If you want to lose belly fat, say many experts, you will need to reduce the amount of stress in your life.  Reports from medical experts are clear that high levels of stress can add significantly to the accumulation of fat around your belly, which can in turn pose a variety of health risks.

Stress in your life, especially when the stress is prolonged, causes the body to produce higher levels of cortisol, a hormone generated by the adrenal glands.  This hormone is important for many bodily functions, including stabilizing blood pressure and maintaining proper metabolism, but when too much of it is produced it can become harmful, triggering a response that affects every tissue and organ system in the body.

When cortisol levels are elevated due to stress, a person attempting to lose belly fat will begin to feel an increased appetite for carbohydrates and fatty foods.  These are considered by experts to be the fuel necessary to feed the stress in one’s life, and when these substances begin to accumulate they can lead to unsightly weight gain in the midsection. 

When stress occurs, and elevated levels of cortisol are produced, it becomes very difficult to refrain from overeating.  The increased amount of this hormone will leave a person feeling perpetually hungry, and at times this hunger will feel insatiable.  Unfortunately, these extra calories, when not burned off, will invariably be stored deep inside the body in the area that surrounds the organs.  This belly fat, or visceral fat, because of its deep layering, then becomes very difficult to lose.

 High levels of stress, which in turn leads to an accumulation of belly fat, can precipitate a variety of unwanted and harmful health conditions.  Heart disease, hypertension, diabetes and even cancer have direct links to elevated stress and belly fat, so managing this stress for the overall health of the body is crucial.

There are a variety of techniques that can be used to lower stress and the subsequent cortisol it produces.  Meditation, yoga and other relaxation methods are very effective for this purpose, but perhaps the most important and simple direction one can take is the implementation of an exercise program that targets these results.  A consistent cardiovascular regiment, such as walking or jogging for thirty to sixty minutes each day, can help burn off those deep levels of belly fat and reduce the amount of cortisol production.

We have long known that stress can be toxic to the mind, but as time passes we are beginning to see the effects it can have on the body as well.  Learning to manage this stress will help you lose that unwelcome belly fat and significantly reduce your risk of disease.

The trick to any weight loss plan, especially one that targets belly fat is to burn up more calories than you consume.  Excess weight that is not properly burned off can quickly turn into unsightly belly fat and these excesses can be a nightmare to get rid of.  All the sit-ups and crunches in the world are not nearly as effective in helping you lose belly fat as regular cardiovascular exercise, but while this may sound simple enough, many people have difficulty sticking to a routine.  Unfortunately, consistency in your cardiovascular workout is the most important factor.  So the trick is not just finding a plan that will work on that stubborn belly fat, but finding one you can commit to for the long term.

 
When choosing a cardio routine to lose belly fat take certain care to select one you enjoy.  Many people are great “right of the gate,” working out for an hour or more with high-intensity training , but most will burn out after a few weeks—or even a few days—and discontinue their plan.  This can do more harm than good, as it may preclude them from initiating further workouts down the road.  Start slow with your belly fat routine, maybe 30 minutes each day and gradually work up to a more intense workout when your body has grown accustomed to regular exercise.

 
If variety is important to you—as it is for most—vary the types of exercises you perform.  For example, you can spend 10 minutes on the stationary bike, followed by another 10 on the elliptical and wrap it up on the treadmill.  There is no definite right or wrong way to lose belly fat with cardio training.  Any activity which raises your heart rate and gets you moving will help burn off those unwanted calories  and attack the unsightly fat around your midsection.

 
If the gym is either not desirable or accessible, don’t let that serve as an excuse.  There are scores ofcardio routines that can be performed without ever stepping into one.  In fact, you don’t even have to call them “routines.”  Take a jog in the park everyday or a regular walk in the woods.  Go for a swim or skip with the jump rope.  It really doesn’t matter as long as you do it consistently. 

 
Don’t be fooled by gadgets, diets and promises, offering a quick fix to lose belly fat.  You’ll only be disappointed.  The only effective way to target those unwanted pounds and shrink your waist is a healthy well-balanced diet and regular, consistent exercise.

