What's the best exercise to lose fat around your belly? (2024)

What's the best exercise to lose fat around your belly? (1)

Laura Cartwright, cardiac rehabilitation specialist and exercise physiologist at Wrexham Maelor Hospital, shares the best exercise to lose belly fat along with other helpful weight loss tips.

Studies have shown that people who carry excess belly fatcan face higher risks of heart diseaseand type 2 diabetes. If this applies to you, it’s natural that you’d want to reduce the amount of fatty tissue in this area.

But scientific evidence shows that it’s impossible to reduce fat in one specific area by exercising that body part alone. The body stores fat as triglycerides, which can be used for fuel anywhere in your body, not just in the exercised area.

Doing aerobic exercise while eating a healthy dietis the best way to lose belly fat and overall body fat. This will help to create a calorie deficit (where you use more calories than you consume), which promotes fat loss over time.

Aerobic exercise includes any activity that raises your heart rate such as walking, dancing, running or swimming. This can also include doing housework, gardening and playing with your children. Other types of exercise such as strength training, Pilatesand yogacan also help you lose belly fat.Seated exercisecan be an effective way to burn calories and increase your aerobic fitness levels if you find walking or standing difficult.

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NHS guidelines suggest aiming for at least 150 minutes of moderate intensity activity per week. Aim to exercise at a level where you become a little out of breath but can still speak in full sentences. Take time to warm up before and to cool down after exercise. If you begin to feel more breathless, slow down and rest.

If you are new to exercise, start slowly and build up gradually. You don’t need to exercise at a high intensity to burn calories. Stressand lack of sleep can also affect fat loss,because they can lead to increases in the stress hormone cortisol, affecting appetite.

Stress-relieving and good sleep-promoting activities can include mindfulness, breathing techniques, and gentle exercise like tai chi and yoga.

What's the best exercise to lose fat around your belly? (2)Meet the expert

Laura Cartwright is a cardiac rehabilitation specialist and exercise physiologist at Wrexham Maelor Hospital, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, where she delivers exercise assessment and exercise classes alongside an education programme for cardiac patients.

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What's the best exercise to lose fat around your belly? (3)

Published 5 June 2023

More useful information

What's the best exercise to lose fat around your belly? (2024)

FAQs

What's the best exercise to lose fat around your belly? ›

Aerobic exercise includes any activity that raises your heart rate such as walking, dancing, running or swimming. This can also include doing housework, gardening and playing with your children. Other types of exercise such as strength training, Pilates and yoga can also help you lose belly fat.

Which exercise burns the most belly fat? ›

High-intensity interval training (HIIT) and interval training are exercise routines that use short bursts of intense exercise mixed with lower-intensity moves and rest periods. Research shows that HIIT exercises for belly fat help control weight and improve your overall physical condition.

How to burn belly fat quickly? ›

9 ways to blast belly fat
  1. 9 ways to blast belly fat. That extra fat around your waist can be hard to lose. ...
  2. Pass on processed foods. Cut back on anything made with refined sugar. ...
  3. Follow the Mediterranean diet. ...
  4. Watch your portions. ...
  5. Avoid unhealthy fats. ...
  6. Get moving. ...
  7. Try HIIT. ...
  8. Grab some weights.

How can I reduce my tummy in 7 days? ›

Additionally, check out these tips for how to burn belly fat in less than a week.
  1. Include aerobic exercises in your daily routine. ...
  2. Reduce refined carbs. ...
  3. Add fatty fish to your diet. ...
  4. Start the day with a high protein breakfast. ...
  5. Drink enough water. ...
  6. Reduce your salt intake. ...
  7. Consume soluble fiber.
Jun 3, 2019

How to lose belly fat in 2 weeks? ›

10 surprising ways to lose belly fat
  1. Focus on plant fibre. Soluble fibre, found in plant foods like flaxseeds and avocado, has been found to help reduce abdominal fat. ...
  2. Pack in the protein. ...
  3. Eat calcium and vitamin D-rich foods. ...
  4. Choose an eating 'window' ...
  5. Get sound sleep. ...
  6. Quit smoking.
Jun 4, 2024

What is the single best exercise to lose belly fat? ›

Aerobic exercise includes any activity that raises your heart rate such as walking, dancing, running or swimming. This can also include doing housework, gardening and playing with your children. Other types of exercise such as strength training, Pilates and yoga can also help you lose belly fat.

