Knowing where to start and having the desire to do so are the keys to losing belly fat. Tips to lose abdominal fat will help you have that flat stomach you aspire to. And then you can go for the six pack. But first things first, a tummy is a difficult area to get rid of, but not impossible.

Men naturally retain fat around their midsection, we like to call them love handles. Stress, lack of exercise, and a poor diet all contribute to a fat tummy. This type of fat is stubborn but can be reduced and even transformed into desirable flat abs. The combination of weight training, cardio, and lean bodybuilding can get you there.

Women can retain their baby fat after delivery. Stress can pack on the pounds, and they’re usually around the midsection. Changes in hormones can also increase the waistline.

These methods apply to both men and women and people of all ages. Throw out your junk food, don’t be tempted by your house and you won’t think about snacking on them. You’ll get out of the habit of reaching for cookies or chips when you want a snack. Junk food is high in sugar and refined carbohydrates, which raise blood sugar levels and reduce the body’s ability to burn fat.

Avoid bad carbs like pasta, donuts, cakes, white bread, and cookies. These foods cause bloating and poor digestion. Good carbohydrates such as vegetables and fruits should be eaten, as well as oats, brown rice and sweet potatoes. Whole grains should be eaten as much as possible. Mix proteins, carbohydrates and vegetables for a good diet. Portion control is important, protein portions should be the size of a credit card, carbohydrates the size of the palm of your hand, and the majority of the food should be vegetables. Eating a lot of carbs will turn into sugar since your body can’t process them.

Don’t have late night snacks as there is no time to burn those calories. This will raise your blood sugar and that sugar will turn into fat. Reduce your alcohol consumption, the fat that you will accumulate will go to your waist, the beer belly is proof of this. There is no nutrition in alcohol. Limit yourself to a glass of wine or just a beer.

Get up and exercise, don’t be a couch potato. Hire a personal trainer, hit the gym, walk around your neighborhood, and park your car some distance from the store to take a few more steps. Building muscle speeds up metabolism. Interval training and circuit training burn fat fast. Vary your exercise routine and you’ll shed more easily. Combining different types of exercise will keep your body from sticking to a rut and ensure that the pounds drop not only faster, but with fun as well. Exercising with a friend or colleague always makes it that much more interesting.

Belly fat protects vital internal organs and is natural. By eating healthy and exercising, you’re well on your way to a new you. Make it fun and find new recipes to try for yourself and your loved ones.