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Lose That Deep Down Belly Fat in Two Simple Steps
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No one has to tell you that the vast majority of people in this day and age are overweight. Although the CDC has all kinds of statistics that will tell you just how fat the world is becoming, if you live in any of the Westernized countries (such as Australia and the US) all you have to do is sit down in a public place and watch people walk by.
If you have been thinking of losing weight because you are self-conscious about your belly, if you just want to live a healthier life, or perhaps you have been trying to lose weight but you are frustrated because although the scale is going down, your belly doesn’t seem to be heading in the same direction, you are not alone. Losing belly fat is perhaps one of the hardest places to lose weight and inches. However, there are things you can do to encourage your body to give it up
First off, if you are reading this article thinking that we are going to suggest a magic pill or program, that is not going to happen. There is no magic pill or drink that will “melt” off belly fat. All those ab-rollers, ab-belts, or ab-rockers you see advertised on television– the ones that are supposed to give you those six pack abs– they don’t work. They will exercise the abdominal muscles, that’s true, but they aren’t going to magically melt belly fat. You can’t spot exercise that belly fat.
In fact, let’s talk about belly fat for a minute. There are two kinds. Both are unattractive, but one type in particular is more than just unsightly, it’s deadly.
The first type of belly fat is what covers up those six pack abdominal muscles. It lies directly beneath the skin and on top of the abdominal muscles. This is a very soft type of fat that is called subcutaneous fat.
The second type of fat is the kind that lies deeper in the abdomen, underneath your abdominal muscles. It surrounds your organs and it is called visceral fat. This is the fat that is so very dangerous to your health. This type of fat gives many men that “beer belly” appearance, where their tummies seem to stick out as if they were pregnant. This fat is hard, however, and you can tell the difference by pressing on their belly. If it’s soft and mushy, like a pillow, it’s subcutaneous fat. It it’s hard, really hard, like a piece of lard, it’s most likely visceral fat.
Although both types of fat are a serious health problem, visceral fat is far more dangerous. Visceral fat is more dangerous because it releases inflammatory molecules into your body on a consistent, on-going basis. This will lead to heart disease, diabetes, stoke, sleep apnea, and other types of degenerative diseases, as well as an increased risk of certain types of cancer.
One of the reasons some people seem to accumulate more visceral fat than other people seems to be a high carb diet that leads to insulin resistance over time. Some studies suggest that a high fructose corn syrup intake is also to blame for visceral fat. Read also about habits that cause belly fat.
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