It seems so simple. The key to how to lose belly fat is to simply eat less food energy than the body needs to run each day. But people and their lives are a lot more complicated. The busy and activity packed lifestyles of people today do not give them the time to spend hours in the gym and hours cooking nutritious meals.
Many people see a quick fix by drinking a couple of meal replacements each day. However, this is not a good idea. When a person consumes too few calories for several days in a row then their body assumes that food has become scarce. As a result muscle is broken down and energy requirements are reduced. This means that fat loss actually becomes slower and more difficult.
Another choice that people often make, thinking that it will be a good idea when it is actually a bad one, is to follow a fad diet plan. These typically concentrate on one of two foods, or try to eliminate whole food groups. These may work for a short while, a person get bored with the food choices available and so eats less. In the longer term a person is not supplying their body with all the nutrients that it need to work properly.
The healthy diet for someone who wants to achieve fat burning is the same as a healthy diet for most people – just less of it! This diet should be based on fresh fruits and fresh vegetables combined with whole grains. Small portions of nuts, dairy products, and lean proteins can then be added to round out meals, and simple sugars should be restricted as much as possible.
Weight training or resistance training is also very helpful for fat loss. Giving the muscles a significant work out will discourage the body from using them as a source of fuel. Weight training also causes a rise in the metabolism for some time after the exercise session is ended.
Cardiovascular work should also be done to help with fat loss. The best type of workout does not need to mean spending hours jogging. A far better way to do this is interval training. Many team sports are also good. This method involves spending a short amount of time working with as much intensity as can be managed, then spending another short time recovering but still working gently, this process is repeated a few times.
Another activity to consider is yoga. The mechanism by which this helps when losing fat is not yet fully understood (although plenty of people have a pet theory!). However, it can help, and in addition, it has further benefit in its ability to make a person look more attractive.
There are no magic pills or quick fixes when someone wants to know how to lose belly fat in a sustainable way. But following a good diet and exercise program will mean that fat loss is efficient and healthy.