Cortisol is a naturally occurring hormone that is produced in response to stress. The production of cortisol can lead to the amassing of fat around the middle of the body, resulting in the accumulation of unattractive, loose belly fat. Exercises that focus on using the abdominal muscles can tighten slack muscles, toning the stomach and helping to improve the overall appearance of your belly.
Torso Twist
Stand with your feet shoulders-width apart with your arms placed loosely at your sides. Lift your arms from the sides of your body, bringing them to shoulder height. With your arms fully extended, turn your hands so the palms are facing up. Keeping your arms straight, twist at the waist, turning the upper torso to the left. Bounce lightly to the left while counting to eight. Return to starting position and repeat the exercise, twisting to the right. Repeat the cycle eight times. To increase the effectiveness of this exercise, hold bottles of water, small cans or light weights in the hands. In addition to working the abdominal muscles and toning the area around the waistline, the torso twist also improves the condition of the upper arms.
Sit-Up
Sit-ups can be done outside or in, provided you have a comfortable, flat surface to work on. Begin by lying flat on your back with your legs bent at the knee forming a 90-degree angle. Place your feet flat on the floor and clasp your hands behind your neck. Lift the torso from the floor until you can touch your knees with your elbows. Lift with your abdominal muscles rather than pulling on your neck with your arms as this may injure your neck muscles. Lower your torso back to the floor and allow your elbows to fall backward until they touch the ground. Repeat this process 10 times, then rest. Aim for three sets of 10 initially. As you progress, you can increase the number of sets you do to help you reach your fitness goals.
Leg Lift
Begin by lying on your back on a level surface. Place your hands by your sides with your palms facing the floor. Extend your legs, straightening them and pressing them against the floor. Flex your feet so that your toes are pointed toward the ceiling. Keeping your legs straight, slowly raise them off the floor until the feet are pointed directly at the ceiling. Lower the legs halfway to the ground and hold them suspended in the air for 4 seconds. Lower the legs to the floor and repeat the exercise from the beginning. Do 10 full repetitions.
Walking
One of the best ways to lose belly fat is by engaging in a general fitness exercise such as walking. Designed to improve the condition of the whole body, walking uses the muscles of the legs, thighs, buttocks, abdominals and arms. Begin with 30 minutes per day of slow walking. If you're working on a tight schedule, do 15 minutes at lunch and another 15 while dinner is in the oven. As your fitness level increases, you can amplify the intensity of the walk by increasing your pace, incorporating more hills into your route, or by simply traveling ever growing distances. Over time, you may even work your way up to jogging or running.
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