Tummy fat can often feel almost impossible to shift. In fact, research suggests it is the hardest part of the body to lose fat from.
Whether you’re trying to shed the pounds or tone up, losing fat around the stomach can make you feel better about yourself, reports MirrorOnline. If you are having issues shedding the fat, Dr Michael Mosley has some tips that could help you.
He has shared his three golden rules for fighting the fat. His tips are designed to help shed the pounds quickly.
He said: “To make a serious impact on your belly fat, cutting out sugar spikes is key. A surprising number of ‘diet’ snacks and drinks are high in sugar and are marketed as diet foods because they happen to be low in fat.”
In other words: “Limit your intake of any food or drink containing more than 5% sugar to no more than twice a week.”
Dr Mosley says this includes things such as smoothies and juices as well as pineapples and mangoes. Sugar is one of the main kinds of carbohydrates, and so many carbohydrate foods that might not seem sugary at first could also actually be high in the sweet stuff.
He says processed foods such as white bread, pasta and chips should be swapped for the likes of quinoa or brown rice. Dr Mosley said: “Two things will surprise you: the amount of sugar you were consuming unawares and the speed at which your belly fat will begin to tame itself when you cut it out.”
The Fast800 website says that compared to a low-fat diet, “lower-carb diets can lead to two to three times more weight loss”.
Intermittent fasting
Intermittent fasting is based on the idea of eating on a regular schedule for a time and then removing food for another. Dr Mosley explains that a day of fasting shouldn’t involve eating more than 800 calories.
He claims: “Not only do you simply lose weight by eating fewer calories, but your body responds to the stress of fasting by enhancing hormone function to facilitate weight loss and burn fat for energy. Short-term fasting can lead to several changes in the body that make fat burning easier.”
Do high-intensity training
Dr Mosley says that exercise is vital for many different reasons, adding: “It is amongst the best things you can do for a long and healthy life.”
It is however worth mentioning that the exercise alone won’t be enough for getting rid of that last bit of stubborn fat. But it certainly does help your chances of keeping it off.
