Photo: J.C. Rojas, Flickr

If you're covering up your soft stomach this summer instead of baring it with pride, you might need these six steps -- FitSugar says that while there's no way to spot reduce tummy flab, these will definitely help you trim and tone.

Invest in Intervals. They're the best fat-busting exercise out there.

Strength Train. Work your whole body, and your abs will engage. If they don't, you'll fall over.

Beat the Bloat. Avoid salty and gassy foods and get enough fiber and water, too.

Practice Pilates. Every exhale is a chance to work your abs.

Eat Healthy. Consume a nutritious and low-cal diet to expose a toned belly.

Work on Layering. Build all the muscle layers of your abs -- the stronger they are, the better you'll feel about your mid-section.

I'm not saying that simply sitting up straight will tighten your tummy, but I am saying that slouching won't help you in the sexy ab department. And by practicing this slopping way of sitting, you could be undoing all the hard work you're putting in at the gym.

"FitSugar" makes a case for sitting up tall, especially for those who slump over a desk all day, and offers some inspiration for strengthening your core while you work.

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Your paunch, your Buddha belly -- whatever you call it, you probably hate it and want to get rid of it. And fast. I'm afraid it's probably too late to slim yours in time for the new year, but you may be able to trim a few inches off your belly by the time you go back to work on Monday. How? With a little help from the Flat Belly Diet.

The Daily Mail recently did a two-part special on how to beat bloat, and it's all down to the food you eat. If you want to shed a bit of bulk from your belly, avoid these foods:

The next step? Keep it up.

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Have you given your stomach 20 minutes after eating to realize it's full and doesn't need one more bite? I mean, have you really given it 20 minutes? I know I've claimed to have tried this slimming technique but really, I never gave it an honest go. Until recently.

It all started one night during dinner when I really wanted seconds but was too lazy to get up and serve myself. So I sat. And 20 minutes ticked by. And then something happened: My tummy felt full. Like, really full. Like, another bite really would not have fit in there. Ah-a, I realized. It does work.

It takes the stomach about 20 minutes to produce the hormones that tell your brain that you are full. The whole process doesn't start until your stomach begins to stretch. If you eat more before this happens, that stuffed feeling sets in. I hate that, don't you? If so, give it 20. Really give it 20.

Maintaining a hot body after two kids is difficult -- something acclaimed actress Kate Winslet can and will attest to. The star recently bared all to reporters -- well, verbally anyway. Here's what she recently said: "I have a crumbly baby belly, boobs are worse for wear after two kids ... I'm doing all right. I'm 33. I don't look in the mirror and go, 'Oh, I look fantastic!' Of course I don't."

But don't feel too sorry for her. As Jacki told us last week, Winslet is perfectly OK with her body, crumbly bits and all. In response to her nude scenes in an upcoming movie, she pooh-poohed the idea of using a body double, insisting, "Nobody is perfect. I just don't believe in perfection. But I do believe in saying, 'This is who I am and look at me not being perfect.' I'm proud of that."

Good for her! Your thoughts?

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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. Fitz, I'm sick of feeling sick at the end of Thanksgiving Day. I seem to eat all day, even when I'm not hungry. I literally feel like the clothes I put on that morning don't fit me anymore. I'm dreading it this week. What do I do? Alex

A. Gobble Gobble, Alex! I mean ... don't Gobble Gobble, Alex. (Bad joke, I know). Holidays, particularly Thanksgiving, often lead to really weird amounts of mindless eating. It doesn't help that this particular day is actually based on a feast. Darn Pilgrims! Why couldn't they show their gratitude with a running race? I can help you avoid this scenario, though. No one likes to unbutton their jeans to be able to sit down. It's uncomfortable, embarrassing and depressing. So let's get proactive, make a plan and stick with it.

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I hope you've never had a problem with a little extra belly hanging over your low-rise jeans -- a situation more commonly known as muffin top. But, between the low-rise jeans and the clingy t-shirts that are so stylish, most of us have, even those of us who are quite fit. But it doesn't have to be that way -- Yummie Tummie wants to end your tummy trouble.

Far from being a standard shirt, Yummie Tummie tanks (and tees) have a shaping panel around the midsection to smooth and control any bulges or jiggle your tummy might have, but the top and bottom of the piece are cotton, so you can layer it without looking like you're wearing shapewear. And, they're comfortable, which you might know isn't always the case with shapewear -- that's probably why Oprah made Yummie Tummie one of her top picks.

Yummie Tummie offers several styles of tanks (including a nursing tank, because new moms definitely deserve a little support in the tummy area!), as well as tees, all in a variety of colors, so you can get just what you need to wear under any shirt, dress, or sweater. Additionally, most styles are available in regular or long length, so you can get just the look you want.

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Today, on the Today Show, they're featuring the Flat Belly Diet, which sounds too good to be true. We know that burning more calories than we consume is the way to lose weight -- however, plenty of people will vouch for this diet and how flat it made their bellies without incorporating any sort of crunches or sit-ups. Don't believe that certain foods can help flatten your belly? Check out AOL Health's slideshow of Flat Belly Diet success stories.

The claims about this diet are pretty major -- it targets unhealthy belly fat first, allowing you to eat foods you love without making you hungry. You can lose up to seven pounds and five inches in 96 hours, and you don't have to exercise. Oh, and there's a 91 percent success rate. Seriously, why am I not doing this?

