High Intensity Interval Training And Belly Fat Loss

With so many new and “revolutionary” training methods constantly advertised in television, magazines, and on the internet these days, it is easy to get lost in a sea of false promises.  However, luckily, you have ended up in the right place, as my goal is to help you lose belly fat and achieve your own fitness goals, not sell you a product or service.

Introducing High Intensity Interval Training

In this article, I will go over one of the oldest yet most effective and engaging type of training ever created.  The method of training I am referring to is HIIT or High Intensity Interval Training which has been widely used by athletes and celebrities to get in shape quickly since the early 1970s.

Targeting Fat Loss

HIIT training works so well because there is no rest in the entire workout, this has a greater impact on the number of calories you burn than standard routines and will therefore target your bodies’ fat stores more aggressively.   Our bodies as efficient as they are find it necessary to store excess fat in fat stores for later energy use. This is why you will notice fat buildup in certain areas like your stomach, thighs, or hips. Where your body chooses to store this fat is different between each individual and by first recognizing where your own body is likely to store fat, you can begin to fix the issue.  But keep in mind, when you lose fat there is no way to control exactly which area the fat loss comes from and to eventually drop that stubborn belly fat most people experience, you will need to drop fat from your entire body.

What is HIIT and why it’s so effective in losing weight

Now that you understand that concept, we will go back to discussing HIIT training. The way HIIT training is able to allow you to keep moving the entire workout, is by alternating between low to moderate training periods (used to recover) and high intensity training periods. The lengths of these periods can vary, as there are many forms of HIIT training out there, but the same core techniques will always apply.  Keeping your body moving the entire workout is what makes this style of training so effective, because by keeping your heart rate elevated the entire workout you are burning more calories in a shorter time period.

Raising your Resting Metabolic Rate

However, the effect HIIT training has on fat loss does not stop there; it does something even more unique in the next 16-24 hours following your workout.   By increasing your bodies EPOC( or Excess Post-Exercise Oxygen Consumption ) HIIT training will  actually raise your Resting Metabolic Rate ( the rate at which your body naturally  burns calories ) for up to 24 hours.

If that was not enough benefits for you, another way HIIT’ style of training can benefit you is increase your cardiovascular health and reduce your risk of cardiovascular diseases. This to me is the most important thing for you to consider in the long run and why HIIT training is truly helpful to your overall health.

Nevertheless, by now you are probably wondering how YOU can incorporate HIIT training in your life, so I will go over a few simple techniques you can use. First, as I said HIIT training comes in many varieties and the workouts are relatively short (10-30 minutes). The workouts can vary from weighted routines with dumbbells, barbells, or kettle bells to just running on the treadmill.  The easiest way to incorporate HIIT training in your own life would be just three to five 10-minute sessions a week.  You can do them on a treadmill, stationary bike, in the yard or down the street just follow these basic guidelines.

Step 1.  Start by Warming up for 5 minutes by walking slowly or even just walking in place. Be sure not to skip your warm-up because it is very important for injury prevention and will get you ready for the workout.

Step 2.  Based on your fitness level, pick a split for your workouts walking and jogging. A beginner could start at 40 seconds of walking per 20 seconds of jogging for example.  You would then set a timer to 10 minutes total and follow this layout.

Walk 40 Seconds

Jog 20 Seconds

Repeat for 10 times.

Step 3.  Finish the workout by moving into your cool down and stretching phase, this last step should last 3-5 minutes and is just to bring your body back to a normal level.  If you have a few extra minutes you can also incorporate static stretching into your routine here, a few  good muscles to considering stretching would be your Quadriceps, Hamstrings, Calves, and Piriformis muscles .

Now that is just one way to approach HIIT training and I chose that method because it is an easy yet effective way to get started.   If after doing that a few weeks, the workouts are too easy, just extend the total time to 15 minutes or change the walk/ jog split to something like 30 seconds of walking per 30 seconds of jogging.  Be sure to not to rush the progression on your workouts but you can eventually incorporate running in place of the jogging.

HIIT and Weight Lifting

Another style of HIIT of HIIT training worth mentioning is combining HIIT with weightlifting techniques, primarily using lower or full body exercises, to burn even more calories.  I included a sample routine for you below.

Toe Touches- 15 Reps- Just reach down and touch your toes, knees, or calves depending on what your flexibility allows and then come back up.

Forward Lunges- 10 repetitions each leg

Side Lunges- 10 repetitions each direction

Jogging Butt Kicks- 50 feet

Arm Circles – 20 reps both arms.

Jogging High Knees – 50 feet

Trunk Twists- 20 reps

Bodyweight Squats- 30 reps

That is a great beginner routine to get started in HIIT and does not require any equipment at all.  If after a few of weeks of following that routine it becomes too easy, you can increase the reps in the individual exercises or even do the whole circuit twice.  However, do not try to progress too soon as that can lead to injury or overtraining.

