Ladies, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist or a medical degree to know that the way you eat can affect the amount of belly fat that is in your tummy area. There’s a saying that goes, “Abs are created in the kitchen.” Besides considering what you are eating, there are a few other things going on that can be the reason you can’t lose weight in your mid-section.
It doesn’t matter how strict your diet is and how consistent you are with your workout routine, if your sleeping schedule is off balance, your stress level is always over the top, which will make it difficult to get a flat belly.
Here are some detailed reasons why it may be difficult to get rid of your belly fat:
SLEEP DEPRIVED
Lack of proper sleep can influence how your metabolic rate functions. Getting at least seven to eight hours of sleep every night will definitely help to balance your hormones that are involved in your appetite regulation and will keep insulin regulated. Insulin is the main hormone of metabolism. If you don’t give your body the proper rest needed, this poor hormone’s balance is disrupted ad metabolism slows down. There are actual studies that show how women who sleep five hours or less at night are more likely to gain 30 pounds over a long period of time than women who sleep seven hours or more. Ladies if this sound like your sleep schedule, try your hardest to shoot for seven hours or more to see if you can see a difference in your waistline.
INCREASED AGE
Did your “over 40” muffin top belly arrive recently? You may have noticed that it’s been a little harder to get rid of that excess weight since age is starting to creep up on you out of nowhere. As we age, ladies, our bodies need less food and we need to support our digestive system with enzymes that help us to metabolize our foods. As menopause starts, women have a tough time storing extra estrogen, which can trigger further insulin resistance which can cause extra belly fat storage.
NON-CHALLENGING WORKOUTS
If you’ve been doing a leisurely 30-minute stroll around the neighborhood for two years and haven’t added time, intensity or another exercise, you’re likely not challenging your body enough to lose extra fat in the tummy area. While steady and consistent workouts are great for beginners and for stress relief, seasoned exercisers who are looking to make changes in their body image might need to turn to something new to see something new in this troubled mid-section spot. In order to stay in a fat-burning mode for longer, you have to have heart-rate variability and increased muscle mass to stay in a fat-burning mode.
If belly fat bothers you, you can speak to a professional about finding ways to counteract some of these potential factors. Keep in mind, though, that every “body” is built differently and reacts differently to diet and exercise. Don’t be too hard on yourself because six-pack abs are incredibly difficult to achieve and maintain. If you’re living a healthy lifestyle overall, that little bit of belly fat shouldn’t get to your head.