The Flat Belly Diet is based on a calorie controlled Mediterranean diet, combining monounsaturated (MUFA)-rich foods, veggies, whole grains, lean proteins, and low-fat dairy. That means you get to eat things with olive oil and nuts, and even dark chocolate, but you have to stay away from refined grains, trans fat, and artificial additives.

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My grandma always told me to stand up straight. Good posture was important to her -- her rounded back made her crazy, and she never wanted me to face the same predicament. She never mentioned that good posture could strengthen my abs. Had she done that, I would have straightened up long ago.

One of the easiest ways to strengthen your abdominal muscles and support your back is through good posture. Think you've already mastered standing up straight? Probably not -- most of us feel like we're lined up properly but really, we aren't. Time for some practice. Try these five RealAge steps for perfect posture -- and a tighter tummy.

• Pull your shoulder blades back slightly toward each other and down away from your ears.
• Lift your chest up and out.
• Pull your head back just enough to keep it in line with your spine.
• Position your pelvis or hips to create or maintain a natural arch in your lower back.
• Pull your belly button in toward your spine without changing or tilting your hips or losing the arch in your lower back.
  
  

As you may have guessed, standing up straight isn't all you need to do for strong abs -- wouldn't it be nice if it were that easy, though? Nope, you've got to work a little harder at fitness than that. But standing up straight sure is a great start.

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Seems the healthy fats from olive oil keeps bellies flat, which is a mighty good thing. You know why? Because excessive amounts of abdominal fat increases your risk for high blood sugar and other health problems. Now olive oil alone won't do the trick -- you've got to eat an overall healthy diet and exercise too. But getting a good amount of your calories from unsaturated fats, like those found in olive oil, can surely help prevent tummy troubles over time. They will also help you maintain better insulin sensitivity.

The Mediterranean diet is one you might want to adopt. About 30 to 40% of calories in this diet come from unsaturated fats. A diet you'll want to avoid: The high-carb diet. It tends to cause body fat to relocate to the belly.

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Last week, I told you five food tweaks that can make your Buddha belly less ... um .... Buddha-ish. But if changing what you eat isn't your thing, Prevention Magazine recently revealed another five tips -- no diet changes necessary. Here they are:

• Stand -- and sit -- up straight. Good posture instantly slims your whole body, but especially your ab area.
  
• Imagine there's a magnet behind your belly button drawing it to your spine. It's an old Pilates trick that works wonders. Do this often.
  
• Sit like royalty. Allow your spine to curve naturally and hold your shoulders back.
  
• Become a cardio queen ... or king. It's effective in burning stubborn fat.
  
• Clean your house. Seriously. Vacuuming, sweeping and scrubbing uses your core muscles.

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I hate a growling stomach. Well, my own growling stomach, anyway. Other people's grumbling bellies don't bother me at all. When it's mine, though, I want it to stop. Real Simple magazine (August 2008) offers two tips for people like me who wish to silence the screams.

• Eat. Our stomachs are constantly churning, and they churn more when hungry.
• Don't chew gum -- swallowing air only exacerbates the sound.
  
  

And here's my two cents: Carry around portable, healthy snacks wherever you go so you can buy some time between grumblings and mealtimes. Try some popcorn, whole wheat crackers, or a handful of nuts.

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June 9, 2008

Six weeks ago, I had my tummy tuck. It seems like longer. Not because it's been a long and difficult road, but because it's been a rather easy one. My days are flying by, like they normally do, and so it seems like ages ago I went under the knife and had my hated post-baby, post-weight loss sagging skin removed.

I know it's only been six weeks, though, because I just had my six-week follow-up visit. My surgeon took one peek at his masterpiece and declared the following: My incision looks great for being only six weeks old, my lingering low-down swelling will definitely go away with time, new clothing should not be purchased for another six weeks (due to swelling and settling), and he'll see me in two months.

I can't possibly fully explain how thrilled I am with my surgery results. My belly is flat. It's tight. It's like nothing it's ever been before.

My surgeon is not just a surgeon. He's an artist. A miracle worker. My hero. Look at what he did. See why I feel so much better now?

NOTE: Abdominoplasty is recommended for those whose skin and muscle cannot recover on their own as a result of significant weight loss, pregnancy, aging, heredity, or prior surgery. It is not a substitute for weight loss or an appropriate exercise program. For more information about this surgery, click here.

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I cheated this morning. I ran. I ran two whole days earlier than I should have. Now I may be obsessed at times about exercise, but I'm also a by-the-books kind of girl so breaking my doctor's six-week exercise restriction rule isn't exactly in my nature.

I just couldn't wait any longer. I cracked. I crumbled. I broke under the pressure I felt to get back out there and move my legs like I did so long ago. So I threw on my running gear, strapped on my MP3 player, and conquered a 2.5-mile run. It felt great. I mean, it was hard -- my legs hurt and my breathing was more labored than usual -- but it was great. The best part: My tummy-tucked belly didn't hurt or pull or strain at all. Six weeks, just like my doctor said. It takes six week to fully recover from such a major surgery. Yep, it does. Give or take a day. Or two.

If I'm trying not to strain my abdominals -- which is exactly what I'm trying not to do -- there's really not much I can do, reports Fitz, because everything I do, from grabbing a plate out of the cupboard to squatting to lunging, will tax my abs.

"Just relax," says Fitz, who is sure my legs will resume their shape once I hit the pavement again -- and incorporate these easy leg moves into my routine: Squats, lunges, anything Jane Fonda inspired, and a few ballet plies too.

Deep breath. Relax. Two weeks and counting.