Abs-olutely Almost Bikini Time.

So, Hottie Dan (remember him, girls? The cutie with the calorie burning advice here and here) is back with a few more good-for-your-bod tips, but these focus more on actively staying in shape, as opposed to trickily skirting around the diet system. After all, I believe (or hope) that we've seen the last of the snow this season, and should all be preparing for bathing suit weather, which will sneak up faster than we think (and that is a good thing!).

Anyone who's been awake and watching television past midnight, Monday through Thursday, knows that there are about fifty different machines, videos and exercises that "guarantee" you flat, toned, bikini-ready stomachs. The question that is rarely answered is: why are there so many workout solutions if they all guarantee results? So shady. Well, the answer is that no one exercise is going to permanently give you that perfect stomach. Sure, some people do twenty crunches a day and look pretty damn good. The problem though, is that each time you do workout, your muscles (in this case, your abs) are getting familiarized with this exercise. Your body is getting comfortable! The solution is confusion! Huh? Wait, what? Muscle confusion that is, which means that constantly switching up your exercise routine leaves your body confused and more rigid (sounds bad, but it does the body good!)

When I do my abdominal workouts, I constantly switch it up. For those of you familiar with P-90X workouts (hey girls! Julie interrupting here for a sec. I hear that people swear by P-90X. Check it out), this routine may sound a bit familiar, but we can take it to the limit! Start with some good old-fashioned sit-ups (for a minute, or however long you can go - no cheating!). Follow those up with a three or four-minute ab-roller, or ab-slide (don't neglect your sides, left and right). Lay on your back with your feet six inches off the ground and criss-cross them for a minute (or as long as you can hold). Sit up, elbow motioning towards the opposite knee, keeping on your back. Try to do this for a solid minute, too.

Ladies, the real key to an excellent summer stomach is to first and foremost keep an eye on your diet. Everyone's body is different, but your stomach is where a lot of fat is actually stored. Work out! Your stomach isn't going to tone itself, but you don't need a gym membership or any crazy late-night gimmick product to achieve your goal, either. Believe it or not, three or four minutes per day of at-home ab-workouts does wonders, so long as you mix it up! Trust me on this one: The more exercises you can incorporate into your routine, the more you will be able to feel the burn of each. Don't wait until it's 85° outside. No one wants to put in the hard work when it's time to play!

{Want to guest-post for Afternoon Frosting? Shoot me your ideas here}