Doing Crunches Is Actually Making Your Waist Larger! Here’s What To Do Instead.

Written by Chandrama Deshmukh  • 

Have you been trying to reduce your belly fat? Do you feel that even after spending hours in the gym doing crunches, you are unable to tone your stomach? Well, you are not wrong in thinking so. According to researchers, it is impossible to reduce your belly fat and abdominal circumference solely by doing abdominal exercises such as crunches. Even if you do them 4-6 times a week!

In fact, there is a much simpler way to help you get rid of excess body fat effectively. To achieve your dream figure, you must use strategies that help you burn cortisol. That’s right, according to research, the ‘stress hormone’ cortisol is responsible for the excess fat in your abdominal region (1). This hormone is infamous for reducing your body’s lean muscle. The lower the lean muscle a person has, the lower their metabolism rate.

How does one get rid of cortisol? The answer is straightforward – try and reduce the amount of stress in your life. This is because cortisol levels increase in our body when we experience stress. Below are three great ways in which you can change your lifestyle to help you get rid of belly fat and achieve the figure you have been dreaming of.

Getting Rid Of Excess Belly Fat

1. The Abs Diet

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The secret to a flat belly is to follow the Abs Diet. The Abs Diet is an extremely effective diet that incorporates several different types of delicious foods that are known as the Abs Diet Power Foods. All you have to do to follow this diet is to eat the foods that make up the acronym: Abs Diet.

A: Almonds

Strengths: Reduce food cravings and help build muscles.

Help fight heart disease, obesity, muscle loss, cancer, wrinkles, and high blood pressure.

B: Beans And Other Green Vegetables

Strengths: Help get rid of fat, build muscles, and regulate digestion.

Help fight colon cancer, obesity, heart disease, and high blood pressure.

S: Spinach And Legumes 

Strengths: Destroy free radicals, the molecules that are responsible for the process of aging.

Help fight heart disease, cancer, stroke, osteoporosis, and obesity.

D: Dairy Products Such As Cheese And Yogurt 

Strengths: Increase the speed with which you lose weight and build strong bones.

Help fight obesity, osteoporosis, cancer, and high blood pressure.

I: Instant Oatmeal 

Strengths: Reduces cholesterol, boosts energy, and maintains blood sugar levels.

Helps fight diabetes, heart disease, obesity, and colon cancer.

E: Eggs 

Strengths: Burn fat and build muscles.

Help fight obesity.

T: Turkey And Other Kinds Of Lean Meats 

Strengths: Boost the immune system and build muscles.

Help fight obesity and various diseases.

These superfoods are an excellent source of proteins, vitamins, fiber, and other essential nutrients that will help you lose weight more effectively.

2. Make Sure You Get Enough Sleep

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It is really important for you to get enough sleep since this is what helps reduce the levels of cortisol in your body. Having a proper sleeping pattern can help you increase your metabolism rate as well as manage your weight (2).

3. Reduce Or Remove Sugar From Your Diet 

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Fructose, especially in the form of high-fructose corn syrup, is very bad for the body. This type of fructose, found majorly in processed foods and fizzy beverages, is the main culprit for obesity in people. Some of the main types of foods that contain this kind of fructose include:

  • Desserts that are made with grains such as donuts, cakes, cookies, granola bars, pies, crisps, and cobblers.
  • Fizzy drinks, sports drinks, as well as energy drinks.
  • Most types of bread and buns.
  • Processed juice drinks that contain preservatives as well as fruit punches.
  • Most kinds of breakfast cereals.
  • Fast foods and various types of pre-packaged meals.
  • All types of processed foods.
  • Tea and coffee drinks.

It is really important for you to reduce if not remove these foods from your diet since they are the main culprits behind excess fat in your body. Avoiding these foods completely will make it very easy for you to get rid of excess fat as well as increase your metabolism rate.

Simply exercising regularly may not help you get rid of fat from your body. It is extremely important for you to pair up a good exercise program with a healthy diet to notice immediate results. Along with a healthy diet and regular exercise, it is also very important for you to get enough sleep during the night as this helps stabilize the cortisol levels in your body. You must try and remove all things that give you stress in your life as these things are the barrier between you and your dream figure. A healthy lifestyle is also a stress-free lifestyle.

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