Summer is almost upon us, which for some women comes with fear- fear of exposing our less-than-perfect physique.
Typically, women have a problem with belly fat, and in the latest issue of Women's Health (on newsstands today) Jillian Michaels shares her secrets for getting sexy abs, to flat-belly foods for every meal and her list of the Hollywood stars with the best abs (hint: Beyoncé is on the list!).
Here are some of her tips…
Jillian on the area of the body women struggle with most…
"I did a poll on Facebook asking which area of your body you struggle with most, and the number one answer was abs."
Jillian on how to reduce belly fat…
"You can't spot-reduce fat. You must burn calories to burn fat while you condition your abs."
Jillian on why Beyoncé has some of the best abs in Hollywood…
"I just love that she is sexy and feminine and has curves but is still really fit. To dance the way she does–she's an incredible athlete."
Jillian on why Madonna has some of the best abs in Hollywood…
"It's ridiculous how she's kept fit at 53. Obviously, she means business."
Jillian on why Jennifer Aniston has some of the best abs in Hollywood…
"She's always doing yoga or out on a run. She's not too skinny. And she's not obsessed about it. She just always looks good."
Jillian on how stress affects your midsection…
"When your levels of cortisol–a fight-or-flight survival hormone–are high, it can put your body in fat-storage mode. So stress is one of the worst things, not only for your overall health but also for your metabolism."
Jillian on how dairy affects your midsection…
"You want to eat things that are high in fiber and that keep moving through your body. For a lot of people, a ton of dairy can screw up digestion and cause bloating."
Jillian on how bad ab equipment can cause more harm than good…
"If you're getting on one of those gym ab machines and crunching 100 pounds, pass. You could hurt your back, and you don't want the thick bulk."
Jillian on how why alcohol will derail your fitness dreams…
"It's going to dehydrate you, then make you feel puffy."
Jillian on the first thing that comes to mind when she hears…
Spanx: "Claustrophobic."
Self-tanner-sculpted abs: "Orange."
Ryan Gosling: "Hot."
Pierced belly buttons: "Painful."
Tummy tucks: "Painful!"
Bikinis: "Aspirational."
Body shots: "College."
Six-pack: "Driven."
