Believe it or not, your sleeping position can affect your abs. Sleeping on your back with a pillow under your legs will help you with that stubborn back pain. I didn’t say it will eliminate it, just alleviate some of the pain. But, it will contribute to building your abs by keeping your legs up high and giving the appearance of losing weight.

For you drinkers, casual or regulars.  Alcohol from beer and liquor will raise a hormone called Cortisol which tends to pack on the fat to your gut. I haven’t seen any studies about Cortisol and alcohol from wine, but I’m sure it’s probably the same regardless of the health benefits it has.

The best hydrator is iced cold water. It contains zero calories and acts as a filler for your stomach. It actually tricks your stomach to thinking  it is full so you won’t overeat. The iced water will cause your body to work harder while heating the water to your body temperature. This in turn burns additional calories.

The foods you eat. Obviously a calorie is a calorie is a calorie. Anything you eat in excess will pack on the pounds around your waist. And for you ladies out there, expect it to go around your hips. Men tend to add fat in the midsection while women develop the “saddle bags” around the hips.

The best foods to lose weight. I’m sorry, McD’s, BK’s and White Castle’s have to go. Beans and berries are the clear winners. Actually, any fruit or vegetable with high fiber, such as squash, are the clear winners.

If you don’t normally eat high fiber foods, don’t overdo it because it will cause your stomach to feel bloated and uncomfortable. Increase your fiber gradually until you reach 20-40 grams per day.

Final Tips:

Drink some coffee. It “peps” you up and also aids in you going to the bathroom.

Don’t chew gum (although, I’m guilty of that). It causes your stomach to bloat due to the excess air you swallow.

Leave the salty snacks at the grocery store. They cause you to retain water, especially for you women before your period.

And finally, if you want to lose that stubborn weight, drink plenty of water. Don’t drink soda or seltzer water. Even any kind of sugary drink will cause your gut to bloat. You’ll need to drink 64-96 ounces of water daily to maintain your hydrated state. The more water you drink, the less your body retains.