You work out, you watch what you eat, and yet those spare tires around your waist aren’t going anywhere. You’ve got stubborn belly fat, but you don’t have to live with it. Learn 5 lifestyle changes to make to lose stubborn belly fat.
5 Lifestyle Changes to Make to Lose Stubborn Belly Fat
Move your body to shed pounds – If your main attempt to lose stubborn belly fat is crunches, you’re setting yourself up for disappointment. To get rid of the fat, you need to lose weight, not tone the muscle that is hiding underneath the weight. Get your body moving by walking, jogging, bicycling, swimming, or taking a fitness class at the gym. The more active you can be, the more weight (and stubborn belly fat) you’ll lose.- Slow your snacking – You probably know that fatty snacks or late-night ice cream binges aren’t helping your waistline. If you want to lose stubborn belly fat, slow down or eliminate any harmful snacking habits, like late-night munching or mindless eating. If you must snack between meals, reach for something healthy and full of protein, like a handful of nuts or a carrot dipped in hummus.
- Eat at home – While you probably know that fast food is not conducive to weight loss, are you aware of the effect the average restaurant meal can have on your belly fat? Most restaurant food is full of fat, which creates the flavor that makes it so good. To cut your calories dramatically, eat at home instead of going out. When you do dine out, pick the healthier menu items over the richer ones. For example, try broiled fish or roast chicken with vegetables, or get a salad and ask to have a protein added. Steer clear of heavy sauces, which add a major dose of calories.
- Be patient – If you store weight in your tummy, you’ll need to be patient. You will probably have to wait for pounds to come off other areas first before you begin to lose from your belly. If you’re patient and stay committed to these changes, you’ll see success. If you despair that pounds aren’t coming off and drown your sorrows in chips or ice cream, you’ll sabotage your progress. Stick with it and you will lose the weight!
- Destress your life – There’s a direct link between stress and belly fat: The more stress you have, the more cortisol your body produces. Cortisol actually tells your body to store fat in the belly area, where it can easily access it for energy during stressful times. By identifying and eliminating stressful triggers in your life, you can look better and get slimmer.
These 5 lifestyle changes will put you on the path to shred stubborn belly fat, finally! It won’t happen overnight, so don’t get discouraged if you’re not seeing the type of results you want to see right away. To maximize your results, take advantage of nutrition coaching or personal training. These can help you take weight loss and your overall physical fitness to the next level.
