“I really want to just lose belly fat. Is it possible?” Sound familiar? The quick ‘n dirty answer is Yes…and No.
The ‘NO’ part is that “ spot reduction ”, or losing fat from just one area on your body, has officially been labeled as a myth. Fat can’t just choose to come off from only one area!
So, it truly doesn’t matter how many crunches you do, or the number of ways you exercise your abdominal muscles. You’re not going to suddenly be equipped with a 6-pack, unless you focus on the bigger body composition picture. And, that’s a combination of exercise AND nutrition.
But, the real question should be this: why are you seeing excess fat on your belly in the first place? Perhaps it’s your genetic predisposition to have a belly pouch, or it’s due to advancing age. But, it could also be due to two other key players: STRESS & HORMONES.
Too much of the body’s stress hormone, Cortisol, is one of the reasons you could be storing excess fat in your abdominal area. So, addressing it can do more for your pouchy belly than all of the crunches in the world!
Not only does Cortisol tend to drive fat deposition into the stomach area (and it’s more the deep visceral fat surrounding your organs), but when you’re chronically stressed, you also tend to overeat! That’s a double whammy to our health thanks to stress.
More about tackling that in a bit. But, here’s the ‘YES’ part…in how to lose just belly fat.
It is thought that certain areas have more metabolically active fat cells than others. As in they respond better to exercise and healthy eating measures.
Those that are considered “active” are: chest, arms & stomach – win!!
But those that are not especially active, and do not respond as well to diet & exercise are: butt, hips & thighs. Whomp, whomp.
These things alone won’t help you lose just belly fat, but they’ll go a long way in helping you achieve your health and fitness goals.
This super easy recipe not only tastes refreshing and gives plain water a serious upgrade, but it assists in digestion, supports the liver, and helps beat the bloat — a natural tummy slimmer!
Slimming “Detox” Water
Makes 4-6 servings
Ingredients
4-6 cups fresh, filtered water (or sparkling mineral water for extra zip and a dose of minerals)
1 cup Watermelon, cubed
½ cup English Cucumber, sliced
½ – 1 whole Lemon (or Lime), sliced
1- inch knob of Ginger, minced and/or 5-8 Mint Leaves, lightly crushed
Preparation
Wash the rinds of all fruits well first. Then prepare and cut up all fruits.
Mix all ingredients in a large glass pitcher, and let mixture sit in the fridge for at least one hour to allow fruits to infuse.
You may choose to strain the fruit before serving so it doesn’t “dump” into your glass.
Enjoy several glasses throughout the day.
If using sparkling water, ensure that you put a cover on your pitcher and enjoy by the end of the day, otherwise it will be flat!
REFERENCES
Healthline: 12 Things That Make You Gain Belly Fat
Strong Lifts: How to Lose Your Belly Fat Quickly and Naturally
Medicine & Science in Sports Exercise Journal (Study): Effect of exercise training intensity on abdominal visceral fat and body composition
The post Can You Really Lose Just Belly Fat? appeared first on No Limits Fitness.
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