What are the 5 foods that burn belly fat? ›

Five foods that may help burn belly fat include:
  • foods with soluble fiber like fruits, vegetables, and legumes.
  • foods with protein like meat, fish, eggs, and dairy.
  • fatty fish like tuna and salmon.
  • foods with probiotics like yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, and kimchi.
  • green tea.

What burns belly fat ASAP? ›

Exercise seems to work off belly fat in particular because it reduces circulating levels of insulin —which would otherwise signal the body to hang on to fat—and causes the liver to use up fatty acids, especially those nearby visceral fat deposits, he says.

What to drink to lose belly fat? ›

Here are five drinks that, when combined with a healthy diet and regular exercise, may help you achieve your goal of losing belly fat:
  • Cucumber and mint infused water. ...
  • Ginger tea. ...
  • Green tea. ...
  • Lemon water. ...
  • Apple cider vinegar (ACV) drink.
Apr 4, 2024

How to flatten the stomach? ›

  1. 7 belly-flattening food tips. ...
  2. Eat fiber-rich foods. ...
  3. Incorporate probiotics into your diet. ...
  4. Rule out wheat allergies or lactose intolerance. ...
  5. Watch what you drink. ...
  6. Eat healthy fats. ...
  7. Limit salt intake. ...
  8. Go easy on refined sugar.

What is a flat tummy walk? ›

A “flat tummy walk” is a type of exercise that is intended to help tone and strengthen the. abdominal muscles, leading to a flatter stomach. This type of exercise typically involves engaging the core muscles and walking at a brisk pace. It can be done indoors or outdoors and doesn't require any equipment.

What to drink to get a flat stomach fast? ›

Unsweetened coffee and green tea are both highly nutritious beverages that can help you reach or maintain a moderate weight. In fact, multiple studies have also shown that drinking coffee and tea may be associated with decreased belly fat and body weight.

Why is belly fat so hard to lose? ›

One reason belly fat is so hard to lose is that it's considered an “active fat.” Unlike some fatty tissue that simply sits “dormant,” belly fat releases hormones that can have an impact on your health — and your ability to lose weight, especially in the waist and abdomen areas.

Does walking burn belly fat? ›

Studies show walking is one of the best ways to shed belly fat, in less time than you think. Researchers reviewed 40 years of studies on exercise and belly fat and found that just 2 1/2 hours of brisk walking a week--about 20 minutes a day--can shrink your belly by about 1 inch in 4 weeks.

What easy exercise flattens the tummy? ›

Work your core and get a flatter belly with these eight easy exercises!
  1. Ab bicycles. Here's a great flat stomach workout! ...
  2. Bird-dogs. Get on all fours to complete bird-dogs to strengthen and slim your core. ...
  3. V-ups. This is one of the best ab exercises. ...
  4. Plank pose. ...
  5. Side plank dips. ...
  6. Spiderman. ...
  7. Plank swivel. ...
  8. Basic crunch.

How can a woman in her 50s lose belly fat? ›

Eat a healthy diet.
  1. Focusing on plant-based foods, such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains.
  2. Choosing lean sources of protein, such as fish and low-fat dairy products.
  3. Limiting processed meats, as well as the saturated fat that's found in meat and high-fat dairy products, such as cheese and butter.

What exercise equipment burns the most belly fat? ›

The best exercise equipment to lose belly fat are treadmills, bikes, weight benches and abdominal trainers.

What is the 30 30 30 rule? ›

The rule includes eating 30 grams of protein within 30 minutes of waking up in the morning and then doing 30 minutes of low-intensity exercise.

Does walking reduce belly fat? ›

A research study states that regular walking helps reduce belly fat, which improves the body's response to insulin. Walking for at least 30 minutes every day allows you to prevent weight gain. It can also strengthen the muscles in your legs and tone your legs.

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