Losing Fat Around Your Stomach

 

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Fat is an extremely important part of our body and is in fact essential in order for us to survive.

Fat is made up of glycerol and acids, it can present in solid or liquid form and is also known as lipids. Categorized as saturated, poly-unsaturated, or mono-unsaturated, it aids the absorption as well as the digestion of several vitamins. These vitamins include K, E, D, as well as A. Fats are also required for the correct and healthy functioning of our body. They are good for our hair and our skin, and they also maintain our body’s correct temperature. In addition to this fat also acts as stored energy.

Nevertheless, too much fat is unhealthy, and it is essential to create a healthy balance between not eating too much fat yet still making sure it is present in our bodies. Many people desire to lose fat, especially around their bellies, and the only way to do so is by eating a healthy diet and maintaining a healthy dosage of exercise.

It is most important to limit the intake of saturated fats because these increase cholesterol and thus they line up our arteries. Poly-saturated fat only has a minor effect on our cholesterol, however, the healthiest fat is mono-unsaturated. This is because monounsaturated fat actually increases good cholesterol and reduces the bad cholesterol in our bodies. It is important to make sure you are eating the right types of fat because fat can be potentially harmful to our bodies. This is because it can initiate various diseases, such as; heart disease, diabetes, cardiovascular problems, high blood pressure, and gallbladder issues.

As stated, we do need fat, so it is important not to think that you need to get rid of all the fat in your body – you don’t! The problem arises however when you acquire more fat then is required, this fat tends to get deposited around your stomach area first and foremost, and thus people often find it necessary to lose belly fat.

How does one accumulate belly fat?

There are in fact a lot of factors that can lead to the accumulation of belly fat. These include; overeating, no exercise, lack of a balanced diet, meal portions that are larger than required, eating when you are not hungry, and snacking on a regular basis.

In this day and age, the lack of exercise is apparent. Because of the innovations in technology individuals tend to spend more time sitting down then they do moving around, we are more often than not sitting at a computer desk or sitting at the wheel of our car. We also tend to eat more fast foods and takeaways for the sheer convenience of them.

How long will it take for you to get rid of stomach fat?

This is the million-dollar question and obviously each individual is different. However, one thing is true; losing belly fat is extremely difficult and there is no hiding from this fact. The speed at which you lose weight around your stomach depends on the number of calories you intake on a daily basis, as well as your metabolism, and the amount of frequent exercise you do.

If your daily calorie intake is high then you will find it increasingly difficult to lose belly weight because it will affect the metabolism of your body. People who have a faster metabolism will lose weight quicker, and those who have a slow metabolism will find it a bit harder to lose weight. Individuals who do not participate in any physical activity tend to have a slow metabolism and this of course will make it more difficult for them to lose weight.

A way to increase our metabolism and lose weight is to carry out muscle focused exercise, such as; strength exercises, weight training, and cardio exercises. To put into perspective how difficult it is to lose weight, in theory, you need to burn approximately three thousand and five hundred calories in order to burn one mere pound. Thus the obvious conclusion is; you must burn more calories and intake less in order to lose belly fat.

What can I do in order to lose belly fat?

There are several proven tips that will help you to lose belly fat:

Eat a few small and balanced meals every day:

Try to include fruit, vegetables, multiple servings of grain, and meat and dairy products in your meals. Also, eat smaller meals little and often because this will increase your metabolism and is much better than eating three large meals a day. Do not attempt to follow any of the following diets; low-carb diets, low-fat diets, grapefruit diets, soup diets, or any diet that limits your macro-nutrients (protein, carbohydrates, and fat) for that matter. This is because these diets only decrease your metabolic rate, this means that when you begin to eat normally again you will merely put even more weight on.

Cut down on saturated fats:

Don’t avoid fats all together but make sure you cut down on saturated fats. Try and have smaller servings of fatty meat and dairy products and switch to low-fat variety foods as an alternative. I also recommend baking rather than frying and using extra virgin olive oil whilst cooking.

Cardiovascular exercise:

Start doing cardiovascular exercises, these include; walking, jogging, aerobics, and cycling, to name but a few. Cardiovascular exercises will increase your metabolism and consequently burn calories. Try to do three cardio workouts a week at twenty minutes a session.


Weight training and calisthenics:

Weight training and calisthenics will help you to build muscle as well as burn calories. However, it is vital to understand the structuring of these workouts. Do not waste all of your time only doing abdominal exercise in the hope of specifically targeting your stomach fat, as it does not work like this, in fact, it is a very ineffective method. Instead, make sure you are working all muscles in your body. This will increase your metabolic rate both during and after the workout as well as stimulate the fat-burning hormones in your body. You should also research peptides to help you with your recovery too.

Finally, losing stomach fat requires both focus and intensity in your workouts. You can’t lose weight by simply sitting in front of the TV wearing one of the ‘fat-burning’ belts you recently saw advertised – they don’t work. There is only one way to lose belly weight and its simple; decrease your calorie intake and increase your activity level.

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