Belly Fat in Men is not Limited to That Infamous Beer Belly

Belly fat in men is becoming so common that we don't think twice about seeing a basket ball-sized stomach hanging over a man's belt. The good news, according to the Mayo Clinic, is that when people move more and eat less, belly fat is the first kind of fat to go. What we have to understand is that how to lose belly fat is more about a lifestyle change then just a quick fix.

Belly fat is the most stubborn of all fats because it is deeply entrenched. New research has found that excess abdominal fat in particular puts us at even more risk for heart disease, stroke, Type 2 diabetes, as well as Alzheimer’s disease or dementia.

Not surprisingly, how big around you are at the waist is a good indicator of whether you have too much belly fat. To figure out how much belly fat you have, use a tape measure to size up your midsection. Although measurements that compare your hip and waist circumference (waist-to-hip ratio) or compare your height and weight (body mass index) are more precise and can be useful for research, your waist size alone can give you a pretty good idea of how much belly fat you have. In men, the risk for chronic disease goes up with a belly size of 40 inches or more, according to experts at the Mayo Clinic.

Exercise

What role does exercise play in losing belly fat. Belly fat responds well to exercise, so even if you're eating a healthy diet, add some activity to your day to whittle that waistline. Exercise is essential to get your muscles needing that energy resource we love to hate, fat. There are no particular "spot" exercises that are best at reducing belly fat. But most people do lose belly fat before losing fat in other parts of their body when they get more exercise of any kind.

Losing stomach fat is more then just cutting calories and particular foods from our diets. What we have to understand is that how to lose belly fat is more about a lifestyle change then just a quick fix. While sit-ups only tighten abdominal muscles, studies show strength training can reduce belly fat. But strengthening your stomach muscles alone will not specifically reduce belly fat.

When trying to lose belly fat the important thing to remember is to include whole body exercises and to rotate your workouts in order to continually provide a challenge for your body. Brisk walking or jogging are great low cost exercises to do, but anything that you enjoy and that gets your heart rate up is fine. Sit-ups and other abdominal exercises are useful in building the abdominal muscles, but they have little effect on the adipose tissue located there.

Cardiovascular exercise

Cardiovascular exercise is good for all-round fitness, endurance and circulation. If you're looking to get fit without the intensity of common cardio equipment, then perhaps and elliptical machine is the best choice for you. This sophisticated equipment allows you to work on and harden your calves, hips, thighs and buttock muscles, while improving your cardiovascular and respiratory systems. Elliptical Motion The low impact, intensive cardiovascular workout of an elliptical trainer is achieved through smooth and natural motion. They work the upper and lower body and offer users a low impact cardiovascular workout that can vary from light to high intensity.

Elliptical trainers are a fantastic alternative to the typical cardio-exercises, such as bikes, steppers, treadmills, etc. The benefit of an upper and lower body workout, combined with low impact exercising, are the reasons why elliptical trainers are so popular. Regardless, the elliptical motion significantly reduces the impact to your joints, and that is why elliptical trainers are appealing to older individuals and people with injuries.

Conclusion

Belly fat is metabolically active and could possibly increase colon cancer risk by raising levels of certain hormones that affect cell growth, including the growth of cancer cells, and is incredibly common and it is not unlikely to see that even slim people have a tummy that they would gladly get rid of. Belly fat is often the most stubborn kind of fat to get ridof. Belly fat in men is not limited to that infamous beer belly.