It always seems like no matter what you do, you end up with stubborn fat somewhere in your body. For most people, this area is on the stomach. Your stomach is a natural place for fat to be stored, and the amount you have can depend on a few different lifestyle factors, as well as your genetics. Many of the ways you can trim belly fat are also good ways to support a healthier lifestyle in general.
Effects on your health
Many people looking to trim down their stomachs want to do it for the look of their bodies, but their health is even more important. Of course, losing excess fat is important for your overall health, but losing and preventing stomach fat is especially important. Fat on the stomach can have more of a negative impact on your health than fat anywhere else on the body. Having a larger stomach can put you at risk of developing diseases like heart disease and type 2 diabetes.
Diet
For many people who deal with belly fat, their diet is often the culprit. If you’ve never paid attention to the foods you eat, you might not even notice how unhealthy they are. Tons of foods have sugar and fats hidden in them. When you’re dieting to lose belly fat, you should cut out refined sugar, carbs, and trans fat. You could see and feel a change in your stomach just by making gradual changes to your diet.
Aside from foods, what you drink can be affecting your weight, such as sodas or alcohol. Unless you’re exclusively drinking water, tea, or coffee without anything added, your drinks are probably hurting you. Drinks with added sugars are empty calories and provide your body with zero nutrients. Swapping out your drinks throughout the day for these healthier options is a simple change that can make a huge difference.
Exercise
You can’t spot-reduce fat areas through exercise, but exercise is still an important step in your weight loss journey. Lifestyles that lack exercise are more likely to make you gain weight, even with a healthy diet. Strength training and cardio exercises can both reduce body fat. You can start out slowly adding exercise into your daily routine by working out once a week, but once you’re accustomed to it you should try for 2-3 times a week.
Exercise can also be helpful in making you less stressed, which can also be causing you to hold onto stomach fat. Some might be limited as to what exercises they can do, so you should talk to your doctor about what exercises are best for your abilities if you have concerns.
Cosmetic surgery
If losing your belly fat feels impossible, there’s a chance it just might be. After weight loss or pregnancy, you might have a pooch on your stomach that looks like fat, but it actually loose skin. Or, if you do have fat that won’t leave no matter how hard you try, there’s still a solution for that. When you’re almost at your goal weight but struggling to lose that last bit of stomach fat, cosmetic surgery might be your best choice. Many cosmetic surgeries will permanently get rid of your stomach fat.
Liposuction
When you get liposuction done, your doctor will insert a tube connected to a vacuum to suction out the unwanted fat. Liposuction can provide more dramatic fat reduction results compared to most other options available. One liposuction option is Vaser liposuction, where the fat is loosened using sound waves to make it easier to remove. Since liposuction can reduce more fat and is invasive, it does have a longer recovery time and is more expensive.
Tummy tuck
If you’ve already gotten within 10 pounds of your goal weight but still have fat stuck on your stomach, a tummy tuck can be right for you. People who have recently lost a lot of weight or were pregnant can also benefit from a tummy tuck. During a tummy tuck, your doctor will remove the excess fat in the area and tighten the loose skin and muscle.
Non-invasive options
For those who aren’t keen on surgery, a noninvasive procedure could be ideal. Non-invasive procedures are great for people looking for subtle results who don’t want to deal with a long recovery time. Treatments like CoolSculpting and truSculpt can give you gradual results in only a few sessions.
