Increase Fiber Intake

• Most people do not eat enough fiber, which causes them to get flabby. Fiber is the indigestible part of fruits and vegetables. You should eat at least 25 grams of fiber each day. However, take care to increase your fiber gradually. Otherwise, you will have gas problems. Take some fiber with each meal, rather than eating all 25 grams in one meal. Fiber can be found in oats, barley and beans, all of which also lower cholesterol. Along with increasing fiber in your diet, drink a lot of water to help your food move through your body.
  
  

Balance Your Carbs

• Limit your intake of carbohydrates to take up only 45 percent to 65 percent of your daily diet. Do not eliminate carbohydrates; maintain a minimum of 45 percent carbs to stay on a balanced diet. However, if your carbs intake is over 65 percent, you run the risk of weight gain and bloating. Instead of eating white bread, opt for whole grain breads and pastas for their nutrients. White bread is refined to remove its nutrients, leaving only starch.
  
  

Drink Water

• Drinking ample amounts of water helps your diet, as it flushes out excess sodium and other pollutants that add to the fat around your abdomen. Ideally, you should drink at least eight 8-ounce glasses per day. Also, be selective about the other liquids you drink. Choose refreshments with fewer calories and less caffeine, and avoid soft drinks that have a lot of sodium. Carbonated drinks are also bad for the diet; they increase bloating and slow digestion.
  
  

Eat Less at Night and Reduce Stress

• Those who eat less during the day and more at night have a lower metabolism. In a successful ab diet, this trend is reversed. This might be a challenge for you if you are used to eating large dinners. An easy way to do this is to snack in between meals. You will stay full and eat less at dinner. Moreover, you will avoid hunger pains, which usually cause people to eat more than they should.
  
  Find ways to relieve stress. Pamela Peeke writes about stress' negative effects on the body in her book "Fight After Forty," which explains that stress increases your appetite and deposits fat around your abdomen. A great way to relieve stress while shaping your abdomen muscles is to exercise. Go running, or find a cardio activity that you enjoy.