Everybody who has bravely battled with excessive body fat and whether he/ she has been a winner or a loser in the game knows that getting rid of belly fat is quite a challenge.

So much effort is applied in losing belly fat and sometimes desiring six pack abs, are sadly misplaced because people don’t understand the difference between the truth about six pack abs and losing belly fat. We must understand that our body has been designed to survive and whenever it feels threatened by reasons such as starvation or excessive strain and stress, it automatically gears and adapts to survive. The body stores fat or energy as reserve to be used in the future when it assumes it will not be receiving any more energy to function. This is the reason why not eating for long intervals, following very stringent ill planned diet or excessive work out without replenishing body fluids and energy resources usually has absolutely the opposite effect of what is intended. They end up triggering the survival instinct of the body. When this happens the body releases the hormone 'Cortisol' making the body store more fat. Since our abdominal region consists of at least 4 times the receptors to this hormone, we end of storing more belly fat than anywhere else. Our abdomens are most sensitive to the quality and quantity of our food intake and our lifestyle- whether active or sedentary.

The trick therefore in getting rid of belly fat is not to eat less but to eat healthy – more frequently, and in smaller quantities. Eating every 2-3 hours makes our body feel loved and nourished; not starved and deprived. Eating frequently increases our metabolic rate and also helps us burn fat since eating and digesting is also a calorie burner. Of course we have to avoid certain types of food and drinks which offer zero nutrients and are calorie rich. We must also avoid highly processed foods high in saturated fats. Aerated drinks fall into this category and so do biscuits, most bakery products and most 'ready to eat' packaged food items.

The second important factor to consider in our quest of getting rid of belly fat is to consume calories in relation to the time of the day and our own activity level. So mornings and afternoons are usually very hectic for most of us- we are working in offices, at home, working out in the gym, this is when we need to eat the most to give our bodies the nourishment it needs. Our metabolic rate and our activity level are lowest during late evenings and at night and that's when our food intake should be least. ''Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a pauper'', is an old saying but nevertheless it holds true even today.

Finally, let’s discuss the role of workouts and exercise in getting rid of belly fat. Aerobic exercises like jogging and skipping also release Cortisol and do not help in getting rid of specific abdominal fat, though they do improve fitness levels. What is important is to include specific abdominal muscle exercises advisably under the expert guidance of a fitness instructor or a trainer to tackle the stubborn belly fat. If you take cognizance of this information, you will definitely achieve success in getting rid of belly fat, achieving a flat tummy and fitter self.