Getting a firm and toned stomach is the goal for any fitness-minded individual.
However, no matter what exercises you do, the stomach area is where the fat will stick for the longest.
Although a fat distribution is somewhat different when comparing men and women, stomach fat is always a critical area for both.
Whether the body is shaped like a banana, a pear, an apple or an hourglass, abdomen fat is consistently present and hard to get rid of.
Considering the fact that society during history has always had a tendency for a smaller waist, it is not a miracle that there are so many exercise techniques targeting that area.
You might have been unsuccessful in the past to get a toned stomach because you have been specifically targeting stomach area.
Doing exercises only for abdominal muscles can actually make things worse.
It will not burn your stomach fat, but will only push it more to the front and make your stomach even bigger and bulgier.
To get a toned stomach you also need to change some of your life habits as well as learn what affects your waist line.
Fitness trainers and body builders sometimes say that nutrition is more than 80% of their success.
Therefore, it is not hard to understand that exercising in the combination with the proper nutrition is a must if you are to get a flat stomach with six packs to show off.
These are the tips you must follow to lose your stomach fat, get it flatter and toned.
1.
Increase the resistance of your workouts.
Increased resistance builds muscle mass, which speeds up the metabolism.
Having more muscles means burning more fat tissue even while you are at rest.
2.
Work out your entire body.
Targeting larger muscle groups such as thighs will increase your calorie expenditure rate, which will have even greater effect on your fat loss.
3.
Don't over-train yourself.
Schedule your workouts to no more than three to four times per week.
Your body needs to rest in between resistance workouts to allow it to recuperate.
You can do light cardio workouts in between if you are a fitness junkie.
4.
Eat small but frequent meals.
Have bigger meals in the morning, but still try to make them smaller as the day goes by.
Eating every 3-4 hours will put your metabolism in the constant calorie burning mode.
5.
Eat foods rich in complex carbohydrates as they are rich in healthy nutrients and increase the satiety value foods.
This means you will feel fuller for a longer period.
6.
Eat more foods rich in proteins.
Proteins are mandatory for physically active individuals because they increase the energy levels and maintain muscle mass.
7.
Try to lower your fat intake.
Calories in foods that are coming from fat should not exceed more than 15-30% of a total calorie intake.
Fat is the easiest macro nutrient to be stored as fat in the human body.
8.
Drink plenty of water.
Water rids the stomach of bloating and aids food digestion.
Water also helps you to eat less because it gives a feeling of a full stomach.
9.
Try to keep a negative calorie intake.
The equation is simple, burning more calories than you consume will result in fat loss and your hard gained abs will start to show.
10.
Measure yourself regularly and don't rely only on weight.
Weight can be misleading when you are building muscles because the same muscle volume weighs more than the same fat volume.
It is maybe hard to take these tips all at once and make sudden changes in your exercise and diet, but it is possible to make small steps and stick to them.
Once they become a habit, change something else.
Very soon you will notice body altering changes and that your stomach is getting flat and toned.