How to Flatten Your Belly
No matter what the size and shape of your body’s frame the abdomen is one area that can be stubborn for everybody. A “pot-belly” can be unsightly and an excess of fat stored in this area can also lead to other health problems. This store of visceral type fatty tissue can contribute to cholesterol and cardio-vascular problems. So what can you do to reduce belly fat and flatten your belly?
Despite what you may see advertised on tv, exercise that targets the abdominal area alone is not enough. Yes exercise will tighten and tone the muscles, but if they are still covered with a layer of fat, you can’t see them, and you still have a pot belly. What you really need to do are cardio exercises that will burn the fat. Don’t just aim to tone muscles, that’s not enough. You need daily exercise that increases your heart rate for 15 to 30 minutes each day.
One more thing you need to do is watch your diet. If your body does not use the fats and sugars that you eat it will store them in your body as fat. If you live on a diet of fast and/or fatty foods all the time you spend on exercising will just be wasted. It’s ok to have some fat in your diet, in fact you need some to stay healthy. It’s when you are consuming more fat than your body needs that you have problems. The only way to get rid of excess fat is to burn it off through exercise.
Some examples of simple cardio exercise that will help you include running, swimming or bike riding. You can also try going up and down stairs at a fast pace or even a brisk walk. If you are not used to exercise then start with something simple and increase the activity as you get fitter. The important thing is to increase your heart rate by exercising for 15-30 mins every day.
Now lets take a look at those abdominal muscles. These muscles do give shape to you abdominal area. Once the belly fat is gone, you want to be able to show off your nice tight abs. Now to get them well-toned, you need some abdominal exercise. All that is really needed is a simple set of exercises for a few minutes every day. Try not to do the same exercise every day or your abs will adapt to it and you won’t get as good a result. If you work the centre muscles one day, work the side muscles the next. Give your abs a variety of bending and stetching.
Now for more detailed advice on how to flatten your belly, click this link to the Flat Belly Book.
