Commonly Asked Questions on How to Lose Belly Fat

If you are a woman over 40 you likely have several questions about losing belly fat.

In this article I respond to the most frequent questions regarding losing belly fat for women over 40.

What are specific foods to avoid?
You need to reduce your fat intake- particularly on trans fats and saturated fats. Saturated fats are contained in milk, chocolate (sorry, ladies), fatty meats and some kinds of oil, for instance palm oil or coconut oil.
Simple, empty carbohydrates are not good for you too. White flour, white rice, white bread and pasta all contain empty carbohydrates. Sugar isn't good for you too. Fruit sugar isn't good for you too.

How do I avoid cravings?
Keep your blood sugar level constant as much as possible. To accomplish this, get every 2-3 hours a small meal. Just make sure, that the calories do not add up and you don't go over your daily limit. Get adequate fiber to make you feel full- mineral and vitamin-rich vegetables are good for that.

Is cardiovascular exercise assisting me in losing belly fat?
Cardio helps a good deal- it’s the type of training which will make you burning fat the best while you are training. Use varied  intensity levels in your training. Challenge yourself to be completely out of breath, catch your breath in the next 2 to 3 minutes, and then challenge yourself again. If you can do this everyday, your physical fitness will improve greatly. You’ll burn calories after your workout as well, helping you losing belly fat.

I do not want to get bulky. Should I do strength training?
As a woman, you would have to train very hard to become bulky. Increasing muscle mass will assist you burning fat when you are not physically active, for example while you’re sleeping. Fat tissue does not burn fat but  muscles do. So it’s a sound idea to replace fat with lean muscle.

Do exercises for the abs (sit-ups, crunches, etc.) help?
Yes and no. Some people think "if I have fat on  my abs and I'm training my abs then I will lose  fat on my abs". That’s a myth. But: If you strengthen your abdominal muscles, you will burn more calories- more muscles mean automatically more calories burnt. In addition, it can be much simpler for you to maintain a flat belly if your abdominal muscles are well developed.

I’ve heard that sleep is important in losing belly fat. Is it actually true?
Yes, that’s true. The fewer sleep a person gets, the higher the likelihood of being obese. Generally, you need to have adequate time for yourself- stress increases your risks of being overweight and obese.

Do Pilates or Yoga help?
Pilates and Yoga help a lot. They make  your midsection stronger and challenge  your cardiovascular system. People might even perceive you as  more powerful and energetic because your posture improves.

I've answered some  common questions regarding losing belly fat especially for women over 40. Since the lifestyle of women over 40 varies greatly, you might consider joining a program allowing you to ask questions regarding your special situation.