The Truth About Belly Fat

We’ve all seen magazine and internet articles with titles like:

“The 5-Second Flat Belly Trick!” 👏🏼

Or:

“6 Days to a Six-Pack!” 💪🏼

But here’s the truth: 

Belly fat isn’t eradicated quickly, nor is being “totally shredded” always the most productive health goal.

However ...

Some types of belly fat are associated with health risks.

Visceral fat — that’s belly fat found deep in your abdomen, surrounding your internal organs — is linked to chronic inflammation, pre-diabetes, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and other metabolic disorders.

An indicator of excessive visceral fat may be a waist of over 40 for men and 35 for woman.

Subcutaneous fat — the padding just under the surface of the skin — is relatively benign. This fat is generally distributed evenly throughout the body.

Luckily, the healthy behaviors below help you lose belly fat and will also help you improve your health and reduce your risk of disease.

✅ Consume a diet centered around minimally-processed foods. (This makes it harder to overeat, and easier to feel satisfied and meet your nutrition requirements.)

✅ Find movement that you like and will do regularly. (Consistency wins over just about everything else.)

✅ Eat slowly and mindfully. (Helps improve mind-body awareness so you can more easily eat the right amount for your body.)

✅ Practice self-compassion. (This is linked to healthier eating, more consistent exercise habits, and lower rates of anxiety, depression, and perceived stress.)

Not exactly clickbait?

But consider: How many people actually do these things … day in and day out?

Well, statistically-speaking: less than 3 percent of Americans meet the basic qualifications for a “healthy lifestyle”.

The point: If so few people can do just the basics, how likely is it that they’ll be able to do something that’s even harder? Especially when they’re just starting out?

(Like those advanced, “cutting edge” medications like Ozempic, that “celebrity models and Marvel heroes use” to lose fat fast) 

The reality…

Fast fat loss is a fantasy!

Fat loss tactics don’t need to be complicated, or include medication injections!

The 4 healthy behaviors listed above actually work - and are a lot more doable and certainly more sustainable than an “extreme” plan. 

It takes looking at what is working in your life like nutrition, activity, sleep and stress, and building on your strengths, and filling in the gaps, one step at a time.

Need Meds?

But, if you do take some of the new medications to manage diabetes or weight loss, what happens when it is time to go off those meds?

People gain the weight and fat right back again - unless ...

Those lifestyle changes get made throughout the time.

Need help making lifestyle changes stick? You are not alone - most people do.

Click my link below for a free consult, and we can talk more about how coaching might be helpful to you.

Age Intelligently!