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High intensity workouts mean you’re going all out for as long as you can.
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(In fact, the low-intensity exercises experienced no significant changes at all.) “You need to exercise at full intensity because the end goal is to burn more calories, and high intensity exercise does just that,” says Natalie Jill, a San Diego–based certified personal trainer. In a study published in the journal Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, people who completed a high-intensity workout regimen lost more belly fat than those who followed a low-intensity plan. To banish stubborn belly fat, you have to ramp up your workouts. But Patton warns that eating too much fat of any kind increases your calorie intake and could lead to weight gain, so enjoy healthy fats in moderation. On the other hand, monounsaturated fats (the kind in olive oil and avocados) and specific types of polyunsaturated fats (mainly omega-3s, found in walnuts, sunflower seeds, and fatty fish like salmon) have anti-inflammatory effects in the body, and if eaten in proper portions may do your body good. Research correlates high intake of saturated fat (the kind in meat and dairy) to increased visceral fat, says Patton. The body doesn’t react to all fats in the same way. “Belly fat is associated with inflammation, so eating too many processed foods will hinder your ability to lose belly fat.” Natural foods like fruits, vegetables and whole grains are full of antioxidants, which have anti-inflammatory properties and may therefore actually prevent belly fat, Patton says. “Refined grains like white bread, crackers and chips, as well as refined sugars in sweetened drinks and desserts increase inflammation in our bodies,” says Patton. Patton recommends 250 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise or 125 minutes of high-intensity exercise a week. “Muscle burns more calories than fat, and therefore you naturally burn more calories throughout the day by having more muscle,” says Kate Patton, a registered dietitian at Cleveland Clinic. Strength training increases muscle mass, which sets your body up to burn more fat. “You need to do a combination of weights and cardiovascular training,” says Sangeeta Kashyap, M.D., an endocrinologist at Cleveland Clinic. Read on.Ī daily run or Spin class is great for your heart, but cardio workouts alone won’t do much for your waist.
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The good news: you can fight this process. This shift in hormones causes women to hold on to weight in their bellies.
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Meanwhile, testosterone levels also start to drop, but at a slower rate. In menopause, production of the hormones estrogen and progesterone slows down. “If women gain weight after menopause, it’s more likely to be in their bellies,” says Michael Jensen, M.D., professor of medicine in the Mayo Clinic’s endocrinology division. On top of that, women have to deal with menopause.
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Both men and women experience a declining metabolic rate, or the number of calories the body needs to function normally. As you get older, your body changes how it gains and loses weight.
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