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Health and Fitness online "Gym" for Muslim Women

10 min pilates flex-full

Possible Causes for Those Love Handles

Before you begin Jihad with your belly fat and toning your abs, you need to understand a bit more about how your body works. You might discover why you are having such a difficult time winning the war against your bulge.
A lot of Americans believe that it stems from improper eating or lack of exercise. While this may be the most common case, there can also be other reasons:

Genetics
There are two common body types:
apple and pear. It sounds delicious but true, so I have read. If you gain and store fat in lower parts of your body then you would be considered pear-shaped.
If you’re the kind of person that stores more fat in your stomach and middle section than anywhere else then you would be considered apple-shaped. Look at your own family if you notice that a lot of them are heavier around the middle area then it’s quite possible that you have the genes that make you genetically apple-shaped when you put on excess weight.
Stress
This is a big one. When you are under stress, your body releases the hormone cortisol.
In turn, this hormone causes your liver to make excess sugar that your body doesn’t really need. As a result, you begin to feel hungrier and begin to eat more.
Improper Digestion
Improper digestion due to stress may cause several kinds of gastrointestinal problems leaving you gassy and bloated. Many people who complain about persistent belly fat often times have gas which causes the bloating effect.
Slow Metabolism
As we get older, our metabolism tends to slow down. That means you don’t burn calories as fast or as easily as you did when you were younger. A slower metabolism can also result in extra storage.
Poor Posture
Your posture can make a huge difference in how your stomach looks.
Eating Late at Night
You should never eat within three hours of your bedtime.
Determine Your Cause
Consult your doctor if you have serious concerns.
Menopause
After menopause occurs in women fat begins storing itself.

10 Easy Steps to a Flatter Stomach

Here's a quick guide you can follow to help flatten your stomach. You may want to print this out and post it somewhere you'll see it.

1. Walk or jog for 30 minutes at least 3 times a week to improve your metabolism in order to melt away fat.
2. Eat a small handful of almonds every morning. Almonds are one of the healthiest snacks you can eat and the protein is good for burning fat.
3. You can download a Pilates video from the internet. Pilates works on toning your entire body and will improve your flexibility.
4. Add fiber to your diet and lower your intake of the bad carbohydrates. Foods such as white bread, pastas, potatoes, and white rice should be limited. Eat brown rice and whole wheat bread instead. To get that needed fiber, increase your intake of fresh fruits and vegetables.
5. Drink skim milk instead of whole milk. Dairy products often cause bloating and gas.
6. Perform proper crunches at least 3 times a week to train your abs. Avoid sit-ups because they really do very little to firm your stomach.
7. Drink plenty of water. You should be drinking 6 to 8 glasses per day. Not only will it help fill you up so you eat less, but it aids in digestion.
8. Stop eating within 3 hours of bedtime. Not eating late can make a huge difference.
9. Eat smaller meals more often instead of 2-3 big meals per day to keep from having that bloated look and feeling.
10. Moderation

Just remember that there's no such thing as losing your stomach fast. You have to work at it daily and remain consistent with your diet and exercise.