Since the pandemic hit, I’ve been working out at home, with the wonderful help of YouTube. I go for pilates videos, or specific body parts I want to focus on. One of my favorite things to search is “10 minute ab workouts at home”.

When it comes to ab workouts, I prefer them short and intense. If I’m to exercise, I want it over with as fast as I can. I bet a lot of people think the same way. 

That’s why I’ve tried most 10 minute ab workouts at home on YouTube. (It’s a body part I’m trying to reduce and tone). I know the good ones and the bad ones. Which trainer is fun, but also which one’s voice I don’t like listening to. If it’s a hard workout or an easy one. Also, which one makes me sore the next day. 

So, if you’re like me, and you want to do a fast ab workout, I’m here to help you. Here are the best 10 minute ab workouts at home I found on YouTube:

Chloe Ting- Abs Workout Challenge

This is by far one of the most popular 10 minutes ab workouts at home out there. It has over 300 million views because a lot of people did her 2 week challenge and had great results with it. 

The workout in itself is pretty hard to do, but I’ve seen so many people have noticeable changes after it, so it must be great. I don’t do it all the time, because 1) I don’t like certain exercises, and 2) I don’t particularly like her. But it’s a good workout and you should definitely try it. 

Alexis Ren – 10 minute ab workout

Alexis Ren’s video is probably one of my most viewed (and used) 10 minutes ab workouts at home videos. I love the fact that it’s just music, so no small talk, clarifications, etc. I also really like the ab exercises, they are pretty easy to do and they get the job done. Definitely one of my favorite videos out there. 

Pamela Reif

This video is similar to the one before (Alexis Ren), in the sense that it has no audio instructions, it’s just music. I usually go for those, because it helps me concentrate on the actual workout. 

Exercise wise, it’s not my jam, I feel like there are too many sets with similar moves and it gets boring at times. Also, she doesn’t break between sets, and that kills me. Still, this video gets the job done, so you can definitely try it. 

MadFit – 10 minutes six pack abs for total beginners

If you like to workout with the trainer’s help and motivational speech, and most importantly, if you are a total beginner, this is the best video for you.

I love Maddie’s sessions, she also does some great song workouts. 

But this 10 minute ab workouts at home video is one of her best. I usually go for it when I want something easy and slow, not too complicated. 

Blogilates – Ab & Oblique Sculpter

I love Blogilates. She has a bubbly personality and is very passionate about fitness. She is an OG Youtuber, and has many videos, not only workout ones. Check them out!.

This particular one is a 10 minutes ab workouts at home video that targets specific muscles. If you’re a pro at ab workouts, try this one. It will help move and strengthen ALL your ab muscles. 

Whitney Simmons- Quick Beginner and Advanced Circuits

This is another fitness YouTuber I like to follow, not only for the workouts, but also for her personality. She is fun and sassy and works her ass off.

I chose this video because she has two circuits in it: a beginner and an advanced one, so you can try either one. I recommend doing 2 times the first one if you’re a beginner, and doing both circuits if you’re moderate to advanced. 

Zanna van Dijk -Total Core– 10 minute ab workout

Zanna has some wonderful at home workouts, and her abs ones are especially good. I included this one because she does a great job explaining the process and the moves, and she’s very uplifting and motivating. 

Juice & Toya – 10 Minute High Intensity Abs/Core Workout

This is a new 10 minutes ab workouts at home video I recently found on YouTube. I love the fact that it’s made by both a man and a woman, and that it includes a beginner and an advanced version of the session. 

It can be a great workout for couples, so I recommend you put this one next time you want to exercise with your partner. 

Caroline Girvan – 10 Minute Intense Lower Ab Workout

When doing ab exercises, most of us actually just want to get rid of the lower pouch. For this, there are many specific 10 minutes ab workouts at home. Like Caroline’s.

I like this one because she gives the instructions in the beginning, but the actual session is just music, and you also have visual cues, like timestamps and “next exercise”.

So here we are: my top 10 minute ab workouts at home! Let me know which is your favorite and what other YouTube workouts you do!

p.s. If you want to lose weight, check out my journey to losing 20 lbs in 2 months!

