It is frustrating to see that all your weight loss efforts are not helping you lose the belly. You might see a difference on the scale but the inches aren’t really going anywhere. As demotivating as it may be, know that you are not the only one.

Stubborn belly problem is more common than you realize. Abdomen is, in fact, one of the most common problem areas and there is scientific reason behind it. The fat around your belly is usually visceral fat i.e. it is accumulated over your organs and not right under the skin. It will not react to regular workout or simple cardio as much as the fat that is under the skin.

 It is the bitter reality but don’t you lose hope just yet!

While it may be difficult, it is not entirely impossible to shed those belly inches. You just need to take the right approach and commit to it.

Here are five proven tips that can get you a slimmer belly and also help you maintain it.

Watch What You Are Eating

There is no denying the fact that fat comes from food. So, the first thing you need to do when you want to lose fat is to stop adding more of it. However, the fat content of your food isn’t the only thing you need to watch for. There are other culprits that actually increase the amount of fat your body stores. Sugar is the number one villain in this scenario. So, you need to cut down on sugar in every form, including beverages.

Other than sugar, you need to control your carb intake as it can also lead to more fat storage. Instead, you should increase fiber and protein. Fiber is an excellent appetite controller as it keeps you satiated for longer. Protein improves muscle metabolism so that the calories you consume are busy building lean muscle instead of fat. The process of muscle building itself is thermo genic i.e. burns fat as it continues.

Remember, a healthy diet with balanced Life essentials nutrition is the key to healthy metabolism, which in turn is essential for fat burning.

Opt for Treatment

This one may sound controversial to some people. For years, fat reduction treatments meant invasive surgeries that leave you scarred. Those surgeries involve a number of risks and plenty of downtime. Due to those risks, we don’t usually recommend those treatments even as a last resort. Thankfully, you can now opt for treatments that do not involve a single incision.

Treatments like CoolSculpting are revolutionary fat reduction alternatives for people with stubborn fat. It is a treatment that can remove fat from target areas such as abdomen, thighs, flanks, arms, and neck. A cooling device is used to freeze fat cells to death. Once dead, your body’s natural metabolism flushes them out over a period of time. It is virtually painless with no scars and zero downtime.

However, keep in mind that you will need a healthy diet and regular workout to maintain the results.

Drink Lots of Water

Water works as the best cleanser for our body. It is what we need to flush toxin out of our body. It also helps in excreting fat cells that are dead. While it may not be the sole solution for burning fat, it is an extremely important element in the equation. Water is needed by our body for almost all the functions including digestion. Lack of it can take a toll on the metabolic rate since our body is unable to perform its functions properly. Ideally, six to eight glasses is the bare minimum for a day.

However, when and how you drink water makes a lot of difference. There are studies that strictly discourage drinking water right after meals. Drinking a glass before meal, however, can help you control portions and will also aid digestion. Similarly, drink a glass as soon as you wake up to get your system up and running for the first meal of the day.

Take Care of Your Mind

Our body and mind share a connection stronger than we realize. It is why mental stress or even fatigue can have dire impact on our body. Mental issues can affect your weight in more than one way. First of all, stress, depression or even lack of sleep can result in hormonal imbalance. This imbalance can trigger craving to eat more, which we often call “stress eating”. It is interesting that those cravings are almost always for food full of sugar or carbs, and hence the term “comfort food”. What’s worse is the feeling of guilt that follows, putting us in a stressful vicious cycle.

So, you need to take care of your mental health. Seek help and support if you can’t do it on your own. Identify triggers such as lack of stress or excessive workload. Have some sleep. Take a vacation. Read a book. Do whatever it takes to blow off some steam.

Yoga and meditation have many benefits for people who seek mental peace. A little bit of yoga or any other meditative routine early in the morning will help you prevent stress throughout the day.

Lift Some Weights

If you are not working out, you need to start now. And if you are, and still unable to see any difference in your stubborn belly, then you need to take it up a notch. It is true that belly fat is stubborn than fat in other areas. So, even if your cardio and aerobics routine is working for other parts of the body, it may not be enough for the tummy. By taking it up a notch, we essentially mean adding more weights.

Resistance training can make a tremendous amount of difference. It pushes your body to the next level and makes it burn fat while replacing it with lean muscle. This means that it can most definitely help you keep that flab from returning.

If you haven’t lifted weights before, start small. Better yet, start under the supervision of a professional trainer to avoid hurting your muscles or joints.

The Final Word

To sum it all up, belly fat is definitely more stubborn than fat in other areas. If you are not losing those inches, it is a clear indicator that you need to change your approach. It takes some serious commitment to effectively lose that fat and keep it away. You need to eat right, drink clean, sleep better, stay happy, and seek help from the right people.