While belly fat is a notorious enemy most on their fitness journeys, what you may not know is it can put you at considerable risk of some serious health problems in the future. Fortunately, through making a few small lifestyle changes, shrugging that extra weight off of your belly doesn’t need to be tedious. Now, during lockdown, finding new at-home ways to keep fit has become a necessity, and luckily, you don’t need expensive machinery to keep yourself going on your health journey. Here are seven easy ways to minimize that belly fat yourself at home:
At-home workouts
While it may be the simplest solution, it’s also extremely effective. The best way to ensure your body sheds that fat is by maintaining a daily caloric deficit. One of the most effective ways to make sure your calories burned trump your calories consumed is by giving your body a good old-fashioned workout regularly.
Cardio works wonders for shedding those extra calories, not to mention the miracles it can work for the health of your heart, lungs, and state of mind. Meanwhile, strength-based training helps to build up your muscle mass. This is something that can kick your metabolism into overdrive and burn calories at a much faster rate than it would do otherwise.
Most workout plans incorporate a mixture of these two types of exercise for optimal results- and the best part? It’s surprisingly easy to work out at home with minimal equipment. A simple yoga mat can go a long way, and Youtube is your best friend for free workout plans.
Eat a high protein diet
Meat, fish, tofu, and legumes are all incredible sources of protein, and your body will thank you if you stock up on them. Proteins are incredibly filling, which means you’ll be less tempted towards a late-night snack if you stick to more protein-packed meals. In addition to this, they’re instrumental to building muscle mass all over your body- something which will boost your metabolic system immensely.
As with all things, it’s important to make sure you maintain a healthy and balanced diet. Supplement your proteins of choice with other healthy foods such as leafy greens, and you’ll really start to see the benefits coming through.
Try intermittent fasting
Intermittent fasting consists of putting your meals on a timed schedule. This fasting comes in a variety of types, but the most popular is the 16:8; here, you fast for 16 hours, then eat all of your meals within the span of the other 8. This practice has seen a lot of recent praise for its health benefits such as encouraging new cell growth to decrease levels of insulin in the blood.
One of the main attractions of intermittent fasting is the huge effect it can have on your fat loss journey. Aside from helping you limit your daily caloric intake, intermittent fasting has some interesting effects on the way your body approaches fat loss on a cellular level. For instance, fasting intermittently has been shown to give your metabolism a considerable boost- something that’s always welcome.
Get some fresh air
As the weather gets warmer, the option of venturing into the great outdoors becomes much more appealing. Aside from the wonders that getting out of the house can do for your mental health, studies have shown that fresh air has a number of unexpected health benefits.
For instance, some studies have suggested that the consumption of fresh air helps to fast-track your digestive system, helping your body to burn through its food faster and more effectively.
One way to implement this into your routine is to give hiking or camping a try. Not only can it be a great way to hang out with your household, but you’d also manage to get some valuable R-and-R away from the stresses of city life. If this sounds like something you’d consider, grab your hiking gear and take to the hills- you definitely won’t regret it.
Cut out the alcohol
While this can be a tricky habit to destroy mid-lockdown, cutting any alcohol out of your diet can have some astronomical benefits for your health. The sad truth is, it’s much easier to accidentally drink yourself over your caloric limit than you realize. Did you know that one glass of wine can make up the same number of calories as an ice cream sundae? It’s jarring to consider, but unfortunate truth.
Avoiding alcohol altogether will make your fat loss journey much easier, not to mention help you steer clear of some potentially nasty health complications further down the line. Of course, this is much easier said than done. Fortunately, cutting down your alcohol consumption even just partially can make a world of difference to your body.
Take supplements
There are a lot of supplements out there, so it’s important to make sure you know what you’re putting in your body. They can have a potential whole host of benefits, such as helping you feel full for longer, boosting your metabolism, and even limiting the number of calories your body absorbs in the gut.
Luckily, many of these are easy to come by and have little to no side effects. However, if you have any doubts whatsoever, it’s a good idea to book yourself a consultation with an allergy and asthma specialist to make sure you’re doing what’s best for your body.
Common supplements include aloe vera, probiotics, and caffeine.
Get a good night’s sleep
Thankfully, taking good care of your body isn’t always a matter of sweat and effort. Getting a good, 7-to-8-hour sleep has been proven to do more than just stave off sleep-deprived grouchiness.
Making sure you get enough sleep at night is vital in keeping your metabolism going strong- something that’s vital for shedding that pesky belly fat. In addition to this, quality sleep can help improve your mood, fight off fatigue, and give your immune system a boost- something that’s always welcome.
