The Fat Belly Diet

For most people with a BMI of 34, having a fat belly is a big health problem. Fat tissue around the abdominal area has a greater overall health risk than fat in the buttocks and upper legs. The potential health risks include high cholesterol levels, blood pressure, high sugar levels (causing complications for a diabetes patient), and heart attacks. Measuring your waist and fat distribution is more important than simply weighting yourself.

Causes of Belly Fat

The extra calories we consume everyday is the source for all the fatty tissue around the abdominal area. Most men tend to store the fat in their stomachs, while women (due to hormones) tend to store it in buttocks and upper legs and hips.

Stress and Belly Fat

A lot of studies are showing that stomach fat is the result of high levels of stress (especially for women). The hormone Cortisol is released during high periods of stress which arouse the body, and cause fat to be stored around the stomach and abdominal area.

The Fat Belly Diet

1) Make sure to get enough sleep: the majority of people need at least eight hours of sleep. Make sure that you are in sync with your sleep schedule, so that you wake up relaxed and ready to take the day on. Sleep helps your body recover and heal, especially after exercising. Research shows that those who don't get enough sleep are more prone to carrying a fat belly and becoming obese.

2) Eat right: keep a diary of the amount of calories you consume per day, and try to lower your consumption by 200 calories daily. It took you a while to gain the extra belly fat, and it will take you a while to get rid of it. Eat healthy from the start. This means cooking nutritious meals at home, and eating out only once in a while.

3) Relax: find time in the day to relax and possibly meditate. Relaxation helps elevate cortisol in your bloodstream and so prevents excessive storage of fat. The best forms of relaxation are Tai Chi, or Yoga, or some form of standing meditation (which is quite easy to do and can be done anywhere).

These are the basic tips you need to follow to lose that extra belly fat. You may want to look into a professional belly fat diet program, but before doing that, make sure you can follow these basic tips outlined above. Remember that you must choose to take action now for the betterment if your health!