Why You’re Not Losing Belly Fat Even Though You Exercise

How Come You’re Not Losing Belly Fat?

Belly fat is probably the most common complaint people have about their bodies. Are you frustrated because you feel like you’ve been doing everything right, but you’re still not losing belly fat? Maybe you’re eating healthy foods and going to the gym, but the change in diet and exercise isn’t making your mid-section smaller.

You probably feel defeated and unsure of what you’re doing wrong or what to do next. If this nightmare sounds familiar, let’s look at the reasons why you’re not losing belly fat even though you exercise.

Free Download: Why You Can't Shift Your Belly Fat

How Come I’m Not Losing Belly Fat?

The first thing you need to know is that belly fat is just fat. There’s no special way to target it that differs from other fat. It has no mystical powers and holds no power over you. It can be stubborn, as you may know, but it helps to know what you’re doing wrong.

Can Exercise Alone Banish Belly Fat?

When trying to get rid of belly fat, many people buy a gym membership and start working out by doing plenty of stomach-focused exercises. They believe that hundreds of crunches each day will be able to get rid of their belly fat in a matter of weeks, however, this is certainly not the case.

You can’t do targeted exercises and expect the fat to drop off that particular part of your body. This is why people become discouraged when they have been doing stomach exercises for weeks but haven’t noticed a significant difference in their belly size. As you exercise, you will be toning certain parts of your body, but the muscles will become toned underneath the layer of fat. Only once this fat has been shed will you see the results of your intense stomach workouts!

Exercise Is Only One Piece Of The Puzzle

Exercise does burn calories, but the only way to lose fat of any kind is to use more calories than you take in. This is called a calorie deficit. At rest, your body burns a certain number of calories based on your weight, height, muscle mass and other factors. Movement burns even more calories, and the more you move, the more calories you burn. The question is, are you burning more calories than you take in?

Your diet plays a massive part in how much weight you gain or lose, so you should be first thinking about changing your habits in the kitchen before trying to create a new regime in the gym. Cut down on carbohydrates and fill your plate with vegetables. Drink plenty of water and aim to get your five portions of fruit and vegetables per day.

How Many Calories Are You Eating?

If you’re eating healthy foods, then that’s a great start, but it doesn’t let you know if you’re eating fewer calories than you’re using. The only way to be sure is to accurately track calories that you eat, and then adjust as needed. You’ll know when you’re taking in the right amount of calories when you consistently lose 1 to 2 pounds per week on average. This is a healthy range for weight loss.

Stress

Stress could also be a reason you’re not losing  belly fat. Cortisol is a hormone that’s released into the body to help turn sugar into energy. Excess cortisol levels can be caused by too much stress, and it can lead to excess body fat storage. Lowering your cortisol levels can help you lose belly fat.

A lot of people gain weight in the first place due to stress-eating, and the overproduction of cortisol in the body encourages the fat to be stored around the belly rather than being evenly spread out around the whole body. This isn’t to say that stress is the only reason for the presence of belly fat.  In many cases it’s because of overeating, a lack of exercise or health issues such as hypothyroidism which cause rapid weight gain.

Don’t Give Up

If you’re already losing weight, and therefore losing fat, but you’re not losing belly fat specifically, then just keep going. We can’t control where we lose from. People lose weight in different places, and in different orders, but belly fat is often one of the last places fat is lost. There’s no way to target only belly fat, you can only do what it takes to lose fat, and then be patient.

Free Report: Why You Can’t Shift Your Belly Fat

Excess belly fat makes it difficult to find flattering clothes, and it can affect flexibility and mobility. It’s also unhealthy and significantly raises your chances of having health problems such as diabetes and heart disease. That’s the bad news. The good news is that it’s possible to lose belly fat even though you’re not having success right now. For more information, download my free report, Why You Can’t Shift Your Belly Fat.