11 EATING HABITS THAT WILL UNCOVER YOUR ABS

You've tried every ab exercise in existence. Now do the workout with proven results, powered by the diet that'll have you looking sexy by Spring.

Your six-pack solution is finally here. The video above features the essential exercises guaranteed to blast flab from your belly—no crunches required—and works for men and women. Consider it the greatest ab workout of all time. And we've paired it with the greatest diet strategies of all time. The tips below lead to rapid weight loss and will turn your no-pack into a whoa-pack. Watch the vid, get toned and tight, and craft your winning routine in the kitchen with these 11 essential eating habits.

1

EAT FIVE
OR SIX MEALS

Despite diet experts and new research contantly telling you otherwise, many people still consume the bulk of their calories in two or three large meals each day, often—in an attemp to slim down—going for hours at a time eating nothing in between. Sure, you can lose weight on a reduced-calorie three-meal plan, but you can't make your body burn fat more efficiently, which is key to long-term weight loss.

A nutritious meal or snack about every three hours keeps blood-sugar levels stable, feeds your body a steady stream of necessary nutrients and helps control hunger-induced cravings for less-than-slimming snacks like sweets and fats. It also leads to more effective glycogen storage in the liver and muscle tissues, ensuring your body won't cannibalize muscle as an energy source during your workouts. So make your meals mini and spread them out. If you have trouble fitting in extra eating times at work, prepare food ahead of time that you can zap in the microwave or eat cold. And stock your kitchen right:Shed fat in just days with these essential 9 Flat Belly Superfoods!

2

DON'T LET HUNGER
BE YOUR GUIDE

The human body is a bit confusing: By the time it tells you it needs nutrients, it's already deficient. In fact, those hunger pangs are your body's last-ditch efforts to convince you to eat.

Stay ahead of the curve by eating before your stomach starts growling. If you're pressed for time, consider the following: A meal can consist of a four-ounce chicken breast, a small baked potato and a salad, all of which can be made the night before and require minimal preparation time. Dining can also be as simple as a low-sugar nutrition bar—make sure to look for one substantial enough to replace a meal—or a small protein shake and a banana.

3

PINPOINT YOUR
PROTEIN NEEDS

How much protein is enough? If you're working a 9 to 5 desk job that you commute to by car, protein isn't an issue. But for someone who's active in sports and trains regularly, adequate protein is essential for losing fat and building lean muscle. Your safest bet is to get between 0.8 and 1 gram of protein per pound of lean mass.

When calculating that amount, use the weight you think you would look good at, especially if you're 20 or more pounds overweight. For example, if an ideal weight for you would be 170 pounds, multiply that number by 0.8 grams: Your daily protein requirement turns out to be 136 grams, which translates to 27 grams of protein per meal (at five meals per day). That's what you'll get from about one small can of water-packed tuna or four slices of turkey breast deli meat.

4

POWER EVERY
MEAL WITH PROTEIN

While eating anything raises your metabolic rate, protein boosts it the most. Chicken, turkey, beef, egg whites and cottage cheese are just a few of the choices you have for high-rev foods. Protein is also essential to building muscle, and the more muscle you carry, the more efficiently your body will burn the fat you're trying to fry.

Muscle burns calories even at rest. Fat, on the other hand, just sits there. So the last thing you want from your weight-loss program is loss of muscle tissue. You can minimize this loss by getting enough protein delivered in relatively precise doses throughout each day. And for your body to put that protein to work for muscle building, you've got to log weight lifting time regularly.

5

ADJUST YOUR
PROTEIN INTAKE

Keep track of your intake for a month or so and then make adjustments since the protein calculations we have here are just guidelines. If your fat loss has hit a plateau and you aren't suffering from overtraining syndrome—ironically, too much time at the gym will slow your fat furnace—bump up your protein a little. If you're gaining a little fat, cut back slightly. There should be little need to go beyond one gram of protein per pound of lean mass. Take charge of your protein intake and Lose up to 16 pounds in 14 days with The Best Flat-Belly Smoothie Recipe Ever!

6

DIVERSIFY
YOUR CARBS

When planning meals, you may be tempted to stick to a few familiar sources of carbs. But your system works better when you keep it guessing, so don't let yourself get caught in a rut. Eating a variety of carbs, even some simple sugars, is desirable for athletes, according to the Journal Essentials of Strength Training and Conditioning.

Keep in mind, that's not an invitation to gorge on Froot Loops or candy bars. Foods like potatoes, brown rice, pasta and vegetables should make up the bulk of your carbs. As a rule, you shouldn't eat more than two or three grams of carbs per pound of body weight. Many people overdose on carbs, thinking them "safe" simply because they're low in fat. But your system doesn't discriminate: It stores any excess calories—whether from protein, fat or carbs—as fat.

7

ALTERNATE
CARB VOLUME

Once you've figured out your daily carb requirement, the tendency is to eat equal amounts of carbs at every meal. This approach works quite well in the early phase of a weight-loss plan because it trains your body to expect a certain amount of essential nutrients on a regular schedule. But over time, your body will achieve homeostasis, meaning it will adapt to the pattern and work just enough to maintain its current balance of lean mass to fat stores. To continue getting leaner, you must continue adapting.

8

GIVE YOURSELF
A CARB SHOCK

Assuming you're not diabetic or prone to hypoglycemic episodes, another way to keep your body guessing is to restrict carb intake (about 125 grams per day) for 48 hours every two or three weeks. Your body will search for alternate energy sources, breaking its rhythm and revving the metabolism. Because it has been glycogen-depleted, your body will quickly use sugar carbs for energy when you return to taking in normal levels.

Do not go low-carb for more than a couple of days or take in fewer than 125 grams per day. Critical heart and brain functions rely on carbs. Depleting sugar stores can make you lethargic, foggy-headed and, yes, even hangry, so try this phase on weekends when you don't have to deal with workweek stressors like deadlines and demanding coworkers.

9

DRINK
UP

You body cannot efficiently change carbs into energy without ample water. And, according to the Journal Physiology of Sport and Exercise, you can't deliver essential amino acids to muscle tissue without adequate water, either. Not only will your workout sessions suffer, but insufficient liquids in your body will also hinder fat breakdown.

Don't wait until you're thirsty-thirst signals the first stage of dehydration, which means you're already too late. You must stay hydrated. Drink often throughout the day, and especially before and during a training session. Try to get at least 10 cups of water per day, although up to a gallon is okay.

10

START
RIGHT

Your first meal when you wake up and after working out should contain your largest carb intakes of the day. Your body's glycogen stores are depleted when you wake up; replenishing them quickly is crucial to physical and mental functioning. A serious weight-training session depletes glycogen stores. Consume a mix of simple and complex carbs along with a protein within 60 minutes after a workout to restore your energy and ensure long-term muscle recovery.

11

FINISH
LIGHT

Your last meal (or two, if you're eating more frequently) of the day should emphasize protein rather than typical slow-burning carbs like pasta. The carbs you do ingest should be the "wet" kind contained in high-water, medium-fiber foods such as cucumbers, leafy green salads, tomatoes and steamed asparagus. High-fiber, low-water foods leaching water out of your system; wet carbs, on the other hand, allow you to maintain relatively adequate levels of water during the night since you can't drink while you sleep.

Here's a bonus tip: Get in the habit of eating fish as part of your last meal of the day. Fish makes for a lighter meal, and it's a good way to replenish aminos while getting essential fatty acids. Fish is healthy as well: The American Heart Association recommends at least two servings of fatty fish (such as salmon and tuna) per week.