With summertime in full swing, you probably want to have your body "summer-ready," and getting your belly slim and flat is just one of the things that you need to work on. But how can you do this quickly and effectively in so little time? You have heard of crazy diets or strange pills, but you want to do it in a natural and healthy way.
Losing belly fat the healthy way is the best way to lose belly fat, as it is not only a pain-free method, but it will also help you to build habits that will keep you fit and trim throughout your life. While yes, it may take some practice to build these habits and start changing your lifestyle, your health and a better figure are worth it.
Following are 12 natural ways to help you learn how to lose belly fat fast, as healthily and quickly as possible.
How to Lose Belly Fat
Do Some Exercise
How to burn belly fat? You've heard it before, but exercise is very helpful for losing belly fat and losing fat in general. Whether you jog, dance, or go to the gym, exercise will help your body to slim considerably, while losing belly fat.
Any type of cardio can be highly beneficial in boosting your effort to lose unwanted belly fat, no matter which type of exercise you choose. Just make sure to be faithful with your exercise.
Exercising for anywhere from 4-6 times a week can greatly help your figure, and help you to get rid of stubborn belly fat.
Eat Healthy
Sure, it sounds like a cliché, and perhaps you have a difficult time with this one, but eating healthy is a huge part of having a flat and toned belly. Eating the right portion is one part of eating healthy, as overeating isn't helpful for your belly, even if it is healthy food.
Eating the proper ingredients is also key in minimizing belly fat. Fewer carbs and more vegetables and protein is a good idea for reaching your goal of a "summer-ready" body. This is quite possibly the best way to lose belly fat. A good way to start eating healthy without feeling like you are going on some fad diet is to start practicing eating smaller portions of what you already eat.
Once you get yourself in the habit of eating better-sized portions, start paying attention to what you are eating. If you notice that the carbs far outweigh the vegetables and protein, balance it out with the proper amount. After doing that, take a look at the type of food you are eating.
If you notice that your current diet has high levels of sugars or junk food, start adding healthier meals to the mix. Soon, you will start seeing a difference in not only how you feel and look, but also in what you like to eat. Eating healthy is one of the biggest components of weight loss and how to lose belly fat.
Include Leafy Greens in Your Diet
In addition to eating healthy, including leafy greens in your diet is a great idea. Leafy greens are extremely beneficial for your body. They help your digestive system, as well as provide the nutrients needed for your body to function properly. They are full of antioxidants, which help to rid your body of toxins that contribute to belly fat.
A good way to be able to consume as many leafy greens as possible is to simply add salads to your diet and prepare spinach or kale in shakes or other dishes that you may cook. Salads can actually be a delicious alternative to what you normally eat, and you can add plenty of protein to ensure that you get all the nutrients that you need.
When trying to change the way you eat, it helps to prepare things that you enjoy. If you like ham and cheese in your salad, go ahead at the beginning and add that to your salad. Later on, replace it with tuna or tofu for healthier results.
Sleep Well
A lack of sleep contributes to belly fat, especially visceral fat. This can cause your stomach to appear bloated, and sleeping less causes you to want to eat more fattening foods which contributes to a larger midriff. When trying to lose belly fat, make sure to go to bed earlier and try to sleep in more.
While you don't want to "oversleep," making sure that you get enough sleep will go far in helping you to lose that unwanted belly fat. Sleep is good for your overall health, anyway, so you might as well go ahead and make an effort to sleep as much as you can. A tip for a better night of sleep: turn off your phone, and turn on an alarm clock.
A phone next to your bed can be a distraction and keep you awake as you browse your social media or receive unwanted messages. Your body, energy level, and overall quality of life will thank you for it.
Eat Fish or Other Lean Protein
One of the best things to do when you want to know how to lose stomach fat is by cutting out fattening protein from your diet and replacing them with lean proteins, such as fish (tuna, herring, etc.) and chicken.
Not only are lean proteins better for you, but they can provide you with the healthy protein you need to have the energy for your exercise and healthy living. Another benefit from eating lean protein is that you are providing your body with low-fat meat that not only gives you energy but also fills you up and helps you to avoid eating fatty foods.
If you don't have much time to prepare or cook your meals - although it should definitely be a priority - eating canned tuna or sardines can also be a healthier alternative to eating on the run or eating cheese or eggs for your protein.
