5 reasons why fat stays on your stomach

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Are you trying to get rid of belly fat without success? Here are 5 possible reasons why it won't budge.

You drink too much alcohol

Not only does alcohol slow down your liver’s ability to break down fat, it also suppresses the production of testosterone, a hormone that helps break down fat. Alcohol is perceived by the body as a toxin, so it immediately attracts attention. When you drink alcohol, your body focuses on processing it, rather than breaking down foods that contain carbohydrates and fats. These extra calories are converted and stored as fat, which leads to an enlarged waistline. Drinking alcohol can also make you eat more. This is because alcohol increases your appetite by suppressing leptin, a hormone that tells your brain to stop wanting food. Alcohol can also disrupt your sleep, which can make you eat more calories.

You’re getting older

As you get older, your body's metabolic rate slows down, and with it the number of calories it needs to function properly. In women, menopause can cause weight gain in the abdominal area. Menopause slows down the production of the hormones estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone. The decline in hormone levels leads to the accumulation of fat in the abdomen.

You only do cardio

For a flat stomach, you need to combine strength training and cardio. Strength training increases muscle mass, and more muscle means your body will burn more calories. You also need to increase the amount of cardio you do – a high-intensity regimen can lead to the loss of more belly fat. Thanks to high-intensity training, you will burn more calories in less time.

You eat a lot of processed foods

Eating too many processed foods, such as white bread, crackers, chips, sugary drinks and desserts, can prevent you from losing belly fat. These foods can increase inflammation in the body and contribute to an enlarged waistline. So, include more natural foods in your diet, such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Natural foods are rich in antioxidants, which have anti-inflammatory properties.

You're stressed

Too much stress can make it difficult to lose weight, especially in the abdominal area. When stressed, people tend to eat fatty and high-calorie foods. In addition, stress also leads to increased levels of cortisol, known as the stress hormone, which promotes fat accumulation, especially in the abdominal area.