There are two important things you should know about belly fat:
1. Yes, you can target it.
2. It burns so much quicker than other fat.
I know this sounds like wishful thinking because people in general have so much trouble in reducing their belly fat. But the reason it is so difficult is because there are basically 3 things that people are doing or not doing that sabotage their efforts at losing fat in the middle. In upcoming issues we’ll explore in detail what you should be doing and not doing to lose belly fat. Today, I’ll set the stage for what you need to know and what the science says to reduce your waist size.
My suggestion: read the information I am presenting today and wrap your head around it now. The information is not what you may think, but it is the reason that so many people are losing weight in their mid sections. We’ll go into detail in later issues.
1. Exercise
Slow and steady exercise burns belly fat. The more you do it, the more fat you burn. But you can’t increase your stress in the process. Walking or very light jogging is best. The average person will ignore this advice and keep burning themselves out and then wondering why their food and sugar cravings are through the roof.
In my 30 Day to Lean program members are encouraged to exercise daily. However I tell them to let it feel good. Take daily 30 minute walks or bike rides or go to the gym and do lite exercise not heavy. There’s a reason for this downplay of heavy lifting or intense cardiovascular activity. And the reason is that that when you are in the process of losing weight, heavy and intense exercise will raise the hormone cortisol. Cortisol is actually a stress hormone that locks in belly fat. I tell my clients that are aiming to lose weight to take it easy on yourself. This is no time to be acting like a maniac in the gym. Be low key and focus on light moderate exercise that relieves stress instead of elevating it.
2. Reduce stress
The other thing you must do when you are in the process of losing weight is to reduce stress. This of course goes hand in hand with moderate light exercise which reduces stress but there are other things that one can do to reduce stress during this time period of weight loss.
I tell my members that this is their time to feel good and do things they love to do. Sleep well and never feel guilty for sleeping 8 or 9 hours. Too often we pride ourselves on being so productive that we rarely sleep. This style of thinking I try to discourage because again it raises cortisol which makes our belly store fat. I don’t know about you, but I’d rather sleep 8-9 hours and grow lean rather than sleep a few and grow round.
3. Address insulin resistance
This is the toughest of the three things to do to lose belly fat. And it takes changes to your diet, not just eating less. This is why the Top 3 Diets fail in the long run, because they do not address this point. In my opinion and from what I have witnessed having over 53 people participate in this program is that what you eat and what you do not eat is so vitally important. Food matters and if you could only implement one of these facts, this is the one I would concentrate on.