We are a fat storage machine. If we look at it from an evolutionary point of view, we humans are programmed to store fat for famine times. Such is the wisdom of our body, in which each cell struggles to survive. That is why the body will always keep the most durable energy source reserves and choose the places where it is best conserved or accumulates the greatest amount of reserves: the belly.
Right at the beginning of our programming, life was full of challenges, all of which were meant to train us in survival; one of them was finding food that contained enough nutrients for immediate use and enough fat to reserve. We had to hunt to eat!
This may have been helping thousands of years ago when hunting and gathering food was a daily chore. But today, when there is often more than enough food for everyone in our society, the urge to save the fat for lean times is working against us.
To make matters worse, in this quest for survival, the body is assisted by stubborn hormones like leptin and ghrelin, which ensure that you don’t starve, but which also often undermine willpower.
In fact, when you see that you are finding it almost impossible to lose belly fat quickly, blame those two hormones.
The fallacy of the television show “The biggest loser.”
A few years ago, there was a very successful television program, which many will surely remember, known as “The Biggest Loser.” The contestants were people who were battling extreme obesity for their entire lives.
This reality show showed us on national television how a strenuous diet and hours of intense daily exercise could erase hundreds of pounds of unwanted weight. However, it has recently been recognized that many program participants might be worse off than initially, at least somehow.
In 2016, Obesity magazine published a study on 14 contestants, with observations made during and after the show (Obesity, May 2016) . As expected, their metabolisms slowed while on the program, and they lost weight. But it wasn’t just her metabolism that changed. By the end of the contest season, their leptin levels had plummeted, so they had too little hormone, making them constantly hungry. Thyroid function, which controls metabolism and many other bodily functions, had also been slowed.
Over the next six years, the combined effects of these hormonal changes conspired to cause the contestants to regain much, if not all, of the weight they had lost. Researchers suggest that the faster you lose weight on an aggressive program, the more likely you will gain the weight back in the short term.
How fast should you shed belly fat?
The researchers suggest that the faster you lose weight with an aggressive program, the more likely you will regain all the lost weight or more in the short term.
Of course, what we remember from “The biggest loser” is not an alternative for most of us. We do not have a specialized group of doctors, personal trainers, coaches, and dietitians at our service to help us achieve our goals.
But do not be discouraged; you have alternatives, which are much more effective for their final results and their sustainability over time. The best alternative is to transform our lifestyle, one step at a time. Starting by recognizing the factors that are causing that fat in our belly.
However, for those who have found it very difficult to keep the pounds off, who suffer from a medical condition, bariatric surgery is always an alternative that you should evaluate with your doctor.
Switch on Your Natural Fat Burning Machine
If you want to drop some pounds or hold off the middle-age spread, there are easy ways to help your body burn fat. Simple lifestyle changes can transform your body into a fat burning machine. Speed up your metabolism by adjusting the way you eat, exercise and even sleep.
Eating to Burn Fat
1. Consume fewer calories. Weight gain is usually caused by eating more calories than you burn. You’ll save yourself a lot of money and frustration by accepting this simple truth. Your metabolism naturally slows down with age so over time you need to eat less and exercise more to avoid storing fat in your belly, and other generous spaces in your body. Try the Dr. Gala Ketogenic Challenge
2. Eat breakfast. You can still enjoy a hearty breakfast. Your metabolism slows down while you sleep so get it going again with a healthy feast. Oatmeal with cinnamon or fruit yogurt and granola are both excellent breakfast choices.
3. Eat frequently. Eating often also speeds up your metabolism. Replace the usual 3 big meals per day with 4 or 5 smaller meals and snacks. Enjoy whole grains, fruits and vegetables, and lean proteins. As an added benefit, you’ll feel full much of the time so it’s easier to resist junk food.
4. Drink alcohol in moderation. Alcohol is a depressant that slows down your central nervous system. You can still drink a glass of wine with dinner if you balance it out with lots of water. Water aids digestion and gives your metabolism another modest boost.
5. Be smart about using supplements. You’ve probably seen advertisements for expensive fat loss supplements. Many of these products produce no significant effects or contain caffeine that can make you jittery. The FDA does not evaluate supplement claims, so be careful and let your physician know about any supplements you take.
Exercising to Burn Fat
1. Build up your muscle mass. Even seniors can increase their muscle mass with weight training. It’s worthwhile because a pound of muscle burns more calories than a pound of fat. If you’re new to weight training, start off gradually to avoid injury.
• If you prefer other activities, you can get similar benefits from movements that use your body weight for resistance like push-ups, crunches, and Pilates.
2. Vary your routine. Your body adapts to any familiar activity so you use up fewer calories over time. Cross training will stimulate your body’s metabolism. Get off the treadmill and take a dance class from time to time.
3. Do interval training. Interval training is another proven strategy for burning more fat. Break up your morning jog with a few sprints. Jump ropes for a couple of minutes during low-impact aerobics. This way you train both your aerobic and anaerobic energy systems so you lose more calories from fat.
Other Lifestyle Tips For Burning Fat
1. Sleep in a cool room. Get a full night’s sleep in a cool room. Your body processes calories more efficiently when it gets 6 to 8 hours of slumber. Studies show that room temperatures of about 60 to 65 degrees can help you fall asleep faster and burn more calories per hour.
2. Start fidgeting. On average, people who fidget are thinner than those who don’t. As long as you’re not distracting others, swing your leg and shift around. Even better, get up during TV commercials to do some lunges and take the stairs whenever you can.
3. See your doctor. If you need more help, talk with your doctor. Testing and treatment is available for many conditions that make it harder to lose weight such as hypothyroidism. Your doctor can also advise you on dieting and exercising safely.
Conclusion
Daily activities can trigger your body to burn fat more effectively. With these simple lifestyle choices, you can reduce your belly fat and stay lean and healthy for life!
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Wow, this article was really enlightening and educative as well, thank you so much for sharing this. I really enjoyed it and also shared it with my friends and family and they liked it as well, I never really knew much about losing belly fat and it has been a problem for up until I read this article, it felt like it was just for me because I exercise constantly trying to get rid of belly fat but to no avail. But do these work for men as well
Hello Dr.Angela, I read your article and I learned some new tips to follow for reducing fat and burning it fast. I noticed to myself that after my 40th, I can gain weight easier and it makes for me more difficult to reduce it. I agree that living in a healthy lifestyle can help for both, gain less fat and burning rapidly the accumulated fat. I’m taking my fat under control in this way, but for everyone that finds it difficult, I think that the best thing is to consult with a specialist as you highlight at the end of your article.
Thank you for sharing this helpful information
Best
Alketa
Thank you, Alketa! I appreciate your comment. As we reach middle age, we all go through a hormonal revolution. However, it is important to note that for us women, things can be even more complex. At this stage, the drastic decrease in estrogens’ production affects other hormones that control our body’s essential functions, including the thyroid. Do not hesitate to contact me for more information on any issue related to menopause or health issues affecting women. I’ll be more than happy to assist.