Commentary by Cory Black

We all have a little extra layer of belly right now. But we can stop dreading the upcoming swimsuit season, and just need to help our body become a greater fat burning machine and stop derailing progress along the way.

Key is a diet rich in proteins and green vegetables and cutting out simple sugars and carbs, especially late in the day. Nighttime eating can undo all your hard work, except for a high protein snack. Protein breaks down more slowly, and in fact 20 percent to 30 percent of the calories of protein are burned breaking it down. And protein helps fuel your lean muscle increasing your fat burning potential while you sleep.

Avoid processed and fast foods, which are often rich in trans fats. Foods high in trans fats not only increase weight more than other foods of the same calories, but have an affinity to specifically cause belly fat gain.

We can also naturally boost our fat burning potential. Caffeine and polyphenols in green tea, 7 Keto DHEA and the MCT oil in coconut oil have natural properties that boost our metabolism. And CLA has been clinically proven to help metabolize stubborn belly fat at a dose of 1.7 grams per day.

Working hard? Just make sure you keep the sleep bank full or you’ll undo benefits of the diet and exercise of the day. Lack of sleep increases cortisol hormone levels which triggers our body to store more fat.

Alcoholic drinks, while great socially, are empty calories that almost immediately interrupt fat burning. And each gram of alcohol packs almost twice as many calories as normal dietary carbohydrate. Drink in moderation and limit to once a week or refrain entirely to shed unwanted belly fat.

It’s coming. Start taking steps now and you’ll be thanking yourself this summer.