The belly is one of the first and most common areas of the body for fat storage. This can be discouraging and possibly lead to self-esteem issues. The fastest way to lose belly fat is not by doing endless reps and sets of sit-ups every day of the week. Instead, you need to focus on your body as a whole and do just the right amount of stomach exercises to create tone and definition once you've burned the fat.
Step 1
Stop eating all the foods that caused your belly fat. Eliminate the simple carbs, processed meats, high-fat dairy products, white-flour breads and sweets from your diet. Eat foods that are high in nutrients instead, like lean meats, fish, beans, low-fat dairy, fruits, vegetables and whole grains.
Step 2
Cut out the beverages that are high in calories and sugar. Sweetened teas, fruit punch, milk shakes, soda, flavored lattes and alcohol are all examples of these. Drink water instead to save yourself calories and to keep your body hydrated. Drink a glass of water with your meals to give yourself a full feeling.
Step 3
Reduce your daily intake by at least 250 calories to create a deficit. To lose 1 lb. you must drop 3,500 calories through diet and exercise.
Step 4
Eat a small, balanced meal every 2 1/2 hours throughout the day to boost your metabolism and keep yourself feeling satisfied. Make sure each meal contains protein and complex carbs. Sliced turkey breast in a whole-wheat wrap with lettuce and tomato is a mid-afternoon meal example.
Step 5
Do 45 minutes of cardio three times a week to burn the fat on your stomach. Running, Spinning®, elliptical training, stair stepping, rowing, swimming, kick boxing and jumping rope are examples of cardio exercises.
Step 6
Do full-body weight training to build muscle, which can raise your metabolism even more. Perform bench presses, upright rows, lat pulldowns, triceps pushdowns, biceps curls and lunges. Do three to four sets of 12 to 15 reps each with moderate weights, and work out three times a week on alternating days.
Step 7
Do ab exercises right after your cardio sessions. Do a set of leg lifts, side crunches and traditional crunches in a row with no rest. Take a 30-second break, and repeat the circuit three more times for a total of four. Do 15 to 20 reps for each exercise.
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