 Although getting rid of belly fat may be difficult, the task is in no way a hopeless endeavor.  There are things you can do immediately to take a step towards a flatter midsection—things that can help improve your health as well.  Below are four simple tips for making belly fat a thing of the past.

 
Watch your Carbohydrates
 Many diet plans want you to believe that all carbohydrates are bad for your health and promote weight gain.  This advice is a bit misleading and not entirely factual.  Your body needs carbohydrates for energy, and while some of these may be detrimental to your health, there are others that are quite good for you.  These “good” carbohydrates, often referred to as complex carbohydrates, include pasta, rice, fruit and whole grains and are a vital component of  a well-balanced diet that also promote good general health. 

 
Simple sugars, however, are not very good for your weight (including belly fat) or your health.  Made mostly from refined flour these carbohydrates break down quickly and can be rapidly turned to fat if they are not burned off.  White bread and processed junk foods like cookies, cakes, candy and chips fall into this category and are aptly referred to as “bad” carbohydrates.  Try to consume these foods in moderation or avoid them altogether.

 
Nothing to Eat After 8:00
 A good rule to follow when targeting unwanted belly fat is to avoid eating late at night.  This includes any type of food, save water, in the three hours directly preceding your bed time.  Eating late does not give the body enough time to burn off the calories you consume, and overnight the body will convert them to fat instead.

 Avoid or Reduce Alcohol Consumption
 Alcohol is high in calories, so it follows naturally that avoiding it altogether will greatly aid the war against belly fat. Diet and exercise are great, but if you regularly consume more than three alcoholic beverages a day, all your other efforts may be ineffective.

 Exercise
 To maintain a healthy weight, the formula is rather elementary:  When you burn off more calories than you consume, you’ll lose weight.  It really is that simple.  Regular cardiovascular exercise—at least 30-60 minutes each day—is by far your best weapon against belly fat.

Belly fat is not the same as other types of fat in the body.  Also known as abdominal obesity or central obesity, belly fat is the accumulation of visceral fat around the core of the body and is responsible for the ever-rising increases in waist size.  Visceral fat, as opposed to subcutaneous fat which is found under the skin or intramuscular fat which is interspersed throughout the skeletal muscle, is fat which is accumulated between the internal organs of the body.  Due to its deep layering, this visceral belly fat can be particularly troublesome.  Not only is it hard to attack, but too much of its accumulation can pose a variety of health risks, most notably heart disease and diabetes.

When people have too much of this visceral belly fat, they may begin to develop a pear shape, sometimes referred to as a beer belly or pot belly.  There is, however, little evidence that suggests beer drinkers are any more prone to belly fat than the general population. 

Men, more than women, are particularly prone to this odd shaping that belly fat causes.  Due to differences in sex hormones, men tend to store more fat in the belly, while women initially store the same type of fat in the hips, legs and buttocks. 

Many believe that exercises that specifically target the abdomen will help win the war against belly fat, but this is not necessarily true.  Exercises such as sit-ups and crunches, while valuable as a cardiovascular routine and a way to train the muscles in the abdomen, have little or no effect on the visceral fat around the middle.  This doesn’t mean that all hope is completely lost.  Regular aerobic exercise and a healthy diet can both prevent and reverse the condition of belly fat.  While it may be difficult initially, a consistent program that combines both of these methods will eventually prove effective.

Learn how to get rid of that belly fat here !!!

To lose the fat around your belly you need to stick with it. No matter what happens in your life you need to consistently make good choices when it comes to food. You must find time to squeeze in some type of physical activity. This is the only way to shrink those bellies!

To lose the fat around your belly eating right and exercising must become priorities. You need to have a plan of how you will be healthy on a daily basis. The plan needs to include things such as being prepared. Before you go food shopping have a plan and a list to avoid last minute purchases of unhealthy foods. Before you go on a road trip have a plan and be prepared. Bring healthy snacks or plan stops that allow you to walk off those calories.

