Losing Belly Fat

If you are having trouble losing belly fat, that persistent excess flab around your midsection, you are certainly not alone.

Women generally tend to put on the extra weight as padding around the hips, thighs and legs.

Men, on the other hand, are much more likely to gain belly fat.

Losing belly fat is important for more than just appearance. Studies show that people with a lot of belly fat are at higher risk of health problems than people who put on padding in other areas, and men are more likely than women to put on weight around the belly.

Some of the health problems that have been linked to belly fat are:

• Diabetes
• Insulin resistance
• High blood pressure
• Sleep apnea
• Abnormal lipids (high triglycerides and low HDL)
• Heart disease
• Metabolic syndrome

metabolism improves. This reduces your risk of health related problems, and improves existing health conditions.

If you have some extra padding around your belly that you haven't been able to lose, don't despair!

Here are steps you can take to finally rid yourself of the flab.

• Healthy Eating - Diet plays an important part in losing belly fat. To lose weight you have to burn more calories than you consume. This means you need to avoid eating too much food high in fat and carbohydrates, and eat smaller quantities.
• Reduce Bad Carbs - Consumption of excess carbs does seem to play a role in accumulating belly fat, moreso than other fat on the body. Cut down on the starchy carbs, and stick to fresh fruits and veggies for your carb intake. You don't have to eliminate carbs completely, simply eat less and choose them wisely.
• Exercise - The best activity to target belly fat is moderate aerobic exercise. Cycling, power walking, swimming are all good activities to get your heart rate elevated to the level that it will burn belly fat. Most people need a minimum of 30 minutes per day just for general health. To help burn the extra belly fat, you'll probably need to exercise longer. Once you lose the belly fat, try to continue your exercise schedule to maintain your new physique.
• Reduce Stress - You may have heard that the hormone cortisol, which is produced by stress is an underlying cause of belly fat. Studies show this may be a contributing factor. Cortisol is a hormone which naturally occurs in our bodies. The problem is when cortisol produces too much glucose in response to high stress levels. The body then converts the extra glucose into belly fat. The best method to control cortisol is to control the stress that produces it. Try to identify stress triggers in your life and take steps to eliminate them.
• Cut Down on Alcohol - Studies show there is a link between drinking excess alcohol and gaining belly fat, sometimes referred to as a beer belly. But it isn't only beer that increases belly fat. Drinking too much of any kind of alcohol can do the same thing. Alcohol is high in calories and also increases appetite, but researchers aren't sure if this is the only cause, or if other factors are involved. Try to eliminate or at least cut down on your alcohol consumption. If you do drink alcohol, drink in moderation. No more than 2 drinks per day should help you reduce the total amount of calories you consume and help you avoid belly fat. It is also better for your general health and fitness.

The answer to losing belly fat is healthy eating, control stress, limit alcohol and of course, lots of exercise! More activity and less calories are the basics for all weight loss.

And even though there's no secret formula to losing belly fat, with more exercise and fewer calories, you'll be happy to know that belly fat is usually the first fat you'll lose!

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