How to Lose Belly Fat

PDF download Download Article
PDF download Download Article

Belly fat is associated with many health issues and diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer. Specifically, it's the deepest layer of belly fat that poses health risks. That's because these "visceral" fat cells actually produce hormones and other substances that can affect your health. [1] There are many dangerous and ineffective gimmicks about how to lose belly fat. While there is no "magic bullet" that will target abdominal fat in particular, this article will explain what causes an expanding waistline and how you can make that spare tire go away.

Part 1
Part 1 of 4:

Jump-starting Your Metabolism

PDF download Download Article
  1. It might seem counterproductive to eat if you're trying to lose weight, but studies show that eating breakfast within an hour of waking up keeps your insulin levels steadier and your LDL cholesterol levels lower. [2]
    • Choose a protein: eggs, beans, peanut butter, nuts, lean meat.
    • Choose a fiber: oats, fresh fruit, leafy green vegetables.
    • Minimize refined sugar: Avoid sugary cereal, pancakes, pastries, instant oatmeal
    • Oats and other high-fiber carbs maintain healthy blood sugar levels, making it easier to lose weight.
  2. Research indicates that the secretion of cortisol (a hormone your body produces during times of stress) is correlated with an increase in belly fat. [3] Some strategies for combating everyday stress:
    • Most people need at least 7 hours of sleep every night. Stop using screens, such as computers and tablets, thirty minutes before bedtime to ensure the best quality of sleep. [4]
    • Set aside time to relax. Even if it's only 15 minutes on your lunch break, find time to simply close your eyes, breathe deeply, and forget your worries.
    • Keep anything that stresses you away from where you sleep as much as is practically possible. Keep your workspace and bedroom separate. Resolve to leave your worries behind as soon as you step into your bedroom.
    Advertisement
  3. In one study where men reduced their daily steps from about 10,000 to less than 1,500 (without changing their diet), their visceral (belly) fat increased by 7% after just 2 weeks. [5]
    • Try to walk everywhere within a reasonable distance. Walk to work, school, or the grocery store if possible.
    • Get a pedometer and try to increase the number of daily steps you take.
    • Take stairs instead of elevators; walk instead of driving.
    • Stand up and walk for 30 steps every 30 minutes. If you have a sedentary job, consider getting a treadmill desk or stand-up desk.
  4. In a scientific study, people who ate all whole grains (in addition to five servings of fruits and vegetables, three servings of low-fat dairy, and two servings of lean meat, fish, or poultry) lost more belly fat than another group that ate the same diet, but with all refined grains. [6]
    • Whole grains are high in fiber, which makes you feel full longer. This will help you eat less, which will help you lose weight.
    • Avoid white grains. For instance, eat brown wheat bread instead of over-processed white bread, and favor wild brown rice over white rice.
  5. Studies suggest that consistently drinking water throughout the day can lead to a more active metabolism, regardless of dieting. [7] Drinking more water also helps your body flush out waste/toxins and improves your overall health.
    • Aim to drink an 8-oz. glass of water 8 times per day, or 64 ounces total.
    • Carry a water bottle so that you can drink whenever you feel thirsty.
    • Know how to tell when you're sufficiently hydrated. You'll know you're drinking enough water when your urine runs light yellow or almost clear. If it's darker than a post-it note, drink more.
    • Significantly reduce alcohol, sugary drinks (like sweet tea, Kool-Aid, fruit punch, fruit juice, Coke, 7-Up, and Pepsi.), and carbonated beverages. [8]

    Tracey Farley

    May 3, 2017

    "I want to start losing weight, and reading your information gives me a better sense of understanding, like I need ..." more
    6. Advertisement
Part 2
Part 2 of 4:

