We all want to be in great shape and have those six-pack abs that everyone is striving for. But when it comes to getting in shape, the belly can be one of the hardest parts of the body to lose weight from. This is especially true for older people and women who have given birth. And of course, if you are not following a healthy diet and are eating too much junk food, you are going to have excess belly fat that is difficult to get rid off and even more difficult to keep off.

How to Tell If You Have Too Much Belly Fat

It is never healthy to be overweight, and having extra weight around your mid section is extremely unhealthy, and can lead to a number of serious health conditions, including heart disease, diabetes, kidney failure, and more. Belly fat may even be linked to hardening of the arteries. Even if you have too much fat, and are at risk of developing these and other health problems, you can help to eliminate your risks by changing your lifestyle to include a healthy diet and plenty of exercise. The best way to tell if you have too much fat is to measure your belly. Place a tape measure around your waist, and take a look at the exact measurement. If you are a man, the number should be no higher than 40 inches. Women should have a belly no larger than 35 inches around. Anything larger means that you have excess belly fat and need to take steps to get rid of it.

Is There a Secret to Losing Belly Fat?

If you have ever tried to lose belly fat, you know that it is a lot harder than one may think. There are all kinds of diets out there that are "guaranteed" to help eliminate fat, but most of these diets really do not work all that well. And with many diets, once someone goes off the diet and back to their normal eating habits, they often put anything they lost right back on, including belly fat. So, how does one lose fat and do it in a healthy way?

There is no secret to losing belly fat. It is actually as easy as following a healthy, well-balanced diet and getting enough exercise. The two go hand in hand and there is really no sense in dieting if you are not going to exercise to get your muscles firm and toned, which will help you to look even slimmer and eliminate fat. Diet or exercise alone is not going to make that belly fat go away. You need to have a combination for optimal results.

Types of Exercises that Help Take Off Belly Fat

There are all kinds of exercises that you can be doing, but many of them won't do a thing for your belly fat. We all know that sit-ups and crunches are popular for taking off belly fat, but these exercises do not actually take away the fat, not if you are not following a healthy weight loss diet. What the exercises do is help to tone your muscles, which will make you look slimmer. Exercising also helps burn calories, which also helps with weight loss. So, when you combine a healthy diet with exercises that target your belly (don't forget the other parts of your body as well...you want to be fit all over), you will find that you will be able to lose the fat that has been plaguing you for so long. Once you have lost your belly fat through a combination of diet and exercise, the toning exercises you have been doing will show, because you will have those rock hard abs that you want to have. And, you don't have to just do crunches to take off fat. All types of exercise helps to burn calories, so even taking a long, brisk walk will help in your battle of the belly bulge.

Dieting Tips for Losing Belly Fat

There are certain nutrients that are important for all of us to be getting from our diets, and when you are trying to lose weight, a healthy diet is even more important. You need to have some fats in your diet, but in order to lose belly fat, you need to make sure that you are getting good fats, and not those that can be found in those delicious junky treats that we all love so much. It is also important to make sure that you are getting enough protein in your diet, but that the protein comes from sources that are good for weight loss diets. Lean red meats are very diet friendly. Not only are they rich in protein, they are also loaded with iron and other vitamins and minerals. Poultry and fish are also excellent choices, as are egg whites and non-fat dairy products.

Other things that you can do to make sure that your diet is going to help you lose fat is to make sure that you are eating plenty of fruits and vegetables and drinking lots of water, because it will help to keep the kidneys functioning properly and keep you from becoming dehydrated. This is important year round, but especially so during the hot summer months. Don't forget to make sure that you are getting lots of good carbohydrates, which can be found in nuts, seeds, whole grains, and brown rice. These foods will also provide you with the fiber you need for good digestion.

Protein Supplements for the Belly Fat Battle

If you have a lot of belly fat to get rid of, you may find that you are on a very restricted diet that is low in calories. You also may find that you are not getting enough of the proper nutrition from your diet, because it is so restricted. In such cases, it is often recommended by physicians and dietitians that people use protein supplements. These supplements provide plenty of protein and other necessary nutrients, without having a whole lot of fat or calories. And not only are there some great drinks that can be used as meal replacements, there are also some great tasting protein snacks available that will help to satisfy any sweet tooth and help people stick to their diets, even when they are craving sweets and junk food.

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