Post-pandemic, many of us have gained a little (or a lot of) extra weight around the abdomen. The struggle to get rid of it is real, especially if it is that last little target area. Here are the mistakes you’re making.

Expectation

You’re expecting it to go as fast as it got there.

The truth is it takes time and hard work. Belly fat can be a stubborn area, with no particular quick fix like others, however, once the fat is burned from this region it can be a more sustainable loss.

You need patience and perseverance. You need a targeted approach and a detailed strategy that focuses not just on losing the belly fat but keeping it off long term.

You’re only thinking of diet and exercise

One leading cause of belly fat is stress.

Diet and exercise are extremely important, but if we don’t target the source of the problem it can be difficult to resolve it, particularly if we are wondering why we can’t keep it off.

Your mental health plays a huge role in physical wellness, particularly weight gain. Stress hormones can affect our eating and insulin levels, while dieting can assist with the problem it doesn’t get rid of it.

Practice mindfulness and find the source of your stress. Use exercise as a tool to fight it.

Crunches alone only go so far

Many people focus specifically on working the abdomen when exercising.

You need to focus on your body as a whole. Doing full body workouts along with core focused exercises will allow you to get a more efficient result. Doing abdominal workouts definitely help with burning belly fat, but a full body workout will allow you to burn the fat while focusing on other areas and overall wellbeing.

Remember to add cardio into your workouts, and weight training to help tone the region.

Sleep

A lack of sleep can be triggering for stress, releasing stressful hormones when we are fatigued.

Poor sleep does affect our mental capacity when it comes to working out, focusing and stress levels, but it also affects our food choices. A good night’s rest can also assist your metabolism, while getting to bed early can help you avoid late night snacking.

As a good night’s rest can help you stay focused and alert, it will also allow you to have more energy, thus a better workout.

Remember, if you are trying to lose the belly fat it isn’t just about doing a few crunches thinking it will go away. Have a detailed plan and change all your poor habits.