What A Grande Plate Means To Us – Part 1

When it comes to getting and maintaining a flat stomach, the answer may not be what you eat, but how much you eat. If you’re doing abdominal workouts at the gym at least 3-4 times a week, then stuff yourself once you get home, any positive impact from the exercises will be cancelled out. Even if you’re eating nutritious meals, remember that too much of anything can be bad for you.

One of the best ways to slim down the midsection and maximize the effects of your abdominal workouts is to reduce your portion sizes. With our society’s "bigger is better" mentality and everything supersized, it’s a fact that Americans significantly underestimate the amount of food they consume every day, simply because they eat what’s in front of them.

While it may seem quite difficult to control your portion sizes, here are some neat tricks you can put into action:

• Use smaller dishes when preparing your meals at home. Because your plate looks full, you won’t feel deprived.

• We all know that restaurants often double or even triple recommended serving sizes. When eating out, make it a habit to ask for a carry out container before you start munching. Box half your food to take home for later. If it’s out of sight, you won’t eat more than what your belly needs.

• Once you’ve finished eating what’s in front of you, wait a few minutes before having seconds as your body may not immediately register a feeling of fullness. After a bit of deliberation, it’s likely you won’t feel like going for additional helpings anymore.

• When snacking, avoid eating directly out of a large bag. It’s easier to eat more than a standard serving size when you have no idea how much you’ve already wolfed down. Measure out your allotted quantity so you’ll know when you’ve reached your limit.

• Watch out for finger foods and hors d’oeuvres at social gatherings. As with snacking out of the bag, it’s easy to get carried away and have more than enough. Come dinnertime, you’ll find that you’re already full. Try to wait for the main course instead.

• Make an effort to read the recommended serving sizes on food packages. Chances are, you’ll be surprised by what you see. Keep in mind that the calories and fat grams presented on nutritional labels apply to only one serving, but the entire package may contain multiple servings.

After just a few days of reducing your portion sizes, you’ll probably notice a difference in the appearance of your midsection. Give the above strategies a go – you’ll look better and feel healthier!