A lifestyle change is often necessary to lose the weight and keep it off. Let’s take beer as an example. If your lifestyle included getting together with friends and drinking beer together a few nights a week chances are you will never reach your fitness goals due to its high amount of empty calories. You may need to find a different activity for socializing. Instead of going to the pub join a baseball team or find a walking partner in your neighborhood. If your idea of a good time is an ice cream binge with the ladies then try to find another activity you will all enjoy but that doesn’t have calorie consequences.

Some experts say to take a fiber supplement. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, or take a daily fibre supplement to promote digestive health and get rid of abdominal bloating.If you reduce calories and exercise more, you will lose weight everywhere — including your belly.

The second part of the plan is managing how and when to move your body. This is the fun part because there are many ways to keep your abdominal active without doing hundreds of boring crunches. You can take up belly dancing or salsa dancing. Both are excellent ways to tighten up your abs and have a great time at the same time. Yoga or Pilates is another relaxing but challenging way that not only strengthens your core but buffs up your whole body as well.

Having a great plan is half the battle. But the real work begins in implementing your plan. You may have the best meal planner in the world and the most interesting and exciting workout routine but if you can’t follow them you will not be successful in your quest to lose belly fat. What you need is accountability and visibility. One way to see how well you are doing is to chart your progress somewhere you will see it. The refrigerator door or the bathroom mirror may be good visual spots to hang your goals, schedules etc.
Another way to make sure you lose that belly fat is to get a support group together.

They can be part of the lose belly fat challenge and you can even have a competition. Or you can just enlist the most important people in your life to give you support in your quest to eat healthier and keep active. Get all the help you can get it so when you go out with your friends they support you in your healthy choices and you don’t feel like an outcast.

Great tips to lose belly fat include everything from routine to psychology.

Don’t Eat Late at Night

• Eating close to your bed time does not help lose belly weight. When you eat and then sleep your body is still able to digest and process the food when you are sleeping but other factors come into play such as portion sizes — waiting to eat could lead to consuming larger portion sizes. Also quality of food — after a long day of work or school, a few slices of pizza or a fast burger may seem easier than steamed vegetables and broiled fish. Late at night is also a great time for “Mindless snacking” — evenings spent studying, out on the town, or watching TV may lead to excess calories from fast, sugary, on-the-go options

Practice Great Posture

• This is the best one you can actually appear to have less belly fat just by having a great posture. Try it in front of a mirror. Throw your shoulders back, stand up nice and tall and notice the difference.

Reduce Your Stress

• Stress is not a good thing any way you look at it; psychologically, physically and emotionally. In terms of belly fat it is especially lethal. Despite eating the right foods and exercising if you are stressed your body will release a hormone called cortisol that leads to belly fat.

Drink Lots of Water

• You cannot drink too much water. Water is not only a critical part of a good diet but also essential when it comes to combating bloating. Drink plenty of water. Drink at least eight to 10 glasses a day to lose belly fat. Water flushes excess sodium, sugar and fluids from your body.

Stop the Binge

• No one is perfect. After working hard to eat the right thing we all want to indulge from time to time. There is nothing wrong with indulging life is meant to be enjoyed after all. But be careful of how big your binges are and how often you are binging. All your hard work can quickly do down the drain in minutes if you stuff that chocolate cake down your mouth.

Eat 5 to 6 times a day for losing belly fat fast. It may sound like a dream come true to food lovers out there but it’s not exactly. Although you may be excited about eating more often the catch is that you need to eat controlled portions 5 to 6 times a day.

You have to eat minor portions more often. A lot of people believe that eating fewer times in a day would make them slimmer. But it doesn’t work that way unfortunately or fortunately depending on how you look at it. When you eat only about 3 times a day, you will tend to overdo when you ultimately get to eat. Binging is one of the worst things you can do if you want to lose belly fat fast.

Eating 5 to 6 times a day prevents you from overeating as a consequence of missed meals. It also boosts your metabolism due to the blazing effect of the foods you eat. Even though you are eating 5 to 6 minor meals a day, it is important to eat the most during the start of the day and eat less as the day comes to an end.

