To get rid of belly fat, you have to adopt a healthier lifestyle. This includes a balanced diet filled with nutritious foods and a regimen of regular exercise. However, not just any exercise will do. Running is one kind of exercise that can help you get rid of belly fat. Before beginning a new exercise program, consult your doctor.
Belly Fat Threat
Too much belly fat can put you at risk for serious health conditions such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes and cancer. This is because belly fat is often an indicator of a high amount of visceral fat, which encases your internal organs. It is imperative to get rid of this excess fat for your long-term health.
Cardiovascular Exercise
If you want to get rid of the fat on your belly or anywhere else on your body, you have to perform cardiovascular exercise regularly. Running is just one type of cardiovascular activity, but is extremely effective at burning calories at fat, resulting in weight loss. According to the American Council on Exercise, you need at least 60 minutes of moderate activity five days of the week to burn enough calories to lose between 1 and 2 lbs. Any activity that gets your heart rate up such as running, such as jogging, swimming and cycling would also suffice.
Increase the Burn
While making a habit of running often will burn fat off your belly, you can do so faster by using high intensity interval training along with it. This method of training involves rapidly changing the pace of your workout so your body doesn't have time to adjust. This means your body works harder to accomplish the task and burns more calories. For instance, you might jog for 1 minute, then burst into a run for 30 seconds. Then you'd go back to the jog and repeat for the duration of your workout. Breaking up the fast running with a slower pace will help you burn more calories in a shorter period of time.
Be Careful
Running isn't the right cardiovascular activity for everyone. If you are more than 20 percent overweight, you should stick with lower-impact activities such as swimming and cycling, says the American Council on Exercise. Likewise, if you have certain health conditions like diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, a family history of heart disease or you recently quit smoking, you should consult a doctor prior to hitting the pavement.
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