Let's face it - belly fat is unattractive and hard to get rid of.
Worse, it's the most dangerous type of fat to have, linked to a number of health issues including diabetes, strokes and cancer.
If you hate exercise and still want to slim down check out these 9 best tips to lose fat fast (without the gym!).
Not everyone likes to exercise and many people find it an absolute chore rather than a pleasure!
Perhaps you’re one of those people but you’re still desperate to lose your belly fat?
Maybe the thought of going to a gym makes you break out into a sweat (and not the right kind of sweat!).
It could be that you find the gym stifling and intimidating.
You won’t be the first person to think that, lots of toned, slim bodies parading in front of you is enough to send you racing to the changing room (well, at least that makes your heart pump more blood!).
You might also hate the thought of prancing around aerobics classes, especially if you don’t find it easy to coordinate your moves and swimming is never great for the hair, let’s be honest.
So, bearing all of the above in mind, is there an easy way to lose belly fat without going to the gym?
We’re going to explore all your options right here.
1. Exercise without Realising It!
You do need some movement to trim your belly.
There are lots you can do that won’t feel like exercise but will get your body moving more frequently.
Consciously walk upstairs rather than taking the lift or the escalator.
Walk to the local shops rather than taking the car.
Park your car further away than usual to give you an extra 5-minute stroll to and from your desired destination.
Walk an extra stop to the bus stop or a longer route to the train station.
All of these give your body a chance to burn off extra calories.
If you’re feeling extra energetic, try going for a 20-minute walk, listen to a Podcast or your favorite tunes, it will make the time go far quicker.
2. Stop the Sugar
You can’t not exercise and eat sugary foods expecting your belly to slim down!
It won’t happen, something has to give.
So you need to drastically cut back your sugar intake.
Stop spooning it into your tea or coffee, ban sugary drinks and lock away your cakes, biscuits, sweets and sugary cereals.
All baked goods are off the menu! If you crave sweetness, you can eat fresh fruit (avoid dried fruit too because it’s very high in sugar).
3. Try the Keto Diet
A ketogenic diet is a brilliant way of shifting weight from your belly – fast.
However, it involves a completely different approach to your eating habits.
The bottom line is that Keto eliminates carbohydrates.
This forces your body into a “Ketogenic” state, which is when it has no option but to use fat as its source of energy and so it burns that instead.
Cut your carbs out and you will see a difference in as little as 10 days but there are usually initial side effects.
You might experience extreme lethargy and headaches while your body gets used to the new eating regime.
4. Drink Green Tea
Green tea is a known metabolism booster and really shifts it.
Switch your tea and coffee to Green tea and you will see an improvement in your weight loss.
Drink no more than 4 cups a day for best results; it is high in caffeine so if you don’t sleep well, limit it to drinking early in the day.
It’s also good for flushing out toxins and impurities from your body so it should make you feel healthier too.
5. Beat the Bloat
Sometimes, that flabby belly is also attributed to excess bloating.
If you do feel bloated, permanently, it could be you’re eating the wrong foods; you might even have an intolerance.
Fiber-rich foods should help.
Try oats, sweet potatoes and avocado.
Also, drink at least 2 liters of water a day to flush out excess fluid and keep your system flowing well.
6. Go for a Sauna or a Steam
Heat makes you sweat and that helps you reduce excess fluid.
Additionally, extreme heat actually has an effect on blood sugar control.
This was discovered during a Loughborough University study where participants were tracked; half having a very hot bath and the other half cycled and walked. (1)
Those that indulged in an hour-long bath burnt as many calories as those that took a half-hour walk (but not as much as cycling).
7. Have Sex!
Sex burns approximately 70 calories (women) and 100 calories (men) so keeping it nice and regular could help you trim down your belly – surely good news for many!
8. Drink Water Before, During and After a Meal
If you know that you over-eat, drink a tall tumbler of water before you sit down to a meal.
You’ll line your stomach and help yourself to stop eating too much in one go.
Sip water throughout your meal and always take time to slowly chew and swallow your food.
If you eat too quickly, your brain doesn’t register that you feel full until much later. It needs time to catch up!
That’s one reason why you might over-eat.
Always conclude your meal with another glass of water too, to stop you from reaching for snacks later on!
9. De-Stress
Sometimes over-eating or reaching for sugary snacks is down to a stressful lifestyle.
It is easy to advise you to reduce your stress levels but not as easy to put into practice.
If you think that this sounds familiar, you really should try and take steps to reduce anxiety.
It might mean a trip to your doctor to discuss what troubles you or it could be as simple as factoring in relaxation time so your body unwinds.
When you’re stressed, you release the stress hormone cortisol, which makes your blood sugar spike and that’s what leads to comfort eating.
A warm soak in a bubble bath with dim lights and a good book might help; going to bed listening to soft music in a dark room could improve your sleep quality, removing all electronic devices at least 2 hours before bed is another winner.
Promise yourself that you won’t look at or answer work emails after 6.30pm at night to give yourself time to switch off.
Maybe it’s family that makes you feel frustrated and anxious?
Do you need extra help with the children?
Could a family or friend help take the load off once in a while?
Write down what worries you and then 24 hours later, go back to that list and try and come up with achievable solutions for each.
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