Why my belly fat is not reducing even after exercise? (2023)

Why is my tummy still big after exercise?

Well, you may feel bloated after a workout if you've been breathing hard or gulping too much water, which may cause you to swallow air. You may experience abdominal dissension if you overhydrate or drink too little, and physical exertion can cause bloating in and of itself.

Lower belly fat has many causes that can range from eating too much to chronic stress and inflammation to insulin resistance. Getting regular exercise, eating an anti-inflammatory diet and managing stress levels can help you shed pounds and fight that lower belly pooch.

Scientifically, you can start to see results and lose belly fat for yourself in something as little as 2 weeks time. That being said, even if the timeline might be short, cutting around inches off your waistline could require a lot of hard work and following the right balance of diet and workout.

Crunches:

The most effective exercise to burn stomach fat is crunches. Crunches rank top when we talk of fat-burning exercises. You can start by lying down flat with your knees bent and your feet on the ground.

Many people continue to gain weight over a period of regular exercise due to an increase in appetite. Eating more calories will result in gradual, consistent weight gain, and it's likely that many of those extra calories will show up around the midsection, especially as you age.

Your genetics prefer storing fat in your stomach area

Visceral fat—the type of fat the body stores in your abdomen and around your intestines and is mostly responsible for keeping people from a flat belly—can be partly determined by genetics.

Coming to the point, you will first lose “hard fat” (visceral fat) that surrounds your organs like liver, kidneys and later, you will burn soft fat (belly fat, thigh fat, back fat, etc.). Women accumulate fat cells around their belly area, hips, thighs and these areas are usually the last from.

It's more difficult to shift belly fat because it has a higher amount of fat cells that don't respond as easily to the fat-breakdown process (lipolysis). In fact, your stomach fat tends to release more slowly than from other areas of the body.

How can I target my lower belly fat?

Final Thoughts: Should You Workout Your Abs If You Have Belly Fat? Yes you should because your abs play several important roles and strong abs are essential even if they are hidden underneath the belly fat.

Treadmills are easier on your joints, and they are the preferred running alternative for people with severe overweight conditions. Not only does using a treadmill burn belly fat, but one of the long-term effects of regular treadmill sessions is that visceral fat will go away for good.

If the number on the scale is changing but your body fat percentage isn't budging, it's a sign that you are losing muscle mass. Also, when you lose muscle mass, your body doesn't shape the way you want. You will notice shrinking circumferences but fat (you can pinch and check) still remains the same.

Hunger and Famine Response

Missing meals and going hungry can shift your metabolism so it stores fat instead of burning it. This doesn't happen in a day of missing meals, but if you skip meals for several days and severely lower your caloric intake, your body uses a famine response to conserve energy.

While it may seem strange, most bloating is caused by dehydration, or a lack of fluids. Why? When you don't have enough liquid in your body, your stomach retains water to compensate, leading to visible swelling. The best way to flush out the swelling is to drink more water.

This may occur because of hormonal imbalances, obesity, kidney problems, lack of physical activity, etc. (10) When you lose weight but look fatter, there is a possibility that it is the result of swelling caused by water retention.

When we attempt some new exercise that is challenging to our body, our body releases stress hormones called cortisol, which can cause your body to retain water. Our body takes time to adjust to a new routine. So, do not worry, the bloating will go away after a couple of weeks.

You may have a positive overall caloric balance despite your healthy diet because you're consuming more calories than you're burning. If you exercise hard and regularly, just keep your cool. The scale is probably telling you that you're building muscle mass. Muscle weighs more than fat.

Can too much exercise cause belly fat?

Weight gain

Exercising too much without resting enough in between can lead to low testosterone levels and high levels of cortisol, the stress hormone. These hormonal changes are often associated with loss of muscle tissue, weight gain, and excess belly fat.

Your muscles are retaining water.

Newly strengthened muscles retain water, and for good reason. Weight training exposes muscles to stress to strengthen them, and the resulting soreness causes the surrounding tissues to swell until things calm down.

Aerobic exercise (cardio) is an effective way to improve your health and burn calories. Studies also show that it's one of the most effective forms of exercise for reducing belly fat.

Rub your hands together to warm your palms and fingers; When your hands are warm enough, start massaging clockwise and counterclockwise around the navel; Perform massage for 2-3 minutes. 1.2 Massage to reduce bloating and bloating This is a very effective way to massage belly fat and reduce discomfort due to bloating.

While seeing results from working out heavily depends on the person and their current level of fitness, "My [clients] generally see initial changes within four to six weeks, and actual results within eight to 12 weeks," Wilson explains.

Whether a nice long walk, a brisk jog, a bike ride, or even a jaunt on the elliptical, cardio will help deflate your bloat. Physical activity such as this will help expel gas that causes pain and help move digestion along. Aim for 30 minutes of mild to moderate exertion.

While one pound of fat weighs the same as one pound of muscle, muscle occupies about 18 percent less space. In addition, muscle burns calories while fat stores them. So, if your weight isn't decreasing but your clothes are starting to fit more loosely, you may be building muscle.

Eating within 15 to 30 minutes post-workout is ideal, but if this isn't possible, aim for within 60 minutes. A turkey sandwich on whole wheat bread or a banana and plain yogurt are good, easy options.