Don'ts for a Flat Tummy

Health.com: What to Eat to Shrink Your Waist

• Skimp on shut-eye. Studies show that lack of sleep can boost levels of the stress hormone cortisol, which has been linked to ab fat.

• Indulge in margarine. Research suggests the trans fats found in some margarines may prompt the creation of particular fat cells that tend to migrate to the midsection.

• Smoke. As if smokers need more incentive to quit, multiple studies show that cigarettes, even as they cut appetite, prompt the body to deposit fat around the waist.

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Eat to Shrink

Jackie Newgent, RD, created this nutritionally balanced plan. Pick three meals and one snack a day the first week and lose up to 6 pounds when you also do this workout. After the first week, add a second snack a day. Each morning, fill a pitcher with water, mint, and cucumber slices; sip throughout the day (black coffee and tea are OK, too).

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The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.

Breakfast

(approximately 300 calories each)

Nectarine Smoothie
Blend 1 large chilled nectarine, pitted and puréed, 1/2 cup almond milk, and 1 tsp honey.

Chocolate Lover's Breakfast
Combine 1 cup whole-grain oat cereal, like Cascadian Farm Organics Purely O's, 1 cup light soy milk, and 2 TBSP semisweet chocolate chips; sprinkle with 1/2 tsp cocoa powder. Serve with 3/4 cup cherries.

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The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.

Breakfast

Breakfast To-Go
Enjoy a nut-based bar, such as Kind, with a large McCafé Iced Latte made with espresso, whole milk, and 1 sugar packet.

Peachy Almond Panini
Spread 2 slices whole-grain bread with 2 tsp each almond butter; place slices from 1/4 peach between them. Spritz sandwich with 1/2 tsp oil. Grill in a preheated panini press on medium-high until toasted or in a skillet over medium-high heat.

(Levi Brown)

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.

Lunch/Dinner

(approximately 400 calories each)

Smoked Turkey and Pear Entrée Salad
Top 2 1/2 cups mixed salad greens with 2 oz smoked turkey breast, 1/2 cup sliced English cucumber, 1/4 cup canned drained white beans, 1 small sliced pear, 10 seedless red grapes, 1 1/2 TBSP chopped roasted walnuts, and 2 TBSP vinaigrette.

Veggie Tex-Mex
Enjoy a burrito bowl from Chipotle, made with pinto beans, fajita-style vegetables, guacamole, roasted chili-corn salsa, and tomato salsa.

(Levi Brown)

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.

Lunch/Dinner

Tofu-Basil Stir-Fry
Heat 1 1/2 tsp peanut oil in skillet over medium-high heat. Add 4 oz extra-firm tofu cubes and 1 small minced serrano pepper; stir-fry till tofu is browned. Add 2 TBSP pad thai sauce, 3/4 cup each cubed zucchini and sliced red bell pepper, and 1 minced scallion; stir-fry until veggies are al dente. Stir in 1/4 cup fresh basil. Serve over 1/2 cup brown rice; top with 2 tsp chopped peanuts.

Steak and Summer Squash Kebabs
Arrange 6 lean beef tenderloin cubes and, separately, yellow squash wedges onto skewers. Brush with 1 1/2 tsp olive oil, sprinkle with rosemary, grill until done. Serve with 1/2 cup steamed quinoa with grated lemon zest to taste.

(Levi Brown)

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.

Lunch/Dinner

Southwestern Grilled Tuna
Brush a 4-oz yellowfin tuna fillet with 1 tsp olive oil; sprinkle with 1/4 tsp each chili powder, ground cumin, and black pepper. Grill to desired doneness; top with salsa. Serve with 1 lime wedge and 2 cantaloupe wedges.

Healthy Fish and Chips
Prepare a salmon frozen meal, such as Organic Bistro Wild Salmon with Pesto, according to package. Enjoy with a 50-calorie serving of kale chips.

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The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.

Snacks

(approximately 150 calories each)

•1/4 cup trail mix

•15 roasted almonds and a fresh fig

•1 slice whole-grain toast topped with 2 tsp dark-chocolate peanut butter and 3 TBSP mashed raspberries

•Vanilla Yogurt Shake: Blend 2/3 cup fat-free milk with 1/2 cup fat-free vanilla frozen yogurt and 1/8 tsp pure vanilla extract.

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The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.

Do's for a Flat ...

• Get juice with benefits. In a study in the "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition," those who drank three glasses of calcium- and vitamin-D-fortified orange juice a day for four months had less belly flab than those with unfortified OJ.

• Eat cereal or oatmeal. A 2010 study of the diets of nearly 90,000 people found that those eating at least 10 grams per day of fiber—especially the kind in whole grains—had waists about three inches smaller than those who ate very little.

• Say cheers! Red wine has a substance that can prevent small fat cells from maturing into full-grown ones, says a 2012 study.

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