As the famous quote goes, “Do not fear progressing slowly, fear standing still” 

How to lose belly fat after pregnancy

Oh, the happiness of ‘pitter patter of tiny feet’ around the house. During the 9 months of pregnancy you may have made allowances in your diet for those cravings, or an extra this and that which you wanted at the time. Post pregnancy a lot of women rush straight away into trying to lose those extra pounds gained, especially in the belly area.

How and when you chose to lose weight post pregnancy is important as it can affect both the health of the mother and the health of the baby. So how can you go about it? Read on to find out.

Pregnancy weight and Belly fat
Belly fat, Water retention or just unconditioned muscles?
Breast feeding
A healthy balanced diet v a radical regime
10 Tips to lose belly fat after pregnancy

Pregnancy weight and belly fat

It is part of the pregnancy process that the body will store extra fat around the hip and abdominal areas. It will do so as the mother will need extra energy during the pregnancy and for lactation and other processes. According to research an average woman of 65kg will gain up to 12.5kg during the full term of pregnancy. That is not all fat however. It also includes water retention, the placenta, the baby’s weight (usually an estimated 3.5kg).

Therefore, post-pregnancy the weight you have left is not all extra fat which you have accumulated. Before starting any diet have an idea of how much extra weight you have gained. Your doctor probably would have given you some guidance through the 9 months on how your weight gain is getting on and if you have exceeded the expected mark.

Belly fat, water retention or just unconditioned muscles?

Well think to yourself, is your post pregnancy belly all about fat or is it other matters going on? As mentioned above a considerable amount of water retention takes place during pregnancy and also your body has gone through major hormonal changes during and after pregnancy; some of which will take its course to sort itself out. Allow some time for your body to recover before you start a weight loss regime or placing any extra strain to your body. This is also important for your health. It is a big deal for your body the whole thing and it does need that time to recover and get back to pre pregnancy mode. Some people advise to allow for 6 weeks before starting weight loss and exercise. I will also add to that listen to your body and allow as much time as you feel you need to and listen to your doctor most importantly. The medical professional who has and/or will be following your progress will be the most qualified to advise you on your health. If your doctor doesn’t think your body can cope then you should listen to that.

In addition, to water retention and hormonal changes think that your muscles may have been stretched and been unconditioned through those 9 months. What may be spilling out of the top of your trousers could just be a matter of firming those muscles up again.

Breast feeding

During lactation and breastfeeding the energy demands of the mother increase. The body does need energy to produce and deliver the milk. Undoubtedly not all women will breast feed however if you do there may be a possibility that you will lose a lot of the pregnancy weight easier. Although studies have shown controversial results on the matter, in general it is believed that women who breast feed will tend to lose the weight they gained during pregnancy.

One theory is that the breast milk does contain a large amount of fat most of which comes from the mother. In that 1^st the quality of the mother’s diet will affect the quality of the milk and 2^nd the mother will be mobilising some of this fat from her own reserves. Also as the energy demands of breast feeding are high then the mother will be using more calories than pre-pregnancy.

For example, it is suggested that an average woman who breast feeds will need around 568 kcal per day (this energy (kcal) requirement is only for the lactation of an average of 680g/day of milk at 0-1 months). These energy requirements will be different from person to person and at different points postpartum.

Therefore, daily energy intake for women who breast feed will be different from those who don’t. The chosen diet should take into account those extra energy requirements. Another thing to consider is the physical demands of looking after a newborn. These will add up extra energy used.

A healthy balanced diet v a radical regime

Ok so you saw in the magazine the photo of the latest celebrity who has gone back to shape just 6 weeks postpartum. She professes for that radical, low calorie or some other sort of diet and you think if she can do it then I can as well. Well I would say don’t do it. Think that those celebrities do have a team of experts, such as nutritionist, cooks, personal trainers, nannies, and photo specialist who airbrush the photos. Not to mention as Gwyneth Paltrow suggested to one of her interviews, the first signs of osteoporosis.

What you need to consider…

1. If you are breast feeding the quality of the breast milk will reflect the quality of your diet. You do need a large amount of nutrients for that milk so if your diet is lacking of nutrients then you will be in danger of depleting your body of vital nutrients, such as vitamins, iron, calcium etc.

2. Your body needs time to recover in both nutritional aspects and physiological aspects.

3. During the first few weeks you will have the effects of the hormones oxytocin and prolactin which have a relaxing effect. Some studies suggest that too vigorous exercise too soon after child birth may lead to injuries.

4. Pregnancy and child birth are major matters for your body. A number of physiological, body shape and hormonal changes take place. It may not be realistic to expect to get back to your pre pregnancy weight and shape.

It is always best to follow a healthy balanced diet which will provide you with all the nutrients you need and will promote healthy outcomes for both yourself and your baby. A Mediterranean style diet may be a good choice to start from.

Below are some tips summarised to help you with your post pregnancy weight tummy loss.

    Tip1.    Plan ahead.

 Ideally the best way is to start planning during pregnancy. Watch your weight and try to gain only the weight which is expected to be gained during pregnancy. Follow a healthy balanced diet such as a modified Mediterranean dietary pattern which will provide all the necessary nutrients and will promote positive health outcomes. The less weight you gain during pregnancy (apart from the weight which is part of the pregnancy) the easier will be to get back into shape.

