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So, your stomach area is looking awkward these days, you do not fit in your favorite LBD anymore, and the thought of how to achieve the dream figure by getting rid of that stubborn belly fat is stealing your good night’s sleep. Are these true? We got you! But eliminating excess belly fat should not be as complicated as it sounds. No matter how aesthetically annoying belly fat is, it can be significantly curbed by making necessary lifestyle changes. This article is all about how to reduce belly fat naturally. Keep reading.
What Does Belly Fat Mean?
Belly fat, or abdominal fat, is nothing but excess layers of fat surrounding the organs in your abdomen. According to experts, the fat in our body can be categorized into ‘triglycerides’ (circulates in the bloodstream), ‘subcutaneous fat’ (sits beneath the surface of the skin), and ‘visceral fat’ (underneath abdominal muscles), among which the ‘visceral fat’ is considered as ‘potentially dangerous. Belly fat, a visceral fat, is also known to pose risks to human health when in excess amounts in the body.
If you want to reduce belly fat, you have to start with measuring it to know how much fat you actually need to eliminate. Three most important parameters needed for belly fat measurement include ‘Body Mass Index’ (BMI), ‘Waist To Hip Ratio’, and ‘Waist Circumference’.
Also Read – Want A Healthy ‘You’? 10 Low-Calorie Indian Breakfasts You Will Swear By!
What Causes Excess Belly Fat?
Those washboard abs you see on the covers of your favorite magazines are not at all-natural. Achieving a fully flat belly takes a lot of effort and time. Also, some belly fat is normal as it provides a ‘cushioning effect’ to our organs and bones, protecting them from injuries. But certain factors can contribute to excess belly fat. Check them out below:
Genetics
Most of your genes determine how many fat cells your body will develop and how they will get distributed.
Poor Metabolism
If you have poor metabolism, you will probably develop more belly fat than others having very high metabolic rates. Age, diabetes, thyroid, and a few other medical conditions can slow down your metabolism notably.
Hormonal Imbalance
Our hormones play a crucial role in regulating fat concentration in our bodies. Hence, hormonal changes can result in excess belly fat. That is why premenopausal and menopausal women accumulate more fat around their waists.
Bad Food Habits
Your food habits can be the culprit behind your excess belly fat. Everything from overeating to indulging in junk and processed food can significantly affect your body in terms of weight gain.
Sedentary Lifestyle
You may develop fat around your belly if your lifestyle does not include regular exercise or physical activity.
High Levels Of Stress
Too much stress and anxiety raise cortisol hormone levels in our blood, which leads to fat accumulation in the body, especially in the stomach area.
Medical Conditions
Certain medical conditions like hypertension, cardiovascular issues, stroke, diabetes, cancer (breast cancer, colorectal cancer), metabolic syndrome, sleep apnea, etc., can lead to excess belly fat.
Why Should You Reduce Excess Belly Fat?
Slimming down the midsection is not all about getting an attractive figure. Those extra pounds around the belly can have tons of negative impacts on our health. It has been found that excess belly fat increases the production of extra hormones and chemicals in the body, which triggers several health problems, including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and cancer.
How To Reduce Belly Fat?
The secret to reducing stubborn belly fat is providing the body with a proper diet, impactful exercise, enough hydration, and good rest.
1. You Are What You Eat
- Eat 5 small meals a day rather than 3 large ones—snack in between meals on fruits, raw veggies, or nuts.
- Your breakfast should be rich in carbs (sandwiches, eggs, or with any fruit juice), while your lunch should be balanced between carbs and proteins (rice, vegetables, some lean meat, and lentils).
- Eat a light and filling dinner comprising proteins, carbs, and lots of fiber (a bowl of soup and a salad with some yogurt).
- Include plenty of complex carbohydrates in your diet, like wheat bran and oats, which get digested over time and provide the body with small shots of energy until the next meal is consumed.
- Incorporate enough proteins, such as legumes, lean meat, soya, and milk, in your diet as your body spends a lot of energy digesting them, and they also help you build lean muscles.
- Have fiber-rich fruits and vegetables like watermelon and cucumber that are filling yet low in calories.
- Look for healthier alternatives to processed foods and white sugar, as they attack your fat cells directly.
- Cut down on your salt intake to avoid a bloated look caused by water retention.
- Drink lots of water and green tea. Stay away from alcohol as much as possible.
2. Exercise Right
- Make sure that you exercise at least 4-5 days a week.
- You don’t have to do the same set of exercises day after day. Instead, mix your regular workout with fast walking and fun exercises like Zumba, yoga, and cardio.
- Lift weights for an athletic look. Strength training converts fat into muscle mass, giving you a lean and toned body.
- Indulge in exercises like lunges and push-ups that work your whole body.
- Work the muscles in your abdomen with crunches and leg raises.
3. Rest and Rejuvenate
- Sitting idle throughout the day and stressing over your weight will never help you. So, follow a robust regime and stay active.
- Remember to get adequate rest every day since you don’t want your sore muscles to stop you from exercising.
- Warm up and indulge in body massages to relieve your muscles.
- Get a good night’s sleep to rejuvenate your body and calm your mind.
Did You Know?
If the measurement around your waist indicates 35 inches or more, you are having unhealthy belly fat. So, just follow the right path and shed off those extra pounds.
Frequently Asked Questions
What exercise burns the most belly fat?
You can start doing some fat-burning exercises at home. Start with side crunch, reverse crunch, vertical leg crunch, and bicycle exercises. Alternatively, walking, running, and jogging can also help you get rid of extra pounds.
What causes a big stomach in females?
One of the most common causes of belly fat is a high intake of a calorie-rich diet and little or no exercise. Our body metabolism slows down after we reach 40; hence, fat accumulation can happen quickly if we don’t regularly exercise.
What foods help burn belly fat?
Try some of these belly-fat-burning foods – Avocados, Green Tea, Bananas, Berries & Yoghurt.
Do bananas give you belly fat?
Although there are no studies to prove a correlation between weight loss and the intake of bananas, bananas are considered weight-loss-friendly food. Bananas typically don’t cause any spike in blood sugar levels.
