Being a big concern to many, exercises to lose belly fat is a hot topic. There are all kinds of advice circulating. Weight gain sometimes centers in the abdominal area. It is also the hardest fat to take off, it seems. You can do something about it, though. Diet restrictions combined with certain exercises can work wonders.
This concern cannot be treated as a localized issue. Fat all over the body needs to be addressed in order to get rid of this abdominal fat. A combination of cardio and toning must be used. Neither type exercise by itself will work.
The main thing that makes this approach work is being consistent. You cannot focus on it in an off and on manner. Targeting strengthening and ignoring cardio is not effective. Both have to be address on a regular basis. Do the cardio daily, and do strengthening exercises on the average of three to four times a week.
Though they appear to work, strengthening activities only firm the muscles, making you look better. Some calories will be burned in doing them, but not many. They only tone and strengthen the muscles; fat loss is due to calorie burning.
One cause of fat accumulation is an excess of refined carbohydrates. This can cause insulin resistance, which in turn leads to more fat accumulation. It becomes a cycle which may end up in full blown diabetes. Excess abdominal fat is one indicator of the possibility of developing diabetes.
Continuing to eat refined carbs, plus only working on strengthening, does not do much for the abdominal area. They each work in part, but must be combined to work effectively. There needs to be a combination of cardio and toning activities.
One good cardio exercise is walking. It does not put undue stress on joints or the body as a whole. It can be adjusted to the fitness level, and can be increased in time and intensity as fitness improves, which it will, with even just a short easy walk daily. Almost anyone can walk, and it can even be done indoors at malls or on treadmills, or simply walking in place during bad weather. Even when sick, a short easy walk can be done without much effort.
Jumping Jacks are an excellent cardio workout, and if modified ones are used, can be done by almost anyone. To do the full Jumping Jack, jump up, spreading legs as you rise, and clap your hands over your head when at the top of the jump. Bring legs back to starting position and slap the thigh at the end of the jump. A modified version is to just use one leg and one arm on each stroke.
Though these cardio activities are important, toning is also important to strengthen the muscles in the abdominal area. There are a huge number of activities touted as ridding you of belly fat. Though they alone do not work on just this fat, and though they do not really work on fat, but muscle, they are still helpful for both toning and making you look nicer. Combining them with cardio activities will be effective.
Exercising can include crunches, sit-ups, some Yoga poses, and any exercise that uses the legs, such as working the legs as if bicycling, doing leg lifts, the plank, and anything that cause the abdominal muscles to contract, and then be released in the resting phase, will tone this area. The contracting and relaxing of these muscles are what causes the toning and strengthening. These exercises to lose belly fat will make a huge difference in you looks and fitness if followed consistently.
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