Six Reasons Why You’re Not Getting a Flat Belly

Your midsection is a hot spot for weight gain and if you’re finding it hard to lose the muffin top, these tips can help you shrink your waist size, fast.

1. You drink fizzy drinks

The 3 p.m. slump hits and before you know it, that can of the sparkly stuff is calling. But before you succumb, know this: Researchers found people who consume diet soft drinks every day have larger waists than those who rarely drink them.

2. You eat refined carbs

If you see ‘enriched flour’ in a food’s ingredient list, you’ve fallen victim to refined carbs, which have been stripped of their fibre, vitamins and minerals. Switching to wholegrain bread, pasta, rice and cereal not only provides you with a payload of nutrients, it can also target harmful belly fat.

3. You don’t move enough

Here’s the great news about fat that sits around your middle: it pays attention when you exercise. “Abdominal fat cells may have different amounts of metabolic enzymes than other parts of your body, causing them to be more responsive to exercise,” explains Tongjian You, PhD. He found that people who diet and exercise shrink their abdominal fat cells twice as much as those who only diet – even if they lose the same amount of total weight.

4. You love a good drink

There’s a reason it’s called a ‘beer belly’. Beer is loaded with carbohydrates, but any alcohol – wine, wine spritzers, fruity cocktails, even straight vodka or whisky – will widen your waistline. That’s because alcohol impairs your body’s ability to burn fat. What’s more, as your body breaks down the alcohol, it starts making fat from a chemical by-product of the process – a double whammy for your belly. To avoid alcohol’s belly-expanding effects, try to cut that vice of alcohol-drinking.

5. You’re not getting enough vitamin D

We’ve long touted the health benefits of vitamin D, and new research suggests it partners with calcium to stamp out cortisol, the stress hormone that can increase your belly fat. Also known as the ‘sunshine vitamin’, vitamin D is produced by your skin when it’s exposed to sunlight. Few of us produce enough through sun exposure alone, so eat more D-rich foods, such as salmon, swordfish, tuna or fortified cereals, or consider taking a vitamin D3 supplement.

6. You ditch the dairy

Milk isn’t the only dairy that deserves real estate in your fridge (Though it’s the perfect re-energizer for a sluggish metabolism.) The calcium may decrease the likelihood of fat being stored in your midsection. Aim for one serving of calcium with every meal: a glass of milk with breakfast, a slice of cheese with lunch and yoghurt as an after-dinner treat, for example. (Adapted by Jessy Pearl)

Source: ww.au.lifestyle.yahoo.com