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I’ve never gone through pregnancy before. But I used to have a significant tummy and I managed to get rid of it by doing abdominal exercises.

A high protein meal may not be suitable for you unless you are doing body-building or vigorous exercises. Excess proteins would be converted to fatty acid which might not be what you want. A meal high in carbohydrates should work well on you since carbohydrates are the best source of energy for your daily requirements (that’s why marathoners do carbo-loading before the run, they don’t do protein-loading).

Trimming or slimming down should be a gradual process. If you lose weight drastically in a short period of time, the loose skin would be more difficult to get rid of. So give yourself 3 – 6 months to "notice the change".

These are some very good ab exercise, they help to firm up the abdominal area.

1. Bicycle Maneuver

Lie on your back with your knees bent and feet flat on the floor.
Place your fingers on the side of your head just behind your ears.
Push your lower back into the floor flattening the arch and hold.
Bring your knees up to about a 45-degree angle and slowly go through a bicycle pedal motion.
Touch your left elbow to your right knee, then your right elbow to your left knee.
Breath evenly throughout the exercise.

2. Basic Crunch

Lie on your back with your knees bent and feet flat on the floor.
Place your fingertips to the side of your head just behind your ears.
Push your lower back into the floor flattening the arch and hold.
Curl up slowly so both your shoulders lift off the floor a few inches.
Hold for a count of 2 and return to the start position.
Tip: Don’t clasp your fingers behind your head. Don’t tuck your chin to your chest, keep your head up.

3. Half Curl

Lie on your back with your knees bent and feet flat on the floor.
Place your palms on your thighs and curl up until your fingertips reach your knees as you breathe out. Return to the start position.
Tip: Don’t tuck your chin to your chest, keep your head up.

4. Vertical Leg Crunch

Lie on your back with your knees bent and feet flat on the floor.
Place your fingertips to the side of your head just behind your ears. Push your lower back into the floor flattening the arch and hold.
Extend your legs straight up in the air, crossed at the ankles with a slight bend in the knee.
Contract your abdominal muscles by lifting your torso toward your knees.
Make sure to keep your chin off your chest with each contraction.
Exhale as you contract upward; inhale as you return to the starting

5. Reverse Crunch

Lie on your back with your knees bent and feet flat on the floor.
Place your fingertips to the side of your head just behind your ears.
Crossing your feet at the ankles, lift your feet off the ground to the point where your knees create a 90-degree angle.
Push your lower back into the floor flattening the arch and hold.
Your hips will slightly rotate and your legs will reach towards the ceiling with each contraction.
Exhale as you contract; inhale as you return to the starting position

6. Alternating ‘Supermans’

Lie face down on a mat with your arms stretched above your head (like superman)
Raise your right arm and left leg about 5-6 inches off the ground (or as far as you comfortably can).
Hold for 3 seconds and relax.
Repeat with the opposite arm and leg.

7. Plank Exercise

Lie face down on a mat with your elbows right next to your chest, palms facing down.
Push off the floor, raising up onto toes and elbows with palms flat, back flat angling up from toes to shoulders.
Hold abdominals tight, and keep your spine neutral.
Tilt your pelvis and contract your abdominals to prevent your rear end from sticking up in the air.
Hold for 30 to 60 seconds, and then lower; repeat.

8. Crossover crunches

Lie on your back with your knees bent and feet flat on the floor.
Cross your right leg over your left leg so your right ankle is resting on your left knee.
Place your fingertips to the side of your head just behind your ears.
Begin a crunch, but twist your torso and touch your left elbow to your right knee.
Return to the starting position and repeat for the desired number of repetitions before switching over to the other side.

9. Oblique Crunches

Lie on your back with your knees bent and feet flat on the floor.
Slowly drop your legs to the left and let your knees rest near the floor.
Place your fingertips to the side of your head just behind your ears.
Push your lower back into the floor flattening the arch and hold.
Curl up slowly so both your shoulders lift off the floor a few inches.
Hold for a count of 2 and return to the start position.
Repeat for the desired number of reps and switch to the other side.