What Exactly Is Belly Fat?
In some countries in particular SE Asian countries, also Fiji, Solomon Islands etc. it is seen as attractive to be overweight especially if you are a male. It's recognized as a symbol of affluence.
It is of course a cultural thing but as we all know carrying excess belly fat is bad for our health.
Belly Fat or Visceral Fat is the fat that is stored in the stomach area that surrounds internal organs.In particular the pancreas, liver & intestines. Belly Fat is sometimes referred to as ''active fat''
Why Is Excess Belly Fat Dangerous To Our Health?
There are two factors, what I call the outside view & the inside view. In other words what we can see & feel & what we cannot.
The outside view which we can see:
We don't feel attractive, clothes that fitted 6 months ago are now too tight. We might experience loss of self esteem or maybe out of breath after a short walk or climbing the stairs
The inside view what we cannot see:
Carrying excess visceral fat or belly fat has been linked to glucose intolerance which can result in Type 2 Diabetes.It is also linked to Heart Disease, Colorectal Cancers & Breast Cancers.
There is also evidence to suggest that excess belly fat can lead to Alzheimer's Disease. These are the things we cannot see without professional help.
How Do I know If I Have Excess Belly Fat?
We all know that as we get older we gain weight more easily as our metabolism slows down, that's normal!
When we are young especially in our teens we are running
around, more active so the calories are burned off naturally.
As we get older the fact is we don't take enough exercise & we tend stay at home more.
Most of us have busy jobs so we tend to '' eat on the run'' then have a big meal late in the evening.
Is your belt getting a bit tighter? Does your stomach always look or feel bloated?
Stand in front of a mirror wearing a shirt or t-shirt, side on view. Do you look like you are pregnant? (this applies to guys too)
Those are the free methods but the best way is to visit your local GP or doctor.
You could also get an MRI scan (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) This will scan the entire stomach area & internal organs & show what fat is surrounding those organs.
An MRI is an expensive procedure & would of course require a referral from your doctor.
I'm not suggesting you rush off to do this, it's just an option.
First Consult A Trained Medical Professional Before Commencing Weight Loss Programs
There are many factors to take into consideration when attempting weight loss or belly fat loss.
Factors such as your age, gender, current weight, height, hormonal issues & also if you have any pre-existing medical conditions.
There are thousands of weight loss diets & programs out there but which one is best for you?
The best way to lose weight is to eat small portions of the right food often (5-6 times daily) & do some exercise.
Yes that's a very simplistic view but it happens to be true.
There is No ''One Size Fits All'' When You Want To Lose Weight Or Belly Fat.
There are some good generic low impact weight loss programs out there that anyone can use.
In the end there are only 2 natural ways to lose weight, diet & exercise.
There are literally thousands of weight loss diets & exercises out there so it's impossible to recommend one over another.
Losing weight is a mind set, it means going outside your comfort zone & changing a few habits.
Learn More Below On How To Lose Fat Fast!
With Weight Loss Reduction, It's important to Maintain Strength
Attempting to lose a lot of weight fast is not healthy or normal. You need a good weight loss program where you can lose weight gradually.
While you definitely want to lose fat you don't want to loose muscle or muscle tone.
Cut out too many calories too quickly & you will likely end up feeling weak & fatigued.
It is really important to combine a good nutritional ''weight loss diet'' with some strength training exercises.
You Need To Maintain Your Muscle Strength While You Lose Weight
Studies have shown that normal cardio exercise like cycling, walking, running, jogging swimming etc do work.
You will lose approx 30% of fat but muscle loss can be as high as 70%
By doing muscle building exercise the ratio is reversed. You will burn more fat without the muscle loss.
Have you ever noticed these guys & girls in the gym?
The ones with the perfectly toned muscles & abs.
The reason is the fat around those muscles & abs has disappeared making them more pronounced.
I'm not suggesting you rush off to your local gym & start a strenuous muscle building program.
My point here is that combining some low impact muscle building exercises is a great way to burn fat fast.
