Most people who start an exercise and diet program want to lose belly fat. But even though people are making positive changes in their eating habits and adding in more exercise, I still get asked the question, “how can I burn belly fat more effectively?” quite often. The picture above is from when I was on a recent holiday after 3 weeks of zero exercise. So if you think I get my six pack by burning myself in the gym every day you are wrong… I can easily maintain my body shape without exercise however I love a few workouts a week for the way it makes me feel (who doesn`t feel fantastic after a workout) rather than punishing my body for the extra calories I ate. I allow a few ‘treat meals and snacks’ here and there but I start every single day with a nutrition breakfast and I have balanced snacks and meals. Forget about diets. Creating an enjoyable and sustainable healthy active lifestyle is key! This is how I look not just in summer but all year round by following a few simple principles.
Today I’m going to share with you 5 ways to fight belly fat that could take your exercise and nutrition program from GOOD to GREAT.
#1 – De-Stress
Believe it or not, stress is a silent killer!
When you’re stressed your body produces excess cortisol which encourages your body to store extra fat…especially around the waistline (called visceral fat).
Make sure you’re following a balanced nutrition and workout plan, getting enough sleep and taking some time to yourself each day to reduce your stress levels and be happy 🙂
#2 – Workout smart
Long slow cardio is not the answer to burning stubborn body fat from your belly!
As a matter of fact, not only is long slow cardio inefficient, but studies have even shown that it is known to burn valuable muscle tissue from your body which could destroy your progress.
Try HIIT Cardio and strength workouts instead… but most importantly do what you enjoy (key is to make your lifestyle sustainable) even it means dancing in your lounge room 😉 or taking the stairs instead of the elevator. To make your workouts even more sustainable I recommend to have a workout buddy or join an empowering group workout to keep you accountable.
Would you like to join us for our community workouts in Melbourne and Suburbs? Our community workouts are FUN and FREE and suitable to all fitness levels.. so no excuses 😉 Say yes to a fun and free workout here!
#3 – Choose the Right Types of Protein, Carbs, & Fats
80% of your results come from the quality of food you eat.
So make sure you eat the RIGHT TYPES of protein, carbs and fats at the RIGHT TIME in the RIGHT PORTIONS.
Choose lean sources of meat over fatty sources.
Choose complex carbs over sugary carbs.
And choose unsaturated fats over saturated.
The quality of food you eat directly influences the results you’ll see from your fat loss efforts, so be sure to choose wisely.
Melbourne Healthy Lifestyle offers free wellness evaluations that teaches you how to choose the right types of protein, carbs and fats in alignment of your goals. You can claim your free evaluation either online or at one of our centers in Melbourne. Claim your free wellness evaluation here.
#4 – Stimulate Your Metabolism
Let’s face it…we all wish our metabolism was a bit faster, right?
Well, the good news is there are a couple of easy ways to gently stimulate your metabolism on a very healthy way.
The number one key to stimulating our metabolism is starting our day with the right breakfast. A breakfast that gives our body the right fuel without spiking our blood sugar is key. Also certain types of tea and herbal supplements are a great way to gently stimulate your metabolism.
Click here to learn more about our Wellness Kickstart Week, a perfect way to kickstart your metabolism.
#5 – Stay Accountable
Even if you know the right way, to eat, workout, and live a healthy lifestyle, willpower alone is not enough.
It is a fact that 90% of us are able to make positive changes in our lifestyle for a few weeks, months but get off track after that. What is mission is an enjoyable & sustainable plan… and most important: ACCOUNTABILITY. To avoid this situation, it is a must to surround yourself with other people who have similar goals and will keep you accountable! That is way we have create our online HEALTHY HAPPY PROJECT and BODY TRANSFORMATION CHALLENGES to create an empowering community for you were you get daily tips, inspiration and motivation to help you in achieving SUSTAINABLE RESULTS.
If you’re interested in more customized help, I highly recommend you contact me about a customized program.
I remove all of the guesswork for you, and I make it my mission to see you reach your goals.
Call or email today, and we’ll get you started on the program that’s best for you.
Yours in health and happiness Xx
Steffi
