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How to lose stubborn belly fat

Updated: May 1, 2022

Many people have struggled for years to lose stubborn belly fat, and it remains the final frontier in the area of toning and weight loss.






There are several reasons why so many of us store fat in our abdomens:

  • Having fat in the middle of the body allows easy access for the body's organs to pull from it for quick energy. Stress leads the body to release a hormone called cortisol, and which triggers an increase in fat accumulation in the midsection.

  • Fat buildup occurs as a result of a lack of activity.

  • Why Is It So Difficult to Lose Weight in Your Midsection?


One reason why it's hard to get rid of belly fat is: It's a quick source of energy for the body. Women also tend to naturally hold on to more midsection fat for childbearing and nursing, Norvell adds.

Aging also works against you, Amselem says. The loss of estrogen through perimenopause and menopause can change fat distribution in a woman's body, even if there isn't a major weight gain. The fat that once gathered in the breasts, hips, and thighs instead concentrates in the abdominal area.


Effective Ways to Get Rid of Belly Fat

There are a few changes you can make to your everyday habits to help whittle down your waistline.


#1. Curb added sugar.


Limit sugarcoated in your diet to less than 10% of your overall calories, Palinski-Wade recommends. Applications such as MyFitnessPal as well as SparkPeople can track your calories and help you look more detailed at the foods you eat.


#2. Avoid alcohol.

Alcoholic drinks are full of added, unwanted calories that make their way to your midsection. And also, some drinks with alcohol-- checking out you, sweet alcoholic drinks-- are full of sugar.


#3. Eat more vegetables.


Include a lot more veggies such as broccoli and also spinach in your diet. These are full of fiber, so you'll feel full more quickly and permit your digestion system to run a lot more efficiently. This is very important due to the fact that bowel irregularity can lead to midsection bloat that vanishes once you add extra fiber-filled vegetables, Norvell states.


#4. Eat balanced dishes.


Consume normal meals that include protein, complicated carbohydrates as well as healthy and balanced fats, Amselem encourages. Foods rich in intricate carbohydrates consist of beans, oatmeal, and 100% whole-grain bread.


#5. Consume much more protein.


Protein digests extra slowly than carbohydrates, which assists you to feel complete much longer. You also melt more calories absorbing healthy protein over straightforward carbohydrates and fat. Taking in concerning 30% of your calories from protein can aid you to fulfill your daily demands as well as offer enough protein to help your metabolism as well as control your cravings.


Excellent healthy protein resources include:


  • Beans.

  • Fatty fish such as salmon. The omega-3 fatty acids in salmon additionally aid to decrease swelling and also stress and anxiety hormones in the body.

  • Greek yogurt.

  • Nuts.

  • Fowl like poultry and also turkey.


#6. Take care of stress and anxiety far better.


The globe's a stressful area, and also there's no way you can totally do away with anxiety just to banish belly fat. Nevertheless, you can find out how to regulate your response to anxiety so you aren't causing a 24/7 cortisol thrill.

Regulated breaths. One easy thing you can do, Palinski-Wade says, is exercise sluggish, controlled breaths in via your nose right into your tummy and afterward deeply breathing out while your lips are pursed (as if you're whistling). The American Lung Association has a video that shows belly breathing. This kind of breathing can decrease your heart rate, decrease tension hormones and also help if you experience shortness of breath.

Take time out. Do something you delight in every day, even if it's simply for 10 to 15 mins, the American Heart Organization advises. Create art, review, talk with a close friend, take a relaxing bathroom, or discover an additional task that permits you to tune out stress as well as tune in to me-time.


#7. Do the right kind of exercise.


Cardio exercise, such as quick strolling or aerobics, obtains your blood pumping more. It also aids you to:


  • Burn extra calories.

  • Lower anxiety.

  • Decrease insulin resistance.

  • Reduce your total body fat.

Cardio exercise in addition to resistance training can go a lengthy means towards targeting stubborn belly fat. Resistance training consists of dumbbells, training, pilates as well as resistance bands. Whatever cardio you choose, execute it constantly to see the best outcomes. Thirty to 60 minutes of heart-pumping dance, walking, running, or swimming five times a week is best. You must additionally include thirty minutes of resistance training, 3 times a week, and also day-to-day stretching.




When trying to lose belly fat, stay away from the following foods:


(i )Sugar-sweetened drinks:

A high intake of beverages like carbonated soft drinks, sports drinks, specialized coffee beverages, and also soft drinks are associated with weight gain as a result of the excessive added sugar web content.


(ii)Alcohol:

Heavy drinking, or consuming greater than seven times each week, increases the danger of weight gain and also obesity. Beer, which is high in calories and also carbs, is related to general weight gain. You might have heard the term "belly," though the concept that beer only puts fat on around your waist is mostly a misconception. Nevertheless, it does bring about overall weight gain which can lead to more tummy fat


(iii)Refined grain and sugar items:

Foods like cornflakes, graham wafers, bagels, as well as doughnuts have a higher glycemic index than vegetables and fruits, which suggests they can trigger a spike in blood sugar. Diets with these foods are connected with weight gain, so they should be avoided. Foods high in sugar are very easy to overeat, which can additionally bring about weight gain.


(iv)Fast food:

Because of larger portion dimensions and poor nourishment, convenience food is connected to weight gain as well as much less successful weight-loss maintenance. A 2018 tiny study examining 300 university students revealed that the consumption of junk food, such as pizza as well as fried hen, belongs to weight problems, especially excess stomach fat.


(v)Refined meat:

Meat usage is linked to a higher intake of saturated fat and overall calories, which adds to weight gain. Limitation your consumption of processed meats like smoked pork, sausages, ham, as well as bacon.


(vi)High-calorie bars:

Prevent sweet bars and also power bars because they are commonly reduced in nutrients and also high in sugar, fat, and also calories. Even granola bars, as well as protein bars, can be undesirable if they're high in sugar as well as calorie-dense, so check the "Nourishment Information" label to see the number of fats and sugar in the product.


Foods that aid belly fat loss:


(i)High-protein foods:

Foods like chicken, turkey, legumes, nuts, whole eggs, fish, and also dairy items are excellent sources of healthy protein, which keeps you full longer. It likewise assists you to lose weight because a high-protein diet regimen takes a lot more energy for your body to digest, which consequently burns body fat.


(ii)Fiber-rich foods:

Eating great deals of fiber aids weight management and also advertises weight loss, so eat even more fiber-rich foods like almonds, oats, prunes, berries, broccoli, Brussel sprouts, and eco-friendly beans. Consuming vegetables and fruits that are abundant in fiber is likewise related to weight loss.


(iii)Water:

Drinking enough water increases metabolism, which helps you reduce weight. Lemon water, a usual fave, may aid fat burning if you use it to change sweet drinks. However, it has no confirmed added benefits over normal water.


(iv)Entire grains:

Americans commonly eat excess amounts of polished grains, such as white bread or white rice. To reduce and also manage body weight, it's much better to have a diet rich in entire grains, like wheat, brown rice, barley, oats, and also rye.


Rather than a 'fast fix,' it's more vital to choose a long-term diet and learn what foods are best for you." This is what leads to weight loss and how to keep it off.

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