When you are trying to lose weight, almost nothing is more frustrating then trying to lose belly fat. It make your clothes fit improperly and it can be uncomfortable. Sometimes it feels like you’ll never be rid of it! One of the biggest factors in burning belly fat is exercise. You have to do more then crunches to burn belly fat though!
First off, you need to know that belly fat is also related to genetics. This means that some people are genetically preset to storing fat around the middle. At one time in history, belly fat was probably protective during very cold times or famine. In modern times, belly fat is no longer ‘helpful’.
While you can’t determine where fat will be stored on the body, there are things you can do to remove fat from your body overall. Eventually, your belly fat will be reduced by following a consistent exercise plan.
The first thing you need to add to your daily routine is aerobic activity. This is exercise where you move your body for at least 10 minutes at a time. It helps to increase your heart rate, condition your lungs, and burn fat. When you burn fat, eventually you’ll burn belly fat.
Examples of appropriate aerobic activity include walking, jogging, swimming, biking, and rollerblading. If you prefer sports, you may want to try something like basketball, soccer or tennis. These sports will keep the body moving at a constant pace. Sports like golf or bowling help you to move, but not in an aerobic way.
As you add aerobic activity to your routine, you’ll burn fat during the exercise itself. What’s even better is that you’ll raise your metabolism over time. That means you’ll be burning more calories even at rest.
You’ll also need to improve your muscular strength. Stomach crunches, pilates, and even lower body strength exercises can target the core muscles of your stomach. While you won’t specifically remove belly fat with these exercises, you’ll provide a well-toned foundation. In addition, the more muscle you have the higher your metabolism will be.
The bottom line is this: if you are trying to get rid of the fat around your midsection, you need to exercise. Work hard and you’ll find that you are happier and healthier overall.
