For the average fitness buff, you’re probably one of the unfortunate millions of people who have been taken in by the myth of “spot reduction.” At first glance, the idea appears based in logic. Working on a specific muscle or body part causes the surrounding fat to “burn off.” This results in a leaner mass of muscles. This idea, however, is completely false. Training specific muscles does not result in body fat reduction.
The only way to efficiently lose fat around a body part is through proper diet.Never heard of this before? Get up to speed here. The biggest problem is eating an overabundance of calories. Examine your diet and identify habits to determine where you can drastically improve. Your diet is the most important factor when looking to trim excess fat from your physique.
Cardiovascular training and weight training are also areas in which one should identify any lacking consistency. Incorporating new training techniques, such as High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) and low rep weight training with heavy weights will provide for adequate balance in physical activity. The act of building quality muscle mass will allow for the opportunity to burn more calories.
Remember, fat is the largest form of stored calories in the body. Your body prefers to use carbohydrates for energy. Only when carbs are depleted, will it begin to use fat for fuel. Also, increased levels of estrogen and fluctuated hormone levels can cause higher rates of stored fat, within and around certain body parts. This is one cause of stubborn areas which seem to have succumbed to fat storage, like hips, butt and lower mid-section.
If you are looking to drastically alter your body, keep these points in mind. Watch your diet. Increase your overall activity level. Find new ways to obtain general health and fitness. The combination will lead you to a new, slimmer you!