Dieting for Fat Loss

PDF download Download Article
  1. Unless you restrict calorie intake, you won't lose belly fat. Keep track of your daily calorie consumption by using a program such as MyFitnessPal or the USDA SuperTracker to record everything that you eat.
    • Remember that it takes a 3500-calorie deficit to lose one pound of fat. That is, you have to either burn off 3500 calories through exercise or eat 3500 calories less than you burn in a week. Break this up into daily limits. To burn 3500 calories a week, you should aim to have a 500 calorie deficit every day. For example, you can exercise to burn 250 calories and cut 250 calories from your diet.
    • Aim to lose a maximum of two pounds per week. [9] Losing any more than that can be unhealthy and leads to a cycle of "crash" dieting, in which you rapidly gain back any lost weight.
    • Keep a food diary. Most people tend to underestimate how much they eat. Get an honest assessment of your eating habits by writing down everything you consume for a week. Utilize an online calorie calculator, and figure out roughly how many calories you're consuming in a day. From there, see what you can afford to cut.
    • Try a diet in which you consume 2200 calories (men) or 2000 calories (women) per day. This should cause a deficit sufficient for you to lose one or two pounds per week, depending on your activity level. Some women may require lower daily calorie intake, such as 1800 or 1500 a day. Start by limiting yourself to a 2000 calorie limit per day, and lower the limit if you do not see progress.
    • Do not consume less than 1200 calories per day.
    • Tracking your food intake can help you be more aware of what your eating habits are and how they affect your physical and mental health.
    • Reader Poll: We asked 203 wikiHow readers and 49% said that they don’t track their food intake . [Take Poll] But studies show that this is an effective way to lose weight, so if you haven't tried yet, that's a great, expert-backed tip to support your fitness journey!
  2. Studies suggest that a diet with a higher ratio of monounsaturated fats like avocados, nuts, seeds, soybeans, and chocolate — can prevent the accumulation of belly fat. [10]
    • Trans fats (in margarines, crackers, cookies, or anything made with partially hydrogenated oils) seem to result in more fat being deposited in the abdomen. Avoid these as much as possible.
  3. Get more fiber in your diet . Soluble fiber (such as that found in apples, oats, and cherries) lowers insulin levels which can speed up the burning of visceral belly fat. Women should aim to consume 25 g of fiber per day while men should aim for 30 g a day. [11]
    • Add fiber to your diet slowly. If you are currently getting 10g of fiber a day, don't jump to 35g of fiber the next day. The natural bacteria in your digestive system requires time to adapt to your new fiber intake.
    • Eat the skin on your fruits and vegetables. Incorporating more fruits and vegetables into your diet adds fiber, but only if you eat the skin, as that's where most of the fiber is. Don't peel those apples before you eat them.
    • With potatoes, leave the skin on (with baked or mashed potatoes) or if you peel them, make snacks of them. For example, drizzle olive oil, rosemary, salt, and garlic on the peels and bake at 400 F (205 C) for fifteen minutes for baked Parmesan garlic peels. Keeping the skin on potatoes when cooking them helps keep more vitamins/minerals in the flesh (just don't eat any parts of skin that are green).
    • Eat more split pea soup. Split peas are a fiber "power food". Just one cup of them contains 16 g of fiber. [12]
    4. Advertisement
Part 3
Part 3 of 4:

Exercising for Fat Loss

PDF download Download Article
  1. Research shows that interval training, or alternating short bursts of energy with brief resting periods, can improve muscle and build endurance more quickly than traditional exercise. [13]
  2. Do aerobic exercises which get your heart pumping, burn calories quickly and facilitate fat loss all over the body, including your belly. You can't "spot-burn" belly fat, but it's usually the first to burn off when you exercise, regardless of body shape or size. [14]
    • Time your miles. Track your progress by timing how long it takes to run a mile. As cardiovascular stamina improves, you'll notice the time going down.
    • Correct shin splints. If you get painful shin splints (pain along the front of your shins when you run), you may be over-pronating (landing with most of your weight on the outer side of your foot). There are shoes designed specifically to help alleviate this.
    • Don't overdo it. Start with three cardio workouts a week, or alternate cardio with lighter exercises like walking for thirty minutes daily. Pushing yourself hard every day doesn't allow your body enough time to recover and build up muscle, and could lead to injury.
  3. A 2006 study published in the International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism suggests that combining cardiovascular (aerobic) exercise with resistance training is more effective than cardiovascular training alone in getting rid of abdominal fat. [15] You can do resistance training with free weights, exercise machines or resistance bands and it may also be useful to train from unstable positions due to increased muscle activity.
  4. Abdominal crunches and sit-ups should build strong muscles, but you might not see them under belly fat. In fact, crunches might actually make your stomach look bigger as you build up thicker abs. Instead, if you strengthen your back muscles, your posture will improve and pull in your belly.
    • Try Planks: Get in the push up position, but rest on your elbows and forearms. Pull your stomach muscles in tight, keeping your back, neck, and bottom in a straight line. Hold this position for 30 seconds or as long as possible. Rest and repeat 3-5 times.
    • Squats: Stand with your feet about 8 inches (20 cm) apart. Extend your arms in front of you and do four sets of 15-20 squats.
    • Try side stretches: Stand up straight, with your feet hip-width apart. Put your right hand on your right hip, and lift your left arm straight up, with the palm facing right. Keeping your legs centered, lean to the right and "reach" over with your left arm, stretching your left side. Repeat 3-5 times on each side.
    5. Advertisement
Part 4
Part 4 of 4:

