Last updated on January 12th, 2023 at 03:34 pm
It is a known fact among fitness buffs that one of the hardest areas to deal with is belly fat. But if you know why you are finding it challenging to achieve flat abs, you will learn how to get rid of belly fat within a short time. If you want to know more despite having tried several methods without success, try the following tips if you haven’t thought of how to eliminate belly fat.
It is important to note that losing a fat belly calls for dedication and commitment to a healthy and well-balanced lifestyle. The next few paragraphs will highlight why you are not losing that stubborn belly fat and what you can do to remedy the situation.
3 Tips To Reduce Belly Fat
1. Get enough sleep
When you don’t have adequate sleep, you will leave your bed with more than just grumpiness. Not only will you go hungry, but you may even feel less likely to be full. Your body releases a hormone called Ghrelin. It triggers off feelings of hunger and less leptin, another hormone responsible for making you feel full.
Targeting sleep for at least eight hours every night can help eliminate belly fat. Stay away from caffeine at night and switch off your electronic devices before turning in.
2. Get fit and active
When people hear “fat loss,” the first thing that pops into their minds is cardio. Although engaging in steady-state cardio such as running, walking, or cycling can help burn fat, they are not enough to eliminate belly fat.
When you engage in the right workouts, your progress in getting flat abs will be amazing. You should undertake resistance training or HIIT and mix them with cardiovascular exercises. HIIT initiates an afterburn effect, making your body burn fat long after your workout session.in
Focusing your exercises on only your abs – Learning how to shed belly fat is not all about focusing your energy on training only your abs. Eating healthy as well will do you no good. It’s because it is virtually impossible to spot reduce. For example, reduce a group of muscles via exercises at the expense of other groups of muscles.
The only way to lose belly fat is to do away with isolated exercises. These maybe are sit-ups, calf raises, etc. – and engage in compound exercises such as lunges, squats, pushups, etc.
3. Reduce your stress
Do not be surprised at this one. Stress can make your body trigger the release of cortisol, a hormone. Although it is normal to become stressed now and again, it may not bode well for your health if you remain stressed for long periods.
This is because the longer you remain in that stressed state of mind, the more cortisol is pumped into your body. With your body in this constant “flight or fight” mode, it will be difficult for you to relax so that your food can digest properly.
Stress has also been known to push people into consuming more processed foods than is right for their bodies. All these will work against your quest to get rid of belly fat.
Take steps to de-stress yourself by engaging in activities that calm you down whenever you are stressed. Going for long walks, meditating, talking to friends, reading a book, or watching a movie can help you calm your frayed nerves.
Rick Kaselj MS, is a leading kinesiologist and injury specialist as well as co-creator of the best-selling Unlock Your Hip Flexors program. Rick creates exercise programs that help people heal injuries and eliminate pain, so they can go back to living a full, active, healthy life.