How To Lose Belly Fat

Belly fat may be unattractive, but that's not the only reason people with fat around the midsection need to worry. The problem with those who carry excess fat around the belly is that they are at a higher risk of developing many different types of health problems and diseases. Heart disease, diabetes and even some types of cancer have links to belly fat. It is very important that those people take steps to change their lifestyle and start working toward losing weight an eliminating the belly fat.

 The Myth that Persists

One of the myths about getting rid of belly fat is that it is possible through sit-ups, crunches, leg lifts and other exercises. It just isn't possible to do this way. People call this "spot reduction", and it isn't possible. One can't lose weight in one area simply by doing exercises for that muscle group.
The myth likely started when people with relatively flat stomachs started doing abdominal exercises. They sat that their abs protruded more and had a better shape to them. They thought that they achieved this with their sit-ups, but that's not what really happened. In reality, they strengthened those muscles with the exercises, and that cause them to grow. They changed their diet and lost body fat. It simply gave the appearance that the sit-ups melted the fat away.

The Truth Behind Losing Belly Fat

As with all other types of weight loss, losing weight around the belly means that you will have to change your diet and start exercising. You have to have more than just abdominal exercises too!
The good news is that you don't have to learn any special types of exercises and you don't have to find any special program that is specifically for losing belly fat. By eliminating processed foods, junk food, fast food, fatty food and sugary food from the diet and adding lean meats, fruits and vegetables, you are well on your way to making a positive change.
When it comes to exercise, you may want to have both cardio and weight training on your schedule. Spend several days working with the weights and give plenty of time to your cardio training. The elliptical trainer and treadmills are great for this. The reason that you should add weights is that building muscle is great for losing fat. The fat doesn't "turn into muscle", which is another myth to dispel. Instead, when you have more muscle, it helps to burn the fat more quickly.
This doesn't mean that you should neglect abdominal exercises. You certainly should still do them. They will strengthen your core and allow you to lift heavier weights and have more stamina.

Finding the Fast Fix

You may hear people talking about fast fixes to removing belly fat. They aren't true, and the ones that offer special programs are likely just trying to part you from your money. You need to have a sensible approach that involves a good diet and plenty of exercise. In the end, that's all you really need to have.