June 20, 2019

Eat Your Way To Better Abs

Summer is officially here, and we all know what that means – beach trips, vacation, and poolside days. During this time of year, many of us are constantly researching ways we can tone our abs and midsection before we throw on our bathing suits. To help get us get into (better) shape, we turned to HALO Chief Wellness Advisor and Celebrity Trainer Don Saladino for a few tips.

“It’s my belief that if you adopt a holistic lifestyle year-round – with proper diet and exercise – you will be surprised how easier it s to get that chiseled-looking midsection,” explains Don. “Many people operate under the notion that the trick to getting lean muscles is cutting out as much as possible, but that can actually have the opposite effect,”

Here are 4 tips from Don that will, when paired with a healthy workout routine, can help you get added definition in your abs.

BONUS: Don’s throwing in a sample meal plan to help you get beach ready.

Hacking the Carbs
Completely eliminating carbs from your body is the wrong move. This is what your body is using for energy, and if you don’t have any, it will poach from your good fats and proteins. Eating carbs will also help you through the recovery process, and you will bounce back better the next day.

You should still be eating a fair amount, but stay away from them in the morning and evening. Eat them within a 3-5 hour window of your workout. Sticking with the good carbs like sweet potato, gluten-free oatmeal, quinoa, and rice.

Food to Avoid
There are a few foods that will keep you from looking cut at the beach. The first thing you want to do is remove all white flour and gluten. Ditch the dairy, there are plenty great plant substitutes, like coconut or unsweetened almond milk, out there for your morning coffee.

Keep your foods as dry as possible, holding the sauces and dressings. Check ingredient labels for hidden sugars. Don’t use table salt. If you need seasoning, stick with a little sea salt or a pinch of Himalayan salt.

Don’t Forget Your Hydration
One of the easiest keys to keeping your skin healthy and tight is drinking enough water. Keep track throughout the day, aiming to take in half your body weight in ounces. Or, reach for a HALO Sport. With organic electrolytes and ionic trace minerals, it hydrates your body more efficiently.

Get Your Protein
Especially around the time of your workouts, it is important to make sure you are getting enough protein, whether that is through a meal or through a shake. You can’t show off ab muscles if you don’t have any.

Don’s Ab Definition Meal Plan

Breakfast: