In any situation requiring the alteration of diet for weight loss, there are some factors to be wary of. In the case of developing a six pack, this is no exception.

1) Be sure you are eating a sufficient amount of nutritious food; do not starve yourself in order to lose weight quickly. Our bodies require the vitamins, minerals and energy from food for basic function. If we are not providing our bodies with this, our bodies will be unable to function efficiently.

Starving yourself will only result in a decreased metabolism and the loss of lean body mass as opposed to adipose (fat) tissues.

2) If you are aiming to increase your fiber intake, be sure to adjust your water intake appropriately. This will avoid any complications that may occur due to excessive fiber intake.

3) Avoid buying snacks that are high in sugar or fat. For most people, snacking can occur subconsciously and they do not notice they are doing it. Avoid this situation by not having the snacks on hand. Other ways to prevent habitual snacking may also be to write down what you eat each day, in order to identify and eliminate any unnecessary snacking on unhealthy foods.

4) Many people opt to take supplements in order to increase their muscle mass or help them lose weight. Whilst supplements can be useful, it is important to remember that they are still just supplements and cannot be relied upon as a sole means for losing weight. All supplements still require the individual to adopt a healthy diet and to exercise. Thus they cost quite a bit of money, however do not accomplish anything significant. If supplements appeal to you, why not look at purchasing a simple multivitamin or mineral pill, as this will fill all requirements and will not cost as much as a supplement. A multivitamin will also help ensure you are not missing out on any vitamins or minerals as a result of decreasing the calorie intake of your diet.

If you feel you may need a multivitamin or supplement, it is best to consult either a dietitian or a doctor before making a decision. Discussing your options with a professional will ensure you make the right decision as to whether you do indeed require supplements or multivitamins and will prevent you from putting yourself into a dangerous situation (such as overdosing on particular vitamins or minerals by unnecessarily taking extra supplements). In most cases you should be able to obtain all required vitamins and minerals through diet alone.

5) Sugar can come in many disguises. Be sure to read food labels before consuming products. This will help you determine the overall sugar content of the food and will also aid in determining the amount of fat present. This will allow you to make an informed decision about the foods you eat.

6) You may have heard people mentioning a low carbohydrate diet in order to lose fat. Low carbohydrate diets are not appropriate. Our diets are meant to based predominantly on breads and cereals and thus carbohydrates. Carbohydrates are the main source of energy in the diet and thus, limiting carbohydrate intake will only serve to limit a quality source of energy which will leave an individual feeling fatigued and with little energy to perform daily activities. In the event that sufficient carbohydrates are not available for use as energy, the body will begin using protein for energy, instead of using it to build and strengthen muscle. As a result, muscle strengthening will not occur and thus, the six pack will not be able to become toned and visible.