A personal trainer has warned that carrying extra pounds around your waist could spell bad news for your health.
Martyn Oakes, head of fitness at Everlast Gyms, part of Sports Direct, shared that excess belly fat can pave the way to health problems, ranging from high blood pressure to type 2 diabetes.
The good news is that the personal trainer also shared his “top tips” for banishing stubborn belly fat.
“Whatever your reasoning for wanting to lose weight, there are plenty of simple exercises to help you hit your goals,” Oakes said.
According to the expert, one of the best ways to tackle fat in this area is cardio exercise – think running or cycling.
Oakes said: “These exercises also carry the benefit of helping to improve your overall fitness and giving you a full body workout, as well as helping your stomach specifically.
“Depending on your fitness level, you might want to start slow by going at a slower pace or beginning with short distances, but as you gain confidence and fitness you can increase the intensity.”
If cardio doesn’t sound like the right fit for you, Oakes explained that weight and resistance exercises could also help get your stomach where you want it to be.
What’s more, these simple physical movements don’t take too much time and they can be done from the comfort of your home.
Leg lifts
The first exercise that Oakes recommended are leg lifts, which involve lying on your back with your hands by your side. He instructed: “Slowly lift both legs off the ground at the same time to a 45-degree angle.
“Then slowly return your legs to the starting position. Repeat 10 times.”
60-second plank
The second top exercise requires you to lie on your front resting on your forearms. The expert said: “Position your feet together with your body forming a straight line from your heels to your head.
“Hold this position for 60 seconds. If you struggle, try shorter periods of time as you build your fitness levels.”
While there’s no definite time frame for losing belly fat using these exercises, Oakes suggested that with a healthy diet and intensive exercise, you may start seeing improvement within four weeks.
