So you want to get rid of that excess fat that makes you look like a pregnant woman? Some call it beer gut, others call it belly fat or tummy fat. All is the same as long it is excess fat.
A little body fat is actually good for you. It keeps you warm and helps your body maintain a sufficient core temperature and nutrients when we get sick and can’t eat. I actually had to build some little fat when I began to look too skinny.
There is new proof to the theory that lifting weights (anaerobic exercise, or weight training) and using the Stair Master (aerobic exercise) helps to get rid of that extra weight around your midsection. A healthy diet is always a good idea. So, I’ve summarized here a list of things you should take into consideration if you’re serious about losing that tummy:
1. They don’t call it a “beer belly,” for nothing. Drinking less beer, or quitting drinking altogether, will help you lose belly fat. No matter how healthy looking the drinker is, beer is bad for countless reasons. The most obvious reason is the caloric content of beer. The less obvious reasons are damages to the pancreas, spleen, kidney and liver, and the bloating (Check another article of mine) that often accompany the over-consumption of alcoholic beverages.
2. Reduce the amount of calories you consume, and you are on your way to a fat-free life. Fat, no matter where it is on your body, is best combated by consuming less calories than you body needs. This lack of calories will set into motion the processing of excess body fat to make up for the lack of calories. But don’t be excessive with it. Starving your body of calories is only good to a certain extent, after a point you begin to do damage to important things, like your central nervous system.
3. Consuming less food loaded with sugar will help you to lose tummy fat. Most people know this, but they are usually addicted to Sugar. The sugar found in junk food and soda is the kind of sugar that burns quickly, unlike those sugars found in fruits and vegetables, which burn more slowly. As you do not use this energy immediately your body produces it, it is readily converted to fat.
4. Daily exercise and walking will definitely get rid of belly fat. Going for a walk after a big meal or enjoying a dessert is never a bad idea. Regular mild exercises such as walking or doing some household chores are always a good idea.
5. Strengthening your abdominal muscles is good, but it won’t get rid of belly fat like magic. You may want to consider not only working out your abs, but also working out your shoulders, pectorals, back, and arms to help create a more shapely “V” figure, which will help reduce the appearance of your belly. Keep this in mind: bulking up your muscles requires fewer reps (about 8) and fewer sets with greater weight. Building leaner muscle requires more reps, more sets, and less weight.
Certainly, exercising your abdominal muscles is a good idea, because building any kind of lean muscle will improve your body’s ability to process calories more efficiently. The more muscle you have, the more calories you body needs to maintain those muscles. If you keep your caloric intake to a minimum, then your body will start to use the fat on your body for energy, thus reducing the amount of fat hanging from your belly. And strengthening your abdominal muscles will have two effects: first, it helps you build muscles that will help you burn more calories during the course of the day, and second, larger abdominal muscles tend to stretch the skin around them, tightening your belly and reducing the amount of belly that sags over your waist line.
But here’s the catch: only working your abdominal muscles isn’t going to do much for you. You should definitely consider joining a gym and working on a weight lifting routine that works as many of your muscle groups as possible, and a daily aerobic routine to help you burn the fat you already have.
