The Fastest Way To Lose Belly Fat Might Surprise You

Trying to lose stubborn belly fat is an age-old question. Having extra weight around the middle can not only cause personal insecurity but it can lead to long-term health problems like type-2 diabetes, heart disease and insulin resistance. So if you are one of the many people asking what the fastest way to lose belly fat is, keep reading our guide for tips on how to concern the battle for good.

Losing Belly Fat For Good – Mindset Is Key

There are a million different strategies and suggestions on how to lose belly fat. Everywhere you turn online, in magazines or in bookstores, you’ll find the latest title that promises to give you a cure.

The most important thing to consider when trying to lose belly fat for good, is that there is no magic pill, potion or quick, instant fix. It took time to put that weight on and it will take time to take it off.

One of the biggest problems with weight loss is that people want to set a fixed timeline because they want to see results now. It may sound appealing to try to lose belly fat in one week and therefore resort to extreme measures.

While drastic efforts may yield some quick results, they most likely will not be sustainable nor be healthy. You’ll probably gain it all back quickly with even a few more additional pounds you didn’t plan for.

Don’t be tempted to crash diet or do the latest fad if you want long-term, healthy results. The real secret to weight loss success is changing your mindset so that you can adopt healthier lifestyle choices.

The good news is that there are real, tangible things you can start doing today that will help you get a flatter stomach for quicker results.

Why Is Belly Fat So Bad?

There are actually 2 different kinds of belly fat. Subcutaneous fat sits just under the skin. It’s the pinchable kind that we often like to call a ‘muffin top.’ Small amounts of it are normal.

Then there is visceral fat – the deep tissue fat that wraps itself around internal organs. This is the kind that bulges the stomach out from within. It’s also known as the ‘beer gut.’

Visceral fat is a layer of fat that sits below the abdominal muscles. This kind of fat surrounds critical organs deep within the body. In fact, you may not always be able to see it.

The body will always need to have some amount of fat in order to protect internal organs, keep them stable and provide energy.

However, too much fat in the body is never healthy. And, when there is too much visceral fat, it can produce toxins in the body that can lead to dangerous health conditions such as: inflammation, type-2 diabetes, heart disease and certain cancers.

So if you’re sure that belly bloating isn’t the issue, let’s take a look at some healthy, proven ways to lessen the belly bulge.

Dietary Changes To Help Reduce Belly Fat

Obviously, when you think about losing your belly, you need to have a look at your diet. Let’s take a look at 3 key things that can really help you to lose belly fat.

1. Protein

Protein is a super important macronutrient in the diet that helps to build muscle. It is critical when trying to lose weight and boost metabolism.

You need to eat protein in your diet for many reasons. Eating adequate amounts of protein can help suppress appetite, reduce cravings and improve thermogenesis. That means you will naturally burn more calories.

When you eat protein with every meal, you will have more satiety. That can help you to have a feeling of fullness which will keep you from eating more calories later.

Always eat protein with every meal. It’s a simple fix to help fill you up while building muscles and increasing metabolic rate. Read more on surprising protein foods that can burn belly fat.

2. Fiber

Fiber is a type of carbohydrate that can’t be completely broken down by dietary enzymes. Most carbs break down into sugars in the body as they are being digested.

However, fiber is indigestible. Therefore, it passes through the gut to help push out toxins, keep blood sugar stable, and regulate sugar in the body. It is also important for regularity.

Adding more fiber to meals is a healthy way to stay more satisfied, reduce hunger and keep blood sugars under control. Ultimately, fiber can help you to eat fewer calories throughout the day.

Easy ways to increase your fiber intake include eating more beans, lentils, fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds. Apples and pears are excellent sources of fiber, especially when eaten with the skin on.

3. Reduce Belly Bloating

Sometimes you may think you have a belly fat problem when in fact it is a bad case of belly bloating. Some carbs can create the look and feeling of bloat because they quickly ferment in the intestines during digestion which leads to a puffy stomach.

Many processed foods that contain added sugars can lead to gas and bloating as well. Sorbitol, mannitol and xylitol are common culprits of artificial sugars that can create gas and/or bloating. Find out more about natural foods that cause gas and bloating.

Sodium can also cause bloating due to water retention. To reduce a risks of water retention due to high sodium in the diet, try to prepare as much healthy, fresh food as possible at home.

