Tropical Weight Loss
Photo by Dmitriy Ganin Pexels Logo Photo: Dmitriy Ganin

Why am I not losing belly fat even after exercise?

Y'all also know of the common causes of excessive fat around your belly such as eating more calories than you burn, consuming excessive sugar, refined carbohydrates, and packaged foods, and finally—living a sedentary lifestyle that involves no physical activity.

What is the fastest way to flush your body of toxins?
What is the fastest way to flush your body of toxins?

Drinking water is one of the best and fastest ways to flush out toxins from your system. Water transports toxins through your system via your...

Read More »
What's the best juice for diabetics?
What's the best juice for diabetics?

Juice options good for type 2 diabetes Instead, stick with juices such as unsweetened lemon or grapefruit juice, which has a lower glycemic index...

Read More »

Listen to this article

Y’all know how the problem of excessive belly fat is the hardest to get rid of. You could invest hours in abdominal exercises and hardcore core workouts. And you could be eating clean too, but chances are that your stubborn belly fat would still not leave you alone for a very, very long time despite these efforts. Y’all also know of the common causes of excessive fat around your belly such as eating more calories than you burn, consuming excessive sugar, refined carbohydrates, and packaged foods, and finally—living a sedentary lifestyle that involves no physical activity. However, chances are that you might end up gaining fat around the belly even if your fix these problems—all thanks to these five “other” causes of belly fat that you might not be paying attention to:

1. You’re not eating enough

When it comes to weight loss, being in a calorie deficit is the go-to approach for one and all. For the uninitiated, it means consuming lesser calories than you need on a daily basis so that your body can derive the remaining energy by burning your body fat. There is no denying the fact that this approach can definitely help you achieve your weight-loss goal. However, it is also highly likely that in a bid to cut down your calorie intake, you also end up cutting out the essential micro- and macronutrients from your diet. Protein, for instance, is proven to help one feel satiated for a long time and boosts muscle strength and growth as well. Vitamins too are essential to keep your skin and hair healthy and your body functioning properly. Now, if you end up minimising these nutrients, chances are that you might end up losing weight due to loss of muscle and extra water from your body instead of fat. This simply means that there’s no chance of losing the stubborn belly fat at all—despite being in a calorie deficit.

2. Stress

Perhaps, you’re always on your toes and maybe, you even enjoy the idea of being busy and working hard. However, if all that work translates into stress, you’re doomed my friend. This is because stress leads to the secretion of the cortisol hormone in your body. According to a study conducted in 2012, this vicious hormone can slow down your metabolism, thus, making you burn fewer calories than your actual potential and leading to obesity. Needless to say, all the extra weight might just start showing on that belly.

3. You party way too hard

Which is healthier sleep or exercise?
Which is healthier sleep or exercise?

“Thirty minutes of exercise is more impactful health-wise than 30 minutes of extra sleep,” Kline says. “However, that's only if you are getting the...

Read More »
Is it healthy to fast for 7 days?
Is it healthy to fast for 7 days?

“Your body has enough nutrients to sustain you over a short period of time, but you're entering the danger zone if you're going 5 to 7 days...

Read More »

Surely, all work and no play, makes Jill a dull girl. But too much play can turn Jill into a girl with a hanging belly. What we’re prompting at here is the fact that excessive alcohol consumption can lead to weight gain—especially around the belly area as per a study published in the journal Current Obesity Reports. So, if you’re a party animal, who cannot do without half a bottle of alcohol or a heartbroken aashiq drinking to drown your sorrows down, you’ve got to stop drinking excessively for your belly’s sake at least. Additionally, if you don’t drink and “just” smoke, you’re at risk again. A study published in the journal PloS One showed how smokers were more susceptible to gaining more belly and visceral fat as compared to non-smokers.

4. You got it from your mama

According to a study conducted by the Centres of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), U.S., your genes can influence the way your metabolism functions. Hence, if your mom or anyone from the same gene pool has a tendency to gain belly fat, you could inherit that tendency as well.

5. You’re a night owl

A study published in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine highlights the link between poor quality/inadequate sleep to unhealthy eating behaviour as well as slowing down of the metabolism. The result? No points for guessing, weight gain, obesity, and some belly fat to make your life more difficult than it already is.

What exercises help weight loss?
What exercises help weight loss?

Some great choices for burning calories include walking, jogging, running, cycling, swimming, weight training, interval training, yoga, and...

Read More »
Is celery good for liver?
Is celery good for liver?

Studies show that celery helps reduce fat build-up in the liver. The nutrients in celery protect the liver, and actually, help the liver produce...

Read More »
Why am I suddenly gaining weight in my stomach?
Why am I suddenly gaining weight in my stomach?

Some causes may be related to stress, alcohol consumption, or medications. Other causes can be a result of health conditions like hypothyroidism or...

Read More »
How many pants sizes lost with tummy tuck?
How many pants sizes lost with tummy tuck?

2 and 3 pants sizes Most women lose between 2 and 3 pants sizes after a tuck, but there are patients who lose even more. If you had a lot of loose...

Read More »