Five Steps To Lose Your Upper Belly Fat

While a balanced and nutritious diet can help control your weight and minimize upper belly fat, those last few stubborn pounds around your upper belly are much more difficult to eliminate. It takes a consistent, and scientifically calculated, approach to lose the last few stubborn inches on the upper belly to meet your fitness goals. When you're faced with a six pack that looks less like a six pack and more like a pile of jelly, it's tempting to just "let it go." But "letting it go" is the worst option because it's a risky proposition that puts your health and your waistline at risk.

First of all, to get rid of that extra fat around your upper belly, you need to follow a sensible eating plan. Eating food that is right for your body type can make all the difference in the world. People who are genetically-prone to obesity (or just plain overweight) need to pay close attention to what they're eating. They should avoid eating foods high in empty calories, sugars and carbohydrates, especially when they're not hungry. Foods that are high in protein, like lean meats and eggs, are also a good choice, especially if your goal is to build muscle.

The second step toward your goal of reducing upper belly fat is to improve your posture. Standing up with good posture has a number of health benefits, including better circulation and reduced risks of back injuries. If you don't stand up straight, the downward pull on your midsection can cause excess body fat to accumulate in the area of your waist, making you look even heavier than you really are. So improving your posture means standing up taller, with your head and shoulders slightly raised.

The third step toward reducing upper belly fat is to increase your consumption of vegetables and fruit. Vegetables and fruit are rich in fiber, which helps to regulate your blood sugar. Fiber helps to draw waste from your digestive tract. This waste, as it turns into food, is then eliminated from your body via your intestines. An increase in fiber consumption means that your body will have more calories to burn, which helps to reduce the buildup of waste and therefore to reduce your waist size. Many people who are dieting also eat lots of fruit and vegetables, so this combination of healthy foods is very beneficial.

The fourth step to your plan to lose fat around your middle is to increase your daily caloric intake. Increasing your calorie deficit will make it more likely that your body will burn its fat for energy. To determine your daily caloric intake, you can use the Healthy Weight Loss Pyramid recommended by the United States Department of Agriculture. Add the recommended amounts of protein, fat and carbohydrates to the pyramid. When you add the numbers together, you get your daily recommended calorie deficit.

The fifth step to your plan to lose upper belly fat is to make some changes to your diet. You should limit the amount of sugary foods you are eating and replace them with healthier alternatives. If you are currently eating a diet rich in breads, pasta and cereals, switch to whole-grain breads and pasta instead. Instead of eating white rice, try brown rice. In addition to eating healthier, you may also want to consider cutting back on your daily fat consumption.

By making these five simple changes to your diet, you will begin to see results in your abdominal area in a matter of weeks. Exercise is also important for achieving and maintaining a healthy ab muscle structure. The more muscles you have, the easier it will be for your belly to tone up and become less "boyish" looking. While this approach to weight loss may seem radical, millions of people have lost weight and increased their abdominal muscles through a combination of exercise and a healthy, balanced diet.

In conclusion, if you want to lose your upper belly fat and improve your health, learn about how your body responds to stress. In particular, watch for which parts of your body are prone to hormonal fluctuations during stress. Then, find ways to reduce the stress in those areas. A healthy diet, regular exercise and stress reduction are just a few of the factors that will help you achieve a sexy midsection.