Belly fat is a big health risk for men. Studies show that men who have too much abdominal fat are at greater risk of health problems such as heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, diabetes, sleep apnea, and some types of cancer. For this reason, losing belly fat for men is crucial.
Do You have Too Much Belly Fat?
They may be called “love handles” but there is nothing appealing about belly fat or visceral fat. Your waistline provides a good estimate of how much abdominal fat you have. In general, men with a waistline exceeding 40 inches need to lose belly fat in order to reduce the risk of heart disease and other health problems.
What Can Be Done to Lose Belly Fat?
Losing belly fat for men is important because of the health issues associated with excess visceral fat mentioned above. Unfortunately, belly or visceral fat is one of the most difficult types of fats to get rid of. If you want to reduce belly fat there are ways to speed up loss and get a flatter stomach. Just remember that not everyone can have six-pack abs. What’s important, however, is for you to trim down those extra inches in order to reduce the risk of serious health issues in the future.
The following steps can help you lose the extra fat in your stomach:
- Do cardiovascular exercises. Exercise is vital not only for weight loss but also for long-term health and fitness. It burns calories and fats, allowing you to lose body and abdominal fat.
- Build muscle. While cardio exercise helps burn fat, strength training builds muscles and raises your metabolism, thus burning more calories. Some of the best exercises for losing belly fat for men include lifting weights and doing sit-ups, crunches and pushups.
- Eat healthy foods. Fruits, vegetables and whole grains are rich in fiber, vitamins and minerals. They provide plenty of nutrients but are generally low in calories. If you want to get rid of abdominal fat, you have to consume fewer calories than you burn. Eliminate junk foods and fatty foods from your diet.
- Exercise your abdominal muscles. By strengthening your abs, your stomach will become flat more quickly. Situps and crunches will develop your abdominal muscles and lay down the foundation for rock-hard abs and a sculpted stomach.
Multiple studies show that aerobic exercise is more effective than training when it comes to losing belly fat for men. If you want a flat stomach, cut back on calorie-laden foods and do aerobic exercises in order to burn more calories.