Lots of women who set out to lose weight set their sights on a flatter stomach.
But if you don't have a plan of attack to specifically target belly fat, your diet and workout plan could be all for nothing.
So before you embark on your next belly-fat eliminating mission, here are a few things you need to know.
Research from
the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis suggests that
people with a lot of fat around their waist have an increased risk of
chronic issues like heart disease and Type 2 diabetes
That's because unlike subcutaneous fat, which hangs out directly
under the skin, belly fat (a.k.a. visceral fat) hangs in and around your
vital organs, says Albert Matheny, R.D., C.S.C.S., a registered
dietitian and trainer with SoHo Strength Lab in New York City. That goes for women who are at an otherwise "healthy" weight, too.
Your first order of business: Check your waist circumference. In
women, measurements of 35 inches and greater are associated with a
significant increase for chronic disease.
If you're reading this, chances are you
didn't win the genetic lottery—at least not when it comes to belly fat.
Actually, 2013 research published in the journal Human Molecular Genetics, suggests
that there are five different genes that play into the amount of fat
you store around your middle. Womp. Before you get super bummed though,
remember that genetics influence only your susceptibility to a large
waistline. It's your lifestyle that ultimately runs the show.
Still it's important to stay realistic when going after belly fat, says Georgie Fear, R.D., author of Lean Habits for Lifelong Weight Loss. If healthy nutrition, targeted exercise,
and stress management (we'll hit how to optimize all three below) don't
make your abs looked Photoshopped, that's okay. (Get the secret to
banishing belly bulge from WH readers who've done it with Take It All Off! Keep It All Off!)
Losing belly fat all comes down to muscle,
which keeps your metabolic rate high and improves insulin sensitivity to
prohibit fat from globbing onto your middle, Matheny says. In fact, a
2015 Harvard School of Public Health study of 10,500 adults shows that strength training fights belly fat better than cardio. Shoot for at least three to four days of strength training per week.
While lifting weights is bomb for fat loss, you can get the biggest benefits by combining regular strength exercises with a protein-rich diet. One study from McMaster University found
that women who get 30 percent of their daily calories from protein lose
twice as much belly fat as women who follow low-protein diets. With
that in mind, aim to eat between 25 and 30 grams of protein—about the
equivalent of half a chicken breast—at every meal.
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Alyssa Zolna
Even if you're already getting the right
amount of macronutrients (like carbs and protein), you can't discount
the importance of getting them from quality sources—meaning whole foods.
Many processed foods are
lacking in fiber and filled with chemicals that can throw off hormone
levels and how your body stores fat, says Fear. Whole, quality foods
such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and grass-fed beef supply your
body with the vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that keep belly fat
off.
Constantly elevated levels of the stress
hormone cortisol don't just promote fat retention, they send it straight
to your stomach, Matheny says. And that goes for mental and physical.
Common stressors that stand in the way of your fat-torching goals include too much exercise (if
your workouts have plateaued, you might need to schedule some more
rest), crazy workloads, and lack of sleep. In fact, research from Wake Forest University shows
that getting five hours or less of shut-eye per night is tightly linked
with increased visceral fat. Aim to get seven to nine hours a night and
schedule some deep-breathing between meetings to slash stress and work
towards your belly goals.
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