Men and women are continually bombarded by magazine and Hollywood body type images. These images infiltrate people’s ways of thinking whilst leading many to desire a body type that might not be structurally compatible. Losing belly fat may be highly psychological. Most individuals want to lose weight—look and feel good—and that is great. Here are some strategies that may help you lose belly fat.
- Drink Green Tea
There are conflicting opinions about the health benefits of drinking green tea. However, green tea is nutritious and high in antioxidants. Consumption of green tea may aid in losing weight. The beverage is thought to assist with the body’s metabolism—making it more sufficient. Green tea contains caffeine and the flavonoid catechin (antioxidant) thought to speed up metabolism. The best practice is to observe what works for you as an individual.
- Lessen Alcohol Consumption
Drinking over the recommended alcohol consumption can cause weight gain. It is important to check with your government’s health recommendations (this may differ in other regions). When people habitually drink over the alcohol guidelines, people tend to make poorer food choices. This can also lead to eating at odd hours of the night—resulting in weight gain. Binge drinking may lead to binge eating. All things in moderation. Consume fewer alcoholic beverages to decrease belly fat.
- A Low Carb Diet
Try curbing some carbs as opposed to healthy fats. According to Dr. Kerry Stewart, Director of Clinical and Research Physiology at John Hopkins, a low-carb diet can benefit in
significant weight loss. Everyone’s body is different and responds differently to stimuli, but eating a low-carb diet may result in weight loss for some people.
- Eat More Soluble Fiber
Recent research suggests that eating more soluble fibre can result in weight loss. This type of fibre may help with weight loss by causing a person to feel full. When people feel full, they are less likely to overeat. This leads to consuming fewer calories. Good sources of soluble fibre are found in vegetables, fruits, legumes, barley, and oats. Try out a diet of high-fibre foods to promote weight loss. Remember to drink enough water.
- Consume Foods High in Protein
Eat foods high in protein. The nutrients contained in protein can help to keep a healthy weight. Eating the recommended protein intake for one’s body gives energy—this may curb excess snacking. Foods high in protein content can be found in fish, lean meat, poultry, nuts, seeds, and eggs. As always, listen to your body. Recognize what you ate when you feel rejuvenated.
- Exercise
Do not think diet; think lifestyle change. Eating healthy and exercising regularly are great ways to trim belly fat. Walking is a good method to maintain a healthy body weight. Think moderate exercising. “Get at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise at least five days a week” says Dr. Melinda Ratiri. Added visceral fat may lead to heart disease, high blood pressure, cancer, or type 2 diabetes, all things no one wants. Get moving. Try a variety of exercises such as walking, jogging, or playing a sport. Mix it up. Along with cardio exercises, it may be beneficial to incorporate weight-resistant workouts. Always check in with your doctor before beginning a new exercise program. It might be wise to focus on one’s clothes fitting, and not too much on what the scale reports.
- Track Progress with a Food Diary
Losing belly fat is both physiological and psychological. Why not experiment with keeping a food diary? It is important to track and log workouts—it could be equally rewarding to log what you are eating each day. Be mindful of how you are habitually fueling your body. Keep track. Yes, life is busy. It can be challenging to write down everything you eat. It does not matter when you write in your food diary, but it matters that it gets written down before the day ends. It is all in the mind. Think of these steps as getting closer to your fitness and health goals. If you think about it, it is exciting. You are getting healthier! This means you will have more energy, you will feel better, and you will look better in the process. You can do this.
- Sleep Well
In our busy age, getting a good night sleep can seem challenging to say the least. As mentioned, exercising and eating a balanced diet can coalesce to helping one get a good sleep. There is no single thing that contributes to good sleep. All habits must be taken into consideration. Get the proper amount of sleep. Studies reveal that people who sleep six to seven hours each night do not gain added visceral fat. Everything counts. Keep regular sleeping hours—even on weekends. This will balance your sleep wake cycles. Avoid eating at late hours of the evening as this will add extra belly fat. Destress before sleep.
Jason Waddle | Contributing Writer