     Tip2.    Don’t just concentrate on losing belly fat.

By losing weight you will lose belly fat. As mentioned there are major hormonal changes taking place in your body and the weight you may have accumulated in your belly could be part of those hormonal changes. In general belly fat is metabolically active and is easier to mobilise.

     Tip3.    Breast feed.

Breast feeding has a number of benefits for the baby and the mother. An additional bonus is that it may aid in losing those extra pounds and fat reserves.

•  As mentioned above the average energy requirements per day for breastfeeding are 568 kcal (this energy (kcal) requirement is only for the lactation of an average of 680g/day of milk at 0-1 months). What that means is that your body will need an extra 568kcal per day.
• At average women need approximately 1500 – 2000kcal per day. During breast feeding you will need to add an extra 568kcal per day.
• By only consuming an extra 413 kcal per day (instead of the 568kcal) you would be allowing for a weight loss of 0.5kg per month. In general it is not recommended to aim losing large amounts of weight during the first months of the pregnancy.
• Above all show priority to your health and your baby’s health and only reduce your calorie intake if safe and possible. It is important to consult a medical professional first. There may be other reasons which could inhibit following any weight loss regimes.

Be aware that breastfeeding may not be possible for some people. This could be due to certain health conditions, or physiological problems etc. Do not place extra physical or psychological strain to breastfeed if it is not feasible for you.

    Tip4.    Follow a healthy balanced diet.

Ok I probably said that 100 times already. Apart from aiming for weight loss watching what you can have important health benefits as well. During pregnancy women tend to develop a form of insulin resistance. Although it is part of the physiological changes if overweight, or have pre-existing metabolic complaints or overloading your body with sugars etc could lead in developing diabetes and other conditions.

Balanced healthy diets such as a Mediterranean style diet can help in improving insulin sensitivity. Such diets are rich in fruit and vegetables, wholegrain carbohydrates, and protein. Improving insulin sensitivity can also improve abdominal fat mobilisation. See Also: best foods for losing belly fat

    Tip5.    De-stress

Pregnancy, child birth and a new born baby can all be very stressful. Try to rest and de-stress. Stress can lead to weight gain in many ways and has been connected with increasing abdominal fat. Have a bath, listen to some music or take a walk. Take a few minutes every day for ‘you’ to relax and de-stress. Apart from the weight loss benefits it will do miracles for your mental health. Needless to say don’t add extra stress with killing yourself to lose weight.

    Tip6.    Sleep well.

Caring for a new borne can have detrimental effects to your sleep. Sleep deprivation as well as low quality sleep and/or broken sleep can lead to weight gain or slow down weight loss. Easier said than done however try to get as much rest and sleep as possible through the day.

    Tip7.    Show off your baby with a walk to the shops

What a better way to get some exercise than taking a light walk to the local shops or the park. Take your pram and show your baby to the world and enjoy the fresh air and sunshine (weather permitting).

    Tip8.    Pelvic floor and abdominal exercises.

Contracting the pelvic floor and abdominal muscles can be a light exercise which you can do at any point through the day. You will not burn loads of calories by practising these exercises but it will help to condition those muscles which have taken a battering through your pregnancy. You can practice by just contracting either your pelvic floor or your tummy muscles for the count of 10 and realise and repeat again. You can practice when you watch tv or having a bath, or driving.

Always consult a medical professional if you had a caesarean as they may not be appropriate. In addition do not try to spend all day in a constant muscle contraction as this is not good for your muscles and could affect your back as well.

    Tip9.    Follow light exercise.

As mentioned earlier, do not aim to follow strenuous, vigorous and intense exercise as it could be placing too much stress and strain to your body and could lead to injuries. Exercise will help in getting your muscles back to form and will help in losing weight.

An easy exercise solution would be to just simple do the house work or push the pram to the park (you will discover prams are heavier than they look). Always consult your doctor before taking on any exercise especially if you had a caesarean. Alternatively there are a number of exercise classes for post-pregnancy such as water exercises, mother and baby clubs which can offer specialised training and exercise.   

They may also be a place where you can socialise with other mothers and exchange ideas and tips or just have a little break from baby care.

With time you can increase intensity of exercise as your body recovers and you feel stronger. If you still find it hard to get you belly in shape then maybe do some more full body work outs. Muscles in the abdominal area could stretch through a pregnancy and/or caesarean and often can get damaged. It is not always possible to get them back to the pre pregnancy condition but by consulting your doctor and a fitness professional they can give you a better idea of your tummy condition.

 Tip10.  Drink plenty of water.

A lot of the remaining weight could be all the water retention from pregnancy. Drink plenty of fluids and especially water. This can help with the water retention. Also do walk and move around as this will help with blood circulation. Not strenuous however.

