Stomach fat is one of the most stubborn areas on the body to get rid of. Trying to reduce stomach fat can prove to be quite a difficult task especially when one isn’t familiar with the basics of melting fat on the body. One common misconception with losing belly fat is that of spot reduction.

Among other misconceptions, getting rid of a protruding belly is very possible when we dispel such falsehoods and establish an effective routine. In knowing how the body functions and what’s needed to shrink stubborn belly fat, anyone can reduce this area without the added frustration. To achieve this, you should know the following.

You Can Not Spot Reduce

Many have tried to cheat their way through the process of ridding their belly fat by attempting to spot reduce. These efforts are usually followed by frustration and very little if any, results. The truth is that you can not choose where you want to lose fat. This is largely dependent on one’s genetics. You can only lose weight throughout your body by doing some form of cardio and eating a healthy, balanced diet.

H.I.I.T. Is Your Best Friend

H.I.I.T. or High-Intensity Interval Training is one of the most effective methods for burning fat. In short, H.I.I.T. requires that you perform an alternation of slow pace exercise followed by fast pace exercise. It’s actually proven that you burn more calories doing 20 minutes of H.I.I.T. than the calories you’d burn to do one hour of regular cardio. This is because H.I.I.T. increases your overall metabolic rate, allowing you to continue burning more calories even when at rest.

Drink More Water

It’s important to know that not all weight is fat. Water weight can also be a factor causing that bloated appearance around the stomach area. To shrink the belly, you should also consider reducing bloating caused by water weight. Water retention usually occurs when we aren’t consuming enough water or when we intake too much sodium. To combat this issue, make sure you’re drinking adequate water daily. Drink at least 8 glasses of water a day to stay hydrated.

Anti-Inflammation

Inflammation also contributes to bloating. To alleviate bloating, it’s best to consume anti-inflammatory foods such as ginger and turmeric. Taking cold showers after exercising will also help to reduce inflamed muscles after an intense workout. This also aids in muscle recovery, minimizing your recovery periods by allowing your muscles to heal quicker.

Build More Muscle

While cardio may seem like the ideal solution for getting rid of belly fat, building muscle shows to be an even more effective approach. Because muscle helps to burn more calories, it’s a great idea to focus your efforts on performing muscle building or toning exercises using your body weight. Toning in addition to H.I.I.T. will leave you with some of the best results within minimal time.