America Takes It Off: Shrink a Size - Monday Challenge #2

Welcome to Day 12 of America Takes It Off: Shrink a Size. It's time for Challenge #2. Last week, we urged you to try a few tried-and-true weight loss tricks -- portioning your plate properly, eating healthy fats and moving your bod as much as possible. Hey, must have worked. So far, you've lost a combined 102 pounds.

Now that you've got these three under your belt (which hopefully is not as snug), we're jumping right into some belly work. AOL Health says these easy (yes, easy) steps are sure to flatten your abs.

• Eat raspberries. They're full of fiber, fight constipation and prevent belly bloat.
• Drink water. No calories. And it will help rev your metabolism.
• Avoid alcohol. Too many calories. And too much chance you'll eat while you drink.
• Sit up straight. Slouching makes bellies look bigger and does nothing for your mid-muscles.
• Plant a garden. Allot an hour and burn 350 calories. The bending and twisting will shape your middle too.
• Hula-Hoop. Hula your waist right into shape.
• Golf. Lots of walking involved. Swinging too. Both are good for the midriff.
• Crunch. Regular crunches, reverse crunches and crossover crunches are a must. Learn to do them here (gallery slides 8-10).

If this Monday has you feeling ambitious, why not tackle all of these tasks? If you don't, that's OK. Baby steps are often the best bet for steady, maintainable weight loss. Just pick a few, practice them for a couple of days and come see us Wednesday for your weekly weigh-in. Remember, our goal is 250 total pounds lost. Only 148 to go.