How to Effectively Lose Belly Fat
by Jack Kenefick on April 24, 2010
Whether it’s because summer is approaching and you want to look good in that new bikini, or you simply want to lose weight to become healthier, losing belly fat is an important step. You may have struggled to lose it in the past and that may be due to a few reasons. Maybe you did the research and told your self it was time but never actually committed and put a plan into action. Maybe you religiously exercised but were doing the wrong exercises and therefore saw little or no results. Maybe you tried to rely on crashing dieting or much hyped diet pills to do the work for you. Well, the belly area can be one of the most stubborn to lose weight. But there is a three pronged attack that will help in achieving your goal:
-Diet
-Cardio
-Abdominal Exercises
Diet is key. Diet in terms of a long term change of eating habits, as opposed to a crash diet or taking diet pills. In order to lose belly fat, or any fat for that matter, you must burn more calories then you consume. Analyze your diet and remove any high calorie, ‘filler’ foods that are of no nutritional value. Also, plan on eating more frequently, but small meals. This will give you sustained energy throughout the day. Drink plenty of water to keep yourself hydrated and to feed your muscles.
Cardio is key to losing belly fat. If you are new to working out then start slow and gradually increase the amount time you spend doing cardio exercises. If you have access to a gym, then consider using the treadmill, elliptical machine or stair stepper. One of the most effective exercises for weight loss and all around good health is swimming. It is also low impact which reduces the chance of injury. Start by swimming as many laps as you can safely and gradually increase the amount. If you don’t have access to a gym or swimming pool, simply go for a walk or jog. Start out going around the block and try and walk/jog further each time.
Underneath the belly fat you are trying to lose are your abdominal muscles. You may have not seen them in years but they are there are waiting to be built up and toned. Working them out will also help replace fat with muscle. The great thing about abdominal exercises is that they can often be done without any equipment or need for a gym. The most effective exercise is the abdominal crunch. If that is too difficult at first, start with sit ups but be sure not do them properly and not use your back or leg muscles to propel you forward.
The use of any advice on this website is at your own risk. Please consult us, or any other professional, licensed personal trainer or your health care professional, like your doctor, first to see if the advice is applicable to your specific situation.
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