Perhaps no other area of the body attracts more focus than the abs when considering losing weight. Losing abdominal fat can be tricky, but not impossible; combining the right exercises with a good diet is the best way to get started losing abdominal fat, and knowing the risks associated with excessive fat in the body can act as a motivator. To start, one should examine his or her diet and find out where the most calories are coming from. Adjusting one's diet is the first step toward losing abdominal fat and becoming a leaner, fitter person.
While reducing fat intake can be a good way to start losing abdominal fat, a better step is to reduce calorie intake. Fat develops when the body takes in more calories than it burns, so analyzing where the body is getting the most calories is a good way to start losing that fat. Sodas and sugary drinks and foods are almost always a source of high calories. Consider cutting or reducing such foods if possible. Eat whole grain pastas and breads rather than refined grains, as whole grains are more effective at creating chemicals that help burn fat.
Weight training can also help burn fat. As a general rule, muscle burns more calories than fat, so the more muscle the body has, the more quickly it will burn off calories that can turn into fat. Many people make the mistake of only doing cardio workouts to burn fat; while a cardio workout is an essential piece of the puzzle, weight training is often neglected to make way for cardio. One should be certain to include weight training into any exercise program to promote muscle development that will help burn calories and in turn reduce fat.
Losing abdominal fat means participating in a full body workout that is sustained over several months, or even years. It is never enough to simply do one or two brief workouts a week; the body needs to burn calories every day, which means one should do some sort of physical activity at least once per day. Developing abdominal muscles can be quite easy by the normal means — crunches and other exercises — but such muscles will be hidden if one does not burn the fat that hides them. A cardiovascular workout should be done on day one, while upper body weight training should be done on day two. A lower body weight training session should take place on day three, and day four should be a rest day. Repeat the whole process and one will begin to notice results.