Life is good, except maybe for that extra belly fat you’ve been carrying around for much too long. Simply by introducing healthy habits into your daily routine, you can make your good life even better and lose some belly fat while you’re at it.
What are some good habits that will help eliminate that belly fat? Good habits are just as powerful as
bad belly habits, and, if you can stick to them, can help you change any area of your life for the better.
Start Slow and Build Up Over Time
Most people understand what good habits are; sometimes they just have trouble knowing how to get there and stay there. One key to adopting good habits is to
start slow and build up over time.
Too often a person will decide to make a life-altering change to never eat ice cream again, exercise for an hour every day and give up coffee for good.
They’re pretty extreme, right? Especially if we’re talking about someone who eats ice cream by the tub, has never exercised a day in his/her life and who chugs coffee like it’s going out of style.
Making a massive change or trying to sever strong habits overnight is almost a guarantee of failure. Most habits can’t just be plucked out of your psyche. These are stubborn weeds with long roots.
Steps to Developing Good Eating Habits
Replace poor food choices with good choices one at a time: Instead of giving up ice cream for good (a sure way to have you thinking about ice cream every second of every day until you crack under the pressure and empty out your local Diary Queen), replace it with a better food choice, such as Frozen Yogurt or Sorbet.
Reduce the quantity: Stick to one scoop instead of two, or maybe only eat it three days a week instead of five (with a goal to eventually get down to once or twice a week).
Find healthy recipes: Look up easy, healthy recipes online and commit to making something new each week. Keep those recipes you like and throw out the ones you don’t.
Slowly transition to a more natural diet – We’re talking about lean meats and plant-based foods. Eat less of the bad stuff (hint: if it comes in a box, be wary), then slowly nudge it completely off the menu.
Apply the Same Steps to Exercise
If you are not physically fit, don’t sign yourself up for a marathon next week. Start walking around a track or visiting the gym for half an hour twice a week. If walking tires you out, then stick with that until it becomes a little easier.
Challenge your body: As long as you are breathing hard and your heart rate is elevated, you are challenging your body no matter how slow you think you might be going.
Exercise consistently: The human body is an amazing machine and can adapt to many different challenges if given the right training. If you consistently exercise, you will notice that the workouts will become easier.
Keep progressing: You won’t be so out of breath after walking a mile or lifting weights. This means it is time to progress. Keep progressing, and you’ll be amazed at what you can accomplish.
Consider a gym: If you are new to exercise, purchase a membership at your local gym. Most gyms offer a free personal training session to new members.
Ask the trainer to explain the equipment and to make workout recommendations based on your fitness level. Don’t feel embarrassed, no matter what shape you are in. Everyone is at the gym to improve their body, and even the best looking muscle heads probably started out in your shoes at one point in time.
Build Good Stress Management Habits
Along with nutrition and exercise, work to build good stress management habits.
Stress plays a significant role in the development of belly fat. Learn relaxation techniques that you can use throughout the day.
There are many options from deep breathing and counting backwards, to yoga classes or meditation. Find what works best for you, and give yourself time and opportunity to relax.
Developing good habits is all about continuously increasing positive behavior and decreasing negative behavior. Move at a pace that is comfortable and sustainable for you. Continue implementing the good behavior in order to build it into a habit. Each time you go to the gym, that habit will get a little stronger, and, hopefully, it will become a little bit easier.
As you begin to gradually shift from poor health habits to positive ones, you will notice your mind, body and spirit responding and growing strong. Specifically, your belly fat will be on the run, and it won’t come back!
