Still having trouble firming up your mid-section even though you’ve been religious about doing your sit-ups and crunches? Before you abandon your workouts, stop to think about what other habits might be sabotaging your flat-belly workout. Stress and poor eating habits can contribute to a flabby tummy. Read on for six weight loss tips to keep your abs tight and toned.

1. Full Focus – Whether you’re on the treadmill, elliptical or another workout machine, never forget that this is a workout. It may be tempting to zone out or think about that lengthy to-do list, but it can only harm your workout. Stay focused to feel the burn. A more strenuous exercise gets the heart pumping, and will quickly help you shed those pesky few pounds.

2. Side Plank – This is one of the top exercises for your abs because it’s more challenging than a normal plank, and your core has to work harder in order to keep you upright. Here’s what you do: Lie on your right side with your elbow underneath your shoulder. Either stack your legs, or put your right leg over your left. Place your right hand on your right hip. Suck in your abs as you lift your hips off of the floor. You should be balancing your arm and your feet so that they are becoming a diagonal line. Hold this for 30 seconds that switch sides and repeat.

3. Keep Breathing – In order for your core muscles to work as hard as possible, you need to keep breathing as you go through ab exercises. Still unsure of the correct breathing pattern? Here’s what you do: Inhale on the easiest part of the exercise and exhale when you have to work hard. For example, when doing a sit-up, inhale as you lay back and exhale as you pull yourself back up.

4. Superfoods – Exercising is essential when it comes to a tight tummy, but putting the right foods in that tummy is extremely important as well. Add superfoods to your diet, such as quinoa, Greek yogurt and leafy greens to give your new healthy lifestyle a kick-start. Some of our other favorite seasonal picks include artichokes, strawberries and fava beans.

5. Pilates – Yoga tends to emphasize stretching and weights help improve strength. Pilates, on the other hand, really focus on your abdominals. Sessions can be intense, but the bottom line is that your abs are going to be the muscles that are worked in every workout. Plus, pilates also help improve your posture, which can in turn make you appear up to five pounds slimmer.

6. Slow and Steady – Blowing through your abs workout won’t help you develop that six-pack any quicker. Actually, we recommend that you slow down when working your abs. You’ll feel the burn more, and most likely get a better workout. You’ll know that's definitely true if you wake up with a knot in your stomach the next morning. Yes, your abs are getting stronger!