Measuring Progress

PDF download Download Article
  1. Your waist-to-hip ratio — or the circumference of your waist divided by the circumference of your hips — can be a good indicator of whether you need to lose belly fat. Here's how to get it:
    • Wrap a soft tape measure around the thinnest part of your waist at the level of your navel. Note the measurement.
    • Wrap the tape measure around the widest part of your hips, where you can feel a bony protrusion about 1/3 of the way from the top of the hipbone. Note the measurement.
    • Divide your waist measurement by your hip measurement.
    • Know what's healthy. Women should have a ratio of 0.8 or below; men should be at 0.9 or lower. [16]
  2. After incorporating some of the above strategies, keep measuring so you can see your progress.
    • The way bodies distribute fat is largely beyond control and can be dependent on several factors (genetics, menopause, etc.). What is within your control is your level of body fat overall — if you keep that low, it won't really matter where the fat goes, as there won't be much fat in the first place.
  3. Because body weight fluctuates depending on the time of day, when you last ate or when you last had a bowel movement, standardize the process by weighing yourself at the same time each day. Many people choose to do this the first thing in the morning, before breakfast.
    4. Advertisement

How Can I Shrink My Stomach Without Exercising?


Dietary Changes and Exercises to Help Lose Belly Fat

Comments

  • R. Nathaniel Smith

    Mar 31, 2017

    "I am not doing 50% of what you suggested, but I am in the ball park and needed more details as those presented. I ..." more

  • Ernest Wright

    Jul 16, 2016

    "I have been trying to find something that worked for a long time. The most important thing that stood out is the ..." more

  • Hazel Keenan

    Oct 13, 2016

    "I don't know how I came to find this amazing article--amazing--the clear wording and fantastic pictures. ..." more
More reader stories Hide reader stories
Share your story

Expert Q&A

Search
Add New Question
  • Question
    How do you get rid of belly fat after 40?
    Laura Flinn
    NASM Certified Personal Trainer
    Laura Flinn is a National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) Certified Personal Trainer, USA Olympic Weightlifting Sports Performance Coach and Certified Fitness Nutritionist, with an additional qualification as a TRX Suspension Trainer. Laura runs her own personal training program based in the San Francisco Bay Area and specializes in topics such as weight loss, muscle growth, cardiovascular training, and strength training.
    Laura Flinn
    NASM Certified Personal Trainer
    Expert Answer
    Unfortunately, you can’t target specific parts of your body for fat loss. A combination of clean eating, cardio, and resistance training will burn fat, though. Core exercises will help tone and strengthen your belly, but they won’t technically burn fat in this area.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 2 Helpful 2
  • Question
    How much belly fat can I lose in a week?
    Laura Flinn
    NASM Certified Personal Trainer
    Laura Flinn is a National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) Certified Personal Trainer, USA Olympic Weightlifting Sports Performance Coach and Certified Fitness Nutritionist, with an additional qualification as a TRX Suspension Trainer. Laura runs her own personal training program based in the San Francisco Bay Area and specializes in topics such as weight loss, muscle growth, cardiovascular training, and strength training.
    Laura Flinn
    NASM Certified Personal Trainer
    Expert Answer
    You can safely lose about 2 pounds every week, which is about 8 pounds every month.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 6 Helpful 9
  • Question
    How can I flatten my stomach naturally?
    Laura Flinn
    NASM Certified Personal Trainer
    Laura Flinn is a National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) Certified Personal Trainer, USA Olympic Weightlifting Sports Performance Coach and Certified Fitness Nutritionist, with an additional qualification as a TRX Suspension Trainer. Laura runs her own personal training program based in the San Francisco Bay Area and specializes in topics such as weight loss, muscle growth, cardiovascular training, and strength training.
    Laura Flinn
    NASM Certified Personal Trainer
    Expert Answer
    Incorporate more fiber and healthy fats into your diet, such as fruits, vegetables, nuts, and olive oil.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 3 Helpful 8
See more answers
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Reader Videos

