How to Burn Belly Fat and Keep it Off

Hello readers,

I get asked all the time how I stay lean and in shape, so I've decided to share with you my fat loss and fitness journey. First off, I want to point out, that I do not have a naturally fast metabolism. I work for it. Put simply, I exercise and control my diet. For those who don't know me personally, I used to carry around 50lbs of excess fat. I was unhealthy, sedentary, and consuming over 4,000 calories a day, consisting mostly of sodas and starches. I never ate veggies or drank water, and I was constantly fatigued and depressed. My skin was lifeless and covered in acne. I felt like crap! I wanted to look good and be healthy, but nothing I tried seemed to make a long term difference. I was able to lose some weight initially, but I would always gain it back in the following months.

I didn’t know what else to do, and yet I made the same excuses we all do, “I can't afford the gym!" or "I just don't have time!" or "I'm totally happy with how I look!" but I was lying to myself! We all care about our appearance to some degree, not to mention our health. No matter who you are, you can improve your physical body. It’s not about looking perfect or even weighing less, it’s about taking care of the one thing you can’t replace; your body. Even people who don't struggle with excess fat should still be working out to keep their bodies strong and agile. The key to getting results is finding a solution that works and remaining consistent.

Back in 2005, while I was still in college, I decided that I had had enough and so I signed up for a Personal Trainer Certification Course. I wanted to know the truth behind how food affects the body and why the body gains fat and builds muscle, and how to get it under control. With all the new and different techniques that you read in magazines and online, how do you know what’s true? Well, just know this; there is no new secret method, trick or pill! There is no shortcut. You must educate yourself, be patient, and never give up! That is the formula for improving yourself the right way.

Once I was out of school and on my own, I put my knowledge to action and really got serious about losing weight and getting fit. I wanted to make a drastic change in my appearance. I started very slow, I didn't give up fast food or soda altogether. When I would go out to eat, I would just limit my drink refills. Then the next time I would substitute a vegetable in place of fries. I eventually replaced all carbonated beverages with water and never looked back.

NOTE: I don't totally deprive myself. I still drink soda if I'm in the mood for it, but only one or two glasses. And of course I love my iced coffee everyday :)

Ok back to the story...

I then began jogging in place in my room for 15-30 minutes two or three times a week. That's all I did. The weight started to come off and people noticed. Of course I got excited and that motivated me to keep plugging away. I became a research fanatic, browsing every fitness website out there searching for fun and interesting methods for working out. I wasn't trying to build crazy muscle, I just wanted to look good and be healthy. It was my goal to construct a solid program that would keep my routines short and sweet, yet still highly effective. I'm happy to say I succeeded.

It took a little less than a year from the time I started my journey to the time I reached my waistline goal. Now keep in mind I was going slowly, I wanted the results to stay, so I took my time learning and tweaking. That was in 2007. All in all, I lost over 50lbs of pure fat and toned up my body, not to mention enhanced my overall health. I was 24 at the time. Now I’m 30 years old and my waist measures 29 inches instead of the 38 inches it was. But I'm still improving; I've set new goals and am always challenging myself. I want to continue strengthening my body and fully embrace lifelong health and fitness.

One of the most important things to remember is this: It is easy to lose weight; the hard part is doing it right and keeping it off. Most people don't really know how to do that. Of course, a personal trainer can tell you how to eat well, build muscle and lose fat, but not everyone can afford one of those. Regardless, if you are serious about looking and feeling better, even if you just want to lose a few pounds, you must learn to strength train. You already have muscle, you might as well develop it. You won’t regret it, believe me. Muscle is what give your body shape and makes you look sexy! Strength training also improves bone density, core stability, posture, and can even increase sex drive. Take my word for it ;P

Everyone is different and therefore will have different results and experiences. So a word of advice: listen to your body. I happen to be one of those guys with a stupidly slow metabolism. I gain fat just by looking at dessert lol, and it's stubborn to lose. Even still, I'm entering my thirties and while many people my age are beginning to nurture that infamous pot belly, I’m proud to say I’m doing the opposite! I have kept off the useless fat for 5 years with minimal effort, and I plan on doing so long into old age. It's not impossible, but like anything worth doing, it does require self-discipline and determination. When something is new it can seem overwhelming, but once you know how, it becomes second nature.

I don't ever want to go back to what I was. I know what it's like to be made fun of for being overweight, I know how it is to be so self-conscious you can't even go swimming, I know what it's like not to be able to breathe when you're bending over to tie your shoes, I know how it feels to have your belly hang over your belt buckle. It's torture. It's not how we were meant to be, we have the ability to change it. I'm living proof! The odds were against me, but I beat them with an iron club haha. I just want you to leave here knowing that if you are desperate to lose weight and make your body the best it can be, you can do it! Next year at this time you could blow people away with a totally new you! But you must make it a priority. Believe me, it is worth it because you are worth it.