Extremely Dangerous Fats Are Easy To Lose
It is the whole dream of a fat belly fat zap belly fat but, far from pure hygiene, there is actually a reason why having too much fat in the abdominal region can be dangerous, especially visceral fat. Fat is stored throughout our body, but how does a growing waistline increase the risk of chronic illness?
LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION
Your body fat affects your health differently depending on where it is stored. Although most fats found in other parts of our body (think arms, legs, buttocks) are considered “subcutaneous fat,” belly fat may be “visceral.”
PINCHABLE VERSUS PRESSABLE
Subcutaneous fat is a thin, squishy fat right between your skin and muscles that helps you stay warm, cut you off, and save extra calories. "Visceral fat" retains calories as well, but is not depleted because it is also found in your surrounding organs. It is hidden deep in the abdominal region, which makes it stronger (rather than squishy) when pressed.
PROXIMITY
Fat is not just about storing calories — it is the living tissue that can produce and release hormones that affect other organs. Because visceral fat stays close to our organs, its release of these chemicals is not good. Having high visceral fat can raise LDL (a.k.a. “bad” cholesterol and blood pressure. Visceral fat can also make you less sensitive to insulin, which increases your risk of Type 2 Diabetes.
BAD TALKING OF THE SHORT STOMACH
Even if you are thin, you can still have visceral fat around the abdominal region - being “skin” does not mean you are healthy. There is no definite way to tell visceral from subcutaneous fats to be achieved with an expensive CT scan, but it is important that you get a negative view of what your visceral stores are. Here are a few tricks to find out where your stomach is:
HANDLINGS AND PILLARS: You are probably wondering, "What does fruit have to do with it?" These two fruits give you a quick idea of where most of your fat is stored in the body. Pears tend to store fat in the lower extremities (hips, thighs, buttocks) as the fat under the skin while apples tend to store fat in the upper area (stomach, chest) as visceral fat. A quick test is needed, but this is an incomplete way to separate the two fats.
WC EXERCISE (WC): Feel yourself above your hip bone (at the same level as above your belly button) and rotate the tape measure at this point. Remember to relax and do not suck in your gut (be honest!). Take 2-3 measurements and get a rating. Men should have a WC less than 40 inches (102 cm) and women should have a WC less than 35 inches (89 cm).
WAIST-TO-HIP RTIO: The waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) takes a circle around your waist (see above) and separates it around your hips. To measure your hips, stand in front of a mirror and find the widest part of your hips and measure the circumference. Then use this formula:
WHR = (Hip Circle) / (Hip Circle).
Men should have less than 1 WHR while women should have less than 0.8 WHR.
KNOW YOUR HEALTHY HISTORY OF YOUR FAMILY
If your parents or siblings have allergies to insulin, heart disease or fatty liver, you may be at greater risk of developing visceral fat. Keeping an eye on your visceral fat may be beneficial, but be aware that the causes of these chronic diseases are complex. If in doubt, it is best to talk to your healthcare provider.
EXPOSURE OF VISIBLE OILS
If you fall into the WC and WHR range, that’s great! Continue to work on your weight goals as you see fit. If not, do not despair. Because of its proximity to the liver, visceral fat is usually an easy fat to burn. With low subcutaneous fat with little risk it tends to stick.
Unfortunately, you can't see the fat loss in your stomach no matter how many crunches you do. The following are some of the best ways to live a healthy lifestyle:
Go beyond weight loss. You can track your waist, hips and neck in the MyFitnessPal app to see how your weight changes over time as you lose weight.
Boil for 30-60 minutes each day. Visceral oil responds well to regular endurance exercises, such as running, cycling, rowing, swimming, which raises your heart rate. As your body uses fat to function, you will begin to use your visceral stores.
Eat nutritious food. Eat foods rich in whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables, and low-calorie proteins set for a gradual weight loss (e.g. about 1-2 pounds per week). Reduce excess sugar and alcohol as these nutrients will likely end up being visible fats.
Sleep a lot, press hard. It is easier said than done, but in order to take care of your physical body, you must take care of your attitude. Loss of sleep and stress can damage your health and fitness goals, so learn more about a good night's rest and use meditation or yoga to calm your mind. Remember, it’s not just about your health; it's about your happiness, too.
How do you get rid of belly fat? Share your comments below.
First published in January 2018, it is updated with additional reporting
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