Don’t you just love it when you have that good inner gut feeling? You feel good inside, confident and ready to take on any challenge that comes your way – but what if your outer gut feeling doesn’t look as good? What if you have a stubborn layer of fat around your belly button that no amount of crunches can shift? The good news is, you can shift it – you just need the right diet, lifestyle and exercise!
One of my best tips and probably one that all my clients love to hear is that reducing your running can help you fight belly fat. Yes you heard me right. Too much slow and steady cardio like running can raise your stress levels – also known as your cortisol levels, which causes our bodies to dump fatty deposits all over our tummies and waists. I’m not saying don’t run – no, oh-no, instead I’m saying run smarter and swap hours on the treadmill for a quick interval workout. Not only will it boost your metabolism for hours after your workout and burn more fat but it’s quick, so your cortisol levels won’t rise as high.
Try this fat-burning workout. It may take less than half an hour but it will help you lose stubborn abdominal fat, which is a boon for the summer and for your overall health. Start with a 3-minute brisk walk to warm yourself up and then increase your speed into a comfortable jog for two minutes. Next sprint as fast as you can for 60 seconds. Go back into a 3-minute brisk walk to get your breath back. Repeat this sequence eight times, before cooling down with a 5-minute walk.
Lucy Miller
Lucy Miller is a fitness and nutrition advisor, and Fitness Editor at Health & Fitness Magazine (www.womensfitness.co.uk). She holds fitness qualifications from NASM Training and Premier Training International.
