Foods that are key to a flat belly

If you're like me, you want those sexy abs that you see on the cover of Shape, Women's Health and any other fitness magazine.

First of all, it's important to know that one of the things that's going to help you get a flat stomach are water solluble foods, like fruit.

But here's a list of foods that will help you even more. Try to incorporate at least six of these per day to get on the fast track to those hot summer abs.

Almonds - (try throwing in ten almonds or so with your lunch. They're jam packed with good oils. However, it's important to make sure that they're not roasted. Good oils are highly unstable, and roasting almonds will take away the nutritional benefits that you'd generally get from them.

Beans

Spinach - (Try a spinach salad with some almonds, goat cheese, balsamic vinegar and oil, and your favorite veggies)

Dairy- (One of my little treats is strawberry yogurt with fat free cottage cheese. A great source of protein and calcium)

Instant oatmeal- (One of my favorites is the maple and brown sugar by Quaker-Weight Control. Add in some blueberries, or bananas or strawberry and you've got the breakfast of champions)

Eggs

Turkey

Peanut Butter ( I personally love taking a banana and putting some all natural peanut butter on it for a light snack)

Olive Oil

Whole Grains

Extra Protein Powder

Raspberries (These little suckers are full of fibre and antioxidants)

Chips a joy- 1 point cookies

Chippity Do Dah!
	There is a time and place for everything, people. And the time is NOW for chocolate chip cookies at the HG HQ!!! We've developed a recipe for extra-soft, chocolate-chip-packed cookies, each with a POINTS® value of 1*. Our doughy double C creation is actually more like a hybrid of cookies, soft snack bars, and muffins! And unlike some other cookie recipes that yield four dozen cookies and require several baking pans (who needs FOUR DOZEN cookies?!?), our recipe makes exactly eight chunky soft cookies for your chewing pleasure! What are you waiting for? Grab the chocolate chips and flour... STAT! Ingredients: 3/4 cup whole-wheat flour 1/2 cup Splenda No Calorie Sweetener (granulated) 6 tbsp. unsweetened applesauce 1/4 cup canned pure pumpkin 1/4 cup fat-free liquid egg substitute (like Egg Beaters) 2 1/2 tbsp. mini semi-sweet chocolate chips 2 tbsp. brown sugar, not packed 3/4 tsp. vanilla extract 1/4 tsp. baking soda 1/8 tsp. salt Directions: Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a mixing bowl, combine all dry ingredients except for the chocolate chips (flour, Splenda, brown sugar, baking soda, and salt). Mix well. In a separate bowl, mix together all wet ingredients (applesauce, pumpkin, egg substitute, and vanilla extract). Add this mixture to the dry ingredients, and stir until completely blended. Then, fold in the chocolate chips. Spray a large baking pan with nonstick spray, and spoon batter into 8 evenly spaced circles. Place pan in the oven for about 10 minutes (until cookies appear done and feel firm). Remove pan from the oven and allow cookies to cool slightly. For best results, enjoy while the cookies are still warm and the chips are still melty! MAKES 8 SERVINGS
	Serving Size: 1 medium-sized cookie (about 1.5 oz.) Calories: 88 Fat: 1.5g Sodium: 93mg Carbs: 17g Fiber: 2g Sugars: 6g Protein: 3g POINTS® value 1*

Before and after photos

Hey everyone,

I figured I would put up a post of some of my before and after pictures. I look at myself forty pounds heavier and don't even recognize myself anymore!





167.8lbs 127.8lbs




158.8lbs 127.8lbs

Peanut Butter and Banana Oatmeal

Hey guys,

I guess this post is an introduction for you more than anything. My name's Diondra and I'm 20 years old. I started this blog as part of my goal on 43things.com because I want to help people lose weight just like I did.

You may wonder, why should I listen to this person? I don't know her?

Well I'll tell you a few things about me. About a year ago I started off unhappy at 167.8lbs. Today I am 127.8lbs on my way to a goal of 120. It's been a struggle to lose the weight and keep it off, but I want to let people know that it is possible and you *can* to it. The biggest thing is not letting small gains defeat you, and perservering through the really hard times (because trust me, there will be some)

So I guess this channel is more or less going to contain some of the things I eat, so I can give you some good ideas of great things to eat if you're in a rush. (Which as a university student, I don't really have much time to do anything, let alone cook)

So I'll start you off with this recipe. This is a recipe I tried from trulyjess' channel on youtube.

www.youtube.com/trulyjess

It's a great recipe that doesn't take too long to make at all. I make two servings the night before so all I have to do is put it in the micro wave for a minute. I kind of tweaked the recipe a little so I could use what I had available to me.

What you'll need:

1 cup of Quaker rolled oats
2 tbsp of all natural peanut butter (I use kraft)
1 large banana
1 and 1/2 cups of water (this is subjective depending on how thick you like your oatmeal)

Directions:

Follow directions on making oatmeal (over the stovetop) on the package of oats
After the oatmeal is done (and still hot) add in 2tbsp of all natural peanut butter and stir it in.
Put the banana in the microwave for thirty seconds (this will soften it so it's easier to stir into the oatmeal)
Add mashed banana.
Portion out the recipe into two servings, and it's ready to go in the morning.


As for some things you may want to look at check out:

www.hungrygirl.com for some low cal recipes and healthier options to your favorite food.

You can follow me on twitter at www.twitter.com/plaidpink

You can also subscribe to me on youtube at www.youtube.com/selfstricken

And again make sure to check out trulyjess' channel at www.youtube.com/trulyjess where she shares some amazing tips, tricks and insights into weightloss.

Enjoy this amazing recipe!