The tummy woes we face run the gamut from lower belly bulges to slack skin that won’t snap back, varying from one person—and body type—to the next. In order to tackle the problem and find an effective solution, the area affected and underlying cause need to be identified first.
Did You Know?
According to a study led by Dr. Francisco Lopez-Jimenez, a professor of medicine at the Mayo Clinic, excessive belly fat is as deadly as smoking a pack of cigarettes a day.
Why Women Gain Weight in the Tummy With Age
The stomach is one of those areas that is more susceptible to weight gain with age. The reason: hormones. “The body produces sex hormones from the ovaries and from visceral fat. As women age, the production of these hormones declines if not supported and balanced. If the body is not supported nutritionally during this transition, the belly (visceral fat) will try and compensate by ramping up fat production to create a hormonal balance,” says nutritionist Haylie Pomroy of East West Essentials. “The problem is that the fat or hormones can stimulate insulin resistance and enhance cortisol (the hormone that exaggerates weight gain), lowering healthy hormone production and encouraging more fat.”
Related: 7 Foods That Fight Cellulite
Get Rid of
Fat pockets: stubborn areas of fat that cause rolls and lumps on the stomach
Loose skin: stretched out skin that becomes slack and doesn’t bounce back
Stretch marks: permanent changes to the tone and texture of the skin
Belly bloat: usually temporary and causes the stomach to look distended and swollen
Fixers: The Formula to Get a Six-Pack
Exercise: do one-minute plank poses for three to five minutes a day
Diet: 15% of your daily diet should be healthy fat
Fat: keep your total body fat on the low side
Muscle: eat lean protein, work the core and maintain the right amount of muscle mass
For more NewBeauty tips on how to acheive a flatter stomach, click here.
