There’s no shortage of information out there teaching you about how to lose belly fat.
Mostly these articles focus on tips and tricks.
They avoid the big truths. The important topics. The stuff that REALLY works.
That’s why I wrote this article.
Below, you’ll find a list of 5 things you have to do to truly lose that belly fat and keep it off forever.
They’re in order, which means that Factor #1 is the most important and Factor #5 is the least important.
(But really, they’re all important.)
If you aren’t really serious about losing fat, or if you just want to waste some time reading a mindless article, then this probably is not going to be up your alley.
I wrote this for the person who has decided that’s it’s time to finally make a change.
If that’s you, then read on…
How to Lose Belly Fat Factor #1: Intentions & Mindset
This is the first and most important step to losing belly fat.
Unfortunately, it’s also the step that is most commonly skipped.
Before you even start thinking about things like diet & exercise, you have to get your mind right.
Are you dedicated to losing weight? Or is this a passing fad in your life that you’ll forget about in a week?
Be sincere and give yourself an honest answer. And if you aren’t truly dedicated, then find a way to GET dedicated–before you even try to start losing weight.
Because without the right mindset, you’re not going to accomplish your goal. Period.
Another word for mindset is your intention.
What do you intend to do with your belly, your body, and your life?
Do you intend to keep muddling through the way you have been?
Or do you intend to take action and do something amazing?
How to Lose Belly Fat Factor #2: Daily Habits
Once you have the right mindset and intentions, the next thing to focus on is your habits.
That’s right. Not your carb intake, or your running shoes, or any of those details.
Your habits.
Habits are powerful things, man.
Think of your habits like your automatic behavior. These are the things you do when you don’t have the mental energy to make a conscious choice.
When most people come home tired and hungry, the first thing they do is grab a bag of chips.
That’s their habit.
But me?
I eat a banana with peanut butter. Maybe wash it down with a protein shake.
Does that make me better than them?
No, of course not.
It just means I have a healthier habit.
One that helps keep me lean year-round, without using a metric fuckton of…
How to Lose Belly Fat Factor #3: Willpower
If your habits are your automatic behavior, then your willpower covers all the other situations.
Willpower should never be your first line of defense. (That’s why you need good habits.)
Instead, willpower is your backup plan for situations such as:
- Parties
- Buffet tables
- Unexpected temptations
In other words, willpower is something you should save for social situations and other unexpected temptations.
You should not have to use willpower to eat a healthy breakfast before work. That’s something you need to turn into a habit.
Also, remember that your willpower is a limited resource. The more you use it in a day, the more tired it gets.
It’s kind of like a muscle or a gas tank.
If you try to lose belly fat through sheer willpower alone, you’ll reach mental fatigue halfway through the day…
Which means you’ll be setting yourself up to overeat at night.
Not a good move.
Instead, develop healthy habits that will cover you for most daily situations like your typical breakfast, lunch, & snacks. Then, use your willpower to handle new situations so you don’t binge at social events.
Got it?
Good.
How to Lose Belly Fat Factor #4: Diet & Nutrition
Factors #1-3 are super important, but diet and nutrition are where the rubber meets the road.
It was eating too much food that gave you that belly…
So you’re going to have to eat less food to lose it.
It’s that simple.
(Not to say it’s easy…it’s definitely not. It’s just simple.)
Two quick tips I would give you here to start:
- Cook your own meals. This is the only way to really know what you’re eating. Anytime you eat at a restaurant, you can assume that the calories are 50% higher than what you expect.
- Track your calories. Download the free app MyFitnessPal, or try another one if you prefer. You don’t have to do this forever, but counting calories is one of the most proven ways to lose weight there is. I know it’s a pain in the ass, but the fact is it works. Counting calories helps make you aware of what you’re eating. It also helps you to get a feel for how many calories are in certain types of foods.
Eventually, you won’t need to track your calories anymore…because you’ll have a finely tuned sense of how much you’re eating at each meal.
Notice that diet (Factor #4) is more important than…
How to Lose Belly Fat Factor #5: Exercise
Notice that exercise is the least important factor in this article.
And yet when most people think about losing weight, going to the gym is the FIRST thing that comes to mind:
“Oh, I need to lose some weight. I gotta get to the gym!”
Don’t get me wrong, working out is great. I’m all for it.
Just make sure that you’ve got Factors #1-4 in place first. Because if you don’t, then a little intermittent exercise isn’t going to make a dent in that gut.
So, what kind of exercise works best to lose belly fat?
Most people jump straight to cardio.
And cardio is fine… It’s good for your heart & lungs…
But as a weight-loss strategy, it’s overrated.
(Click here to read the article on cardio vs weights for fat loss.)
Instead, I recommend lifting weights.
If you’re a beginner, do full-body weight training with squats, deadlifts, bench press, rows, and chin-ups (or lat pulldowns if you can’t do chin-ups).
These exercises will stimulate the most muscle fiber, giving you a great hormone boost and preserving lean muscle.
This way, when you cut your calories you’ll lose FAT and not MUSCLE.
And that is how you start to look good naked.