Belly fat loss does not seem to be a priority for most men. After all, guys commonly have fat deposited around the waist while the ladies have fat on their buttocks, hips, and thighs. Belly fat is often known as a beer belly but the flab is not really caused by finishing too many six-packs. Yes, beer is high in calories (about 140 per 12-ounce bottle) and drinking too much of it can contribute to a bloated waist but fat also appears in other areas of the body because the body does not know the difference between calories that come from beer and calories that come from other sources. Fat is deposited throughout the body simply because you consume too much food and do little to burn the excess calories. If you have an expanding waistline, find out why you should make belly fat loss a priority and how you can achieve it effectively.
Why You Should Make Belly Fat Loss a Priority
A growing body of research indicates that a large belly is a sign of poor health. Having belly fat increases your risk of serious conditions like cardiovascular disease, certain types of cancer, diabetes, high cholesterol, hypertension, insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, and stroke. Aside from these conditions, bigger waistlines have also been associated with decreased lung function, periodontal disease, premature death, migraines, and restless leg syndrome.
A 2009 study published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine suggests that a large waist line leads to decreased lung function regardless of body mass index, gender, smoking history, and other complicating factors. Researchers from Harvard School of Public Health and University of Puerto Rico reported that men with a waist circumference greater than 40 inches are 19 percent more likely to have periodontal disease. A 2009 study published in Neurology showed that bigger waistlines can cause restless leg syndrome, which in turn, leads to lack of sleep.
How to Effectively Achieve Belly Fat Loss
The health conditions associated with having a large waistline coupled with the fact that beer belly is unsightly should be more than enough reason for you to take belly fat loss seriously. But achieving belly fat loss is easier said than done. Belly fat is stubborn so you would need to combine a healthy diet with a regular exercise regimen to get rid of it slowly but surely.
Consume fewer calories from grains and sugars and increase your intake of high-quality food like beef, butter, chicken, coconut oil, dark green leafy vegetables, fish, and olive oil. Reduce your consumption of empty calories from processed food and beverages. But changing your diet is just the first step: you also need to sweat it out and increase your physical activities. Bike, play sports, run, swim, and do whatever you like to burn those extra calories. But do not just do cardio or crunches. You need to incorporate anaerobic exercises, core exercises, and strength training to effectively burn the fat and keep it off.
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