You may have put a lot of work into losing weight and getting fit but somehow that stomach fat just will not go away. You must be doing something wrong, but what is it?
You may have been eating a healthy diet and working at a walking for weight loss program, or some other kind of exercise. You have lost some weight and are feeling a lot fitter but still have fat around your middle. This is a common problem and is not always easy to resolve. But you must try because it can affect your health. Scientists writing in the imaginatively named ‘Thorax’ journal tell us that being even ‘modestly overweight’ can increase the risk of asthma. This applies particularly to women. There are many other illnesses, applicable to both sexes, associated with being overweight.
What can you do about it? If you need to lose weight and are not fully succeeding you must be doing one of three things wrong. Either taking in too many calories, doing too little exercise, or both.
We can list what is needed:
Cut down on calories. You need carbohydrates but some are good and some are bad. Refined flours like white bread, pasta, doughnuts, cakes and biscuits are all bad. Good carbohydrates are fresh fruits and vegetables, oats, brown rice and sweet potatoes. Wholemeal bread is good. Make sure you are not eating fatty foods, stick to lean meat and fish. Don’t eat a lot of pasta. Avoid junk food.
Cut down on alcohol. As well as sugar alcohol contains a lot of calories and is best avoided. There is no need to cut it out completely, but drink in moderation and that means just a daily glass of wine or beer with a meal.
Consume less sugar. The sugar and refined carbohydrates found in junk food such as fizzy drinks, sweets, cookies, and crisps is a big producer of excess fat. Cut it out.
Exercise daily. A walking for weight loss program will help, as will abdominal exercises. The real enthusiasts recommend a weight lifting regime. This will depend on your age. For older people light weights are an option, but I would suggest increasing your walking for weight loss program first, as it is more gentle exercise. If you would then like to use weights be all means do so.
No late snacks. Do not snack before going to bed. You will have no time to burn it off and just put on fat while you sleep.
If you still have stomach fat after your best efforts consider these suggestions. It may be that you are just not doing quite enough. It may be that you have not been doing your weight loss program long enough. Crash diets for losing weight fast seldom work. You trick your body into adopting ‘starvation protection’ mode which releases cortical, a hormone telling you to store fat, particularly around your stomach area. To your amazement you eat less and your body weight stays the same or even goes up.
So take things slowly, think long term weight loss and you really will be slim and fit one day.
How Easy is Walking to Lose weight?
Walking is one of the best ways of losing weight. But it may be hard to lose all the weight you need just by walking.
Does Biking to Lose Weight Work?
Biking is one of the best ways to lose weight. You can do it solo or with family and friends. Cycle an hour each day and lose a pound a week.
How Walking Helps Senior Fitness
Older people do not have to be unfit. Simple exercise and a healthy diet can work wonders. But it all starts with motivation.
