but adding excess sodium means your body will retain more fluid. As a result, you’ll feel bloated and sluggish. You’ll even feel puffy, something you’re trying to avoid at all costs.
Season your food differently by avoiding salt, salt-based seasonings, and overprocessed foods. Similarly, if you’re de-bloating, it’s best to stay away from frozen microwavable foods. Usually, these foods have high sodium content. So, consuming them will also make your body retain more fluid.
3. Ditch Milk for a While
If you’ve noticed that you often feel bloated after drinking milk, it clearly indicates you’re lactose intolerant. This means your body struggles to break down and use sugar in milk. This leaves you feeling cramped and bloated, and in some cases, you’ll diarrhea.
Opt for lower-lactose foods like yogurt or hard cheese. You can also settle for lactose-free dairy products like almond or rice milk.
4. Eat the Right Fruits
It may sound strange that we recommend eating the right fruits because most people assume all fruits are good. While this is true, the reality is that some fruits are not kind to the belly. Try grapes, berries, and citrus over high-fructose fruits like apples, honeydew, or pears.
5. Change Your Starch
If you feel bloated after consuming a high-carb meal, then foods with complex carbs may be the reason to blame for your bloat. Starches like corn, potatoes, wheat, and pasta produce gas since they are broken down once they reach the large intestine. If you’ve noticed, rice doesn’t cause gas. So, if you must take starch, opt for the better starch that won’t cause gas.
6. Ditch Diet Foods
It’s tempting to reach for low-carb products with sugar alcohols since they can also cause gas and make you feel bloated. Still, if you’re trying to reduce sugar cravings, ensure you avoid sugary gums. Satisfy your cravings by choosing healthier alternatives like yogurt or your morning oatmeal.
7. Avoid Alcohol
You’re from a long weekend and might feel dehydrated. Unfortunately, dehydration affects the body’s ability to ensure you have a flat belly. Keeping yourself hydrated is the ideal way to get rid of all the toxins you accumulated over the weekend.
Avoid reaching for a glass of wine or beer. Drink plenty of water and keep yourself busy. If you must drink something, take unsweetened coffee.
8. Avoid Spicy Foods
While trying to de-bloat, it’s best to avoid spicy foods for a week or two. Foods with spices will trigger the body to release stomach acid, leading to irritation. Instead of the usual barbecue sauce, go for dried herbs like mint, basil, tarragon, and more.
9. Exercise
Engage in a physical activity that will increase your heart rate. Exercising throughout the week will activate your body, and the system will revamp its metabolism, helping you de-bloat. You can exercise for a few minutes after eating. This is a great way to ensure the food is quickly processed into food energy. While doing this, ensure you keep chugging the H2O.
Get A Flat Belly By Friday – Summary
It’s normal to feel floated after raving the whole weekend. Usually, this happens because your body has not been used to the new routine of foods and drinks. To get a flat belly by Friday, use the pointers outlined in this post. You should feel better by the end of the week.