You can also read:

Why do women have belly fat?
How to lose belly fat for women

7 best ways to trim your tummy without exercise

Is it really possible to trim your tummy fat without exercise? Exercising is beneficial for most of people. Not only is good for health and weight loss but it also has added beauty benefits. You look fit, trim, everything tends to stay in place and where is meant to be, not to mention that clothes do look good on. Let’s face it though, exercise is not for everybody. Call it luck of time, call it ‘I don’t like it’ or demanding lifestyle, well is not feasible for everybody.

So what can you to get your waistline back in control which does not involve exercise? How can you lose belly fat without spending endless hours in the gym? Read on to find out.

1. Diet

No 1 after exercise is diet. If you are putting on weight it usually indicates that you have eaten one too many. Even if you follow a healthy diet, overconsumption of calories will lead to putting on weight. If you lose weight you will lose belly fat and it usually tends to be the first to go.

Always ensure that any weight gain or increased belly fat is not due to any medical/health reasons. In addition always consult a medical professional before making changes to your diet.

Which is the best diet to lose belly fat? The one diet which suits your individual needs, it is healthy and balanced. Usually diets based on moderate macronutrient intake (moderate protein, fat and carbs) are the best recommended. Personally I am a supporter of Mediterranean style diets, as they tend to provide a variety of nutrients, they can be rich in essential fats (such as omega fats) and research indicates that such diets can be beneficial to health.

2. Cut down on sugars

If you are following a healthy balanced diet for weight loss you are most probably on the way of low sugars. Why cutting down sugars is important? Apart from the calorific value they usually carry, which is quite high, sugars can lead to negative health effects.

Belly fat has been linked with increasing the risk of developing conditions such as insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome and diabetes. On the other hand such conditions can lead to increased belly fat. By decreasing sugar intake you can aid in improving conditions such as insulin resistance which in turn can aid in losing belly fat. It is a matter which is a little bit interrelated and slightly more complicated but is beyond the scope of this article to analyse it in detail.

Be aware that sugar is not just the white or brown powder you add to your coffee. Pastries, pasta, bread etc. are all sugars, or as most commonly referred to, simple carbohydrates.

3.  Cut down on foods which make you bloated

If your tummy refuses to fit in the jeans, it may not just be because you have put on weight but could be due to bloating. In general sugars and simple carbohydrates such as white bread, pasta, pastries etc are all guilty of making you bloat which is one more reason to cut down on them. Some nutritionist / dieticians support the theory that complex carbohydrates tend to be better as they are broken down slower (to put it in simple words). However, if your diet is mainly based on carbohydrates, you may benefit from cutting down on them either way.

In addition, consuming too much fibre, grains and legumes can have the same effect. Fibre can have health benefits and is always recommended to be included in everyday diet. However, consumption of large amounts of fibre can lead to gastrointestinal complaints and bloating. The magic word I like to usually use is ‘in moderation’. Fibre is found in vegetables and some fruits as well as grains. Consuming a combination of all foods without going overboard with one or the other should be enough to provide substantial amounts of the nutrients you need and keep any complaints at bay.

If you do suffer from increased bloating and regular gastrointestinal complaints it is always recommended to consult a medical professional. Conditions such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), and food intolerances, could be the cause. The appropriate medical professional should be able to advise you on diet and treatments.

4. Cut down on stress and stay happy

Ok I agree that this is easier said than done. I must say that I find nothing more irritable than being stressed and people telling me to relax. However, according to research both stress and depression could have a role to play in the expanding waistlines.

Studies indicate that stress hormones increase appetite for sweet and high calorie foods as well as increasing capacity to store any excess calories. In other words not only it makes you want to eat fatty foods it helps in turning it into fat. Moreover, stress hormones combined with increased levels of insulin are indicated to increase abdominal fat.

With depression the processes may be a little bit more complicated. However, studies similarly show that there is a link between depression and increase in abdominal fat.

Avoiding every stressful situation we all know can be mission impossible especially if you juggling work, family, kids, global recession, hurricanes, and everyday life. Why not try distressing with having some ‘me’ time and maybe have a nice bath or book a massage. If that is hard to do, you can have a glass of wine or practice some breathing techniques which aim to alleviate stress. Alternatively you can go for a walk in fresh air or do some therapeutic journalism.

5. Improve your posture.

Do you remember when your mum used to tell you night and day to stand straight, stop slouching and keep your shoulders back? I do sometimes wonder if anybody did actually did listen to all that… Well slouching will not make you put on weight on your belly as such and if you do stand straight will not make you lose weight as such either. What it will do is actually improve the look of your belly and will help to condition your muscles a bit. Slouching can make your belly look bigger than it is along with all the not good effects on your back, chest etc.

Why not try it and you may see that you may have stopped some of those aches and pains on your back.

6. Liposuction

I will include it but in general I would not recommend any surgical procedures for the purpose of weight loss. Liposuction can be found with a number of different names and can be done with a number of different techniques. In its essence it is the removal of fat deposits from specific areas of the body via a surgical procedure. Depending on the area and/or the amount of fat to be removed the procedure can be performed under general or local anaesthetic.

