The Big, The Bad, And The Bloat

Illustrations by Jacqueline Davis Moranti

Imagine this, you're getting dressed for a night out with your friends, or meeting your SO's family for the first time. You want to make a good impression for whatever the situation may be, you reach for that winning dress that you found at Free People, you put it on and then glide over to your full length mirror and see IT! It being your bloated belly, it happens and at the most inconvenient times. Whenever I am bloated, I feel like the grossest person in the world! It has a way of making you feel really uncomfortable. Fortunately, bloating is avoidable!

It's a known fact that women will deal with bloating more than men ever will, because of that we have to find ways to avoid feeling that way. It's something I'm constantly conscious about especially because working out with a bloated belly never feels comfortable! Here are a few of my tips for feeling the best, all the time!

1) H2O is your best friend. Drinking lots of water throughout the day will aid in digestion of all the foods you eat throughout the day. I always aim for a gallon of water a day (120 oz.) and if you aren't to keen on drinking water you can add lemon, cucumbers, peppermints, strawberries, etc to enhance it's flavor to your liking. 

2) Starchy foods, are best kept at arms distance before you go out. Cruciferous veggies and foods such as broccoli, cauliflower, rice, and breads will cause bloating. While I do believe in having a meal before going out with your friends, it's much better to opt for meals with salmon, zucchini, carrots and so forth. The omega 3 fatty acids help with the fight against the bloat!

3) Eating well balanced meals through out the day help with avoiding bloating. Skipping meals and just starving yourself is no good. I aim for five or six meals a day rather than just three meals for the main eating times (breakfast, lunch and dinner). Eating more throughout the day, especially small plates can help you control your hunger and in turn help you keep bloating at bay. 

4) Snack better. Snacking is inevitable and also healthy for you, but when I am snacking I make sure to avoid eating things with a high fiber count. That immediately makes me bloat, unfortunately before I realized this I used to snack on things high in fiber and pair it with something that contains a lot protein. Terrible mix, but I know better now. 

I'm not a certified nutritonist but I am trained in the art of fitness training. My love for fitness has taught me how to eat better and smarter. Boating is uncomfortable and I hope my tips can help you avoid the big, bad bloat! Dear readers, how do you avoid that pesky feeling?