Want six-pack abs? Here are some diet tips you should follow

Eating small meals, drinking a lot of water and eating protein-dense foods are some things you should follow for six-pack abs.

By: Ekta Tandon | | Updated: February 4, 2015 10:57 pm

You may have heard the saying, abs are made in the kitchen, and not in the gym. Well, it s true and without a healthy diet, no amount of exercise can help you lose weight. Ekta Tandon, who is a nutritionist at Fitness First chain of restaurants, lists out a few things you should know about eating for six-pack abs. Also Read - Do you want a sexy flat stomach? Ditch the gym and try these 5 easy-to-do exercises at home

Also Read - Forget Crunches? Try these fun moves to tone your abs

First things first we all have abs but they are hidden due to the coverage of fat. In order to define and flaunt them, one must eat right and exercise. Also Read - 4 powerful yoga asanas to build six-pack abs quickly and safely

Here s how you can do it:

Eat small meals: The rule is to eat small meals at equal intervals. So if you are eating often and eating good food, you would not have cravings for any kind of junk food. It will also help regulate your body’s blood sugar, which stabilises the release of insulin. This helps promote the use of fat as fuel and helps prevent it from being stored in the body. When excess fat isn t stored, the abs are more prominent.

How to do it: Eat three standard meals and three smaller snacks. For example:

Early morning: 1-2 glass water
8-9 am: Breakfast
11-12 pm: Snack
1-2 pm: Lunch
4-5pm: Snack
7-8 pm: Dinner
9-10 pm (if hungry): Milk

Importance of protein: Protein plays a very important role during workout. The recommended daily intake of protein for a person is 1g/kg body weight. It increases or decreases according to the activity done by the person.

Protein acts as the building block for muscles but doesn t bulk up the muscles, a myth that many people carry. The only way to bulk up muscles is to hit the gym and perform progressive resistance exercises. Protein helps provide the raw material to build muscle, but the protein has to be pulled into muscles through exercise. You may also read how important is protein for bodybuilding.

Non-vegetarians can get their share by eating white meat like chicken, fish, eggs, etc. For vegetarians the choice is no less, they can have cottage cheese, soya, sprouts, milk, curds, etc. One can even have protein shakes if needed. According to celebrity fitness trainer Kris Gethin, A palm-sized portion of protein with every meal will help your muscles rebuild and recover from the stress placed on them during workouts. Since eating protein six times per day can get a little inconvenient, you can try drinking it occasionally. Here are some diet tips for non-vegetarians.

Hydration: It is very important to keep yourself hydrated. Water is an essential nutrient that is involved in every function of the body. Except for oxygen, there s nothing your body needs more than an adequate supply of water. And the more you exercise, the more important it is to drink the right amount of water before, during, and after your workouts. Dehydration can make it hard to get the most out of your workout and in extreme situations, can even be dangerous to your health.

Good carbohydrates: Carbohydrate is arguably the most important source of energy for workout. No matter what exercise you do, carbs provide the energy that fuels muscle contractions. Once eaten, carbohydrates breakdown into smaller sugars (glucose, fructose and galactose) that get absorbed and used as energy.

Any glucose not needed right away gets stored in the muscles and the liver in the form of glycogen. Once these glycogen stores are filled up, any extra gets stored as fat. Adequate carbohydrate intake also helps prevent protein from being used as energy. If the body doesn t have enough carbohydrate, protein is broken down to make glucose for energy.

Fruits and veggies: Fruits and veggies provide you with all the nutrients and fibre which is required by our body. They are a storehouse of various nutrients and are a must-have if you want a fit body with six-pack abs.

Following a well-balanced diet and exercising can help you get the abs you desire.

Image source: Getty Images

Published : January 15, 2015 4:00 pm | Updated:February 4, 2015 10:57 pm

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