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How to Lose Belly Fat

Four Basics to Trim the Belly
BY: T. Franklin Murphy  | June 1, 2015 (modified January 30, 2023)

A man trying to button his pants over a large belly.
Adobe Stock Images
Belly fat is not only unsightly but unhealthy. These four techniques help  you lose that unwanted fat.


Belly fat, we all have it. Fat is an essential part of our human makeup. Until recent centuries, obesity was monopolized by royalty. Few people enjoyed the luxury of rich foods and limited exercise until the industrialization of the world. Obesity is now an epidemic. Comfort—once a luxury—is now an expectation. As our species enjoys the comforts of modern living, they also are ganging the mid-section bulge only the kings possessed. We look in the mirror and the last thing we contemplate is royalty.

Belly fat has grown out of style. It is not a sign of prosperity. Americans spend billions of dollars a year to reduce the size of their midsections. Is a flat tummy just a cosmetic fad or is there more substance to all the hype? The fat around mid-section has a biological purpose. It is referred to as a visceral fat.

Visceral fat forms around the organs providing the organs with protection. I suppose that for much of human history calories were not readily available, while survival demanded an excess of exercise, limiting the health problems associated with expanding waistlines. It was a luxury to have the extra calories stored as fat. Because of the biological importance of eating and a history of starvation, we biologically divert extra calories to visceral fat first.

Evolution takes thousands of years to catch up to environmental changes. We now live in a calorie rich environment. Fast food is always available. A burger and fries is available for a few dollars. These small, convenient  meals can pack more calories than our ancestors consumed in several days. Calorie rich and nutrient poor is the common enemy of our day.


Visceral Fat and Your Health

​​Scientific studies have repeatedly shown that excessive visceral fat has damaging effects on health. Excessive visceral fat that gathers around the organs interfere with healthy functioning. The overabundant fat is associated with hypertension, cardiovascular heart disease, type two diabetes, and even cancer.


Four Ways to Lose Belly Fat

​​There is no magic pill or exercise for reducing belly fat—although many proclaim to have the cure. There are, however, several positive steps we can take to lose the inches, and restore healthier functioning to our vital organs. These cures are not glamorous but are effective.


​​1. Exercise
​Vigorous exercise burns fat including stubborn belly fat. It increases muscle mass, which then increases the body’s metabolism. Whole body engagement attacks the fat more than specific abdominal focused exercises like crunches.

Your current fitness level determines what is or is not vigorous exercise. A brisk walk, circuit training, or interval training all can burn calories and challenge current fitness levels, depending on your state of fitness. If you have been inactive or are making significant changes to your routines, consult with your doctor.

2. Healthy Diet
​​Make your calories count. Nutrition is the foundation of health. Whole body health is not simply a calorie restricted diet. Calorie restriction when employed haphazardly can be as damaging as over indulging. Eliminate trans-fats (often listed as hydrogenated oils) and saturated fats, processed foods and simple carbohydrates (sugars and refined flours) while simultaneously increasing whole foods. Increased fiber intake has been shown to reduce visceral fat. Healthy fats from nuts, fish and avocado also have been associated with visceral fat loss. Dr. Oz suggests adding low fat dairy products and green tea to your diet to help fight visceral fat (2017).

3. Proper Sleep
​Sleep is essential for a well-functioning body. Multiple studies have shown that inadequate and poor quality sleep lead to food cravings, weigh gain and higher susceptibility to disease. Most people require 6-8 hours of sleep a night to function properly. Too much or too little sleep can affect healthy processing of calories and lead to visceral fat gain.
​

Books on This Topic:

4. Reduce Stress
An overabundance of stress interferes with health. Sleep, diet and exercise all lower stress. Life is stressful by nature. Relationships, finances, and uncertainty all induce stress. We never completely eliminate stress but we can effectively manage it. By improving relationships, finances and health, our lives flow smoother. We can also integrate other stress reducing activities such as meditation, yoga, and nature into our busy day.
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T. Franklin Murphy
T. Franklin Murphy
Wellness. Writer. Researcher.
​T. Franklin Murphy has a degree in psychology. He tirelessly researches scientific findings that contribute to wellness. In 2010, he began publishing his findings.

​
​Resources:

Collins, S. (2014). The Truth About Belly Fat. WebMD.

Landa, J. (2013). 7 tips to reduce belly fat. Fox News

Oz, M. (2017). Lose Belly Fat: Dr. Oz’s 5 Tips For A Flatter Stomach

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​Other Flourishing Life Society articles of interest on this topic:
Healthy diets are more than cutting calories. We need nutrient rich food to feed our cells. Healthy consumption is the foundation of well-being, impacting our minds, moods, and relationships.
Flourishing Life Society article link. Exercise and Mental Health
FLS internal Link. My Amazing Discoveries in Wellness. We provide the unconscious mind with conscious work. The mind intertwines philosophies to create a personal narrative that promotes wellness.
Healthy Eating for Immune Support. A Flourishing Life Society article link
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A Flourishing Life Society article link. Balancing Life's Opposing Demands
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FLS Link. Strengthening the Immune System. Our immune system can use a boost from healthy living. We strengthen our resilience to infection and disease through daily choices.
Healthy Sleep Habits to Boost Your Mental Well-Being. A Flourishing Life Society article link
Starting a Personal Fitness Program. A Flourishing Life Society article link
Ultraprocessed Foods. An Unhealthy Choice. A Flourishing Life Society article image link
Flourishing Life Society internal Link. How to Lose Belly Fat
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