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If you’re on a keto diet, or want to lose weight, or just looking for some healthy, I’m here to tell you there are plenty of options for low carb low sugar snacks. Below you’ll find 6, but there are so much more out there. I’m just sharing my favorite snacks, the ones I reach for the most. 

Before, my idea of snacks was a chocolate bar (Snickers for the win). Or 2-3 chocolate chip cookies. Or a bag of Doritos. That was between lunch and dinner. After dinner, me and my boyfriend would have cake, or ice-cream, or a slice of bread with A LOT of Nutella spread on top of it. 

Fast forward to the beginning of this month, when I realised I was eating too much, especially too much junk food and sweets. So I committed to a month of no sugar (or very low sugar) and so far, so good. The only snacking I’m doing is around the 3-4 pm time stamp, when I need it the most. I try to refrain from eating anything after dinner, but if I must, I grab a couple of walnuts.

It’s not my first endeavor in the low carb low sugar snacks game, you know. Two years ago I went through a two month weight loss program, where I lost 22lbs and I used the same principles back then, too. They definitely helped with the craving and the hunger, so I hope they can help you, too.

If you don’t like any of the options below, feel free to have something else, but make sure you know the nutritional information for it. It’s something I learned during that period and I still apply to this day.

I learned the main categories of nutrients (protein, carbohydrates, fat, fiber, etc.), and most importantly, I learned how to classify the most consumed food in my meal plan. This helped me, in turn, know what I am eating, and what I should be cutting or adding from my diet. 

For example, I know now that carbs means potatoes, bread, chocolate bars, bakery, cookies, etc. I know meat, milk, yoghurt and cheese are high in protein. And I know I need to eat plenty of vegetables, because they are low in calories and high in nutrients. 

By knowing this (and some other nutritional information), I can create a meal and snacking plan which limits the use of carbs and sugar. Not eliminate, just use as little as possible. 

Since snacking is so important because most of us do it, it’s important to know how to do it appropriately. So here are 6 low carb low sugar snacks to help get through the day. 

Nuts, especially pecans and walnuts 

This is, actually, my favorite snack out of the 6, and the one I reach for the most. I usually buy big bags of pecans and walnuts (and sometimes hazelnuts), and make myself a bowl of nuts. I don’t consume it in one sitting, of course, but stretch it for a week, if I can (spoiler alert: I can’t, it’s usually gone in 5 days tops).

Pecans are a great choice of low carb low sugar snacks because they taste sweet, but they have 14g of Carbs per 100g of product. So as long as you stick to 30g of pecans per serving, you’re good. 

Walnuts are low in carbs and sugar, and most importantly, have many health benefits. It is said to be useful in weight loss, that they are helpful for brain function, and that they also improve quality of sleep and….sperm. 100g of Walnuts have about 14g of Carbs and 3g of Sugar. 

Yogurt

If you’re the type of person who loves yoghurts or smoothies, this might be a great solution for you. But before you run out to get some chocolate Chobani or something similar, I have to urge you to only buy and consume the plain yoghurt type. You probably already know that the flavored ones have sugar in it, so you have to stay away from those.

Next time you go to the supermarket, go to the plain yoghurt section and check the labels for nutritional data. Choose the ones that have the least amount of carbs and sugar (ideally, under 5g for each). Fun fact: you might be surprised to discover that some 0% fat have more carbs than the usual ones. So please check the nutritional data on the back of the product. 

String Cheese 

Great news: most mozzarella sticks have less than 1 gram of carbs per serving (one stick)! That’s amazing! And to add to that, they also have about 6 grams of protein, which is great for building muscle and losing fat, so go for it. 

Next time you’re buying some for your kids (or partner), get some for yourself, they are a quick snack to have, easy to carry and consume on the go.

With the risk of repeating myself, please check the back of the package and go for the one with great nutritional numbers, some types of cheese have more carbs or sugar.

Hard boiled egg

Hard boiled eggs are a good choice if you want a filling option, one that does not feel like a snack. Eggs are very low in Carbs and Sugar, but they do contain cholesterol, so it’s recommended to stick to 2 eggs a day.

I recommend boiling 6-10 eggs on Sunday, to have on hand for the next week. Just pop one out, put some salt on it, if you want, and there you go! Hunger subsided. 

Carrots

If you love veggies and have no problem eating them, definitely try carrots. I personally love them because they are refreshing and crunchy. 

