Weight Loss For Men…… Lose That Gut!

If you’ve read the title of this article, then chances are you are a guy… and more then likely, you’re a guy trying to get in shape. You’re working out, watching what you eat, and you’ve even switched to light beer… but that stubborn gut is still there. It’s smaller, that’s for sure, but it’s not as flat as it should be after all this work and sacrifice, and soon those thoughts of having a flat mid-section begin to seem impossible. At this stage it’s easy to get discouraged.

But hold on, don’t give up just yet… More then likely, your approach to fat loss simply needs to be tweaked a little to kick start your fat burning furnace up a notch. And ladies, if you’re reading this article, well consider this your lucky day… because these three principles work equally as well on women as they do for men.

In this article, we are going to take a close look at three advanced principles to fat loss. Once you implement these proven concepts into your daily routine, you’ll see results that go way beyond what is normally achievable. These principles are grounded in science and are known methods, or secrets used by professional athletes, celebrities and fitness experts. Take each of these techniques, use them in your personal program and I assure you…. one day you’ll wake up and say, “Hey, I don’t have a gut anymore!”

Fat Loss Principle #1: Spot Reduction is Impossible

Ok, I lied…. spot reduction really is possible, but you’ll need liposuction for it! And besides, when you take into account the cost and recovery, most people could have achieved the same result through diet and exercise for a lot less money. But, all kidding aside, spot reduction of body fat is physiologically impossible. In other words, you cannot lose inches in your belly faster by doing crunches or some other abdominal exercise.

These exercises have their place in your routine for sure, but doing more of them will not “spot reduce” body fat in your mid-section any faster. The fat around our waistlines and stomach, visually, is the last place to disappear. Why? Because this part of our body holds the highest percentage of fat cells relative to other parts of our body. And since we burn fat at an even rate over our entire body, then those pesky love handles will be the last to go. Stay the course and give it more time…It’s just a reality that you must understand in order to remain motivated and not get discouraged.

Fat Loss Principle #2: Eat By The Clock, Not by Hunger

Everyone knows that metabolism plays a big role in the long term effects of fat loss. Every time we eat a meal, our metabolism kicks into a higher gear in order to digest our food. At the same time, when our body is deprived of food, it senses starvation… and the metabolic process slows down. Funny how nature tends to take care of us this way, isn’t it?

Skipping meals is one of the worst of things you can do if you want to lose weight. Sumo wrestlers in Japan skip breakfast as a part of their training so that their metabolism will remain low. Think about that the next time you turn down breakfast!

The secret to maintaining an even, fat burning metabolic rate is to consume some form of calories every two to four hours. Instead of eating three large meals a day, break down your meals into smaller feedings every three hours, so that you are eating four to six small meals per day. You can easily accomplish this new routine by snacking on apples, or bananas, protein bars or smoothies in between your normal breakfast, lunch and dinner time slots. Once you get the hang of it, you will be amazed at your energy levels and how much better you feel, not to mention the fact that this will pay dividends when it comes to maintaining low body fat levels.

Fat Loss Principle #3: Do Your Cardio on an Empty Stomach

This secret to getting ripped is extremely effective and makes perfect sense when you understand the logic behind it. Essentially, our bodies derive energy from three primary sources, sugars, oxygen, and fats. By doing your cardio with little or no carbohydrates (sugars) in your bloodstream, you are forcing your body to use either oxygen or fat as an energy source. This creates an environment of maximum fat loss as our bodies will reach for fat cells to burn because it has no other energy source. You can further enhance this effect by making sure that you are slightly out of breath while exercising. Being out of breath, obviously, signals a minor state of oxygen deprivation as well… forcing your body to reach for even more fat cells as it’s energy source.

Wait a minute though… how are we supposed to do this if we have to eat every three hours?

It requires some planning, but its not that difficult. The best way to do this is to do your cardio on an empty stomach as soon as you wake up. Obviously, your body has been in a state of fasting after an eight hour sleep and the sugars in your bloodstream should be very low. Another way to accomplish this is to do your cardio immediately after you lift weights. When you are strength training with weights you are using the sugars in your bloodstream for energy during what should be an intense work out. By doing 20-30 minutes of cardio immediately following your weight training you are burning fat in a more carb depleted state then if you did your cardio first… like everyone else does, with usually mediocre results!

Put These 3 Concepts Into Your Weight Loss Plan… Because They Work

If your weight loss has hit a plateau, and you feel the need to kick it into another gear, remember these three principles. Give yourself the time it takes, as we discussed in principle one. Change your caloric consumption and learn to eat small meals throughout the day, and finally… Throw in some intense cardiovascular work on an empty stomach to really turn your body into a fat burning machine!