Belly fat is often the weight we most want to get rid of, but the hardest to shift. You can eat a healthy diet and exercise every day for weeks, and still be left with stubborn belly fat that just doesn’t want to go away. Along with being the most stubborn, fat around the midriff can also be the most dangerous since it’s also made up of visceral fat lying deeper in the abdomen underneath your muscle and surrounding your internal organs. The first thing to understand is that there’s no ‘quick fix’ supplement or exercise aid that you can use to get rid of all your belly fat; it must be done with a combination of a healthy, balanced diet and varied exercise. We’ve listed some of the best ways to get rid of excess belly fat.

#1. Eat Less Calories:

The best way to lose weight is to consume less calories and do more exercise. However, be careful when it comes to counting calories – if your intake is too low, then you’ll run the risk of damaging your metabolism and making it harder for you to lose weight. You may find it useful to use a calorie-counting app or wearable such as a Fitbit which tracks your activity levels and adjusts how many calories you will need accordingly.

#2. Get More Protein:

It’s not just important to think about the calories that you’re consuming, but also how you are getting them. You should also focus on the type of nutrients that you’re getting from your diet. You should aim to increase the amount of protein that you eat whilst limiting simple carbohydrates that are usually found in starchy foods such as white pasta, rice and bread or potato chips and fries. Instead, drink more protein shakes and include a moderate amount of protein-rich foods in your diet such as lean meat, beans and legumes, and unsalted nuts.

#3. Do More Cardio:

One of the biggest misconceptions about losing belly fat is that increasing the number of sit-ups, crunches and planks you do is the best strategy. Although doing abdominal strengthening exercises in the gym can certainly help you to tone up and gain core strength, it’s important to incorporate a wide variety of exercise types into your routine to get the best results. Strength training is important, but don’t skip out on cardiovascular exercise, which gets your heart rate pumping and speeds up your metabolism. High intensity interval training is a great choice since it keeps you moving and causes your body to continue burning fat long after you finish your workout. See Workoutbox.com for more tips and exercise ideas.

#4. Get Enough Sleep:

Lastly, be aware that there’s a proven link between lack of sleep and obesity, so make sure you are getting at least 6-8 hours of rest each night. When you’re deprived of sleep, your body increases its production of a hormone known as ghrelin, which stimulates your appetite and makes you crave calorie-dense foods.

Did you find this information useful? We’d love to hear from you in the comments.