Belly fat. The kind that brings women to tears and men into a frenzy. Well, that may seem like an exaggeration to some, but it cannot be denied that a lot of people face this challenge everyday – how do you get rid of all this extra belly fat?
There are so many reasons that cause people to accumulate excess fat around the tummy area, from lack of exercise to an unhealthy diet. Regardless of how you gained all the fat in that area, the fact still remains that getting rid of it should be on top of our agenda.
Here are a few ways to get rid of all that belly fat, fast.
1. Consume even more fat.
What? Aren’t we trying to get rid of the fats that have already accumulated in our tummies in the first place? That’s right, and it may not make any sense to you now, but allows me to explain how this works.
There are different kinds of fats – unhealthy ones and healthy ones. Evidently, it’s the unhealthy kind of fat that you’re trying to get rid of, and to get rid of it, you have to pack up on the healthy ones.
Unsaturated fats, like the ones coming from avocado, coconut, fish, olive oil, seeds and nuts, will help you feel full a lot longer. This means that you won’t get the urge to pig out or eat every (how many hours). These also help our bodies trigger the fat-burning process.
Try eating regimens that are high on healthy fats. This will not only give you less body fat, it will also help you burn all the extra fat more efficiently.
2. Go for interval cardio.
If you’re one of those people who dread long sessions of never-ending cardio, this is great news for you. Did you know that doing bursts of cardio for short period of time is more effective in trimming down your tummy area as compared to long, continuous sessions?
Interval cardio requires you to push your body to do short bursts of exertion, usually around 20 to 30 seconds each, then place rest periods in between each burst.
This forces your body to go an anaerobic state, which helps the body burn more excess weight in a shorter period of time. This is because you are giving the body less oxygen, which causes you to get tired more easily.
Just try a 20-30 minute session 3 days a week, and see the results. Of course, it is also expected that this would have to come with a healthy diet.
Otherwise, it would only defeat the purpose of what you’re doing.
3. Stock up on green tea.
Green tea has become more popular the past few years because of its ability to combat cancer-causing cells in the body. What a lot of people do not know is that aside from its ability to fight the most dreaded disease in the world, it also helps the body burn more excess fats.
Basically, green tea has huge deposits of epigallocatechin gallate, a thermogenic that pushes your body to burn more fats. Of course, an occasional sip here and there won’t do it at all.
You would have to drink around 7 cups each day to get the full effect, or you can opt for green tea supplements if you are not exactly a tea person.
If you’re worried about the caffeine, you can always drink this in the morning, or opt for decaf.
4. Get enough sleep.
Did you know that the less you sleep, the more likely you’ll accumulate extra belly fat? Remember that as long as you’re awake, the tendency for you to eat more will always be higher.
Also, the less sleep you have, the more tired you become. And the more tired you become, the more your body starts craving for sweets and fatty food.
A lack of sleep can also affect the way your body produces hormones. This then affects your cortisol levels, one cause of insulin sensitivity. Insulin sensitivity is one of the most common reasons why people have more belly fat.
So the next time you get the urge to work late or party harder, think about how much sleep you’re allowing your body to have. At least 7 hours of sleep a day can do wonders for the way your body stocks up on additional fats.
5. Get more vitamin C.
People know Vitamin C to be an effective ally against colds, but what a lot of people do not know is that it also helps people burn more extra fats. As mentioned earlier, stress and tiredness pushes your body to produce more cortisol, and Vitamin C has been known to effectively balance your cortisol levels.
Vitamin C also helps your body create more carnitine. This is a compound that the body uses to burn fat.
Where do you get huge amounts of Vitamin C? Aside from your usual oranges, you can also stock up on bell peppers, kiwi, or kale. A vitamin C supplement is also useful.
6. Slow your breath down.
A lot of people turn to different kinds of diet or look for complicated forms of workouts the moment they decide to get rid of belly fat. But what a lot of people do not realize is the fact that you can also help your tummy burn a few extra fats even as you go through your daily routine.
Anytime you’re feeling stressed, you will notice that your breathing becomes more rapid. Other times, you may also find yourself holding your breath before going through your usual breathing cycle again.
The moment this happens, try to relax. Be conscious of your own breathing. Then, relax your belly and start slowing down your breathing. Put more focus into slowing down your exhalation more than your inhalation.
This simple step will actually help you burn a few more pounds from your belly, and could also help you lessen your stress levels.
7. Go heavy on the spicy food.
Spicy foods have a substance called capsaicin (the very thing that gives cayenne its heat), and this has been said to have fat-burning properties.
One other interesting thing that spicy foods can do (especially those that contain cayenne pepper) is decrease your appetite, especially your cravings for the stuff that packs a few extra pounds around your belly area – sweet, fatty, and salty food.
Yes, it seems like a lost cause. That’s an understandable way to feel, especially when you’ve tried every possible workout and diet in the book.
But with a little more push, you might finally break the cycle and start trimming down on the belly area. Just remember that it is always about balance, and all these tips will be useless if you retain unhealthy habits.