As with every surgical procedure it carries dangers and it should not be taken lightly. Infections, blood clots, severe bruising and deformations are some of the complications that can take place. The more fat is removed and the less experienced the surgeon is, the more dangers the procedure can carry.

Moreover, unless you remove what makes the fat to be stored it will be back. Is it your diet, your lifestyle, stress lack of physical activity what expands your dress size? Well if it stays the same it will only have the same effect.

7. Tummy tuck

As with liposuction it is a surgical procedure and it carries a number of dangers. Although it is a way to trim your tummy without exercise, I would not recommend it.

Tummy tuck (or abdominoplasty) usually includes carrying out liposuction to remove the excess fat and also removing sections of the skin. As with any major surgery it can put increased strain in the body and it can have fatal results. It can also carry risks of infection, blood clots, scarring and deformations.

In some cases tummy tuck may be necessary or beneficial such as after major weight loss. It is often the case that the skin has lost its elasticity and there are folds of skin left on the body. Apart from beauty purposes the skin folds may be removed for health reasons as well.

Always consult the appropriate medical professional before making any changes to your diet and especially if considering any surgical conditions. In which case do make sure that it is your last option and the benefits do outweigh the risks.

How to lose belly fat for teenage girls

How to lose belly fat is a topic that interests many women and in particular teenage girls. Being a teenager has many challenges and having to lose fat from the belly just adds more stress to the already vulnerable teenage girls. Having a big belly is certainly not nice but you do not have to despair since there are a lot of ways to reduce your belly size and get a flatter belly.

First things first

Before getting into the details on how to lose your stomach fat, the first thing you should do is investigate and understand why you have formed a bulging belly in the first place. Is it because of the things you eat? Is it because of your lifestyle or is it because of other reasons beyond your control. If you believe that you are in the third category then you should consult a doctor immediately since the presence of a belly maybe due to some other illness or disorder. If on the other hand you are not exactly a healthy eater and you do not remember the last time you exercised then the reasons for having the belly and love handles are probably due to bad eating habits and sedentary lifestyle. In this case there are a lot of things you should do to reverse the situation while you are still young and energetic.

Once you have identified that the reason for having more fat than usual is your lifestyle then the next step is to take action and reverse the situation. Have in mind that the road to a flat stomach is not easy; it takes a lot of courage, commitment and hard work to get rid of the belly fat but it can be done.

What causes the concentration of belly fat for teenage girls?

Besides the reasons explained above teenage girls are more prone to getting weight easier than teen boys mainly because of the hormonal changes their body has to undergo especially with period and other women related conditions.

How to lose belly fat?

The best ways to lose belly fat as a teenager are the following:

1. Exercise as much as you can. It doesn’t have to be aerobics or weight lifting but any exercise or physical activity is good for your age. There are so many activities and events you can participate as a teenager and you need to take advantage of your energy now that you are young. If you want you can do some more formal forms of exercise (go to the gym, aerobics, weight lifting etc.) to re-enforce your efforts but your main objective should be to move around, burn calories, sweat and generally feel your body.

2. Quantity and Quality of food is important. You probably heard that you should avoid full fat foods. While this is true you should also take care of the quantities of the food you eat. Eating low-fat foods in large quantities is worse than eating full fat foods in small quantities. What we mean here is that if you learn to eat anything you like but in moderation you will be able to lose weight and fat. There may be times that you have to be more selective than others but in general you can eat all food types but in moderation. Having in mind that fast foods (burgers, chips, pizzas) are the healthiest food to eat but you do not need to completely abandon them from your diet.

3. Drink water. Water has zero calories and helps the body burn calories faster. It is also a good way to boost your metabolism and lose weight easier. Get into the habit of drinking 4-5 classes of water per day and keep this habit as you grow up. Water intake is vital for a healthy body and an essential step in losing body fat.

4. You need to get rid of overall body fat first before targeting the belly. Many people still believe that it is possible to lose fat from the belly and they do hundreds of crunches per day to achieve this. This is one of the biggest belly fat myths. You need to understand that there are no exercises to target the belly and that there is no way to get a six pack if you do not first lose the fat from the stomach. The presence of fat hides the abdominal muscles and crunches and sit-ups do not offer much help. What you should do instead is exercise and diet to lose overall body fat and once your belly muscles are visible you can do crunches or sit-ups to work your abdomen and waist and why not get some nice six pack abs.

Best foods for losing belly fat

You probably have a mix of thoughts crossing your minds when we talk about food, especially when you are aspiring to lose belly fat. However not all foods are bad, and not all will lead to gaining belly fat. There are some food items that even help you burn fat and manage your weight. These food items should be evenly distributed across your diet. Instead of worrying what not to eat, why not think of what foods  you can eat. Lets look at those listed below.

Whole grains

Whole grains are very rich in fiber and they contain a very few calories. Found mostly in cereals, breads and rice they can be a good source of your carbohydrates. Eating whole grain can help you counter starvation and assist you in refraining from overeating. Choose 100% whole grain on your cereals and bread to get the most of it.

