The Internet is loaded with articles that give advice on how to lose belly fat fast. The majority of resources online, however, focuses on diet and exercise as a means to eliminate unwanted tummy fat. There is certainly nothing wrong with healthy diet and regular physical activity, but for people struggling to meet the challenges of a hectic work life, these tips aren’t easy to follow. For those of you who hardly have time to count calories and engage in regular workouts, below are some easy-to-follow tips that you can incorporate into your lifestyle to get rid of belly fat effectively.
Make ordinary exercises a part of your daily life
You don’t have to be at the gym everyday to lose belly fat fast. As a matter of fact, you can shed weight and burn off excess tummy fat without spending a single cent on gym fees. Simply get your body used to the idea of physical activity by choosing to use the stairs instead of the elevator, walking faster when doing household errands, or parking your vehicle a few blocks away from work.
Manage stress
Not too many people know this, but stress can add pounds to your weight and affect your belly size. In fact, even people who are dieting and exercising can keep hold of excess weight around their tummy because of stress. One of the reasons why tummy fat is so hard to eliminate is hormones, particularly cortisol.
Cortisol is a stress hormone that is essential for human survival. However, this hormone becomes counterproductive when secreted in large amounts. When you’re under constant stress, your body secretes excessive cortisol which, in turn, alters your metabolic functioning. Cortisol slows down your metabolism and fats aren’t burned efficiently even with exercise. If you can’t manage stress, you are also likely to crave for sugary foods such as chocolates, ice cream, potato chips, and the like. So, no matter how serious you are with diet and exercise, without stress management, you won’t get rid of belly fat.
Get enough sleep
Sleep has many benefits to the body. Aside of increased energy levels and overall improved health, sleep can help burn fat more effectively. Not getting enough sleep can slow down your metabolism and pack on pounds in your midsection. What is more, sleep deprivation can make you less energetic during the day.
Consequently, you will not be able to sustain any form of physical activity and your body will burn less calories. If you’re having a hard time sleeping, try reading a book at bedtime. You may also want to turn off all the lights as you go to bed as complete darkness has been found to be an effective strategy in inducing sleep. If you can, try to get rid of mobile phones, computers, TV, and radios in your bedroom. According to studies, the less electrical magnetic field you’re exposed to at nighttime, the better your mind and body rests.
Keeping up with the diet-exercise hype is extremely difficult for people who have so much work to do. But, busy people can still lose belly fat if they just know how to make healthy and sustainable modifications in lifestyle. If you’re struggling to reduce your calories through diet and exercise, simply keep the above tips in mind and make them a part of your everyday routine. Simply improving these three seemingly unimportant ways on how to lose belly fat can end years of frustration and help you finally shed that stubborn stomach fat that has been bothering you for many years.