Tummy weight is a fact of life for many Americans because of our poor eating habits, lack of exercise and stress-filled lives. But tummy weight is more than an unsightly bulge; it is unhealthy and can actually be attributed to many dangerous health conditions. Excess tummy weight can increase the risk of heart disease, heart attack, stroke, diabetes, breast cancer, colorectal cancer, metabolic syndrome, gallbladder problems and sleep apnea. Tummy weight does not discriminate; it is unhealthy for both men and women. The good news, according to Michael Jensen, MD of the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, is that tummy weight is the first weight you lose when you go on a weight loss diet. Here are some tips for losing that stubborn tummy weight.

Types of Belly Fat

Your body has more than one type of weight. The two most commonly known are visceral weight, which lies deep inside the body tucked around the organs, and subcutaneous weight, which sits between the skin and the abdominal wall. Subcutaneous weight is the visible weight you see, and is less dangerous than the visceral weight which can cause health problems. Fortunately, visceral weight is the first weight that you lose when you go on a weight loss diet.

Bring a Lunch to Work

It’s hard to choose healthy when you are going to the fast food drive-thru for lunch. By packing your lunch, you can control what, and how much, you eat. Pack a healthy snack for morning and afternoon too. Fruit, nuts, whole grain crackers, yogurt or a low-weight fruit smoothie all make good, healthy snacks and can also be a part of a healthy lunch. Hate cold lunch? Try one of the many low-calorie frozen meals that you can heat up in the microwave at work. By packing you own lunch, you will not only save on calories, but save money also.

Eat More Fruits and Vegetables

Yes, you hear this all the time but it is true that you can lose weight and maintain a healthy weight if you eat right. Substitute an apple, pear, banana, strawberries, blueberries or some mixed fruit for those high-calorie snack bars or candy bars. Fill up on carrots, peas, green beans, asparagus and broccoli at meals so you get the recommended 5 servings of vegetables each day. Fruit and vegetables fill you up and add fiber to your diet while adding fewer calories.

Reduce Stress in Your Life

The more stress you have in your life, the stronger your body hangs on to tummy weight. Chronic stress places the body into survival mode and releases more of the hormone cortisol, which in turn causes the dangerous visceral weight to build in the tummy. If you are unable to remove the stress from your life, then it is important to learn to manage your stress. Taking a 15 minute walk each day away from your place of work can help reduce stress. Deep breathing for a minute or two at your desk can also help. Try yoga, meditation, a massage or spending 30 minutes to an hour each day quietly reading. Find the best way for you to relax so you can stop stressing and start losing that tummy weight.

Skip the Alcoholic Beverages

Alcohol is packed with sugar and calories and can pack on the pounds. If you drink alcohol often, just cutting back to one or two drinks a night can help you lose weight, especially tummy weight. If you are serious about losing tummy weight for good, forget the alcohol and drink fresh juice or water instead.

Don’t Diet: Change Your Lifestyle Instead

When you think about a “diet”, you think depravation. Don’t refer to changing your eating habits as a diet; think of it as a lifestyle change that will make you feel better physically and look better too. Keep up a positive attitude and tell yourself this change in lifestyle is to help you have a longer, healthier and more satisfying life.

Losing stubborn tummy weight not only makes you look better but will add years to your life and help reduce your risk of developing dangerous conditions and diseases. By making a few simple changes to your lifestyle, you can lose that stubborn tummy weight for good.

Courtesy: www.lower-belly-pooch-solution.com

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