To avoid binging if you are on the move or on the road always be prepared so that you are not forced to make unhealthy choices. Always have some healthy snack on you, in your car or in your bag. Hunger is the enemy it is not your friend. When you are hungry you are not losing weigh in fact your body is storing fat and building up for a binge the next time food appears. Having a small healthy snack in between meals prevents spontaneous junk food purchases.

Control your food, make good choices and stay active. With that combination losing belly fat becomes a no brainier.

Fried foods
It’s quite obvious why fried foods have made it to the top of this list. Fried foods are unhealthy and heavily saturated with fat when drowned in oil. Many dieters will try to consume fried foods in “moderation,” but there’s still a possibility of weight gain even if these foods are consumed in morsels. Examples of fried foods are: French fries, corn dogs and crispy chicken.

Sugary foods
Sugar is a big one. The sugar found in junk food and soda is the kind of sugar that burns quickly, unlike those sugars found in fruits and vegetables, which burn more slowly. If your body is processing sugar to create energy, and you’re not using any energy, those sugars will be converted into fat for later use. If you’re going to enjoy sweets, enjoy them right before you use the Stair Master.

Sodium
According to the N.A.S., the average woman needs only 500 milligrams of sodium a day. Most of us get more than six times that, or 3,000-6,000 milligrams per day. The consequence of all this sodium — most of which is consumed as salt and preservatives in processed foods, fast foods and restaurant foods — isn’t pretty for your abs. That’s because where sodium goes, water follows.

Saturated Fat
You need to limit your intake of saturated fats — found in foods such as red meat, cream, and butter — to less than 10 percent of your diet. Foods such as fish, olive oil, avocado, and walnuts are great sources of unsaturated fats, which can work to lower your levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, the “bad” kind.

Flour heavy foods
When on a diet, stay far away from foods that are white or beige, because they often contain lots of white flour. Foods that contain flour may seem like a “safe” food, but it’s on the list of foods that cause belly fat for a reason. Due to white flour’s easy digestibility, your body immediately processes the flour and converts it to glucose. And as you may know, glucose is sugar. Examples of foods that contain lots of white flour are: Waffles, pancakes, pizza and bread.

The Bicycle exercise is the best move to target the ’six pack’ and the waist, according to a study done by the American Council on Exercise. To do this exercise correctly:
1. Lie face up on the floor and lace your fingers behind your head.
2. Bring the knees in towards the chest and lift the shoulder blades off the ground without pulling on the neck.
3. Straighten the left leg out while simultaneously turning the upper body to the right, bringing the left elbow towards the right knee.
4. Switch sides, bringing the right elbow towards the left knee.
5. Continue alternating sides in a ‘pedaling’ motion for 12-16 reps.

The exercise ball is an excellent tool to strengthen the abs and for working the ’six pack’.To do it right:
1. Lie face-up with the ball resting under your mid/lower back.
2. Cross your arms over the chest or place them behind your head.
3. Contract your abs to lift your torso off the ball, pulling the bottom of your ribcage down toward your hips.
4. As you curl up, keep the ball stable (i.e., you shouldn’t roll).
5. Lower back down, getting a stretch in the abs, and repeat for 12-16 reps.

The vertical leg crunch is another effective move to lose belly fat especially for the ’six pack’ area and the obliques. To do it correctly:
1. Lie face up on the floor and extend the legs straight up with knees crossed.
2. Contract the abs to lift the shoulder blades off the floor, as though reaching your chest towards your feet.
3. Keep the legs in a fixed position and imagine bringing your belly button towards your spine at the top of the movement.
4. Lower and repeat for 12-16 reps.

The plank exercise is a great way to build endurance in the abs and back, as well as stabilizer muscles. To do it right:
1. Lie face down on mat resting on the forearms, palms flat on the floor.
2. Push off the floor, raising up onto toes and resting on the elbows.
3. Keep your back flat, in a straight line from head to heels.
4. Tilt your pelvis and contract your abdominal to prevent your rear end from sticking up in the air.
5. Hold for 20 to 60 seconds, lower and repeat for 3-5 reps.