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Belly Fat 101: Risks & Fixes

Are you frustrated with the extra fluff around your midsection? Aren’t we all! Today we are going to discuss belly fat risks & fixes. Belly fat is both annoying and dangerous to have, so let’s work on it.

Having extra body fat gathered around the stomach can take a toll on your confidence. Almost everyone I meet who wants to lose weight, wants to lose it in their belly. But, did you know that getting rid of excess weight, especially around the abdomen, could also help save you from numerous health issues?

Dangers of Belly Fat

Even if the rest of your body is thin, carrying extra weight around your stomach can impact your health.

The reason belly fat is especially dangerous is because it is comprised of visceral fat. This type of fat does not simply live under the skin, but it gets lodged inside organs, like the liver. Having too much visceral fat comes with serious health risks like: heart attack, heart disease, diabetes, stroke, cancer and Alzheimer’s disease.

Obviously we all want to avoid those things. Now that you know the belly fat risks, let’s talk about the fixes.

How to Slim Down

Take a moment to think about how you acquired the extra belly fat. Have you been eating more, exercising less, or have you always been this way?

Diet, a lack of exercise and hormones are the main creators of body fat build up around the stomach. One, or all three, may be the reason for your belly fat.

If your belly fat has stemmed from a poor diet, it is time to make some changes. Sugary, processed foods should be avoided or consumed sparingly. If you’re not sure what is wrong with your diet, log what you eat in a food journaling app like MyFitnessPal.

Be honest with this food journal, and make sure you track everything you eat and drink. Once you know what you are eating, you can start to make the appropriate changes. Make small changes that you can stick to, and make more changes if your body does not respond the way you want.

In general, to lose belly fat, you want to consume fewer carbohydrates and more protein. If your food journal reveals you are eating too many calories, you should also eat more nutrient dense food.

If you are not working out, you need to start. A workout routine that blends total body resistance training and fat burning cardio is best for a majority of people looking to lose belly fat. Workout programs, like the 4-Week Flat Abs Plan and 4-Week Slim Down Plan will help you.

If you are new to exercise and do not know what to start, sign up for my 8-Week Beginner’s Plan!

Now let’s talk about those pesky hormones.

Cortisol, the body’s main stress hormone, can also be to blame for belly fat. When the body is stressed it holds onto fat and increases its fat storage as a way to protect itself. Get enough sleep, exercise regularly and practice activities that keep your stress at bay to tame the belly fat.

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