Men tend to gain excess weight no less than women, although by nature the norm of adipose tissue of the stronger sex is much less. This happens because the main hormone for a man is testosterone; the predominance of this hormone does not allow excess fat to accumulate.
In women, the opposite is true; estrogens (female hormones) serve as a store of adipose tissue for the main function of bearing a healthy fetus. Therefore, excessive excess weight in a man clearly implies some kind of malfunction in the body. This is not only a hormonal disorder, but also a change in a correct, healthy lifestyle. Let's analyze and solve the problem - why fat folds appear and how to remove a man's stomach and sides.
Nutrition
To solve the problem of excess fat accumulation in the abdomen and sides, it is necessary, first of all, to understand nutrition. The main enemy of extra pounds is overeating. If more energy enters the body than is expended, this leads to an increase in the male-type fat layer - specifically in the abdomen and sides.
Usually, due to ignorance of the principles of proper nutrition, the diet includes foods and drinks that contribute to aggravating the problem. Even harmless fruits and juices need to be taken correctly.
- Firstly, overeating can be a cause of stress; nervousness causes uncontrolled eating of everything that comes to hand. Therefore, it is necessary to understand whether hunger has really set in or whether you just want to please yourself and feel sorry for yourself.
- Secondly, foods can be high in calories, fat and have a high glycemic index. More precisely, the sugar content. Therefore, foods such as cereals, fruits, flour products, eaten in large quantities at night, will lead to a gain of unwanted weight.
Besides overeating, beer is a big enemy of the belly. Many people are unaware of the dangers of this product, considering it a liquid on a par with water. Beer, in addition to a large amount of carbohydrates, contains estrogens. It is from them that the “beer belly” begins to appear. Beer contains hop extract, which contains these hormones that contribute to the accumulation of excess weight. Essentially, estrogens are fat. This is why secondary sexual characteristics appear.
In addition, the cellulose contained in beer is poorly processed by the body, so an excess of such carbohydrates can lead to a big belly. One hundred grams of the drink contains forty-two calories, which is more than most vegetables. Since you can drink more than one liter of beer, calculate what a huge amount of extra calories comes, at first glance, from such a harmless liquid at one time. Therefore, in order to remove the overhanging belly and sides, this product must be abandoned once and for all.
Useful tips
To quickly burn belly and flank fat, I recommend completely changing your lifestyle from sedentary to active.
Try active recreation , it's also very fun and interesting.
For example, you can start riding a bike. And it’s not scary that shortness of breath will overtake you at the stage of choosing a bike in the store - then it will become easier.
When you go on vacation, go on excursions instead of drinking all the free alcohol that is available at the bar. Then your stomach and sides will definitely become much smaller. And your life will become much easier.
If you have a sedentary job, then change it to one where you can move more. For example, get a job as a courier and deliver all orders on foot. Yes, perhaps this job will pay worse, but you will have less money for food, and then you will definitely lose weight . In general, just move more and don't sit still.
Factors influencing the appearance of a belly
An important aspect when gaining adipose tissue is metabolic disorders (metabolism). Metabolic disorders are caused by a number of reasons:
- poor nutrition;
- age;
- disturbance of sleep and rest patterns;
- disruption of the digestive system.
Poor nutrition, frequent fast food snacks, single meals, fasting - all this slows down the metabolism and leads to excess weight. Therefore, if you want to lose weight, fasting is strictly prohibited.
In addition, this provokes an increase in the hormone cortisol. Also called stress hormone. Thus, when a stressful situation develops, such as hunger, the produced cortisol disrupts carbohydrate metabolism. This situation also leads to the accumulation of excess fat. Cortisol also increases when sleep is disturbed, since overwork and insomnia are also stress for the body. Thus, those who want to lose belly fat need to take these factors into account and prevent an increase in cortisol. Its concentration is especially high in the morning, so you should not skip breakfast. The resulting food will block all negative factors.
In addition, cortisol destroys muscles. Therefore, proper and timely nutrition will help restore metabolism. Men who have reached thirty years of age should be especially attentive to this. At this time, hormonal changes and a slowdown in metabolism occur in the body. In this case, you need to work harder on the result: add physical activity, adjust your diet.
The thing about belly fat is that it is the hardest to remove. Fat from the abdomen and sides is the last to be lost. Accordingly, after burning fat in the upper shoulder girdle, over time, the stomach will also go away. Therefore, the approach to the problem should be comprehensive, taking into account physiological characteristics. Unfortunately, excess weight leads not only to a slowdown in metabolism, but also to disruption of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems.
