5 reasons you don't have a flat tummy (yet)

10 July 2019

It's easy to think that you really know what to do to shift that paunch. Perhaps you are persistent with the sit-ups and routinely avoid McDonald's food, but still struggle to see a difference on your tummy. How are you supposed to finally banish those stomach rolls? However, you might be making one of the following blunders. These are all good examples of mistakes that people often make when attempting to trim their tummies.

It's easy to think that you really know what to do to shift that paunch. Perhaps you are persistent with the sit-ups and routinely avoid McDonald's food, but still struggle to see a difference on your tummy. How are you supposed to finally banish those stomach rolls?

However, you might be making one of the following blunders. These are all good examples of mistakes that people often make when attempting to trim their tummies.

You are overestimating your fat-burning

When frequenting the gym, you might be convinced that you are burning enough fat to excuse yourself sneaking an occasional extra snack. However, according to a study highlighted by Metro, normal weight people often burn three or four times less energy in the gym than they had thought.

As a result, you may over-compensate with your eating habits. By using a calorie-counting app like MyFitnessPal, you could keep closer check of how many calories you really consume.

You have cut too much fat from your diet

Paradoxical though it may seem, eating fat can help you lose fat. However, make sure that you consume monounsaturated fatty acids, which the Heath website also calls MUFAs.

In one study, researchers tasked women with taking up a 1,600-calorie diet high in MUFAs. As a result, it took the women just a month to shed a third of their belly fat. "MUFAs are satiating, so they help you eat fewer poor-quality foods," David Katz of the Yale Prevention Research Centre says.

You feel blue and so more often chew

A study by Rush University has found women with depressive symptoms much likelier to carry surplus belly fat. As low moods tend to cause lower physical activity and unhealthier eating, these are possible culprits; however, there are good reasons for depressed people to exercise.

"It improves levels of brain chemicals that regulate metabolism of fat, as well as your mood," explains Rasa Kazlauskaite of the Chicago-based Rush University Prevention Centre.

You don't engage in high-intensity interval training

Otherwise called HIIT, this form of training entails vigorously exercising in bursts before spending brief spells of gentle activity or rest. Research vouches for HIIT's ability to help shrink the belly.

"High-intensity exercise seems to be more effective at reducing insulin, triglycerides, and cortisol, and it burns more calories in less time, too," observes Shawn Talbot, an American College of Sports Medicine fellow. Activities with which HIIT is possible include cycling and running.

You are fad dieting rather than changing your lifestyle

These days, it's easy to get advice about what constitutes "healthy" food and what doesn't. However, you shouldn't expect your belly fat to speedily shrink if you too heavily consume "healthy" food due to following what, on the Mirror site, are termed "healthy halo diets".

The problem with these diets is their content of excessive calories and healthy sugars. By joining us at Prestige Boot Camp for fitness holidays, you can learn scientifically-backed ways of shifting belly fat for good. You can have a lot of fun along the way, too!