Belly fat seems to be so easy to gain but the most difficult to lose. Belly fat is that significant amount of fast hanging around the midsection giving the illusion of a big muffin top grows under your shirt. Not only does it make people conscious of their bodies, but it serves as an important marker of our health and wellness.
In this article, we will discuss everything that you need to know about belly fat and how you can successfully get rid of them!
Excessive eating is not the major culprit in the development of belly fat. Increased fat stores is heavily influenced by the hormone, cortisol. Researchers of Yale University reveal that women who have higher levels of cortisol in their bloodstream are more likely to develop abdominal fat than those who have low to normal levels of cortisol.
One of the reasons why your belly fat won’t go away is that you’re doing exercise the wrong way. Instead of lifting weights, you should try High Intensity Interval Training or HIIT in combination with exercise routines that increase heart rate including cardio, running, rowing, and cycling to name a few. Full-body strength workouts may also be included to speed up fat loss.
Fat loss is yet another reason why you still bear that much fat around your belly. To acid in fat loss, make sure to enjoy up to 8 hours of sleep at night. Create a comfortable and relaxing sleeping space. Avoid the intake of caffeine to induce peaceful sleep.
One cause of increased fat stores around the belly is sugar intake. Beverages that are high in sugar only makes matters worse. Instead of drinking cola or sweetened drinks, replace it with plain water with lemon, cucumber, or mint!
A diet that is saturated with salt results in serious water retention. Instead of using salt, why not use herbs instead to make your meals more flavorful.
Drinking alcohol beverages including beer, wine, and hard liquor speed up the fat stores in the abdominal region. Make sure not to exceed the recommended daily alcohol intake of 1 to 2 glasses of alcohol per day. Better yet, drink in moderation or drink on occasions.
The intake of processed foods is a culprit in weight gain and increased fat stores in the body. Instead of eating junk food or fast food items, introduce healthier food options including fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. All these healthy food alternatives are teeming with antioxidants and are known to have powerful anti-inflammatory qualities that help in belly fat reduction.
High levels of stress may also contribute to the development of belly fat. You need to lower down cortisol levels by relaxation and the intake of food items rich in cortisol such as fruits, seafood, spinach and beef.
Here are food items known to burn out the fat around your stomach:
- berries
- whey powder
- whole grain breads and cereals
- olive oil
- peanut butter
- turkey and other lean meats
- eggs
- oatmeal
- low-fat dairy products
- beans and leagumes
- nut
Exercise routines that are found to help in flattening the tummy are:
- squats
- deadlifts