      Tips

      • Remember that spot reducing is not possible. You lose weight from all over your body, not just from one place. If you want to lose abdominal fat, you're going to lose fat in other areas as well. [17]
        Thanks
        Helpful 1 Not Helpful 2
      • If you get lots of sweet cravings, replace sweets and sugar with fruits. The fiber in fruit slows the absorption of the sugars so you don't get as high a sugar rush (and as low a crash).
        Thanks
        Helpful 3 Not Helpful 0
      • Exercise in the morning. It burns more calories than any other time of the day. Doing a few jumping jacks or push-ups just after waking up will also kick-start your metabolism and also wake you up!
        Thanks
        Helpful 3 Not Helpful 0
      Show More Tips

      Tips from our Readers

      The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.
      • "Don't weigh yourself every day. It's normal to have day-to-day fluctuations in your weight, so you might get discouraged. Just try to weigh yourself on a weekly basis to track your overall progress." - Clara I.
      • "Don't skip breakfast! It's the most important meal of the day for a reason. Eat something nutritious to help you keep your energy up for the day." - Cecilia M.
      • "If you have a busy workday, even squeezing in quick 5-minute walks or taking the stairs instead of the elevator can help!" - Charlie C.
      • "Never overdo it or restrict too much when you're trying to lose weight. It's okay to have sweets once in a while! " - Chloe S.
      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
      Advertisement

      Warnings

      • Doing only sit-ups and crunches can actually cause the appearance of more belly fat, as the abdominal muscles grow in size and shape, they will push out against the fat, making it appear larger and thicker. Instead, aim for a combination of cardio and weights.
        Thanks
        Helpful 92 Not Helpful 19
      • Do not try to lose weight too rapidly. Crash diets and diet pills that promise weight loss are usually bad for you and actually, don't help keep the weight off in the long run. Resist the urge to take the "easy" way out and instead stick with a healthier lifestyle. This way you lose the weight and improve your health, helping you keep the weight off in a way that won't harm you in the long run.
        Thanks
        Helpful 13 Not Helpful 1
      • If you want to reduce your belly fat after a major abdominal operation, like C-section , you should consult with your doctor at first.
        Thanks
        Helpful 7 Not Helpful 1
      Advertisement

      You Might Also Like

      How to
      Lose Weight
      How to
      Get Six Pack Abs Fast
      How to
      Be Healthy
      How to
      Exercise While Watching TV
      How to
      Start Walking for Exercise
      How to
      Lose Fat
      How to
      Decide if P90X or Insanity Is Better for You
      How to
      Lose Stomach Fat Without Exercise or Dieting
      How to
      Get a Flat Stomach in 7 Days: Exercises, Diet Tips, & More
      Effective Ways to Lose Belly Fat Naturally in 7 Days
      How to
      Lose Belly Fat in 2 Weeks
      How to
      Lose Belly Fat (for Men)
      How to
      Reduce Waist Size
      How to
      Lose Belly Fat (Teen Girls)
      Advertisement

      References

      1. ↑ http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/belly-fat/WO00128
      2. ↑ http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15699226
      3. ↑ http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16353426
      4. ↑ http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/the-truth-about-belly-fat
      5. ↑ http://jama.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=181635
      6. ↑ http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/the-truth-about-belly-fat
      7. ↑ http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18787524
      8. ↑ http://www.marilynglenville.com/womens-health-issues/fat-around-the-middle/
      9. ↑ Laura Flinn. NASM Certified Personal Trainer. Expert Interview. 18 November 2019.
      1. ↑ Laura Flinn. NASM Certified Personal Trainer. Expert Interview. 18 November 2019.
      2. ↑ Laura Flinn. NASM Certified Personal Trainer. Expert Interview. 18 November 2019.
      3. ↑ https://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/legumes-and-legume-products/4354/2
      4. ↑ http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/short-bursts-of-exercise-will-make-you-fitter-quicker-1921419.html
      5. ↑ http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/the-truth-about-belly-fat
      6. ↑ http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17136940
      7. ↑ http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/the-truth-about-belly-fat
      8. ↑ Laura Flinn. NASM Certified Personal Trainer. Expert Interview. 18 November 2019.

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      To lose belly fat, eat 250-500 fewer calories every day so you're burning more fat than you're putting on. Also, eat high-fiber foods, like apples, oats, and cherries, which will speed up your metabolism so it's easier to lose weight. On top of dieting, do cardio exercises like running and cycling 3 times a week so you're burning more calories. You should also do resistance training with weights and exercise machines so you're toning your belly while you're losing weight. If you want to learn how to measure your progress, keep reading!

      Did this summary help you?
      In other languages
      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 14,198,348 times.

      Did this article help you?

      Advertisement