If you’ve ever tried to lose weight before then you know that the last few pounds can be the hardest.
Maybe its bikini season and you want to look as ripped as possible. Maybe you’ve been losing weight and want to feel as comfortable as you can in your own skin and don’t want any wobbly bits, or maybe you just want to see your abs for the first time.
But wanting to get rid of the last bit of weight around the gut is something we can all relate to.
Which begs the age-old question, how do you do it and what do you do when progress seemingly stops?
This article will explore how to lose the last few pounds of belly fat and no, more sit-ups and crunches are not the answer.
‘Lose 10lbs in 7 days’
The first thing I point out when it comes to losing weight is that you need to be realistic. If you’ve gained 30, 40, 50 or more pounds of excess weight over the years then losing it all and getting a glistening six-pack in weeks just isn’t going to happen.
No matter what the infomercial says.
Likewise, if you’re new to exercise and have a long way to go, getting a flat belly doesn’t need to be your concern right now, establishing strong habits and routine does.
It may have taken you months, years or decades to get into your current position, so don’t expect to change that in a matter of weeks.
Set out realistic expectations for your progress, accepting that it does get a little harder as you get to the final few pounds and then be consistent as you try to reach your goals.
Are You Fueling Your Body Correctly?
One of the things I see time and time again in the gym is people that do all the right things when losing weight and getting in shape.
They track their calories, pay attention to what they’re protein consumption, drink lots of water, keep consistent gym habits, then when things are going well, they stop.
Why?
Well, they go into autopilot mode and start telling themselves ‘they know’ what they’re doing.
The most common culprit or this is calorie/macros counting.
They stop counting and start guesstimating and you might be nodding right now because you already know that this is you.
No matter what you tell yourself, if you aren’t tracking, you don’t know how much energy you’re taking in and whether or not it’s too much (or not enough).
Just because you’ve lost weight and made changes already, it doesn’t mean you can take your foot off the gas, if anything, it’s time to push harder now.
Get full control over your nutrition and ensure you’re tracking religiously and eating the right types of foods. Remember, as you lose weight you also need fewer calories to fuel your body each day, so if you’re still eating like you’re 15 lbs heavier, those last few pounds will take longer than you think.
Lift Weights
I’d like to think you’re already lifting weights as you try to lose weight, if not, read this https://mymixify.com/cardio-or-weights-whats-better-for-fat-loss/
Why?
Well, lifting weights will help you to grow muscle, building a stronger, leaner, fitter frame meaning you’ll look better in your clothes and out of them.
THAT Hollywood heartthrob? Yeah, he lifts weights.
Gorgeous Bikini models? Yeah, they lift weights too.
It’s not just about packing on size and looking like Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, lifting weights will help you build a healthier body that can cope with the stresses of everyday life, you know what else it does?
It helps to build your core and define your abs, so that as you lose weight they will begin to peak through, sending you on your way to having a glorious six-pack.
Eat More Protein
Your goal when losing weight should always be to lose fat specifically, not just to see a lower weight on the scales.
Muscle is much smaller and more compact than fat cells, so a body packed with muscle will look tighter, stronger and more toned, a desired look that we all want.
In order to build muscle, you need to lift weights but you also need to fuel the muscles with adequate protein.
If you’ve not been doing that you will find building muscle and changing your body shape much harder than expected.
It’s, unfortunately, something you often see with crash dieters or people that have lost weight without resistance training.
They don’t have the building blocks in place to build muscle and so they lose ‘weight’, not fat, and with it, they lose a lot of muscle mass, leaving them with excess skin and a body that they hate, despite weighing less than before.
Ramp Up The Intensity
If you’ve been following the same program for a while then it’s highly possible your body has adapted to your workout routine and it’s time for a change.
Now I’m not talking wholesale changes and ‘muscle confusion’, but you do need to add some variety into your workout.
If you’re following a mainly resistance training program, with no cardio days, then adding in some Barbell Complex workouts is a great way to get the body fired up.
If you do regular cardio then it’s time to turn it up, adding HIIT or Tabata workouts into your routine to burn some calories and torch some fat.
These can be as simple as interval sprints on the treadmill or rower, but if you’re lucky enough or have an Air Bike or Ski Erg in your gym, then incorporating them into your workout will pay off almost immediately.
Consider this
Losing those last few pounds around the midsection can be hard, but it doesn’t have to be torture. Too many people start to panic, thinking they’ll never lose the weight and the allusive abs will never show their face and as a result, they start taking drastic measures to try and reach their goal.
But that couldn’t be further from the truth, the problem most people have is they chop and change their routine every other week, searching for a magic bullet instead of remaining consistent and following the basics.
To truly make it all the way to flat belly heaven you need to follow and stick to the basics.
A program that keeps you in a calorie deficit, has you lifting weights, with the right type of cardio will have you beach body ready in no time at all.