Drink Lots of Ginger Tea
Ginger may be one of the best ways to get rid of stomach fat, as it is extremely helpful to the digestive system. Aside from the fact that it can improve your digestive function, it is also very beneficial in boosting your metabolism.
This is known as a thermogenic effect, and drinking ginger tea is one of the best ways to accomplish this. A way to make sure that you get enough ginger is to make ginger tea and drink it throughout the day.
Drink Green Tea
Green tea provides antioxidant effects which are an important component in losing belly fat. Antioxidants help your digestive system to function properly, which can help to relieve you of toxins that are causing your stomach to bloat and appear larger than normal.
The best kind of green tea for losing belly fat is Matcha green tea. Matcha green tea also enhances your body's digestive system, so if you have been having problems with regular bowel movements and need some help, Matcha green tea is the tea for you. Constipation can often cause your belly to swell and appear bigger than it normally is.
Go On a Detox
Another way to help your body get rid of extra toxins and perhaps water weight is to go on a detox. It doesn't have to be a week-long ordeal where you starve your body and only drink detox water.
Simply prepare detox water with healthy ingredients that contain antioxidants, and drink plenty throughout the day. If you can handle it, try to spend a day of detox, but even just picking up the habit of drinking the water throughout the day can be good for you.
Some good ideas for detox water that can help you burn belly fat are:
- Kiwi, lemon, pineapple water
- Cinnamon, apple, and cucumber water
- Lime, mint, and cucumber water
Not only are these detox waters delicious, but they contain great nutrients and plenty of antioxidants that will help you to get rid of toxins that may be the culprit behind your belly fat.
Give Your Body a Metabolic Boost
There are different ways that you can increase your metabolism, which will, in turn, help your body to perform better and lose weight faster. If you exercise daily but have seemed to hit a plateau, increase the intensity a bit.
It also helps if you do interval training, which is high-intensity exercise with slower breaks in between. Another way to increase your metabolism is to eat foods that are rich in omega-3 and that work as an anti-inflammatory. Fish (especially salmon) is a great way to get this special and nutritional ingredient.
Go Cycling
It's a surprising fact, but cycling does more than just build strong legs. Cycling is an aerobic exercise that when done at a steady pace with intervals can be just as beneficial as any other high-intensity cardio.
While the majority of the work is done with the legs and gluteus in riding, cyclists are also working out their abdomen in the process. When done for a few hours a few times a week, belly fat drops off quickly, and on the plus side, you will have a lot of fun doing it.
One thing that makes cycling a beneficial exercise for losing belly fat is that it is typically easier to do for a longer amount of time than other exercises, thus helping you to burn fat faster.
Consume Fiber
Fiber does two things for your body. It helps to detoxify it and get rid of the build-up of toxins while encouraging a healthy digestive system, and it also benefits you by helping you to feel full faster.
Many times, people overeat because they are eating empty calories that are doing nothing more for them than making them gain weight, and this is not how to burn belly fat. Eating fiber will help you to avoid overeating by feeling satisfied after eating a healthy amount, and will help your body to function properly.
Whether you eat bran in the morning or broccoli, legumes, and flaxseeds, these foods are all rich in fiber and are easy to add to your diet.
Minimize Your Alcohol Intake
Beer can make your belly get larger very quickly. If you like to drink a lot of beer, you may want to start cutting back on how much you consume if you want that beach body. Of course, you have to be careful with other alcohols or alcoholic drinks as well, as many of them contain sugars which also contribute to belly fat.
It's okay to enjoy a drink every now and then, but if you find that you are continuously consuming more than you should for a healthy body, look for other ways to cut back and relax. Replace those nights out with days of outdoor fun.
You can join cycling groups or yoga classes and may find that socializing with other like-minded people can be just as fun as socializing during a night out while getting rid of stomach fat.
In Summary
If you want to learn how to lose belly fat and get your body looking fit for summer fun, natural is the way to go. Losing weight naturally is not only beneficial for your figure, but it also helps your overall health.
As you eat better, exercise more, and take care of your body, not only will you lose stomach fat, but you will feel better and happier overall. While some of these methods or foods may take some time to get used to, think about your end goal — a happier, slimmer, and better you.
Start out slowly if you need to, and then build up to eating well, exercising well, and sleeping well, which is the best way to lose belly fat fast.