Turns out, certain behaviors that have been hyped as healthy actually add fat to your middle. Ugh. No worries — we have the fixes. Muffin top, consider yourself warned.
By Zoe Ruderman
1. You Skip Meals
This tactic always backfires. You end up so hungry later on that you can't help but overeat. And when you do, more fat will inevitably find its way to your midsection. Eating small- to medium-size meals every three to four hours, however, fills you up without resulting in a layer of flab.
2. You Go Vegetarian
Women will often avoid foods from the meat, fish, and dairy groups because they think they are packed with calories and fat. But remember, these foods are protein superstars that help boost your metabolism so you can fend off tummy pudge. Opt for low-calorie, low-fat choices, like cottage cheese or tuna (one 6-ounce can fulfills three-quarters of your daily protein requirement).
3. You Think Bread Is Bad
White bread, yes, but whole-grain breads and cereals? No way. These allow insulin levels to rise more gradually, reducing the chance that you'll add fat to your belly. Wild rice, oatmeal, or whole-wheat tortillas once a day can make a difference.
4. You're Crunch-Crazed
Sit-ups tone muscle, true, but they don't have any effect on the layer of fat covering them. So doing 50, 100, or even 500 crunches won't make your jeans feel any looser. What does work? Cardio. Instead of wasting all your time on crunches, spend an extra 10 minutes on the treadmill.
5. You Booze a Lot, but Infrequently
Alcohol has lots of calories yet doesn't fill you up at all. So when you binge-drink, nutritionists say, you're basically inviting flab to settle on your midsection. If you crave a drink, make it red wine; research suggests it may actually help fight pooch.
6. You Eat "Lite" Products
You may think you are doing your body a favor by opting for sugar-free yogurt, diet soda, or any other snack labeled low-fat or low-cal. But those versions are often loaded with artificial sweeteners, which some nutritionists believe may trigger your metabolism to increase fat storage.
7. You Think Fatty Foods Are the Enemy
As counterintuitive as it may sound, foods high in monounsaturated fats help burn off belly fat and lead you to consume less. Nutritionists recommend slicing one-quarter of an avocado onto a sandwich or drizzling olive oil and vinegar on your salad.
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