Why Weight

Top Tips for Losing Your Belly Fat

By James Penn

Excessive belly fat is bad for health. Any excess accumulation of abdominal fat translates into higher health risks, particularly heart attacks and diabetes. Even certain types of cancer are attributed to the fat deposits in the belly. Therefore, it is essential to lower those risks by reducing the belly fat. Of course, you would like to get rid of your abdominal fat for another reason: your figure will be ‘beach ready.’ A grotesque middle is not a great sight at all.
More fat in the abdomen and less in the hips increase the waist-to-hip ratio (waist size divided by hip size). When the ratio is above 0.85 (for women) and 0.90 (for men), it is considered to be risky.

The following tips will help in slimming down your belly to a healthy size:

#1. Keep moving
A sedentary lifestyle is conducive to the increase in the circumference of the waist. If you were to sit at your work desk or settle down comfortably in a sofa or arm chair watching the TV for hours together at a stretch, you would notice that your belly fat gradually overtaking your clothes’ size over a period of time. So do not let this happen. Be active. Keep moving – at least every now and then.

#2. Avoid trans fats
Trans fats are actually more harmful than saturated fats. They are quite lethal. Partially hydrogenated vegetable oils contain these trans fats. Anywhere between 30,000 and 100,000 premature coronary deaths occur in the US due to trans fats. The trans fats also contribute to the increase of type 2 diabetes and other health problems. As a large portion of trans fats in your body has a tendency to get deposited in the belly, you shouldn’t consume foods that are full of partially hydrogenated vegetable oils. Carefully look at the list of ingredients displayed on the packing of any food product you wish to buy. If you find among the list any word “shortening”, “partially hydrogenated vegetable oil” or “hydrogenated vegetable oil”, avoid it because it contains trans fat.

However, do note that fully hydrogenated vegetable oils do not contain trans fat, but there may be quite a few products that do not mention that the hydrogenated oils used in them are fully or partially hydrogenated. For safety’s sake, you must avoid consuming products that just state that they contain “hydrogenated vegetable oils”.

#3. Sleep well
Sleep deprived persons are more prone to have fatty bellies. Studies have shown that people who normally sleep for less than about seven to nine hours a night have a tendency to slow down their metabolism rate and accumulate more fat than otherwise. If you sleep for only four hours or less, the amount of leptin (the appetite suppressing protein in your body) is produced less and therefore you tend to eat more and become more obese.

#4. Avoid or manage stress
When under severe stress, the adrenalin and insulin levels in your body rise. They create a tendency in you to eat more than usual. The resultant fat expands your waistline. Learn to manage your stress and this will help you avoid the temptation to eat.

#5. EXERCISE REGULARLY
If you can limit daily intake of food to about 1500 calories, it may be enough if you do vigorous physical exercises for about 30 minutes a day for at least 5 days a week. If you eat more, increase the exercise. Try to focus on strength building exercises that will help your abdomen shape up.

Download your free report and discover how to get six pack abs quickly and easily. Also, be sure to download your bonus free report entitled "Powerful Weight Loss Strategies" and discover how to lose weight naturally and easily.

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posted by Cheryl Levesque @ 9:25 AM