Oatmeal

It is a cereal that you can eat anytime of the day. Some people use oatmeal to promote good bowel movement. Also, eating oatmeal every day helps you eliminate fat and other toxins in the digestive tract. This is because oats, once taken in, absorb water from the body, and with that, the different fats and toxins are also added in. They are then finally excreted in as a stool. This means you can easily lose weight with oatmeal. It is a good choice to add oats to your diet instead of cutting the carbohydrate source of your meals.

Almonds and nuts

If you want a healthy snack that helps you decrease your belly fat, then almonds and nuts are the best choice for you. They are a good protein source that contain few calories. The fat content is low and you can safely eat a substantial amount and not worry too much of about gaining weight.

Olive oil

It is a notorious source of fat. Yes fat! We need fat as it offers nutrients to our body.  What olive oil has to offer is a different kind of fat, and that is the positive fat which contains low cholesterol. This is a preferable choice to having oils that contain saturated fats. You can use olive oil as salad dressing instead of your usual dressing which contains a lot of fat.

Berries

Berries are rich in fiber and they can be a good snack for you as well. Try to avoid processed berries that are in jams or cans of preserved fruits. They increase your calories and like all processed or preserved foods, always contain a higher calorie content due to the added preservatives and artificial flavorings.

Eggs

They are a good and healthy source of protein. Eggs contain a decent amount of fat with lesser cholesterol, which is the yolk (the yellow part), whilst the albumen (the white part) is the part rich in protein.  Studies have shown that they help to reduce belly fats, and are much better than your usual bagels. Eggs are also advisable if you are forming muscles or developing body parts.

Beans and legumes

Beans and legumes can be added to your favorite meals such as burritos. Plain black pinto beans help you decrease saturated fat level in the body. This is due to the fact that beans and legumes are rich in vitamin b12, said to help in metabolizing fat.

Lean meats and fish

If you want  a good protein source which contains less fat and calories, then fish meat is the best choice. You can still eat your favorite pork and beef as long as you go for lean meat, so cut out  the fat on those meats. By the way, fish meat, such as that from salmon contains omega-3, benefits the heart.

Green vegetables

This is undoubtedly one of the “must have” foods. Green veggies are rich in almost everything: nutrients, minerals, vitamins, fiber – you name it. A daily serving of 5 or more would be ideal. You will decrease your belly fats as they burn more calories than those they offer.

Dairy product

Calcium helps break down fat, and some research show that it also prevents its formation. Of course you should choose low fat dairy products and have them once a day. Drink milk daily.

Teas

Studies have shown that teas, maybe cold or iced, are better than standard beverages and drinks. Tea is a more natural drink and some teas such as  green tea promote increased metabolism. It is said to be better than coffee in terms of promoting weight loss and  is definitely better than carbonated sodas.

With all the above you can now enjoy a good food choice. All of these are simple ways to eat well.  When you eat well you won’t be afraid of gaining  weight as you are in control.  A sensible diet is a skill that is developed and practiced, and knowing what is good and bad for you is a great start in helping you practice your smart diet skills. Enjoy your belly fat losing diet, and don’t forget to continue with your regular exercise and workout plans. Good luck!

How to lose belly fat through sports

Do you want to lose belly fat but can’t find a way to actually do it? Most people tried dieting alone to lose belly fat and weight, but this usually takes a long time for it to show some good results unless if you are on an extreme diet like fasting. But for those who can’t even stick to their diet plans for a long time then it could be a big problem.

Think about it, exercising is the best way to lose fat and it may be the solution of the problem. It is a way to help you burn fat and also promotes good figure. Now, how can you do it if you really aren’t fun of going to gym whatsoever? Sports is the answer. Everyone have tried sport at some point in their life, and everyone has a sport that they truly enjoy. Why not use them to benefit in your weight loss endeavor. Here is how you can do it.

Start with a little check on what things you love to do. Sometimes it needs a bit of love to actually start something new. You should choose something familiar to you and that you love. It could be anything: it could be bicycling, or it could be camping or hiking. Start from there and actually do them. But if you want to have more choices in your list of what sports you can do, here they are.

Running

Running will help you burn for as much as 459 calories in just 30 minutes. And on top of that it promotes good inhalation and cardio exercise which totally benefits your health. Endurance and leg strength are utilized and strengthened as well. You only have to buy a pair of running shoes and your set to go.

Rock climbing

One good and adventurous way to lose weight is rock climbing. The energy burst that occurs when moving from one rock or to another would give you good results in muscle strength, endurance, flexibility, decision making, and of course fat burning. It helps you burn around 350 calories for every 30 minutes of rock climbing.

Swimming

It is considered as the best form of exercise by experts, swimming is a fun way to easily burn 360 calories in 30 minutes. You can easily tag along your friends or you can do it alone. Anything goes as long as you enjoy it.

Cycling

Famously used by many athletes or ordinary men and women. When you go on cycling you enjoy the sceneries and also lose weight and belly fat in the process. You can easily reach a range of 300 to 400 calories of fat burning per hour. Cycling is a definitely a good non-weight bearing exercise.

