The belly region is usually the last spot to lose fat from the body, as it contains visceral fat, that may be difficult to lose. Asides the struggle of fitting into, that perfect dress or a jean trouser, belly fat has its complications. It increases the risk of diabetes, obesity and cardiovascular disease, as it slows down metabolism, leading to an impairment of the health.
Also, there are lots of information around about losing the belly fat, that you may end up being misinformed, if you are not careful.
If you have tried different means to get rid of belly fat, yet it isn’t working as planned, here might be some of the reasons.
1. You focus on crunches
You’ve probably read from that high ranking fitness mag, on how crunches can reduce your belly fat and you are determined to do as many crunches as you can. While crunches aren’t bad in any way, they are not, what you should focus on. Spot reduction doesn’t work, you will have to lose weight, overall to see results. So, rather than doing crunches all day like it’s all you’ve got, try to engage in other exercises that will help you lose overall body weight and make your crunches worth it. Engage in cardio exercises like walking, jogging, running, skipping, cycling, and so on.
2. At the gym, it’s all about lifting weights
Strength training helps to build and maintain muscle mass, they are great for your body, but balance is also needed. It shouldn’t be all about lifting weights when you are at the gym, because you may end up not doing anything to your belly region. You can engage in moderate-to-high intensity cardio to help burn fat, other than just strength training, that burns more of calories. Mix your workout routines to get more benefits, especially for your belly region.
3. You eat a lot of foods sold in stores
In food stores, you will find lots of frozen meals, meal bars, and packaged snacks, which are not healthy for you, as they contain a high sugar and sodium content. Excess sugar is stored as fat in the body, and excess sodium can cause water retention, leading to weight gain. It’s always advisable you eat more of homemade meals, and include lots of fruits and vegetables, to complete a healthy diet.
While trying to do whatever you can to get rid of the fat around your belly, ensure you are doing what’s right, lest you end up disappointed.
Image courtesy of: authoritynutrition.com.