Here's Why Your Stomach Might Look Thinner When You First Wake Up

When you look in the mirror in the morning, it's not uncommon to see a tummy that's a little flatter than what you may remember going to bed with. According to Livestrong, the reason for this is that a lot of the food (if not all of it) that you ate the day before has been digested. As a result, you don't experience any bloating. In addition to digesting food, your body has also processed water. Typically, your body gets rid of water through sweating and urinating, but you also exhale moisture when you breathe. As your organs pump blood, they're also excreting water. The first time you use the bathroom after waking up is just additional water your body is getting rid of.

With that being said, if you don't feel or look as slim in the morning as you feel you should, it could be water retention caused by lifting weights, hormonal changes, or eating a lot of carbs or high-sodium foods the night before.

If you're looking to achieve a flat stomach that's more permanent, there are a few foods Prevention recommends. Oatmeal gives your body both insoluble and soluble fibers that are necessary for helping your colon eliminate waste, so eating a bowl each morning is a quickfire solution for getting digestion moving. Bananas and potatoes help eliminate water weight by rebalancing potassium and sodium.

You also should drink peppermint tea to ease indigestion and gas. In fact, adding more fluids and staying hydrated in general is necessary for making sure you don't get constipated. Greek yogurt stands up against belly bloat by boosting good bacteria in the gut. Protein is ideal because it helps you feel satiated, and eating enough of it makes you less likely to gorge on sugary and salty snacks.

Foods you should stay away from include alcohol, sugary drinks, raw produce, candy, bubbly drinks, sodium, and refined carbs.