Like most people, I was under the impression that if I did a variety of abdominal exercises that targeted lower, mid and upper abs, I would slowly get a flat tummy and get a sexy six-pack that we all want. I wanted to investigate this further, because I figure if I was a victim to this misconception, I’m sure there are others who can relate. And why not get educated together, right? There is no point in killing yourself every day and doing hundreds of crunches and sit ups if you won’t even be able to see them.

While ab exercises are definitely beneficial, since they build muscle and strengthen the core, focusing on ab exercises alone will not get your far. Now, I’m no anatomy expert, but lets look at it logically; we’ve got a layer of skin, then a layer of fat called Subcutaneous (which is the stuff that wobbles and still moves when you stop and bugs you so much) then the muscle tissue that protects the organs, and then another layer of abdominal fat called Visceral. So, if you only work out the muscles, you will surely start to build, tone and shape them – BUT, unfortunately, those sexy abs will be hiding under the layer of fat, and neither you, nor anybody else will be able to see the results of all the hard work you’ve been putting in.

Read on, as you’ll find there are a couple of other things you have to incorporate into your workout, in order to melt away the fat and reveal those newly toned abs.

What’s the best way to lose belly fat?
I know that it sounds like a total cliché, but maintaining a healthy, well-balanced diet and exercising regularly is truly the best way to stay healthy and look great doing it. There is tons of research done that proves the fastest and most effective way to burn off the fat from your belly is a combination of resistance weight training and cardiovascular / aerobic exercises.

What should you do, if you want to lose that stubborn belly fat?
#1, You will need to exercise! A basic cardio workout routine of 30-40 min long, 2-3 times a week simply will not be enough. Instead a total, full-body training program consisting of both weight or resistance training and cardiovascular exercises will deliver faster and better results. The benefit of full-body training is that it raises your metabolic response to your workout. By increasing your metabolism through the development of lean muscles, your body will actually burn fat even at rest.

Cardio is truly one of the best methods to improve your stamina, endurance and lose fat. Cardio which is short for cardiovascular, refers to any activity such as running, swimming, cycling and even dancing, which elevates the heart rate for a prolong period of time. Regular cardio when combined with a healthy diet and lifestyle ensures that you will have a healthy heart and will be able to enjoy life and see your grandchildren and maybe even great-grandchildren grow up and even get married. Who wouldn’t like that? The best way to start with cardio is to start out slowly and increase the intensity and the duration as your stamina improves. Cardio can be performed both indoors and outdoors; it can be as simple as putting on your running shoes and going for a run. If you don’t like to run, (which I can’t say I love doing, but it’s slowly growing on me) there are many other alternatives including swimming, cycling, aerobics, elliptical trainers, stair masters, spinning and many more.

#2 –Yes, You’ve heard this before – eat healthy! If you goal is to lose fat, then you cannot ignore the fact that by eating fatty foods, such as chips, burgers, pizzas etc, you will not lose any fat / weight. Because whatever progress you make during your workouts, will go to waste and you will simply gain that unhealthy fat right back. Instead, make a commitment to change your diet and include a balance of fruits, veggies, lean meats, fish and grains into your diet. It’s really not as hard as you think it is. The hardest thing is to make that decision and stick to it. Which brings me to my 3^rd point.

#3 – At the end of the day, none of this advice will be helpful, unless you do it CONSISTANTLY and CONTINUALLY! To lose that unattractive and unhealthy belly fat, eating right and exercising regularly cannot just be hobbies that you do “when I have time”.  Speaking from personal experience, we waste so much valuable time during the day doing things that have no real value, time that could otherwise be devoted to our health and fitness. So get up early if you have to, turn off the TV and honestly, stop wasting time on Facebook & Twitter! You will need to make a commitment and integrate this lifestyle into your daily routine if you are serious and really want to see results. And I promise within 6-8 weeks you will start to see noticeable results and will be ready to show of your sexy six-pack at the beach this summer.

Please feel free to share your own tips on how to lose that unwanted belly fat and get those toned abs.

Photo Source: www.prevention.com, http://epicself.com, www.athleteinme.com, http://burnmybellyfat.com, www.ehow.com, www.medical-weight-loss-guide.com