How to lose belly fat

People read about all kinds of ways that are supposed to show how to lose belly fat. There are all kinds of wacky diets out there and exercise regimens that are supposed to be miracle workers for losing weight, especially belly fat. The truth is, there is no magic cure when trying to find out how to lose belly fat. However, there do seem to be a few techniques and supplements that are more effective than others in helping to lose belly fat specifically and for weight loss in general.

Extra fat and being overweight is not healthy for our bodies and for our self-image. Everyone knows that, although most people do little about it. But belly fat in particular is a dangerous type of extra weight to carry around, literally.

Recent studies show that belly fat especially increases the chances of a heart attack, diabetes, and even cancer. One of the ways that a fat belly increases the risk of these diseases is that fat cells in the stomach cause a person to become insulin resistant. This means that the body has to produce more and more insulin, which becomes a precursor to diabetes. Belly fat also seems to slows down a person's metabolism. Belly fat is much more dangerous to a person's health than being overweight in other areas of the body.

The obvious solution for how to lose belly fat with your choice of foods is to lay off of the fatty foods! You don't have to become a vegetarian (although it would certainly help), but you should stick to low-fat meats such as chicken breast and turkey breast. Avoid red meat if possible. If you must eat red meat, eat a portion no bigger than the size of your fist. Fish is perfectly acceptable, even fatty fish such as salmon. Don't eat meat that is fried, of course, if you want to lose belly fat. And only eat skinless chicken and turkey, as the skin is where most of the fat is located in poultry products.

Other things to consider in your diet when learning how to lose belly fat are to avoid all fried foods and avoid pasta dishes with buttery or other high fat sauces. Another culprit that is loaded with fat is salad dressings. Either use low-fat salad dressings or none at all. Try eating more fresh fruits and steamed vegetables.

Changing your diet in these ways should help you to lose belly fat.

Most any exercise will help to lose belly fat if it is done consistently and for at least 20 minutes. Even a brisk walk daily for 20 minutes will help an overweight person to lose belly fat.

There are two types of exercise that I have found to be the most effective at targeting the stomach area when trying to lose belly fat. They provide the best weight loss results in the quickest time, at least for me.

The first exercise to target belly fat is swimming. I don't mean playing around in the water for a few minutes or lazily swimming around on your back. Lap swimming done at a vigorous pace daily will do wonders for getting rid of belly fat. Not only that, but swimming is excellent for toning the entire body. Look at swimmers' bodies and you will see what I mean.

The next exercise that will certainly get rid of belly fat is Pilates yoga. You notice I specifically mentioned Pilates yoga, not hatha yoga, Ashtanga yoga, or some other type. Pilates yoga is the type of exercise to do to target losing belly fat. It firms up the underlying stomach muscles and really does wonders for a flat belly. Pilates yoga has other health benefits as well, including stress reduction.

Try vigorous swimming and Pilates yoga for a month. See how much belly fat you will lose.

Don't rely completely on supplements when trying to figure out how to lose belly fat. It just won't work. However, using supplements in conjunction with a diet and exercise program can provide quicker, better results than just diet and exercise alone.

The one supplement I most recommend for trying to lose belly fat is chromium picolinate. Several studies have shown chromium picolinate to be effective in helping with weight loss, especially in losing belly fat. What's more, chromium picolinate helps to make a person more sensitive to insulin, which is one of the specific dangers of belly fat. 400 mcg of chromium picolinate daily is the recommended amount for weight loss and increasing muscle mass. Avoid taking chromium picolinate with dairy, as dairy products inhibit absorption of chromium picolinate. Wait at least a couple of hours before or after consuming dairy before taking a chromium picolinate supplement.

So there you have it- my plan for how to lose belly fat effectively and safely. When combining all of these ways to lose belly fat together, your chances of success are much greater. Not only that, but you will be much healthier overall if you follow my plan for how to lose belly fat.

So, watch your diet, swim and practice yoga, and take chromium picolinate. I bet you will be pleased with the results.