This seems to be posted everywhere lately, and it’s 100% true: Abs are made in the kitchen. It’s the 80/20 rule. When you’re trying to lose weight, 80% of your results come from your diet, and only 20% come from exercise. Now, this doesn’t mean you can stop working out because that’s a huge piece of the puzzle, too. But if the scale isn’t budging, you really need to take a look at what and how much you’re eating.
You can work out 8 hours a day, but if you’re eating more calories than you’re burning, you will gain weight. This is one of the reasons why I highly recommend investing in a calorie-monitoring device like the FitBit or Apple Watch. Everyone burns calories at a different rate, and a lot of calorie estimations you get from the machines at the gym or calorie-tracking websites are created for the average body type. They don’t take into account your body composition and your individual metabolism. However, calorie-monitoring devices are incredibly accurate and can really help you monitor this. If you track your food intake and your calories, and you create a deficit, you will get results.
To See Your Abs, You Must Eat Clean!
Now, if you’re closely monitoring your calorie intake and creating a deficit, but you’re still not seeing the results you want, you need to take a close look at what you’re eating. If your diet consists mostly of unhealthy, processed foods, you won’t see results. The 80/20 rule applies here again. At least 80% of your diet must consist of healthy, whole foods if you want to see your abs.
Oftentimes, we think we’re eating healthy, but to stay on track we need to check in and be real with ourselves about every other month. I’m willing to bet you can think of one thing that you need to stop buying right now. It’s that one snack that you keep going back to – your Achilles Heel. It tacks on an extra 100 to 200 calories each day that you don’t even realize you had, and you don’t count it either. So be honest and ask yourself, “What do I need to stop buying right now?” Because that one thing is hindering your results, and if it’s not in the house, you can’t eat it!
Your abs and your progress are determined by what’s in your kitchen. Aim to keep it clean 80% (or more) of the time. Your food is your fuel! Fuel your body for the results you want and deserve!
(For daily health and fitness inspiration, check out Chalene on Instagram.)
The title of this article…SO true! I ate pretty clean before my trip to my Maui home in the summer, i.e., fruits, vegetables, protein and minimal starches. While visiting for 3 weeks, I ate pretty much the same way (ate a papaya daily for breakfast!!) and my daughter who was with me exclaimed that that was the flattest she had ever seen my stomach 😀 I need to get back at it!!