We all heard the expression we get our Abs in the kitchen.  Here is a challenge for you, cut back or avoid these foods.  Yep, I know, not easy to do, but here is the list.

• Dairy products: It’s estimated that 65 percent of people worldwide are lactose intolerant.  If you notice frequent bloating, you may be one of the 65 percent.
• Potato Chips: Potato chips are typically cooked in hydrogenated oils. These are trans fats, not good.
• Sugar: Especially sugary drinks, processed baked desserts, and sugary breakfast cereals. Processed, refined sugar spikes your insulin levels and promotes the storage of fat.
• White carbs: The body stores white carbs as fat when consumed in high amounts. Cutting back on the white rice, pasta, white bread, and flour can make a drastic difference in your waist size.
• Fried foods: Full of trans fats, once again. Stick to baked foods or foods fried in healthy oils like coconut or extra virgin olive oil.
• Alcohol: Alcohol consumption causes water imbalances within the body, leading to bloating, swelling, and fluid retention. It’s okay to have a drink here and there but make sure you drink plenty of water and avoid meals high in sodium when drinking alcohol to prevent your body from retaining fluid.

As you slim down from food, here are some of the great exercises for working your waists:

Side to Side Pulling
Lift up and pull side to side.  This really targets your waist, you can do standing and kneeling.

Side Plank
Lean on the right side of your body in a straight line from your head to your feet, with your arm bent and your elbow directly beneath your shoulders. – Hold for 30 seconds and repeat on the left.

Bicycles
Lie down with your head and shoulders raised, hands behind your head and legs in tabletop position. Bring your right elbow to meet left knee while straightening your right leg at 45-degree angle.

Twisting
Punching side to side, on the floor look to one side, you can even twist in a teaser.  Twisting is great for the waist.

Oblique V Crunch
Lie on side, lift legs, add upper body.

My latest video shows all of these exercises.