Boxing

A lot of women love this method! A pair of gloves and a punching bag or someone to spar with can help you lose weight easily. It is definitely a sport that a lot of people enjoy.  Boxing helps you burn for as much as 324 calories in half an hour.

The different ball games

Racquetball and basketball or soccer can help you burn belly fat and lose weight in a fun way. You won’t notice time pass while doing these activities. This would help you reach 300 calories burned, soccer maybe a bit higher than the first two since it requires constant running.

Seasonal sports like ice skating and skiing

These two can help you lose a range from 180 to 250 calories burned every 30 minutes, though a lot of accessories and experience may be needed for these kinds of activities.

Dancing

Dancing is a beautiful sport that most of us already use to burn fats. Aerobics is a form of dancing, now other kind of dancing like belly dancing helps you form and trim down belly fats.

When you think about it, there are actually a lot of ways to do it. And sport is just one part of it. Open your mind and lose your belly fats for real. Start now!

How to lose belly fat without leaving your home

Belly fat is a problem for any age group. You could be a teenage, a mom or a woman on menopause and have a belly bulge. The problem most of us have is that we don’t have time to go to a gym and workout. We could be very busy with school, kids or career that the belly bulge gets to stay—maybe for life. If you want to look better today, there are some activities that you can do at home which will also help you lose belly fat. What follows are three categories, and in each of those are tips on what you can do at home to lose your belly bulge.

FOLLOW A HEALTHY EATING PATTERN

You can never lose belly fat and keep on eating like a slob. The first step to losing belly fat is to eat healthy, but not eat less. First, never let yourself starve. Eating is easy when you’re just at home, but don’t overeat too. Eating small meals every three hours is ideal, but you also need to watch what you’re eating. Load your diet with a great deal of fruits and vegetables. These are rich in fibers and are great for cleaning your system. You’d also want to eat food with complex carbs such as mushroom, broccoli and spinach. These kinds of food slowly release sugar into the blood system, giving you lots energy for the day. If the whole family is interested, you can incorporate your diet into the family meal and have everyone eat healthy food.

DO CARDIO EXERCISE

Doing cardio exercises is important for burning fat (like belly fat). This kind of exercise is when you make your heart rate go faster, such as when you go running or jogging. If you don’t have a treadmill at home, you can actually go up and down the stairs for at least 30 minutes a day, three times a week. As you progress, you can even switch to jogging up and down instead of just walking. Cleaning the house is another way to burn fat. Walking, lifting the furniture and moving your arms are a great way to make the heart go faster. If cleaning is not your thing, you can also dance at home. Dancing is a great cardio exercise, and you can either do it following a dance workout video or hire a dance instructor to partner with you.

DO STOMACH WORKOUTS

If you want to have a toned belly, you also need to work out the muscles in the mid- area. There are a lot of stomach workouts to choose from like crunches and sit- ups. If you don’t know how to do these properly, check the internet for instructions and videos on how to do it right. You can also buy an instructional video for you to follow. Aside from this, you can also practice holding your stomach in (when walking, sitting, etc). This is also a form of work out, and it will help you have a toned belly.

How to lose belly fat without losing too much weight

Belly bumps are a problem for a lot of people. While this is common with obese and overweight people, there are also some who have lean bodies but big bellies. Commonly, a health expert would tell you to follow a healthy eating pattern and do cardio exercises if you want to lose belly fat, but that also means you’d have to lose weight. If you are already on your ideal weight and just have to learn how to lose belly fat, here are some tips for you.

INCLUDE COMPLEX CARBOHYDRATES IN YOUR DIET

Also called polysaccharides, complex carbs are made when a simple carbohydrate has three or more molecules bound together. Since it takes the body more time to break complex carbs down, it slowly releases sugar into our blood system, which in turn creates a consistent level of energy. You get to move more when you have more energy, and this greatly help in losing belly fat. There are many vegetable and whole grains that are considered complex carbs. Mushrooms, peppers, onions and spinach are good example of food with complex carbohydrates.

CONSUME A LOT OF LEAN PROTEIN

Lean protein is effective for making you feel full for a long time, preventing you from overeating. Fish, such as salmon, is an excellent choice. Aside from containing lean protein, it also contains omega- 3 fatty acids—a good fat that is beneficial to health. You can also eat chicken and turkey as long as you choose the white meat. Just make sure to remove the skin before eating. Roasted, grilled or baked meat and a plate of salad are great for losing belly fat.

WEIGHT TRAIN

Aside from doing cardio exercises, it’s also ideal to do weight training if you want to lose belly fat. Weight training is when you lift weight to develop skeletal muscles. Unlike powerlifting and Olympic weightlifting though, weight training is simply a form of exercise and not a sport. If you decide to include weight training in your workout, it’s best that you consult with a doctor first. You may have an underlying problem which could get worse when you do such activities, and it’s better for a doctor to give you a check up first.

