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5 Foods That Banish Belly Fat

Heather Dale — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 13:13:35 PDT

There are exercises that target your abs to help you get the rock-hard stomach you've always dreamed of. But if you really want to double-team belly bulge, you'll need to eliminate sugar and processed carbs while also incorporating fat-burning foods into your diet. Keep reading to see which foods can help trim inches from your waistline!

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The Fastest Way to Lose Belly Fat

Shape — Thu, 19 May 2011 04:30:50 PDT

We are excited to share one of our fave stories from Shape here on FitSugar.

We all want a toned, flat stomach. No surprise there. But since many women are still relying on crunches to get it, we want to make one thing clear: crunching is not the most effective abs workout. "Crunches work only the muscles on the front and sides of your abdomen, but it's important to target all the muscles of the core to get more defined abs - including lower back, hips, and upper thighs," says Lou Schuler, co-author of The New Rules of Lifting for Abs.

To lose belly fat and uncover amazing abs, Schuler recommends a series of core stabilization exercises based on a training program devised by co-author and personal trainer Alwyn Cosgrove. "Core exercises like the plank help train muscles to stabilize the spine and pelvis so you can avoid back pain and improve posture, Schuler says. "They also burn more calories than crunches because they work more muscles." Trade crunches for these three super-effective abs exercises from The New Rules of Lifting for Abs and you’ll be on your way to a perfectly toned, flatter tummy.

See the exercises and learn how to do them after the break!

Banish That Belly in 3 Easy Steps

Michele Foley — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 02:00:25 PST

Belly bulge. Muffin top. Love handles. There are a lot of names for that extra jiggle in the middle. Instead of nicknaming belly fat, let's get rid of it! And while having a flat, toned stomach may seem like a quest for the Holy Grail, it's not. First you need to understand why you have belly fat. After that, follow these three basic tips to banish it for good.

Eat the right foods. Having a healthy diet is an easy first step to banishing the bulge. Practice portion control, eat whole foods, and make sure your diet is a healthy balance of carbs, protein, and (good) fat. There are also foods, like whole grains, which help people lose belly fat.
Cardio, baby! If you want to slim down your midsection, it's time to step up your cardio in a major way. High-intensity activities like spinning, interval training, and running are all good ways to get a handle on your love handles.
Tone up. Listen closely: limiting yourself to ab exercises does not make a flat belly. It's a healthy diet and a solid routine of cardio that is going to help you drop the pounds. But toning your midsection and back area will sculpt your body, which helps you look slimmer. And by the time you drop all your belly fat, you'll be left with a drool-worthy six-pack. Zing!

Ever Had Your Pudgy Belly Mistaken For a Baby Bump?

FitSugar — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 03:47:25 PDT

Poor Pink. A recent photo posted on People.com showed a slight bulge in her midsection, and now rumors are flying once again that Pink is pregnant. A rep for the singer clearly has said, "Pink is not expecting." The super buff singer is actually keeping her sense of humor about the whole thing and even twittered last week,

"off to the gym. lord knows when this 600 lb baby comes out that I've been growing for 8 years, i better be strong and physically prepared!!!"

I must admit this happened to me in my heavier college days. In line at a drug store wearing a fitted tank top, some woman came right up to me and asked, "Oh, when are you due?" I was shocked and quickly responded, "I'm not!" Did the misplaced question hurt my feelings? Yes. And it also motivated me to lose weight. I'm wondering . . .

5 Reasons You Have an Inch to Pinch

FitSugar — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 05:50:24 PDT

Women tend to gain weight in a few special spots - our thighs, tush, face, breasts, and of course, our tummies. If a flabby belly is your problem area, here are some possible reasons why.

Don't Fear the MUFA

FitSugar — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 10:00:06 PDT

After years of being treated with disdain, dietary fat has slowly been making its way off the nutritional black list. Now that omega-3 fatty acid is almost a household word, it is time to embrace the MUFAs - monounsaturated fatty acids. A diet rich in this type of fat has been found to reduce abdominal fat better than a diet high in carbs - even without exercise. In fact, this is the cornerstone of Prevention's Flat Belly Diet.

If you're dieting, don't fear the MUFAs; while they might not be the magic bullet for belly fat (even if you incorporate them into your diet, you still need to keep a watch on your caloric intake and exercise), they do make dieting easier. Full of fat-soluble vitamins, MUFAs are satisfying to eat and help you feel full and satiated, nipping in the bud two common complaints of dieters: boredom and hunger.

To learn where you can find the almost-mythic fatty acid, keep on reading.

What You Should Know About Belly Fat

FitSugar — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 08:00:00 PDT

A spare tire around your belly doesn't make you feel very attractive in your bikini, but more importantly, belly fat is the most unhealthy type of fat you can have. To see why and learn how to diminish yours, take this little quiz.

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Take the Quiz

Blueberries Battle Belly Fat

FitSugar — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 11:00:00 PDT

Long considered a super food, another benefit of blueberries was discovered in a University of Michigan lab. New research found a diet rich in blueberries may help diminish belly fat. Abdominal fat has been linked with both heart disease and diabetes, even in folks with a normal BMI. Although the study was performed on rats, the beneficial decrease of belly fat occurred with both of high- and low-fat diets. More research is needed on humans, but these findings back up data from earlier studies on the benefits of blueberries on male populations at risk for heart disease.

For additional good news on the blueberry front, just

read more. Even after they are frozen, blueberries maintain most of their nutritional benefits. The antioxidants found in the berries, which create their rich hue as well, are not affected by freezing. Frozen blueberries will lose a bit, less than 20 percent, of their vitamin E content as well as a bit of beta carotene. This means you can add blueberries to your diet all year, be they fresh or frozen. Remember though, the darker the berry the more antioxidants it will provide. Source

Belly Fat Is Bad News For Lungs

FitSugar — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 11:00:00 PDT

Some of us carry a spare tire around our waists. Turns out it's the worst place to carry weight since diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease are linked to it. It can even lead to early death. Now there's more reason to battle the bulge - new research shows that a jiggle around your middle is also associated with impaired lung function. This type of harmful "abdominal obesity" is defined as a waist that's greater than 35 inches for women and 40 for men. Poor lung function is linked to higher rates of hospitalization and deaths from heart disease because researchers say that belly fat can get in the way of the normal functioning of your diaphragm and chest. Fat tissue also increases inflammation in the body, which can also cause health problems.

Even though your waist size may not be over 35 inches, it's a good idea to minimize your belly fat for your health's sake. For tips on how

Spare Tire Could Be Fatal, Even With a Healthy BMI

FitSugar — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 12:00:00 PST

In the battle of the bulge, belly fat is often a focus because of its relationship with heart disease. Just when I thought the subject of spare tires had been prodded in every way possible, new research has come out that could force more people to take their midsection more seriously. It says that even if your BMI describes your weight as normal, having a spare tire could make you twice as likely to die during a 10-year period compared to those without belly fat.

Researchers at the European Prospective Investigation Into Cancer and Nutrition composed one of the largest long-term studies in the world to get their results - 359,387 people ages 25 to 70 from nine European countries were involved. The research indicates that overall weight isn't the only indicator in measuring mortality; waist circumference and waist-to-hip ratio have a big impact on mortality risk, too.

With heart disease in mind, women should aim to keep their waist circumference below 35 inches and men shouldn't push 40 inches. Wondering if you are an apple or a pear? Check out our Waist-to-Hip calculator to determine your body type and levels of risk.

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