Why is belly fat so difficult to get rid of? Can belly fat be spot-reduced? Can diet alone get rid of belly fat? Can abdominal exercises alone make fat around the belly go away? These are questions that are asked by millions wanting to be free of the unattractive fat around their middle. Belly fat can be gotten rid of but having a good understanding of what it is and how the body works can prevent a lot of frustration and failure when attempting to slim the gut.
What About All Those Products that Say They Eliminate Belly Fat?
One thing is abundantly clear. Products that claim to single out belly fat through a particular exercise or pill don't work. An indication of this can be noted in the small print that recommends one go on a diet and general exercise program while being on the product. It's the general exercise and diet that actually causes the fat loss. Unfortunately, people who continue ignoring their previous failures with these types of products and fool themselves into thinking that the next product will be the panacea, are wasting a lot of time when they could be doing what works even if it takes effort and time. It's the tortoise and the hare story all over again. The tortoise always wins.
Is it True That I Can Get My Body to Spot Reduce Belly Fat?
There's no such thing as spot reducing. The body burns fat all over and genetics has a lot to do with how an individual's body burns fat. For some people it seems that their upper body loses weight faster than their lower body. Some women lose weight in their breasts more rapidly than around their waist. There are also some general gender differences in how fat is lost. Women tend to hang on to fat around their thighs and hips. Men tend to find the same problem with their guts. It's a myth, however, that you can decide where you want to lose the fat and then come up with particular exercises that will do just that.
If I Can't Spot Reduce, How Do I Lose the Gut?
Belly fat is most successfully reduced through consistent aerobic exercise, muscle resistance exercise and a balanced diet. No surprise there but it truly is what works. Of course, as previously mentioned, the belly fat is being lost along with other fat around the body. It's general fat loss.
So How Do I Start to Lose Belly Fat?
It's definitely possible to lose belly fat. What a person has to understand is that in order to lose it and do it permanently, you have to do the following:
- Accept the reality of how the body works and how fat is burned.
- Surrender to the fact that there is no such thing as spot reducing no matter what anyone tells you.
- Look at your body as a whole - striving for overall fat reduction and muscle toning.
- Start a frequent (at least five days per week) aerobic exercise plan of your choice to burn fat all over.
- Start a muscle building and toning exercise program that you will do two to three days per week which will work on building muscle overall for more fat burning and to tone abdominal muscles.
- Finally, you have to make your exercise program a priority and keep it fun.
By embracing the realities of belly fat and being willing to be the tortoise who consistently works even if it's at a slower pace than everyone else, the race will be won but permanently.
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