As someone who has very little money and very bad genes,but very big obsession about having the perfect body, I have come to find these five things can reshape your body, and aspecially your mid-section.

1. No fad diets. Stop reading new diet books, magazines, articles (except this pub :-). Stop experimenting. You have common sense and hopefully no eating disorder yet - save your soul and body and stop thinking about having to diet! This messes up your body completely on a psychological and physiological level and everything that is against health is also against sexy abs. Remember - flat, vibrant, ripped abs are a sign of health! You can't achieve them by eating 500 cal. per day, vomiting, taking diet pills or eating according to moon cycles!

Eat healthy instead. With vegs and fruits, carbs, fat, protein in anough amounts to keep you normally fulll and not thinking about food all day long.

2. Don't run. It may help you shred some pounds at first, but in the long run, it is an unnecessary heavy stress for your body and will switch on that wicked survival fat gain. Stay away from this. Remember, in the past humans had to run only when encounted with some danger! For some more information on this, and some surprising facts, have a look at this great arcticle http://www.figureathlete.com/readArticle.do?id=2391092 that explains all in detail.

Instead of running, do pilates and yoga-type workouts, lift weights and do crunches without over-exercising. Once per day is great, if you have time and do it in calm, but also 3 times weekly will do the work. You don't really need cardio. Go for a walk in the park and breathe deeply. Take a cup of coffee and stride through the shopping mall and dream. Move yourself normally,that's it.

3. Don't rush. I know you have heard this before but you still pretend you didn't. You won't lose your belly fat in two weeks. No way. This is not bad news, this is a beginning of a wonderful journey To and WITH a great body. Think positive. Plan for next summer, or even for year 2010 if you need more time. But plan. Imagine yourself how great you will look then. Then, and for the rest of your life.

4. A glass of high-quality red wine per day. It is great for overall health, and it does help with stress relief, which automatically brings you a healthier middle. Cortison - the stress hormone - makes your body store fat exactly there. Do I need to mention that when stressed, you pig out on bad food? A glass of wine and a warm cooked meal for dinner will be better than "dinner cancelling" and then a bag of cookies at 1 a.m...If you are afraid of drinking so much wine, drink tea. But make it a sinful ritual.

5. Learn eastern philosophies. Read books. Stop thinking about your abs. You will have the best abs you can have if you fill your life with healthy, positive experiences and avoid stupid obsessions.

That's it. My 5 not-too-standard tips. They are tried. They work. That's me on the picture, I used to have about 20 pounds mainly concentrated around my stomach 2 years ago.

Have fun LIVING!

yours truly, Nelly