What's the best exercise to lose fat around your belly? (2024)

What's the best exercise to lose fat around your belly? (1)

Laura Cartwright, cardiac rehabilitation specialist and exercise physiologist at Wrexham Maelor Hospital, shares the best exercise to lose belly fat along with other helpful weight loss tips.

Studies have shown that people who carry excess belly fatcan face higher risks of heart diseaseand type 2 diabetes. If this applies to you, it’s natural that you’d want to reduce the amount of fatty tissue in this area.

But scientific evidence shows that it’s impossible to reduce fat in one specific area by exercising that body part alone. The body stores fat as triglycerides, which can be used for fuel anywhere in your body, not just in the exercised area.

Doing aerobic exercise while eating a healthy dietis the best way to lose belly fat and overall body fat. This will help to create a calorie deficit (where you use more calories than you consume), which promotes fat loss over time.

Aerobic exercise includes any activity that raises your heart rate such as walking, dancing, running or swimming. This can also include doing housework, gardening and playing with your children. Other types of exercise such as strength training, Pilatesand yogacan also help you lose belly fat.Seated exercisecan be an effective way to burn calories and increase your aerobic fitness levels if you find walking or standing difficult.

Want to get fit and healthy?

Sign up to our fortnightly Heart Matters newsletter to receive healthy recipes, new activity ideas, and expert tips for managing your health. Joining is free and takes two minutes.

I’d like to sign-up

NHS guidelines suggest aiming for at least 150 minutes of moderate intensity activity per week. Aim to exercise at a level where you become a little out of breath but can still speak in full sentences. Take time to warm up before and to cool down after exercise. If you begin to feel more breathless, slow down and rest.

If you are new to exercise, start slowly and build up gradually. You don’t need to exercise at a high intensity to burn calories. Stressand lack of sleep can also affect fat loss,because they can lead to increases in the stress hormone cortisol, affecting appetite.

Stress-relieving and good sleep-promoting activities can include mindfulness, breathing techniques, and gentle exercise like tai chi and yoga.

What's the best exercise to lose fat around your belly? (2)Meet the expert

Laura Cartwright is a cardiac rehabilitation specialist and exercise physiologist at Wrexham Maelor Hospital, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, where she delivers exercise assessment and exercise classes alongside an education programme for cardiac patients.

What to read next...

Quiz: Which fitness activity suits you?

Read the article

What's the best exercise to lose fat around your belly? (3)

Published 5 June 2023

More useful information

What's the best exercise to lose fat around your belly? (2024)

FAQs

What's the best exercise to lose fat around your belly? ›

Aerobic exercise includes any activity that raises your heart rate such as walking, dancing, running or swimming. This can also include doing housework, gardening and playing with your children. Other types of exercise such as strength training, Pilates and yoga can also help you lose belly fat.

Which exercise burns the most belly fat? ›

Some of the best exercises to burn fat include planks, Russian twists, and bicycle crunches. These exercises target the core muscles, helping to tone and tighten your midsection. Creating a routine is essential for achieving your fitness goals. Start with a warm-up to prepare your body for the workout.

How to lose belly fat in 2 weeks? ›

BEAT BELLY FAT
  1. Eat more fiber. Foods that are high in refined carbs and sugar don't actually tame your hunger, so you end up reaching for more. ...
  2. Walk every day. If you don't have an established exercise routine, “walking is a pretty good entry point for people,” says Gagliardi. ...
  3. Begin strength training.
Oct 24, 2023

How to get a flat tummy fast naturally? ›

The following sections look at specific ways to help get rid of belly fat.
  1. Focus on low calorie foods. ...
  2. Eliminate sugary drinks. ...
  3. Eat fewer refined carbs. ...
  4. Eat more fruits and vegetables. ...
  5. Go for lean proteins. ...
  6. Choose healthful fats. ...
  7. Develop a workout. ...
  8. Boost overall activity.

How can I slim my stomach ASAP? ›

Techniques that may help people get a flat stomach include:
  1. Add cardio. Share on Pinterest Buena Vista Images/Getty Images. ...
  2. Eat more fiber. ...
  3. Limit refined carbs. ...
  4. Increase protein intake. ...
  5. Do exercises while standing, not sitting. ...
  6. Add resistance training. ...
  7. Eat more healthy fats (in moderation) ...
  8. Move more.

Does walking burn belly fat? ›

Simply walking more often can help you lose weight and belly fat, as well as provide other excellent health benefits, including a decreased risk of disease and improved mood. In fact, walking just one mile burns about 100 calories.

What shrinks belly fat the fastest? ›

Exercise: Vigorous exercise trims all your fat, including visceral fat. Get at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise at least 5 days a week. Walking counts, as long as it's brisk enough that you work up a sweat and breathe harder, with your heart rate faster than usual.

Does lemon water reduce belly fat? ›

Can Lemon Water Help You Lose Weight? According to experts, all adding lemon to water really does is make your water taste like lemon. “It's not going to burn fat by any stretch of the imagination,” says Karen Ansel, R.D.N., author of Healing Superfoods for Anti-Aging.

What can I drink to burn belly fat? ›

  • Mar 29, 2023. Detox drinks and juices to lose belly fat. ...
  • Beetroot juice. Whole beets are low in calories and high in fibre, which can support regularity, slow stomach emptying, and prolong satiety to support weight management. ...
  • Carrot juice. ...
  • Celery juice. ...
  • Cinnamon water. ...
  • Fennel water. ...
  • Ginger water. ...
  • Green vegetable juice.
Mar 29, 2023

What to drink first thing in the morning to lose belly fat? ›

Top 16 Best Morning Drinks for Weight Loss & Their Homemade Recipes
  • Warm lemon water. ...
  • Amla Juice With Water For Weight Loss. ...
  • Vetiver Concoction For Weight Loss. ...
  • Fennel Seeds With Water. ...
  • Carom Seeds With Water. ...
  • Ginger With Hot Water. ...
  • Green Tea. ...
  • Chia Seeds.
Sep 28, 2023

What burns fat the fastest? ›

Here are 14 of the best ways to burn fat quickly and promote weight loss.
  • FILL UP ON FIBER. ...
  • CUT DOWN ON REFINED CARBS. ...
  • INCREASE YOUR CARDIO. ...
  • DRINK COFFEE. ...
  • TRY HIGH-INTENSITY INTERVAL TRAINING (HIIT) ...
  • ADD PROBIOTICS TO YOUR DIET. ...
  • INCREASE YOUR IRON INTAKE. ...
  • GIVE INTERMITTENT FASTING A SHOT.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Errol Quitzon

Last Updated:

Views: 5401

Rating: 4.9 / 5 (79 voted)

Reviews: 86% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Errol Quitzon

Birthday: 1993-04-02

Address: 70604 Haley Lane, Port Weldonside, TN 99233-0942

Phone: +9665282866296

Job: Product Retail Agent

Hobby: Computer programming, Horseback riding, Hooping, Dance, Ice skating, Backpacking, Rafting

Introduction: My name is Errol Quitzon, I am a fair, cute, fancy, clean, attractive, sparkling, kind person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.