Simply put, the heart suffers and breathing worsens, shortness of breath appears. Most often, the joints of the lower extremities and spine suffer from excess mass. Blood circulation slows down, genitourinary function worsens. Considering the risk factors and the seriousness of the problem of increasing fatty tissue in the abdominal area, let’s look at what men need to do in this case.
Is there a belly fat diet for men?
As for belly fat loss diets, I would not recommend you to use them.
Diets usually involve eating like a sick sparrow and hoping the fat goes away before you die of starvation.
And there is no special diet for guys that will help remove the belly and sides.
There are no products that burn belly fat in men and give them back their waistline.
There are diets that will help you upset your stomach, develop an ulcer, or lose consciousness, but there are no diets for losing weight in your stomach.
All these diets have nothing to do with health. Yes, most likely you will lose weight by dieting with one cookie sprinkled with a teaspoon of kefir, but it’s not the fat that will go away, but the last muscles .
When you create such an inadequate calorie deficit, the body thinks that everything is bad with you (either in your head or in your financial situation and you have nowhere to get food from). Therefore, when you are on a diet, instead of burning subcutaneous fat on your stomach, it, on the contrary, begins to store as much fat as possible so that it can later be used as energy, and it gets rid of everything that wastes energy (which is muscles). .
Accordingly, having lost, say, 5 kg in a month, you look in the mirror, and your belly is still there , but your legs have become even thinner. What do you think is a decent result from the diet?
Therefore, the only thing you can do with nutrition is to eat right. In proper nutrition there will be no extreme cuts in calories, there will be no fasting, there will be no fainting states.
To lose weight in the belly, a man does not need to diet, but eat enough. Neither more nor less, but just enough.
To understand how much is “enough”, you will need to calculate the required amount of proteins, fats and carbohydrates individually for your weight. All this information is described in detail in the article about proper nutrition for weight loss for men, so I advise you to read it.
Proper nutrition
- It is necessary to completely exclude from the diet: confectionery and flour products, alcohol, beer, sparkling water. The high sugar content in these products provokes the accumulation of fats;
- Instead of sweets, it is advisable to eat: fruits, dried fruits, honey or a natural sugar substitute, but only in the first half of the day. Carbohydrates received in the evening are not consumed and pass into adipose tissue;
- Complex carbohydrates: consume cereals and grains before lunch, carbohydrates will burn and provide the body with energy;
- Eat more protein (lean meat, fish, seafood, dairy products) and fiber (vegetables). Consumption of these foods does not lead to an increase in fat tissue. They are also allowed in the evening;
- The last meal is three hours before bedtime. At late times, fermented milk products are allowed.
- Eat small portions. Have light snacks. Each subsequent meal should be no earlier than three hours later and no later than four.
- Drink clean water. Required amount of water: 30 ml of water per kilogram of weight. Water speeds up metabolism, flushes out waste products, and nourishes cells. Therefore, you cannot neglect water, because dehydration will only slow down all metabolic processes. Tea and coffee do not count.
Protein nutrition
One of the most effective ways to combat beer belly and sides is a high-protein diet. Products containing proteins (proteins) are easily digestible and do not contain carbohydrates. By eating such foods in any quantity, you don’t have to worry about accumulating extra pounds.
Choose foods with minimal fat content:
- poultry meat;
- beef;
- rabbit;
- fish;
- seafood;
- eggs;
- cottage cheese;
- kefir;
- milk.
The minimum protein intake per kilogram of weight is 1.5 grams. The maximum dose of protein is 3-4 grams per kilogram of weight. Be sure to consume two grams of salt per day. At the same time, be sure to drink enough water.
Why do men grow beer bellies?
Men develop fat deposits in the abdominal area for several reasons. The main factor is genetic predisposition. In this case, it will be difficult to fix anything. But most often the cause of beer belly is a negligent attitude towards one’s health. This means:
- errors in the nutritional diet;
- lack of physical activity;
- bad habits;
- poor posture;
- hormonal changes;
- frequent stress.
There are other primary sources of abdominal growth, but they already relate to medical abnormalities. There is no point in considering them in detail, since only consulting a doctor will help solve the problem.
Neglecting proper nutrition
Overeating junk food (fried, fatty, salty, smoked, fast food) greatly overloads the body with calories. Men, unlike women, are accustomed to not controlling themselves when it comes to food and do not leave the table until they are completely satisfied. Such regularity leads to the deposition of fat in the lower abdomen.
