The Quickest Ways to Lose Belly Fat

The Quickest Ways to Lose Belly Fat
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When it comes to losing weight, one of the most problematic areas is the fat that surrounds the stomach. When you compare it to other parts of the body, stomach fat tends to be harder to get rid of, especially as you get older. Unfortunately, there is no magical solution for losing belly fat. By combining hard work, a change in eating habits and an intensive core-strengthening and cardiovascular exercise program, you can maximize the amount of belly fat that you burn and lose excess fat quickly and efficiently.

Cardiovascular Exercise

If you want to get rid of belly fat and burn calories, cardiovascular exercise is the most effective way to do it. According to Fitness Magazine, cardiovascular exercise is any type of exercise that raises your heart rate over a period of time. Some of the most popular cardio activities include biking, running and aerobics. If your goal is to lost belly fat, you should aim to do cardio for 30 to 45 minutes a day, six days a week. To achieve optimal weight loss, take one day off every week to allow your body to recover.

Core Strengthening Exercise

The core area of your body is comprised of the chest, lower back and abdominal muscles that wrap around the body. Muscles make it easier for your body to get rid of fat by boosting your metabolism. By building core muscle strength, your body will begin to burn more belly fat naturally. Some examples of core strengthening exercises would include pilates or yoga. You can also do push-ups, crunches and sit-ups to strengthen your chest and abdominal muscles. To achieve the maximum burn, you should do the core exercises three times per week.

Change Your Diet

According to the Mayo Clinic, performing exercises will do no good unless you also adjust your eating habits. You should increase your intake of green leafy vegetables and protein. Some examples would include romaine lettuce, spinach, fish and poultry. The extra protein in your diet will help strengthen and build your muscles more quickly. Along with increasing those foods, you should watch the amount of carbohydrates that are taken in. Carbohydrates include flour, pasta, bread, rice and soda. Carbs tend to contain a large amount of empty calories that add body fat when eaten in excess. Cutting back on your carb intake will help to burn stomach fat more quickly. While you want to reduce the amount of carbs you are consuming, you still need to eat some carbs to give your body fuel. If your body doesn't have enough fuel, you will feel weak and tired.

References

Article reviewed by Libby Swope Wiersema Last updated on: May 5, 2010

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