The 5 Worst Things You Can Eat If You Want a Six Pack

I have three key rules when it comes to flattening your stomach with the help of a diet:

1. The food should be whole and unprocessed.

2. At the very minimum the food should be “free range”.

3. The food should be locally grown.

Why not organic? If you can get organic food then great but I stipulate that it should be locally grown as I see little point in buying organic braeburn apples from New Zealand when you live in England; the goodness is lost pretty quickly and think of the carbon emissions.

If you want a slim stomach then here are the key foods that you need to avoid…

#1 White Bread

These types of bread contain gluten which can cause bloating and inflammation in your gut. The little hard-to-shift pooch below the belly button is a sign of inflammation. As an alternative try some bread made with gluten-free spelt flour. But as a general rule I would recommend you keep the bread to a minimum.

#2 Wheat Pasta

As with the bread, Pasta is highly processed and it contains gluten if made with the standard wheat flour. If you can’t do without pasta a better option would be to try either rice or corn pasta.

#3 Cow’s Milk

Cow’s milk can be a problem for some people. If you feel a little bloated after having drunk a latte, the chances are you should give the cow’s milk a rest. It’s the casein protein within the milk that can cause digestive problems and make your stomach stick out. As an alternative try some goat’s or sheep’s milk.

#4 Ready Made Meals and Sauces

Although these are quick and convenient, the time you save in the kitchen will mean extra hours spent in the gym. These meals are mainly full of sugar, salt, preservatives and additives all of which will prevent you from achieving a flat stomach. It’s best to avoid these types of meals altogether. See my lamb stew recipe as a great alternative.

#5 Cereal and Energy Bars

If anything these types of bars will deplete your energy after the quick initial “hit” to you blood sugar. When you’re next in your local supermarket pick up one of these bars and see if you can recognise or even pronounce all of the ingredients. If you can’t, the chances are high that they have things in them that are bad for you! A piece of fruit with some protein will work well as an alternative.

Quick and easy foods such as those that I’ve mentioned above (along with the usual candy bars, sodas and chips) will sabotage all the hard work you do in the gym. With a little research into quick and healthy recipes (see future posts!) and a little organisation you can make the road on your journey to a great looking set of abs a less bumpy one.