For a better understanding, we suggest that you familiarize yourself with the list of harmful and beneficial products:
Useful | Unwanted |
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Addiction to drinking and smoking
Beer belly in men is often a consequence of excessive beer consumption . Many men are even proud of it, without thinking about what the health consequences might be. Beer drinks themselves are quite high in calories, which is complemented by fatty snacks: smoked meats, fish, grilled sausages and other snacks. Heavy smokers also experience increased abdominal growth.
Nicotine combined with alcohol inhibits the synthesis of the male hormone – testosterone. Against this background, the breakdown of fats slows down significantly.
Low mobility
One of the reasons for beer belly in men is a lack of physical activity. Over the years, the abdominal muscles weaken, causing this part to sag. This phenomenon does not add visual appeal, so many begin to think about how to get rid of a beer belly.
And if you don’t take any measures, health problems will soon arise. heart attack increases .
It is recommended to reconsider your lifestyle and adapt to the right one: do light jogging in the fresh air in the morning, walk more. This will help you lose weight and strengthen your abs.
Frequent stress
Oddly enough, a big belly in men can grow from constant stress . When a person regularly does not get enough sleep, is in upset feelings and nervous tension, then consequences in the form of an unsightly tummy are inevitable.
This is due to increased production of the hormone cortisol, which protects against a nervous breakdown. But the side effect is increased fat deposits.
Rachiocampsis
Often a large belly occurs in people with a thin physique. This phenomenon is explained by the curvature of the spinal column. Since the load on the spinal muscles is uneven, the peritoneal organs shift forward.
In such a situation, you should not postpone your visit to the doctor. He will draw up an effective treatment plan. This is the only way to get rid of the belly.
Hormonal imbalances
Typically, a beer belly begins to grow in middle-aged men. This is due to changes in the body at the hormonal level due to a decrease in testosterone levels. Against this background, metabolic processes slow down and fat accumulates intensively.
Example of a protein diet menu:
- Breakfast: low-fat cottage cheese, tea or coffee;
- Snack: 2 boiled eggs;
- Lunch: baked chicken fillet;
- Snack: kefir or low-fat yogurt without sugar;
- Dinner: Steamed fish.
Advice from nutritionists
Modern nutritionists are supporters of proper and balanced nutrition, the results of which can last a lifetime. A balanced diet and good motivation will help remove belly folds.
Experts recommend:
- do not have dinner after 19.00;
- eat 5-6 times a day in small portions, every 2-3 hours;
- do not feel hungry, but food should not give you the feeling of overeating;
- arrange one fasting day per week: chicken - no more than 1.5 kg of chicken meat; cottage cheese, 100 grams per serving; vegetable – 1.5 kg of any type; fruit – 1.5 kg to choose from;
- exclude sausages, confectionery, and pasta from the diet;
- drink more water.
Diet
In order to choose the right diet specifically for a particular man, it is important to take into account a large number of factors: age, profession, health status, lifestyle, degree of obesity and others.
A protein diet is considered universal. It allows you to consistently lose extra pounds and has no significant contraindications. Its essence lies in the fact that the daily main menu is made up of protein and fat foods. Quickly digestible carbohydrates are completely excluded.
An example of a protein diet menu might look like this:
- Breakfast : low-fat cottage cheese with dried fruits and nuts or an omelet without flour and starch.
- Lunch: boiled chicken with fresh vegetables.
- Dinner: baked fish or seafood with fresh vegetable salad.
In addition to three main meals throughout the day, it is important to maintain a high metabolic rate with regular snacks (every few hours ). For this purpose, you can use products such as cottage cheese, boiled eggs, nuts, sports nutrition (protein, amino acids).
It is also necessary to adhere to the drinking regime: every 2-3 hours you need to drink 1 glass of still water. The total amount of liquid in 1 day should be at least 1500 milliliters.
The following foods are prohibited while following a protein diet:
- confectionery products: buns, cookies, cakes, pastries.
- sweets: chocolate, candies, juices, marmalade, marshmallows.
- bakery and other flour products: loaf, bread, pasta from soft wheat varieties.
- semi-finished products, canned food, pickles, smoked products: sausages, stewed meat, canned vegetables, dried and smoked fish.
Sample menu for weight loss for a week
Below is an approximate diet that will help reduce body fat, but for maximum effect you need to adjust any diet to suit yourself.