Best exercises to lose belly fat fast and healthy

There many people who want to lose fat and more particularly the so called belly fat. Because it took months or years for you to get them, it would definitely take just about the same time or even more to get rid of them naturally. For that reason, some people consider the idea of availing surgical procedures like liposuction to achieve a faster result. However, since liposuction is an invasive procedure, the risk of infection and hemorrhage is always there. So, if you wish to learn how to lose belly fat, nothing still beats the natural method. This article tells you the best exercises to lose belly fat fast and healthy.

LOSE THE FLAB THRU CARDIO

Go from flab to fab by hopping on a treadmill for at least 30 minutes a day. Cardio machines like treadmills, stationary bikes, elliptical trainers, and stair mills are great calorie burners because it requires your body to convert fat deposits to energy to accomplish the tasks.

A good cardio workout is very important if you wish to lose weight fast. Crunches and other belly specific workouts do burn calories, but they are mainly focused in sculpting the midsection for a stronger core.

DO BELLY SPECIFIC WORKOUTS

Although cardio workouts are your best option to lose the belly fat, fitness experts would always recommend incorporating it with some belly specific workouts. Below are the top three on our list based on its ability to work on the three major abdominal muscles – rectus abdominis, internal and external obliques, and transverse abdominis.

#1 Bicycle Crunch exercise:

1. Lie flat on the floor
2. Place your hands under your head
3. raise your legs and move it in a circular pedal motion
4. While doing leg work, bring your left elbow to your right knee; right elbow to left knee as you continue pedaling.
5. Do 15-20 counts for 2-3 cycles

#2 Captain’s Chair exercise

1. Using the Captain’s Chair, Start by dangling your legs and slowly lifting your lower limbs up towards the chest
2. Control your movement as you deliberately return to the starting position.
3. Use your abdominal muscles to lift your lower extremities.
4. Do 10 to 15 counts for 1-3 cycles

#3 Balance Ball crunch

1. Lie on the balance ball with your feet flat on the floor.
2. Use your abdominal muscles to lift your torso to no more than 45 degrees
3. As much as you can, keep the ball stable as you do your crunches.
4. Do 10 to 15 counts for 1 to 3 cycles.

DO FLEXIBILITY EXERCISES

Do not limit your workouts to cardio and strength training. Enrolling in classes that help your body become more flexible like Yoga, Tai Chi, and Pilates are very beneficial to achieve a flatter belly. Though these workouts do not burn as much calories, flexibility workouts put the body and mind in synch and helps reduce the risk of joint and muscle pains when doing other exercises.

If you wish to lose the belly fat fast and healthy, make sure that you incorporate these three exercises in your daily routine – Cardio workouts, Strength training, and Flexibility exercises.

How to lose belly fat fast for women naturally

It is a fact that is harder for women to lose weight compared to men because they have higher fat percentage and less muscle mass, thus women needs to exert more effort to achieve the body that they desire. Furthermore, women gain fat faster than men because of the same reason and because women are genetically programmed to accumulate fats in the belly to prepare the body for conception, the chance of women getting belly fat fast is extremely high. Don’t worry though because this article provides some tips on how to lose belly fat fast for women naturally.

Tip #1 Write a food journal

Celebrities like Carrie Underwood are one of those women who effectively used the food journal to lose weight. A food journal can be a small notebook or a notepad where you can write all the food you have eaten with its corresponding calorie value. Keeping a food journal helps its bearer to lose weight because it enable you to tract your calorie intake, thus you do not go beyond the calories that you have planned.

Moreover, a food journal could also contain your weekly menu so you won’t be wasting time computing the calorie content of your food in front of the waiter. It may also contain the foods which you mostly eat with its corresponding calorie value so when you crave for an unplanned snack, you can always check your food journal how much work you need to exert to burn the calories it contain.

As a fitness expert, I strongly recommend food journals to my clients because it could be a healthy outlet. Studies show that a depressed person tends to overeat causing him/her to gain weight, writing how you feel in your food journal could help you vent out your feelings minus the extra calories.

Tip #2 Keep your cool

As earlier stated, stress causes a person to eat more, but do you know that stress could literally causes belly fat?

The body secretes a naturally occurring hormone called Cortisol when responding to stress. Cortisol is generally good because it helps the body cope with stress however it also moves fat from some parts of the body and places it around the organs of the abdomen which is called visceral fat. Too much accumulation of visceral fat causes the so called “belly fat” which is not only unhealthy but unsightly as well.

Tip #3 Burn the fat through dancing

There are several ways to lose the fat; you can opt to exercise in the gym, try out a new sport, or do activities that you enjoy like dancing. The latter is quite popular among women. It is a very effective calorie burning activity because it combines rhythm, coordination, slow to fast movements, and fun. The energy that is being exerted plus the amount of fun which allows a person forget about the time makes it the best belly busting technique.

My belly fat-burning list includes belly dancing, step aerobics, hiphop, and ballroom dancing. Doing at least 30 minutes to an hour of these everyday is surefire way that you’ll melt those belly fat like butter.

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