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The Secrets to Losing Stubborn Body Fat

February 20, 2021/in Weight Loss /by David Blair

Losing fat takes more than just regular crunches. Each person’s body is different and some people are genetically predisposed to lose or gain weight in certain areas of the body. Body fat can be harmful, too, though. According to studies, visceral fat is linked to a risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease.

Losing fat can be difficult, but there are some tips to reduce fat and even get your body toned and lean. Diet, exercise and lifestyle choices are all important factors in the loss (and gain) of body fat, so it’s essential to commit to more than just cutting out certain foods or thinking that going to the gym will be enough.

Diet

Eat more fibre

Nutritionists can’t recommend fibre enough since even eating small portions of fibre-rich foods can make you feel full for a longer period of time. Soluble fiber in particular absorbs water and helps slow down food as your body digests it. Great sources of fibre are whole grains, beans, nuts, Brussel sprouts, avocados and blackberries.

Eat more protein

A proper meal should contain the proper amounts of protein, carbohydrates and fats. Consider adding more protein to your diet since, like fibre, it increases satiety while making you feel full. Go for lean proteins like chicken, fish, Greek yoghurt and nuts.

Avoid trans fats

There are healthy fats and there are unhealthy fats, and trans fats are some of the unhealthiest you can consume. These are found in packaged foods like margarines and spreads and can add more fat to your body.

Limit alcohol intake

Beer gut is a real problem because excessive alcohol intake can indeed lead to more belly fat. Ideally, limit your alcoholic intake to 1-2 glasses of wine or beer and have at least 2 days alcohol free per week. If possible, cut out all together until you reach your desired weight.

Lessen sugary foods

Sugar is one of the biggest culprits when it comes to weight gain and messing up your body’s hormones. Cut back on sweets, but also avoid alternative sweeteners, like agave syrup and artificial sweeteners.

Cut back refined carbs

Carbs are often considered a great enemy of people attempting to lose weight, but it’s important to cut out unhealthy carbs since you still need carbs for a balanced diet. Reduce your consumption of refined carbs, like sugars, high fructose corn syrup, agave syrup, and refined grains, such as white flour.

Exercise

Do more aerobic exercises

Cardio or aerobic exercises has been found to be an effective way to burn calories and reduce belly fat. One study followed postmenopausal women doing aerobic exercise for 300 minutes per week and they lost fat from all areas more than women who exercises half as much per week.

Try resistance training

Weight-lifting can actually melt off fat. One study showed that overweight teens combined strength training and aerobic exercise to decrease the amount of visceral fat in their bodies.

Lifestyle

Reduce stress levels

Cortisol is increased in the body when it’s under stress and excessive cortisol has been found to become stored in the midsection of your body. Try some stress-busting activities (like working out or getting enough sleep) to avoid more fat increase.

Sources: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/20-tips-to-lose-belly-fat#section2

https://www.eatthis.com/lose-body-fat/

Reasons Why You’re Not Losing Belly Fat

November 18, 2019/in Weight Loss /by David Blair

Who doesn’t wish they had a little less abdominal fat? Maybe sometimes your favourite pair of jeans suddenly refuse to button close. Maybe your beer gut is getting out of control. Vanity reasons aside, excess visceral fat that surrounds your organs is linked to heart disease, type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance and some cancers.

If you’ve already tried every kind of diet and workout, yet still haven’t seen a change, there are plenty of reasons why you may be failing to lose your belly fat. Genetics, hormones and lifestyle changes are just some of the factors that influence your gain and loss of body fat.

Age

As we get older, it seemingly becomes easier to gain weight and harder to lose it. Over time, our metabolic rates decline due to a loss of muscle mass and oftentimes decreasing activity levels. Women, in particular, find difficulty losing weight since they have to deal with menopause. During menopause, weight gain is more likely to go to the abdominal area.

Wrong workout

If your workout simply consists of crunches, planks and long jogs, it’s time to switch things up. According to experts, if you want to strengthen your core, you want a more comprehensive routine that works on multiple muscle groups at once. The more muscles engaged, the more calories burned. Exercises that help melt belly fat include squats, deadlifts, push-ups, pull-ups, thrusters and rows. High intensity interval training (HIIT) will also help in reducing body fat.

Wrong fats

Yes, you can combat your belly fat by eating more fats–just as long as you’re eating the right kind and in moderation. Certain sources of healthy fats can have anti-inflammatory effects on your body, which can reduce bloating. These sources are olive oil, avocados, walnuts, sunflower seeds, and fatty fish like salmon.

Processed foods

Processed foods are rich in salt and in added sugar, which do no good for your body. They increase the inflammation in the body and inflammation is related to an increase in belly fat. Avoid white bread, crackers, crisps, frozen meals, and soft drinks.

Too much alcohol

Your “beer gut” is indeed related to beer or at least your preferred choice of alcoholic drink. Studies show that intake of beer is associated with abdominal obesity. You can still enjoy one glass of clear liquor or wine, but steer clear of sugary mixed drinks.

Lacking magnesium

One nutrient your body might be lacking is magnesium. Among the roles of magnesium in the body are regulating blood sugar levels, keeping the heart rhythm steady and aiding in weight and belly fat loss. One study observed that magnesium supplement intake can also help with fluid retention, which will make you feel less bloated. Leafy greens, beans and nuts are great natural sources of magnesium.

Stress

An increase of cortisol in the body occurs when you’re feeling stressed. This hormone enlarges the fat cells and increases visceral fat. Not getting enough sleep due to stress can also be a problem. Too little sleep increases the presence of ghrelin, a hormone that stimulates appetite.