First, you need to base your daily calorie intake at the beginning of losing weight and eat a little less per day to create a calorie deficit. Or increase your energy expenditure by doing an extra run, a walk in the park, or a gym workout, your choice.
Secondly, in the process of losing weight, metabolism may slow down, which will lead to a decrease in the daily norm or simply decrease body weight, which will also lead to a decrease in the body's need for calories. And at this moment, in order for fat burning to continue, it will be necessary to again reduce the calorie content of the diet for a day or increase consumption, if this is still possible.
For example, to lose 12 kg in 6 weeks, I personally had to reduce my calorie intake twice in weeks 2 and 4. And also, from the 3rd week, increase the number of workouts to 2 per day in order to get sculpted abs on your stomach in such a short time. If I weren’t in a hurry, I would need to train less and wouldn’t have to cut my diet much.
Monday
- Breakfast: natural cottage cheese with fruit;
- Snack: apple;
- Lunch: baked chicken fillet with vegetables;
- Afternoon snack: puree soup;
- Dinner: Vegetable and seafood salad.
Tuesday
- Breakfast: Omelette of two eggs;
- Snack: banana;
- Lunch: rice with vegetables;
- Afternoon snack: kefir or yogurt;
- Dinner: fish with steamed vegetables.
Wednesday
- Breakfast: oatmeal with fruit or honey;
- Snack: fresh fruit juice;
- Lunch: boiled beef with vegetables;
- Afternoon snack: low-fat yogurt;
- Dinner: steamed chicken and vegetable cutlets.
Thursday
- Breakfast: cottage cheese casserole;
- Snack: fresh vegetables;
- Lunch: meat broth soup with vegetables;
- Afternoon snack: omelette of eggs and cottage cheese;
- Dinner: beef liver in sour cream.
Friday
- Breakfast: whole grain piece of bread with feta cheese;
- Snack: fruit salad;
- Lunch: fish soup;
- Afternoon snack: cottage cheese with dried fruits;
- Dinner: Baked fish, cucumber and tomato salad.
Saturday
- Breakfast: oatmeal with flax seeds and pumpkin seeds;
- Snack: one orange;
- Lunch: cream soup with mushrooms;
- Afternoon snack: milkshake;
- Dinner: vegetable stew.
Sunday : fasting day (any one to choose from).
Circuit training
About 4-6 weeks after starting classes, you can start using high-intensity interval (circuit) training to speed up the process of getting rid of a big belly. This fitness technique consists in performing 4-6 exercises for different muscle groups one by one, without a pause for rest. Moreover, in one circuit, power loads can be combined with aerobic ones.
Approximate circuit training scheme:
- Push-ups - 15 repetitions.
- “Book” - 15 repetitions.
- Pull-ups on the horizontal bar - 5 times.
- Jumping rope at a fast pace - 30 seconds.
- Squats with dumbbells - 10 reps.
After completing one circle, you should take a three-minute pause to restore your breathing and strength and perform another 2-4 circle series.
The use of circuit training is contraindicated for people with heart and joint diseases. They should be used with extreme caution after 50 years of age, as excessive physical activity can have a detrimental effect on the health of an older man.
Workouts to burn belly fat
Don't forget that proper nutrition is a big part of success. But physical activity will help you achieve fat burning in the “difficult” zone faster.
- First, exercise speeds up your metabolism.
- Secondly, due to an increase in heart rate, a large number of calories are burned, including from fat.
But training should cover not only the abdominal area, but all muscle groups. This will lead to a general decrease in weight in the body, since fat cannot be burned locally. Training should be strength and aerobic. Strength training should be aimed at burning fat through high repetitions. Exercises are performed with virtually no rest. You can exercise both at home and in the gym. You can run in the fresh air. There are many options, the main thing is motivation.
Workouts at home
- Warm-up : jumping rope for 15-20 minutes.
- Jump Squats
Starting position: feet shoulder width apart. Inhale: lower your pelvis, knees at right angles, resting on your heels. As you exhale: pushing off with your feet, we jump up to the starting position. Repeat 20-25 times.
- Lunges
Starting position: feet together, alternately lunge with your feet forward. Inhale: step with your right foot into a squat, knee at a right angle. As you exhale: pushing off with your heel, return your foot to its original position. Also immediately to the left. We perform 30 repetitions.
- Push ups
Starting position: lying down, palms at shoulder level. Inhale: Lower yourself with a straight back as low as possible, elbows running along the body. Exhale: do push-ups. Repeat as many times as possible, the last two repetitions are performed with all your might.