For one large carrot (roughly 72g) you get 7g of Carbs, and 3g of it are sugars; these are great numbers for healthy snacking. Just be cautious about them, I know my nutritionist recommended I don’t eat large quantities, since they do contain carbs.

Peanut butter 

The last item on the low carb low sugar snacks list is everybody’s favorite: peanut butter. Yes, you can eat peanut butter, in decent sized quantities (1-2 spoons of it). 

The crucial aspect when it comes to peanut butter consumption is if it has added sugars in it or not. Always go for the natural, organic one, with no extra ingredients. I use Meridian Smooth Peanut Butter. It has 11.6g of Carbs and 5g of Sugar for 100g, which is ⅓ of the container, so a spoonful will have considerably less than that. 

So there we go: my list of 6 low carb low sugar snacks that I reach for the most! Like I said before, there are plenty more choices out there. The important thing is to make sure you know the nutritional data for it before you consume it. You might find a delicious snack you didn’t even consider trying. 

Let me know in the comments what your favorite snacks are. Preferably healthy, so that we don’t all start craving Doritos and chocolate while reading the comment section 🙂

*This post contains Amazon affiliate links, which means that I may receive a commission if you make a purchase using these links, at no extra cost to you.

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I think people want to learn how to lose weight for different reasons:

• Self confidence;
• For health reasons;
• Mental health;
• For special occasions;
• To be able to perform better in a particular sport, and so on.

That makes them vulnerable, and sometimes even desperate, so they are willing to try anything to make it happen.

Unfortunately, companies have found a way to take advantage of that vulnerability: they sell many products and services that most of the time are useless or even harmful to people looking to lose weight. I know I have tried my fair share of diets and pills and shakes.

When I actually found my determination to commit to losing weight (because I’ve tried many times in the past, but never actually stuck to it), I realised that it was not about a particular product. There was no magical cure for weight loss. It was all about hard work, motivation and accountability. 

So here is my story. First, I’ll go through the actual process, then I’ll share some tips & tricks that helped me immensely.

Nutritionist….and accountability

Looking back, a key factor to losing weight was accountability, and more specifically, accountability towards my nutritionist. 

I started working with her after my mom suggested going to a clinic that specializes in weight loss that she had heard of from another friend. She offered to pay my fees (my salary was pretty low at the time) and she helped me stay on track in terms of food (she would sometimes cook for me). (Thanks, mom, you’re the best!)

At the clinic I met up with a nutritionist who took me through a 3 month process. At first, she asked about my eating habits, my routines, etc, then she asked me to keep a week-long meal diary and get my blood work done. 

One or two weeks later I showed her the results and the diary, and together we formed a weight loss plan personalized for me and my body type. I loved the fact that she taught me what every meal should be like (how much protein for lunch, how many carbs and when to eat them, etc). I also very much appreciated that she suggested meal ideas taking into consideration what I like to eat. 

After that, every two weeks I would come in and weigh myself with the special scale that showed muscle mass and fat percentage, among others. Every two weeks I would hope to see those numbers go down, and most of the time, they did. That, in itself, was a big push forward for me to continue the program. 

This bi-monthly meeting with the nutritionist, a person I was paying big bucks to help me, was the accountability I so desperately needed to actually keep up with the diet, I realized over time. I felt obligated to not cheat and to make sure those numbers go down, because 1) I didn’t want to let her down (I’m a people pleaser), 2) I was paying a lot of money and I didn’t want it to be for nothing, and 3) once the weight started to come off, it was a push to see how much more I could do. 

The program was over after three months, but I wished I would have continued. I thought that I knew all the basics and that I didn’t need her help anymore. Also, I was paying her a lot of money for things I could do myself. The reason I regret stopping was actually the accountability. Having someone to report to every two weeks would have helped me lose even more weight.  

Over time, I did put back about ⅓ of it, but I think that’s ok, considering that I ate all I wanted most of the time. 

Right now I’m trying to implement the diet again (loosely, I’m not very strict about it), because I went overboard in December, with all the sugar and mom’s delicious food. And guess what? It’s working. 

Below you’ll find an overview of my actual diet, but I strongly recommend you talk to a nutritionist that can build a diet personalized to you and your body! 

