Getting rid of belly fat is not only essential for achieving a well-proportioned figure but also for reducing the risk of developing chronic diseases.
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While all physical activity can help with weight management, some exercises are particularly effective at eliminating abdominal fat faster than others.
Best Exercises for Burning Belly Fat
Exercise plays a key role in reducing both visceral (deep) and subcutaneous (under-the-skin) fat. However, no workout can significantly reduce fat without maintaining a caloric deficit, which makes a healthy diet equally essential.
Here are the top types of exercises to help you burn belly fat efficiently:
1. High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT)
HIIT workouts are among the most effective for burning belly fat, as they torch a large number of calories in a short time. Short bursts of maximum effort followed by brief rest periods dramatically boost calorie burn and trigger excess post-exercise oxygen consumption (EPOC)—keeping your metabolism elevated for hours after the workout.
This “afterburn effect” helps your body continue burning calories even after you’re done exercising.
Examples of HIIT exercises include:
Push-ups
Jump squats
Mountain climbers
Perform each move for 30 seconds, rest for 30 seconds, and repeat for 3–4 rounds.
2. Strength Training
While strength training may not burn as many calories during the session as HIIT, it offers powerful long-term benefits. Muscle is a metabolically active tissue, meaning it continues to burn calories even at rest. The more lean muscle mass you build, the higher your resting metabolic rate (RMR).
To maximize calorie expenditure during strength training, focus on compound movements that engage multiple muscle groups and joints simultaneously, such as:
Deadlifts
Squats
Bench presses
3. Moderate-Intensity Cardio
Moderate-intensity cardiovascular exercise primarily uses fat as fuel—especially when performed after resistance training or in a fasted state. Combining cardio with HIIT or strength training helps increase overall calorie burn and improves hormonal balance.
Aerobic exercise performed at 60–70% of your maximum heart rate can effectively reduce visceral fat—even without strict dieting.
Do Ab Workouts Burn Belly Fat?
Ab exercises alone do not directly burn belly fat—they strengthen the muscles beneath it. Once you reduce overall body fat, these muscles become more visible, creating a lean and defined midsection.
Core training also enhances posture and functional strength. However, excessive ab training can lead to undesirable muscle growth, giving the waist a thicker appearance. If your core muscles develop faster than you lose fat, your waistline might look wider rather than slimmer.
Still, including some core exercises like planks during your fat-loss phase helps preserve and tone muscle mass, resulting in a sculpted look once fat levels decrease.
Tips for Maximizing Fat Loss
To accelerate fat loss and achieve sustainable results, fitness experts recommend the following:
Eat sufficient protein to preserve muscle mass.
Get quality sleep to regulate metabolism and appetite.
Stay hydrated throughout the day.
Maintain a consistent caloric deficit through diet and exercise.
Source: Health