You’re sitting on your couch, looking down at your expanding waist, and you watch TV models flash their rock hard abs at the TV. Surly these people have all the time in the world to get those kinds of results, right? Well, although it’s true that it takes time and discipline to get those kinds of results, the truth is that having a flat tummy is well within everyone’s reach. All it requires is the right amount of motivation and training.

I normally recommend to people serious about getting rid of their tummy that the two things they need to do first is to find a gym nearby, and to convince a friend to work with them. This is all because the most difficult obstacle in getting in shape is your own motivation, and the last thing you need is a lengthy commute to go to the gym. The easier it is to find excuses not to go, the more difficult it will be to train. This is also why it’s so important to find a friend you can train with. Having a partner will help motivate you to go, and if they are a close friend, it will make you look forward to spending time together getting in shape.

Now that you have a gym and a workout partner, you’ll need to figure out what kind of workout to do in order to get results. Obviously, the web is filled with great articles and pictures on how to do exercises, but unless you’ve had a good deal of experience working out, it’s best if you consult a professional for your first few sessions. That’s because the risk of injury is great unless you know how to perform the exercises properly. The last thing you want is to be sidelined because you didn’t know how to lift a weight properly! It takes time to learn the exercises, so take your time, making sure that your movements are exact. Remember that it’s not about how heavy the weight is, but rather the range and precision of movement that count. You’re not going to the gym to impress anyone. You’re there to make yourself healthier, and hopefully get the body you’ve been wanting all this time.

Once you’ve found a gym and know the right exercises, you’ll need to learn how to eat right. This might sound difficult, but in reality it’s not all together complicated. You’ll need to learn how to read food labels to ensure that the products you buy aren’t high in trans fats, refined sugars or salt, the three biggest enemies of a flat tummy. Make sure that you also eat a bigger breakfast and lunch than supper. As the day gets later, your body begins to slow down, so the food you consume can often end up as fat if you don’t watch your portions in the evening.

Finally, the last thing you’ll need to learn is an appreciation for rest. You might want to go to the gym every single night, but if you do, you’ll never get results. Your body builds muscle when you rest, not when you workout, so having plenty of recovery is key. If your muscles are sore, and doing any work is painful, take an extra day off. Listen to your body, and you’ll always get it right!