Natural Ways To Keep Healthy Blood Sugar Levels

September 22, 2019/in Nutrition, Weight Loss /by David Blair

Maintaining healthy blood sugar levels is not just beneficial for those coping with diabetes or pre-diabetes. When our blood glucose levels are regulated, this means all sorts of positive side effects. Blood sugar levels affect our energy, hormone production, moods, weight, cravings, memory, and the risk of related diseases, like diabetes, metabolic syndrome and heart disease. The hormone insulin should help the body process sugar. However, the cells in our body can become resistant to insulin when there’s too much of it and it gets stored in the fat.

Your diet certainly plays a huge factor when it comes to your blood sugar levels. If you’re fond of consuming soft drinks, pastries, chips, cakes and other highly processed foods, then you’re not doing your blood sugar levels any favours. You might argue that satisfying these cravings can alleviate your hunger, mood and energy, but have you noticed that satiated feeling doesn’t last very long? These foods very quickly release sugar into the body. So, what you’re getting is creating a sugar high and after that, you crash and the cravings, fatigue and mood swings return to demand more of the same foods.

Other lifestyle choices, like your sleeping habits and exposure to and ability to deal with stress, influence your blood glucose health. Once you start working on these improvements, you can see for yourself the effects.

Less (bad) carbs

Sugar doesn’t just mean the granulated sugar you add to your cup of coffee or to a recipe for cake. One way you’re putting sugar into your system is through carbohydrates. When the body breaks down carbohydrates, it turns it into sugars, like glucose. Consuming too many carbohydrates means putting a strain on your insulin function, and blood glucose levels can rise as a result. The worst sort of carbohydrates for us are the overly processed and refined kind, like sugary drinks, sweets and junk food. While some other foods are still considered sources of carbohydrates, they’re much healthier and more natural. These include whole grains, nuts, legumes, vegetables and fruits.

More foods with a low glycemic index

The glycemic index or GI indicates how carbohydrates in certain foods affect your blood sugar levels. Those high up on the index take a short time to be processed by the body and can cause spikes in blood sugar, while those foods low on the index release sugar at a much slower rate. Some great examples of such foods are seafood, meat, eggs, oats, beans, lentils, sweet potatoes and corn.

More fibre

Fibre has plenty of benefits that help with digestion and this includes how the body processes carbohydrates and absorbs sugar. Eating more soluble fibre can lower your blood sugar levels, studies have shown. A high-fibre diet can even help regulate type 1 diabetes. Fibre-rich foods include vegetables, fruits, legumes and whole grains.

Stay hydrated

Drinking enough water also affects your blood glucose levels. Your kidneys should be able to flush out excess blog sugar through your urine. Stick to plain water and avoid sweetened drinks.

More physical activity

Your body should become more sensitive to insulin with regular exercise. Better insulin sensitivity means less excess sugar in your system. Excess blood sugar can also be utilised for energy and muscle contraction when you’re working out.

More (and better) sleep

Another factor that affects insulin sensitivity is getting enough quality sleep. A lack of sleep has also been found to sway appetite and mood swings in a negative way. Not enough sleep also aggravates your cortisol levels, which means more stress. More stress causes cravings, irritability and a whole lot of other risky problems.

Does Sleep Help You Lose Weight?

March 10, 2019/in Weight Loss /by David Blair

In every guide for losing weight or maintaining a fit lifestyle, there’s always a note about getting more sleep or adhering to healthy sleeping patterns. But, what’s the science behind this? How does sleeping more or sleeping better help our bodies, especially when we want to lose weight?

Sleep can be just as important as your diet and exercise. In fact, a lack of sleep could just be what’s stopping you from reaching your fitness goals despite your hours at the gym and constant clean eating. When we think of weight loss, we usually think of cutting back on calories and being more physically active. The key, however, is balance, especially if you ascribe to a fast-paced and stressful lifestyle. Balance includes rest and regeneration, and there’s no better way to achieve that than through sleep.

Getting enough sleep is so crucial to one’s health that, according to one report, sleep deprivation kills 3,000 Australians each year. This number of deaths were all linked to sleep deprivation. The study also concluded that 9.8 percent of Australian adults experience some form of inadequate sleep. Aside from affecting our energy levels, sleep also influences our food cravings, calorie intake, fat cells, metabolism and insulin sensitivity.

In terms of research, weight loss and sleep have been proven to be linked. One study observed that when dieters are put on varied sleeping schedules, they also lose a varied amount of weight. Getting enough sleep made them lose fat, but less hours for sleep resulted in half that amount of fat loss. The participants also felt more hungry and lacked energy to exercise when they cut back on sleep.

An important factor in weight loss is our appetite and sleep or lack of can affect our calorie intake. One study with participants on four hours of sleep eat 559 more calories than those who got eight hours of sleep. Other studies have also observed that these extra calories are consumed as post-dinner or late-night snacks, which can make falling asleep more difficult and affect digestion.

If you have a hard time battling cravings, ask yourself if you’re getting enough sleep. Leptin is a hormone that is crucial in resisting tempting foods and making healthy choices. When the body produces less leptin, the more the stomach feels empty. Our cravings are also affected by the hormone ghrelin, the more of which increases appetite and the amount of fat the body stores. Sleeping less than six hours has been found to decrease leptin and increase ghrelin. Another vital hormone is cortisol or the stress hormone. The more stressed we are, the more cortisol is produced and this can persuade us to reach for sugary junk food as well as gain more fat.

Metabolism is also a significant factor as we still burn calories when we’re at rest. Our resting metabolic rate or RMR could be lowered due to sleep deprivation. According to one research, keeping awake for 24 hours decreased RMR by 5 percent compared to a regular amount of rest. Lack of sleep can also result in a reduction in muscle mass which leads to a reduction in metabolic rate which can lead to storing additional energy as fat.