When people are looking to lose weight and transform their bodies, one of the most common areas they are looking to target is their core [1]. More specifically, they want a "flat stomach." In reality, they are probably trying to target belly fat; your stomach is actually an organ located on the upper side of your abdomen, so losing "stomach fat" is pretty impossible.
But if you are looking to burn belly fat [2], there are some tried-and-true diet tips, exercises, and other lifestyle changes you can take to see results. Take it from our experts; with the right choices, you'll see a reduction in your waist in no time.
Try These Lifestyle Changes
If you really want to torch belly fat for good, try these six things [3], including adding weights to your strength-training routine [4], eating the right foods, and de-stressing.
Do HIIT Exercise
Although cardio can help you lose weight overall (since you can't spot-target fat loss), HIIT [5] is the most effective in torching calories both during the workout and afterward, thanks to EPOC [6], or the afterburn effect. Try this 20-minute HIIT workout [7] to put your body into fat-burning mode.
Incorporate These Ab Exercises
Sure, you can't spot-target fat loss, but you can strengthen your core overall, which can give you the appearance of a tighter tummy. Try these 18 exercises [8] that will fire up your abs, including elbow planks, mountain climbers [9], reverse crunches, and scissor kicks [10].
Eat These Foods
While you can work on your ab muscles in the gym, abs really are made in the kitchen. If you're trying to lose weight, be sure you're eating a healthy, well-balanced diet at a calorie deficit. And to flatten your stomach, load up on these seven dietitian-recommended foods [11] that burn belly fat, such as broccoli, salmon, Greek yoghurt (which you can use in salad dressing, guacamole, and so much more [12]), and beans.
Drink These Beverages
Sure, you may be counting the calories you eat, but what about the calories you drink? Swap out your sugary beverages and instead load up on these five belly-fat-fighting drinks [13], including black coffee, water, and matcha [14], to slim down your belly for good.