Adding spices can not only provide great taste but can actually help you to burn fat thermogenically. And if these tips don’t provide enough relief, there are other simple ways to fight bloating.

Exercises That Help Lose Belly Fat

1. Side Planks

Building more muscle in the abdominal region is helpful since having more muscle burns fat faster. There are many different exercises that you can try, but side planks can help tone the sides of the body and the oblique muscles.

Simple lie on one side and lift yourself up with arm bent at the elbow pressing into the floor. Lift your body on its side so that only your feet and elbow are making ground contact.

This is a more difficult ab exercise which helps you to build stronger abdominal muscles. Hold this position for 1 minute. Then repeat on the other side. Repeat to aim for 2 minutes of total hold on each side.

2. Add Cardio

There are so many different types of cardiovascular exercises that can really help to torch fat. Cardio elevates the heart rate which in turn fires up the metabolism and burns fat.

Common examples of cardio include running, power walking, dancing, swimming, doing the elliptical, rowing and jumping rope.

3. Try Weights

Adding in a weight lifting routine is helpful to build muscles, burn fat, raise metabolism and keep your skeleton strong. Weights can offer a different type of exercise that cardio cannot.

Doing weight resistant exercise also helps improve your posture which can reduce the look of your belly. When you stand taller, you automatically look slimmer. And being conscious of posture helps engage muscles even when you are sitting or resting.

There are a multitude of other ways that weights can benefit a health. Some of them include: improved bone density, weight loss, better sleep, stronger muscles, lower inflammation and reducing the risk of many chronic illnesses.

4. Yoga

Yoga is helpful for weight loss for a variety of reasons. In fact, one of the main components of yoga is practicing mindfulness which can help reduce stress and cortisol levels in the body. Lowering cortisol is helpful for a slimmer tummy as high levels have been linked to belly fat.

Secondly, doing yoga regularly can help with making lifestyle changes that assist in healthy weight loss. It can help you manage stress which is also a factor in emotional eating and weight gain.

Thirdly, yoga when done right, can help reduce back and joint pain, assist in flexibility, improve mood by lowering stress and aid in a mind-body connection so that making healthier choices becomes easier.

Other Lifestyle Changes To Reduce Belly Fat

1. Get More Sleep

Not getting enough sleep is a problem for millions of people. It can lead to feeling overly tired, which then leads to greater appetite, worsening moods and poorer health choices.

Muscles restore themselves when you sleep. If you are starting any new workouts, you will want to give yourself at least 24-48 hours of rest time before restarting so that your body can repair and recover.

A lot of biological housekeeping is also done during this restful time of day. When you don’t get sufficient sleep, the hormones that regulate hunger and appetite can become unbalanced. This can lead to gaining weight.

Being tired from lack of sleep can also lead to fatigue which can dampen the desire to be physically active.

Ways to get better sleep at night include:

• create a sleep routine (aromatherapy options such as lavender can help)
• minimize screen time before bed (blue light from devices interrupts the sleep hormone melatonin)
• stop eating 3 hours before bed
• allow for 8 hours of sleep time
• create a darkened, peaceful room to sleep
• limit any daytime naps
• try to reduce stress
• get some exercise during the day to tire your body

Sleep is an important aspect of weight loss as it is critical for many bodily functions. Trying natural ways to help improve your sleep is a good place to start. However, there are also some very helpful sleep supplements on the market which may be worth a try.

2. Drink Your Water

Adequate hydration is key to weight loss. If you are dehydrated you will not know whether you are hungry or thirsty as dehydration can disguise itself as hunger.

Water also helps move food along in the digestive tract which helps prevent constipation and bloating.

Drinking water doesn’t have to be boring. To add some variety, try infusing your water with cucumber slices, berries or slices of citrus. Drinking tea and coffee are also other ways to boost your water intake and burn calories.

The Fastest Way To Lose Belly Fat Final Thoughts…

Unfortunately, there is no one guaranteed quick fix to help you lose belly fat. Every individual’s efforts will differ based on goals and efforts.

However, there are things that you can do to change your lifestyle habits which will get you closer to your weight loss goals. Overall, making mindful changes to your diet and exercise habits can yield big results.

Sticking to a plan that you can maintain is what will give you winning results that are healthy and sustainable over time. With a little practice and perseverance, you will be on your way to a flatter belly in no time.

Have you lost belly fat successfully and kept it off? What worked for you? Tell us in the comments below.