Losing Belly Fat Fast

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Losing Belly Fat Fast: Expose Your Hidden Six Pack!

Just as large breasts on a woman have become synonomous with 'sexy' in our society, so too is the elusive 'six-pack' on a man. There is, however, no surgery (as of yet) that can build and expose a man's abdominal muscles.

Though getting a 'six-pack' set of abs might be the desire of many, most would settle for simply having a flat belly, and getting rid of extra belly fat. It's a good plan, since more than appearence is at stake. Carrying a 'spare tire' around the middle is also dangerous. The reason for this is that fat cells absorb toxins, and much of our diet and environment exposes us to carcinogens which then end up in the body's fat deposits, and can seep into the system, causing cancer.

For 'pear' shapes, much of that fat is carried in the buttocks and thighs, where it is less of a danger. For 'apple' shapes, like most men, that fat wraps around the intestinal tract, where the toxins can be absorbed. This increases the danger of colon, prostate, and other types of cancer dramatically.

In order to reduce belly fat, you will have to reduce ALL body fat. There is no magic formula for attacking just belly fat. In fact, the abdomen is an area that the body likes to store fat, as it has quick access to the stored fat in order to convert it to calories, and also the extra fat cells provide some protection to the many organs that reside in the abdominal region.

Unfortunately that means that the belly is one of the first places to gain fat, and one of the last to lose it.

So how do you get rid of belly fat fast?

The first priority is to increase your metabolism. This comes before diet, because an increased metabolism will allow you some latitude when it comes to nutrition. Once the body's furnace is firing, a lot of what you eat will simply get burned up and not stored in the fat cells. But the two really work together, because you cannot get your metabolism working at its best if you are eating nothing but junk.

Exercise is great at increasing metabolism. But for best results, the right exercise in the right sequence. Cardio such as running, walking, biking etc. is great, but results can be slow. Weight lifting, or strength training, is far better at getting the metabolism up. Likely a combination of the two will bear the best result.

Time of day is also a consideration. By exercising first thing, the metabolism kicks in and will stay high for the rest of the day. That is why morning workouts are so beneficial. If it is difficult to schedule a morning workout, then even a short, brisk walk will do the trick. Essentially you are sending a signal to your body that its energy stores are going to be required. Whatever you can do to get your pulse up and your body moving will have a great result.

When you are ready to get into more serious cardio, nothing beats running for burning fat. A great fat-loss running program consists of sprints mixed with a steady run. Ideally, start your run with a warm-up walk, then do a short sprint. This signals the body that it is going to need a lot of calories, and releases fat into the bloodstream. Follow with a more casual run, and try to work another sprint or two in. Ending with a sprint and cool-down walk is a great way to lose fat.

With strength training, concentrate on large muscle exercises, such as bench presses and squats. Don't rest between exercises, and lift as much weight as you can to complete 6 or 8 reps. This also keeps the body's metabolism high. Of course you can also do abdominal exercises, such as crunches, but these will actually have less impact than the multi-joint, whole body exercise. Once you have gotten yourself down to an acceptable weight, you can spend more time and energy on 'finishing' routines, such as crunches.

When it comes to diet throw away any concept of 'dieting'. Your goal is to create a sustainable lifestyle, not follow some program that manipulates nutrition and plays havoc with your body. There is plenty of literature available about what is healthy to eat, and what isn't. Skip the junk food, all of it. At first it may seem very difficult to do, but you will quickly start to see some results, and that will lead to an increased desire to do more. In a short period of time you may surprise yourself at how little desire you have for junk food. In fact, after making this kind of lifestyle change, the very thought of eating junk becomes repellant.

Eating a good breakfast is also a great way to kick start the metabolism. Even if you simply start your day with a brisk walk for 20 minutes, followed by a good breakfast (without sugar-added cereals or high sugar/fat foods like donuts and muffins) you will be cranking up your metabolism for the rest of the day.

As important as eating right and getting exercise is getting adequate hydration. Americans in particular drink very little water, instead opting for 'pop', which is little more than sugar. Elimating soda pop from your diet, and replacing it with clean, filtered water, will have an immediate benefit. At first you may feel a little ill as a result. This is because the stored up toxins are being released into your bloodstream. The kidneys and liver will wash these out, but there may be symptoms, much like having the flu or a cold. But within a few days it will pass, and you will feel more energetic. Also, you will start to lose weight immediately.

It takes calories to heat water, so some weight-loss experts suggest ice-cold water. This may be acceptable for a time, but the important thing is to hydrate often, so any temperature will do. Get used to drinking A LOT of water. Though you will have to urinate a lot, realise that toxins are being eliminated from your body every time you do.

And finally, one often overlooked factor in the battle to lose belly fat, is to get adequate sleep. In order to keep the metabolism high, you have to allow your body adequate rest. Many people in our society simply do not get enough sleep. This leads to the body finding ways to conserve energy for the long days it must operate without rest, so it stores fat and keeps the metabolism sluggish in order to last longer. Get enough sleep and the problem is solved.

Getting rid of belly fat fast is not an easy target. You will have to make lifestyle changes, that is all that is to it. Without an adequate goal you will likely fall into that trap that most people in our society have fallen into; poor eating, drinking and sleeping habits, and all the results that come with it. But make the effort, and in a short while you will feel the changes coming over you. Once you start to feel good and lose weight, the new lifestyle can become addictive. And unlike most other addictions, this one has no down side.

For an excellent program on losing fat fast, read our review of Craig Ballantyne's Turbulence Training.