Most people want to lose weight fast, and loose those few extra inches around their waist. Crash diets never seem work, at least not permanently. While there are no quick fixes, there are some lifestyle changes you can make that can help flatten that spare tire around your waist. The following are a number of bad health habits you’ll want to eliminate from your routine to improve overall health, maintain weight loss, and lose the belly fat.
Eating Too Much Sugar. Your body converts what you eat into glucose, which is what your muscles use as fuel. Your body will burn energy processing food into glucose. Sugar is basically glucose – so your body uses very little energy converting the sugar you eat (i.e. fructose) into glucose. Most foods and drinks are sweet enough. So, eliminate soft drinks and table sugar, and increase the amount of water in your diet. And, watch out for fruit juices, as they are packed full of sugar. Doing so can decrease insulin resistance, and lower the amount of belly fat.
Drinking Too Much Beer. There’s a reason they call it “beer gut”. Beer is pretty much empty calories. And, when your liver is processing alcohol, it’s not burning fat. Plus…having a few beers while out may spike your appetite, causing you to eat more food (i.e. take in more calories) than you would otherwise. Try wine instead, or for every beer you drink, also have a glass of water. The water will help fill you up, causing you to drink less beer.
Eating while stressed. Many times, “comfort food” helps us feel better when we have had a stressful day. The problem is, we also have a tendency to eat more during those times. Additionally, your body releases the hormone cortisol when stressed, which can force your body to store what you’re eating as fat. Want a great way to reduce stress? Exercise! Exercise forces you to change your focus onto something else, and help you burn calories.
Not Enough Protein in Your Diet. Protein balances out your blood sugar level while keeping your metabolism up, as your body requires more energy to process protein than it does carbs or fats. And, you’ll feel fuller longer, so you’ll be less likely to “binge-eat”.
Lack of Exercise – this is a big one. There’s a simple rule for weight loss. Burn more calories than you eat. That’s oversimplifying things, but if you eat more than you burn, your body will back on those extra calories as fat. What’s bad about reducing calories below what your body is burning, is your body still needs nutrients. And, if your body needs more protein than you’re eating, your body will steal that protein from your muscles – even from your heart muscle. Even worse, your body will actually pack on more fat to protect itself, as when you loose muscle, you slow down your metabolism.
So, rather than reducing food, increase how much you are burning! Best way to do that? Exercise! Adding muscle not only will help you look better (muscle takes up less room than fat) – but it speeds up your metabolism, which burns….fat!!! Shoot for a moderate level 3-5 times per week – moderate meaning you can still carry on a conversation while in the middle of your workout.
Looking to get rid of your belly fat with more exercise? Fitness 4 Home Superstore carries a wide variety of exercise equipment, including treadmills, ellipticals, exercise bikes, strength equipment, and fitness accessories that can help you with your workout program. Visit one of our three Valley locations!
