A Simple Guide To Losing Belly Fat
Losing belly fat always ranks high on the list of weight loss targets for men and women 
of all ages. Many times, it seems to stubbornly refuse your best efforts at banishing it.
Even if you have tried and failed in the past, the following 10 tips on losing belly fat will have you burning off the flab, losing the love handles and discovering that the trim tummy look that you want is possible after all.
10 Steps To Losing Belly Fat In 2016
1. Fiber Fuels Belly Fat Burning
A high fiber diet regulates a healthy digestive system. This means you process fat instead of storing it. Eat nuts, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, seeds and fruits, aiming for 25grams (g) of fiber per day for women, 38 for men.
2. Drink More Water
A properly hydrated body keeps all of your internal systems working efficiently and plays an important part in losing belly fat. When your body is hydrated it means that you have a lower chance of storing fat and a healthy metabolism that burns fat and calories properly. Most health professionals and fitness experts agree 6 to 8 glasses of water a day is sufficient for proper hydration.
3. Exercise 3 to 5 Times Per Week For 20 minutes
If you’re serious about losing belly fat you do need to some exercise. But you don’t have to be at the gym for hours everyday. Moderate to intense exercise 3 to 5 times per week for 20 minutes is all you need to burn calories and fat, crank up your metabolism and begin building lean muscle mass. Muscle burns fat and calories quicker than fat does. Don’t worry, losing belly fat doesn’t mean that you have to develop a muscled bodybuilder physique. Just make sure that moderate to intense strength and aerobic training become a part of your weekly exercise regimen.
4. Cut Back On Salt
Limiting your sodium intake delivers a lot of health benefits. It can cut down on your risk of contracting heart disease, strokes and cancer. It also causes you to bloat, and is often in extremely high concentrations in processed, fatty food. Try not to eat more than 500mg of sodium per meal, aiming for no more than 1,600 to 2,200mg of sodium daily.
5. Beware of ‘Sugar-Free’ Foods and Drinks
Sugar-free foods and drinks typically contain artificial sweeteners that are not processed properly by your body and do not help towards losing belly fat. The chemical fats in these drinks and foods go straight to your belly, and can lead to a long list of cardiovascular and digestive problems. Avoid the misleading phrases sugar-free and fat-free, especially in highly processed foods that come in a wrapper, carton or box.
6. Cut Back on Alcohol
The term “beer belly” is not really accurate. It makes you think that drinking beer causes belly fat. That is just not the case. A glass of wine, an alcoholic beverage or a couple of beers 2 or 3 times a week will not promote weight gain. The problem is when several alcoholic drinks or beers are consumed in one sitting. Just like any other calories, beer calories add up quickly if you are not careful. A single beer has between 130 and 180 calories, so you can enjoy one now and then, but don’t overdo it.
7. Eat More Often
Believe it or not, the old “3 big meals a day” nutrition guideline is not a good diet to lose stomach fat. You burn more belly fat, and fat all over your body, when your metabolism is cranked up. This happens every time you eat. Accompany 3 main meals with sensible portions with 2 or 3 healthy snacks every day. Just do not overeat. Make sure that those 5 or 6 daily meals/snacks hit your target caloric intake, and your metabolism will be crunching calories and burning fat all day long.
8. Sleep 6 to 8 Hours Each Night
When you start the day tired you fill your coffee with sugar. You grab sweet, sugary, energy-boosting snacks and drinks throughout the day. That sugar gets stored as fat. Studies have shown that there is no “catching up” when you miss sleep either. So on your journey to losing belly fat, make sure you get plenty of rest each night.
9. Eat More Protein At Mealtimes
Getting 20 to 25g of protein each meal will help your belly diet. Aim for 10 to 20g of protein per snack as well. Those are good numbers for women, and men may want to add 5 or 10g of protein to those recommendations. Constant protein doses throughout the day keep your blood sugar balanced and insulin levels low, meaning that your body handles appetite control and fat loss properly.
10. Manage Your Stress
Losing belly fat is more challenging if you’re always stressed. Take steps to control and manage your stress. The cortisol which is released as a stress response can cause you to overeat, and even decreases your ability to lose fat in your belly and elsewhere on your body.
Yes, Losing Belly Fat Is Possible
The most effective belly fat diet is to eat a wide selection healthy and nutritious foods that allow you to have occasional treats. Of course, you also need to exercise regularly. Take a hard look at your diet and workout plan as well as your calorie-tracking system to ensure everything is on the right track. Take advantage of apps like My Food Diary. This highly-acclaimed food database contains over 100,000 foods to improve your diet and the exercise log can calculate calories burned for over 700 activities to help you achieve your weight loss goal.
