Even though a little belly fat can be a good thing because it protects the delicate organs in your stomach as well as your intestines, it can easily become a problem when you have way too much of it.
Excessive belly fat can lead to serious consequences such as diabetes and heart diseases.
Below is a list of 12 unhealthy habits you probably have that you need to lose if you want to lose belly fat.
1. Stress Eating
When you are going through a hard emotional and stressful time, you’ve probably noticed that you crave (and eat) junk food more than usual. This is because junk food tastes good and it can be very comforting for you during stressful times.
Under stressful circumstances, it is best to choose any activity that does not involve eating. We all know that emotional eating equals unhealthy eating. When you feel stressed next time, try to drink a glass of water and go for a walk instead. Talking to a friend can also help.
2. Eating From A Large Plate
The size of the plate from which you are eating can also be a cause for your belly fat. Many studies have found that there is a correlation between the size of the plate and gaining weight. Meaning, the larger the plate is, the more stored fat in your belly.
This is because on a large plate you have more space for food, so you tend to overeat. You can easily avoid this by choosing a small plate next time, and resist your urge to refill your dish.
3. Having Late Night Snacks
It is a known fact that your body burns fat while you are sleeping. However, this stops being true if you go to bed with a full stomach. By laying down, gravity is unable to do its job and push the food down to your tummy.
Besides, by eating late at night, you increase the risk of problems with indigestion and acid reflux.
We suggest you to consider eating small portions of light food at night and don’t go to bed for at least 2 to 3 hours after dinner.
4. Drinking Fizzy Drinks
There is not a thing that soda will do for your body except destroy it. It is the blunt truth. Some studies have shown that drinking soda on a daily basis can increase your waist 5 times faster than those who hardly ever consume it.
Even if you opt for the ‘diet’ version – it won’t make a difference. They all contain artificial sweeteners which will increase your appetite leading to weight gain, and because of the enormous quantity of sugar, it can cause diabetes.
You should remove soda from your diet as soon as possible and replace this deadly drink with healthier choices, such as smoothies, freshly squeezed juices, and the best option of all– water!
5. Drinking Processed Fruit Juices
Yes, the label may say 100% natural, but that is far from the truth. These “natural” juices are full of sugar even though the bottle says “no sugar added.”
Although some may contain vitamins, the quantity of fructose they have in them is what causes weight gain and belly fat. Your best option is home-made juices.
6. Not Consuming Healthy Fats
It is not true that all fats are bad for you. There are healthy fats that are essential for your body called monounsaturated fats.
You can find them in avocados and olive oilseeds, and they will help you in losing belly fat. However, be careful only to use them in moderation.
7. Not Having Enough Protein In Your Diet
With increasing your protein intake levels you are reducing the insulin levels in your body thus resulting in a faster metabolism. Moreover, protein helps in producing hormones responsible for reducing the appetite.
An average person needs 20 to 25 grams of proteins in a meal. However, this can vary from person to person. For a protein boost, try to eat more foods such as cheese, eggs, turkey, salmon, lentils, and skinless chicken.
8. Menopause
Gaining weight during menopause is a very common problem for the majority of women.
During puberty, the increased estrogen levels signal the body to start producing fats in the hips and thighs’ area as a preparation for pregnancy. In menopause, however, there is a sudden drop in estrogen levels resulting in the accumulation of fats in the belly area instead of the hips and thighs.
Try eating healthy and exercising regularly to reduce the effects of menopause.
9. Alcohol
Regular consummation of alcohol can stop the fat burning processes in your body thus leading to fat storage in your belly.
And while drinking one glass of red wine can be healthy, any other alcohol when consumed in large amounts can be damaging to your liver, and it can cause inflammation. The solution is to drink it rarely and in moderation.
10. Lack of Physical Activity
Not exercising enough or not exercising at all is one of the main reasons for gaining weight. Leading an inactive lifestyle stops the fat burning process which can result in fat storing up in your belly.
You can always start exercising regularly even for 30 minutes a day. You can start small like for example taking the stairs instead of the elevator, or walking to a smaller destination instead of going by car.
11. Eating Trans Fat Food
Food that is rich in trans fats is the most unhealthy for you. Trans fats are created with the addition of hydrogen to the unsaturated fats in order to make them stable.
Foods that have a lot of trans fats in them include crackers, biscuits, muffins, fast food, baking mixes, and almost 95% of all fried food.
You should, by all means, try to avoid these products because trans fats are linked to weight gain and fat storage.
12. Lack of Intense Workouts
By following regular intense workout plan, you will lose the belly fat quickly. Besides, you can lower your insulin levels which can help you to burn more calories.
We have prepared a workout plan for you to lose your belly fat fast without having to run or jog.
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