The actual diet that worked for me

I won’t give a specific play-by-play of my actual diet per day, because it fluctuated, but I can give you the overall view and the types of food I was allowed to eat and in what way. 

First of all, to cut to the chase, the key to my weight loss was the massive reduction of carbs. You’ve probably heard about it before, and you have for a reason. If you really want to know how to lose weight, cutting back on carbs really does make a huge difference, in my opinion*. Again, for my body type and myself, but I think it can work for most people. I’m not saying to cut it out completely, just to reduce the quantity of it. 

My nutritionist set me up on a daily meal plan that looked something like this:

• Breakfast: I would have 100g / 4oz of turkey breast, with a couple of slices of cucumber, grape tomatoes, some feta cheese and olives. Some days, I would switch out the turkey with a plain yoghurt or two boiled eggs.
• Lunch: Most of the time, it was chicken or fish, with grilled or boiled vegetables, and a light green salad. Or a big salad with chicken and other vegetables.
• Dinner: Soup or a light salad (no meat). 
• Snacks: 30 g (¼ cup) of simple almonds (not salted) or blueberries, or one small piece of 80% cacao chocolate. 

What was off the list:

• No bread, bagel, etc;
• No potatoes;
• Eliminate junk food;
• No carrots;
• No sweets of any kind;
• Less alcohol (1 drink per week);
• No sugary drinks (that also meant flavored sparkling water);

It might seem a rather restrictive diet, and it did feel like that in the first two weeks, but after a while my body got used to it and I didn’t even crave sweets.  

One thing I really appreciated about her approach was that she told from the beginning that it’s ok if I have a slice of pizza or a cookie at work, for example, if everyone is eating it. But just that, nothing more, She preached it’s ok to indulge from time to time, but in very low quantities. This way, it won’t affect your progress.

Other Tips & Tricks that helped with weight loss

• Stay active. Fitness was also supposed to be a big part of my diet, but I admit I wasn’t as active as my nutritionist would have liked me to be. She recommended I do some form of exercise 5 times a week, but I think I did it 2-3 times a week. I’m not really into fitness, but I did make an effort during that time, and it did provide results. I highly recommend you incorporate exercise in your diet, it will help and your body needs it.
• More Water. This program established my daily habit of drinking 2L / 67 oz of water per day. I still do it to this day, and it has helped, not only clear my skin, but also improve my digestion and dry skin. If this is the only thing you get from this blog post, I will be happy. Just drink more water!
• Eliminate temptations. During my three month program I didn’t have a single chocolate bar or cookie in my house, and it helped so much. If I don’t have it, I can’t eat it, right? Same goes with junk food. If you go out with friends, don’t hit up McDonalds, try eating at a local restaurant and choose grilled chicken with some veggies. Also, if you know a co-worker is bringing donuts to the kitchen area today, avoid it at all costs. Or until all of them are consumed (it won’t take that long, probably).  
• Have a meal plan ready. This was extremely helpful, especially when it came to lunch at work. I would make the meal plan for the week on Sunday, then meal prep my food the previous night, so I couldn’t order in or eat the French fries from the cafeteria. I also made sure I always had vegetables and yoghurt in my fridge for dinners. 

So here it is! If you’re looking into how to lose weight, you’ve done the first step. You’ve decided you want a change and are thinking of how to do it. 

Now it’s time to take action! You can do it in two ways: 

1. Seek out a professional nutritionist to help you build a personalized program for you;
2. Start implementing small changes in your routine so you can build up to bigger things. 

I recommend the first way, but if you don’t have the resources for it, definitely go on the second route. 

You can start by reducing the quantity of carbs in your diet (not eliminate, just reduce) or by having smaller portions of your meals (this is currently helping me a lot). So instead of making yourself a full plate, for example, try filing ¾ of it. Over time, it will make a difference. 

Thank you for reading my story and I hope it will help you in yours! Let me know what has worked for you in the past in terms of weight loss, I would love to know!

p.s. If you’re having trouble eliminating temptations from your home, try re-organizing your pantry and stocking it the right way.

*I am not a registered nutritionist or a doctor, I cannot give you professional advice. This is strictly my point of view and what worked for me. Please refer to a nutritionist or a doctor for weight loss help.

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