Have fitness questions? Fitz has your answers. Our ThatsFit.com fitness expert -- and now your own virtual personal trainer -- will help you get fit, increase your overall health and do it in a fun way. Drop your questions here in the Comments section below and we'll choose one per week to publish on That's Fit! Learn more about Fitz here.

Q. Hi Fitz, I just bought a fairly fitted dress for a party this weekend and am desperate to avoid a poochy tummy. I'm in pretty good shape but often get bloated. I can not wear this dress if I'm bloated. Help! Andrea

A. Hi Andrea, Bloating is a bummer, but I can definitely help you avoid it. You're just going to have to be smart about what you eat and drink for the few days prior to your event.

Most important, you should avoid carbonated beverages and foods that traditionally leave people gassy. Things you must strike off your list are: soda, energy drinks, beans, broccoli, cauliflower, onions, apples, eggs, other high fiber items and sodium. Ditch starchy carbs like breads, rice and pasta as well.

Water should be on the top of your list of things to consume. Drinking tons of water will actually help flush out your system, and reduce water retention. (Weird. Right?) Next should be lean protein and popular salad veggies like dark lettuce, spinach, tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers. In fact, if I were seriously trying to beat the bloat before a big event, I wouldn't eat much else.

Andrea, I'm not telling you never to eat broccoli or beans ... they're wildly important to your health and your weight. They're just a teeny bit counterproductive to fighting the belly bloat before a big event in a skinny dress. Before any sort of fitness photo shoot, I stick to a short list of "consumables," and this strategy always seems to work for me.

And of course, if you're ever fighting the dreaded effects of your monthly visitor ... Spanx is always a great option. Watch what you eat, get some exercise and you'll look fabulous this weekend. Have fun!

**The ab exercises in this video will keep your abs flat for sure!

Punches & Kicks,