How to Lose Belly Fat:
Five "Simple" Steps

“Should I buy the candy bar or read the article about how to lose belly fat?” you probably asked yourself as you pulled your stomach in and stood a little straighter.

Pass on the magazine. Please, take my advice, and pass on the magazine. Anything that claims to blast away your belly fat instantly is a waste of your money and your time. Belly fat is stubborn, no doubt, but you can lose it if you work hard at it.

Water and Weight Loss:

Believe it or not, a little water is just what the doctor ordered. The minimum recommendation is 64 oz. a day. Water is vital for your body to function properly. It protects and cushions vital organs, aids waste removal, helps to regulate body temperature, and is needed to convert food into energy.

Bottom line…you want your body to operate at its full potential and drinking plenty of water is necessary for this to happen. If you don’t like water, add a slice of lemon or lime to improve the taste. Your body will thank you for it.

Get Enough Sleep:

Researchers have discovered that not getting enough sleep has a direct impact on weight, by increasing the levels of a hunger hormone and reducing a hormone in your body that makes you feel full and satisfied. Make sure to get enough shut-eye each night. The recommended amount is 7-8 hours.

Stay Motivated:

Easier said than done, right? Staying motivated is an important tool for anything you want to accomplish and extremely important in the battle of the bulge. Weight Loss Motivation is the key element that will get you through the tough times…holidays, binges, plateaus, or almost anything that sidetracks you.

Okay, so how do people do it? How do they stay motivated? Many have reported that reading about other people’s successes have kept them on track. When my site becomes a bit more established, I will encourage my readers—you—to share their weight loss successes with me. I hope you’ll consider sharing what has worked for you.

Others have created something for themselves called a vision board which is nothing more than a collection of pictures, quotes, and inspirational snippets that can be looked at daily to serve as a visual reminder of weight loss and exercise milestones and goals.

I have a friend who tucks away $5.00 for every pound she loses. She plans to buy new clothes for herself when she reaches her goal weight…that’s what I call motivation. Find what works for you and stay motivated!

Eat Well:

One of the easiest ways to change how you eat is to replace unhealthy fat with healthy fat. This can be done by adding olive oil and sunflower oil, and removing butter, margarine, and vegetable oil from you diet.

Bulk up with foods that are high in fiber by including wheat flour, whole-wheat pasta, brown rice, and reduce your intake of white flour, white rice, and regular pasta whenever possible. You should consume 21-25 grams of fiber every day if you are a woman and 30-38 grams per day if you are man. Fruits, legumes, vegetables, nuts, and seeds are all rich in fiber as well, so make sure to include them in your daily diet.

Think color when it comes to fruits and vegetables. When you eat a variety of colors, it ensures that you are getting plenty of vitamins, minerals, and nutrients into your diet. Eat 5 to 9 servings of fruits and vegetables every day.

Lose belly fat by arming yourself with nutritional information. I highly recommend this gem of a book if you are counting fats, calories, and carbs. If you are familiar with and love the Calorie King Website, you won't be disappointed with this portable edition. It will fit perfectly into your purse so you can take it with you when you go out to eat, or for that matter, anywhere! The CalorieKing Calorie, Fat & Carbohydrate Counter 2009

If you haven’t already done so, switch from whole milk to skim milk.

Make an effort to consume less red meat, and instead eat more chicken and fish (a great source of Omega 3 fatty acids). If you have to eat beef, opt for the leanest cuts possible.

Lastly, reduce the amount of sugar in your diet and avoid processed foods whenever possible.

Exercise to Lose Belly Fat

No matter what the rumor mill says, you will not shed excess fat in your tummy through toning exercises and crunches alone. Can it help? Sure, but it is just one small piece of the belly fat puzzle. When it comes to exercise, you need a “one-two punch” to knock out belly fat.

The best abdominal exercises use the combination of aerobic exercise and toning. Walking, jogging, and kickboxing are excellent examples of aerobic exercise that can and will burn excess body fat. On the other hand, Pilates, gentle stretching, crunches, and yoga will help tone your abdominal muscles that are sitting below the fat layer. Add these two types of exercise, three to four times a week, and you will begin to quickly see results.

Still wondering how to lose belly fat? The next time you are in the check out lane and wondering what to do, reach for dark chocolate, research says it’s a flat belly food. Yum!

Lose Belly Fat --> Home

SPANX Dress better to feel better. If you haven't heard of SPANX yet...check this out!
Weight Loss Plan Writing a weight loss plan is easy and it will help keep you on track. Discover why this tool will makes a difference. Weight loss is tough...a weight loss plan will point you in the right direction every time.
Keeping a Food Diary Lose weight the "write" way.
Belly Fat Move Your Ass!
Flat Belly Foods Great tasting foods you can eat to help you lose your unwanted tummy!
Know your Waist to Hip Ratio This number will help you analyze your overall health.
Flat Belly Diet Slim Down Fast! This fantastic weight loss plan works.
Healthy Weight Loss 5 Fast & Easy Tips that will guarantee weight loss success.