- Plank
Starting position: lying down, as in push-ups. Hold this position motionless for 1 minute. Without holding your breath.
- Lateral pelvic lifts
From the “plank” position, we turn on our feet to the side, remaining in support on one hand. The pelvis does not sag, the body is straight from neck to heels. Inhale: release the pelvis to the floor. As you exhale: using the oblique abdominal muscles, we raise the pelvis to its original position. 20-25 times on each side.
- fold
Starting position: lying on your back, straight arms behind your head. As you exhale: using the abdominal muscles, we tear off the body, simultaneously with the legs. We touch our palms to our feet. Inhale: smoothly lower to the floor. The number of repetitions is 20 times and above.
- Burning fat while lying down
Starting position: lying on your back, palms placed under your head. We rest our feet on the floor. As you exhale: lift only your shoulder blades off the floor, look at the ceiling, and raise your chin upward. Inhale: relax, lie down on the floor. The exercise is performed at a fast pace, maximally loading the abdominal muscles until a burning sensation is felt. We perform from 30 times to the maximum.
All exercises in this complex are performed without rest. After the burning exercise, rest for one minute and repeat 2-3 circles. After training, stretch all your muscles and drink water.
Workouts at home
It will be much faster for a man in the gym to lose belly fat. But if for some reason you cannot go to the gym, for example, you are afraid that some pumped up woman will like you and she will drag you into her lair, then you can try to remove your belly fat at home. This is also possible. The main thing is that you have a desire to lose weight.
In general, the principle remains the same, you do basic exercises that involve the largest possible number of muscle fibers. It’s just that in the gym you do it with additional weights, and at home you do it with your own weight, which fortunately is not so small , if you are reading this article.
If you have some dumbbells or weights at home, or maybe even a barbell, then use them. And if not, then show your imagination and use water bottles or a child, if available, as weight. If not, you can ask your neighbors. If they don’t give you a child, then I think they can lend you bottles.
Well, don’t forget about cardio. Jumping rope, cycling, running or just brisk walking will help you burn fat on your stomach and sides. Well, or you can play football with the yard boys. Due to your physique, you can be put on goal, so I don’t recommend this option. You won't be able to lose belly fat.
And, of course, read more about losing weight for guys at home in a separate article.
How to remove lower belly fat quickly and effectively
To solve the problem, targeted abdominal exercises are not enough, which can improve muscle tone, but will not allow you to completely remove excess fat. A competent and serious approach is important here, involving a combination of a number of exercises with an optimal diet. To remove an unattractive bulge on your stomach in a short time, you will need to follow these recommendations:
- eat only healthy foods;
- stick to a certain regime;
- keep portion sizes in check;
- Do a variety of exercises regularly.
Exercises
If you have a great desire to get rid of fat in the lower abdomen, then start with regular exercises. Gradually you can start working out in the gym. From the first days, try to start running before dinner, so you can cheer up after a hard day. Instead of running, regular walks and cycling are perfect. Within 2-3 weeks you will feel better and see the first results. In addition, you can sign up for gymnastics, yoga or swimming. A set of exercises that allows you to systematically improve your health:
- Abs – start with 2 sets of 30 reps.
- Push-ups – start with 2 sets of 10-20 reps depending on your physical condition.
- Squats – start with 2-3 sets of 30 reps.
Massage
One of the effective ways is a course of pinch massage. It not only helps reduce fat, but also tones and improves the overall condition of the skin. After completing the procedure, it is not recommended to eat for an hour. Before the massage, it is advised to take a hot bath, then apply a little vegetable oil or suitable cream to dry skin. Further:
- Start kneading the skin of the lower abdomen with pinching movements, starting with an oblique trajectory from the navel down. To do this, grab the skin of the lower abdomen with the thumb and index finger of your right and left hand. Do 10-15 approaches.
- Next, move to the area along the abdomen, using pinching movements to grab the skin on the sides. Do 10 to 15 repetitions.
- At the end, all you have to do is stretch your sides with pinch movements from bottom to top. Without ceasing to warm up this area, begin to go down.
Diet
Physical exercise and massage alone are not enough: without an optimal diet, burned fat can quickly be replenished. Rules:
- With proper nutrition, preference should be given to complex carbohydrates, for which you should eat fruits, raw vegetables, bran bread, etc.
- To solve the problem as quickly as possible, keep in mind that the ratio of fats, proteins and carbohydrates should be 2:5:3.
- It is not recommended to use juice and kefir diets.