Thursday, January 29, 2009

Simple Tips to Burn Belly Fat

By Ricardo d Argence

This time of year, everyone is resolving to lose weight especially those who have amassed a great deal of it around their waist. Belly fat is the bane of many a person's existence, it is stubborn and unsightly and seems like it will take an act of congress to remove it. The first step to take when wanting to burn belly fat is to understand what it is and why it is there, think of it as a know your enemy strategy.

The belly, for some people, is the first place that the fat will be stored. The fat around the midsection is the accumulation of visceral fat. People with this problem are commonly referred to as having an "apple" shape.

The big problem with belly fat is that it grows in the area of vital organs. Whereas most of the other types are just under the skin or are places between skeletal muscles.

Along with being, unattractive belly fat has been associated with serious health risks, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, or insulin resistance. Therefore, it is imperative to that a person take belly fat seriously.

There are many causes of belly fat accumulation. Check out the list below to see where you fall:

Menopause- Women tend to go through many changes during this period of their life. Weight gain is one of them and unfortunately, the belly tends to be its favorite place to store. Genetics- Look around at the people in your family that are overweight. Where do they tend to store the most fat? If it is around the midsection, you could have a genetic predisposition to belly fat. Habits- Poor eating habits are another common cause of belly fat.

Getting rid of the junk food makes sense. Prime suspects in weight gain, are high calorie foods that have little, if any, nutritional values. Some other foods you should avoid are:

Alcohol is a big no-no if you are trying to lose belly fat; it is high in sugar and works to slow down the metabolism.

Focus on whole grain, fruit, vegetables and proteins rather than sugar and carbs. For example instead of a bowl of sugary cereal for breakfast, you could consider this sample breakfast:

2 poached eggs or bowl of oatmeal, small glass of orange juice, fruit of your choice and a whole grain toast.

No discussion on weight loss would be complete without stressing the importance of regular exercise. Even 15 minutes a day walking at a brisk pace will show dramatic results.

The worst thing you can do for your body is to introduce pills and weight loss drugs. Most do not work and those that have any affect depend on harsh chemicals that increase heart rate or worse. The best plan is a balanced diet and simple exercise. - 15485

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