How to Lose Belly Fat: For Teens Only
Losing Belly Fat
Losing belly fat is a tremendous effort, especially if you are a teen. There are many causes for belly fat such as genetics, hereditary health issues, or even a poor diet. Make sure that you single out what you need to do, and get started on flattening that belly. It is possible to learn how to lose belly fat. For teens, this can be critical for them to maintain their self esteem and healthy body image.
Your Diet
The first concern when diagnosing belly fat is your diet. Are you eating cheesy puffs dipped in ranch with bacon on top while you sit on the couch watching your favorite gossip news on TV? Nutrition is a big factor in weight loss, especially in losing belly fat. Go by the rule of thumb “calories in and calories out”. Start eating more fresh veggies and fruit, lean meats and low calorie snacks. Drink more water and green tea, and stay away from sodas. Because of the carbonation and cravings that caffeine cause, even diet sodas can get in the way of your belly fat losing goals!
Exercise Routine
Start an exercise routine. If you are too busy with scholastic events in school, then try a little at a time to just flat out move more. Take walks with your parents around the neighborhood after you eat. This will help jump start your digestion cycle while giving you a chance to talk to your parents more. Despite what your friends and TV portray, parents are fun to talk to and can even be a good source of wisdom. Just like you feel now, your parents were probably struggling with the same issue.
Cardio, Cardio, Cardio
Depending on how much belly fat you have to lose is what exercises you should devote yourself to. If you have large amounts of fat around your belly, first do several days of cardio to melt the fat off. Then, after the fat is gone, do sit ups, crunches, and other abdominal exercises. You can find these in health magazines, or by searching the internet. Whatever exercise you decide to do, remember that it is not going to be comfortable, it is going to hurt, and if there is no pain, there is no gain.
Avoid the Scale
In the beginning of your belly fat weight loss journey, you may see the scale increase as opposed to decreasing. This is normal, as muscle weighs more than fat. Give your muscles a chance to absorb that fat! Treat the scale like your favorite dessert. Ignore it! The last thing you need is anything to deter you from your belly fat losing goals.
Motivation
Stay away from negative people. You are determined to get rid of your belly fat, and you are most likely on the right path. If you surround yourself with negative influences, who purposely try to sabotage your efforts by nay saying, you will never get to where you need to be. However, if you have friends who want to workout with you, motivate them to join you. All in all, the last thing you need is a friend who wants you to join the self-pity committee.
PMS
As mentioned earlier, belly fat may not always be because of the way you eat. If you are a female, you may experience about five pounds of weight gain before your menstrual cycle. If this is the case, do not fret. After your menstrual cycle is over for the month, your belly will be back in its prior shape. PMS can cause you to crave foods that are bad for you, so remember not to gorge on comfort foods during this time, even though it may feel satisfying, its just your cramps talking. Treat your cramps instead with a heating pad or by drinking more water.
Keep a Positive Attitude
If your belly fat is caused by a poor diet or just your monthly menstrual cycle, make sure that you are taking the proper steps to take care of the issue. Don’t wait too long to figure out how to lose belly fat. For teens, this can be hard but it will get harder if this is attempted years later. Keep a positive attitude and you can accomplish anything you put your mind to.
