How to Lose Belly Fat in 4 Steps

For men and women alike, belly fat can send us into a state of panic so we ask the age old question, “How do you lose belly fat?”

First, it’s helpful to have a basic understanding of fat:

Fat is sneaky. You can see some kinds of fat, but you can’t see others. The visible fat develops just under the thighs, hips, buttocks and abdomen. This is called subcutaneous (under the skin) fat. The fat you can’t see is deeper inside your body. This is called visceral fat and it develops around the vital organs—heart, lungs, digestive tract, liver and so on). This can be a problem even for thin people.

It’s important to mention visceral fat so you’re aware of it, but for this article we’re going to focus on the fat you can see—the subcutaneous fat and especially how to lose belly fat.

Some Healthy Ways to Beat Belly Fat:

Belly fat is the most common place for visible fat to build up and hang out. Here are some excellent ways to overcome unwanted belly fat: exercise, diet, sleep and stress management.

Exercise: Vigorous exercise is the key to keeping excess fat away. Half an hour of vigorous exercise four times a week is ideal. Gym-goers could try workouts on the stationary bike, elliptical or rowing machines. If you can’t get to the gym, keep in mind that any vigorous physical activity will help to lose belly fat. You could rake leaves, go for a power walk, garden, dance the fat away in a Zumba class or play a sport with your kids. Be creative. There are a lot of ways to shake off those pounds without going to the gym.

Diet: Diet is a big part in losing belly fat. There’s no set diet to lose belly fat, but belly fat is normally the first to go on any diet. If “how to lose belly fat” is your number one concern, talk to our Registered Dietician and see what you can learn from him or her. Our diet programs may also be helpful. At bistroMD, we don’t just focus on dieting; we focus on losing weight the healthy way so you have the tools to maintain that healthy weight and healthy lifestyle long after you’ve reached your goals.

If you’re interested in our delicious entrees and you want to lose unwanted belly fat, we have two programs to choose from. After you select the men or women’s program, you'll have the option to receive five-or-seven-days’ worth of delicious entrees from our meal delivery service. They range from $130-$160 and you'll also have the option to include EATS, our essential and tasty snacks. It’s $1.50 per snack. Women receive two snacks per day and men receive three snacks per day.

Sleep: Getting sleep is vital in losing belly fat. In a recent study, dieters who slept for over eight hours a night lost twice as much fat than those who scraped by with under six hours.

Stress Management: Stress is unavoidable, but that’s nothing new. When you’re stressed, it’s hard to make the right choices when it comes to food. Keep in mind, however, that you’re not alone. Talk to your friends and family, meditate or exercise. You’ll notice a world of difference. If you’re short on time, focus on exercise. It usually has the most immediate effect on stress.

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