Have "weighty" problem areas that just won't 'go away'? Tried special weight loss exercises or diets or perhaps even invoked some fat reduction incantations for fun...but nothing works? Those flabby arms, love handles, over-padded knees, hips or derriere', 'thunder thighs' or sagging skin still persist. Those '6-pack' abs are elusive and are more like a sloshy pillow than the desired chiseled form desired. And all you can think is, "AWAY Damn Spot!"
So what is the fat loss secret? Just HOW do you manage to spot reduce the areas you find troublesome? The market showcases all types of remedies, machines, gadgets and creams to eliminate problem areas. So -- which of them actually work best for spot reduction of those specific problem areas?
Spot Reduction - Fact or Fiction?
Unfortunately, at risk that this messenger may be 'shot' for the honesty, the truth is, that fat and excess weight cannot be spot reduced. Mother Nature hasn't designed us in such a manner.
Weight loss and fat reduction are entwined with lifestyle, diet and genetics. Your body stores fat in many ways, and usually in various areas of the body. Some of these areas may become bigger 'problems' than others, depending on one's own body composition, with more fat being stored in these 'problems' zones than in other areas. Tell-tale differences have been noted based on gender as well as in different ethnic groups.(ie. men tend to gain in the belly area, women in the hips or behind.) But regardless of gender or ethnicity, it is generally noted that fat is deposited in layers, with the last fat deposits stored, being the first to be lost in weight reduction. So fat loss appears to progress in reverse, peeling away, layer by layer - somewhat like the layers of an onion - when proper fat reduction regimens are in place.
Following this thinking, fat stored on one's thighs or stomach cannot be 'targeted' for quick reduction, since the body will lose fat all over - from various parts of the body - starting with the most recent layers to the oldest. If those 'problem' zones you want to target were the first to receive the excess fat deposits (and due to genetics, perhaps more so than some other zones), then these deposits will likely be among the last to 'go'. We simply must work to remove the overlying 'layers' before we can get to the bulk of our bulges beneath.
Some may swear by targeted area reduction, but more than likely, any successfully reduced fat deposits stored in those 'problem' areas were deposited in these areas last...and more of them...due to individual body composition, so they come off first, and as a larger percentage compared to other areas. But at some point, fat begins to be eliminated from the next layers of fat, distributed among various areas, in the order they were deposited. Any quick results expected from the target exercises are elusive, as mother nature simply has not designed us to lose fat in one specific area over another, but from those deposited 'layers'.
Targeted workouts for your problem areas will succeed in expending calories, helping with fat reduction, but the targeted area won't receive the lion's share of results. Crunching your abs hundreds of times daily will certainly help build muscle by burning up calories and strengthening the muscle fibers and will aid in overall fitness. But expecting quick, efficient results in that one area will only serve to frustrate -- with the unfortunate result that far too many will give up on themselves as 'failures' and any sort of diet, exercise and weight loss plan.
No EZ Quick Fixes - Live by Mother Nature's Rules
All of those touted 'miracle' pills, potions and diets thus lead you mostly to a leaner wallet. Those extra pounds and problem bulges didn't just 'appear' overnight - and no quick 'spot' fix will undo the time it took to get them there.That doesn't mean that there is no hope! Far from it...but you will have to put in the effort to reclaim what has been lost through neglect or overindulgence. But you can work smartly!
So what do we do to lose those bat-wings and spare tires, eliminate the 'jiggly parts' and find those abs and beach-beautiful buns beneath?
Work With Mother Nature - Not Against Her
The bottom line to Beating the Bulge is to simply get healthy the way nature intended. Despite the technological advances of modern living in this century, our bodies are still very much 'old school' natural and under the auspices of the wisdom of Mother Nature. We are programmed for survival, and this natural intelligence gears us to respond to healthy nutrition and regular activity for health and fitness.
Mother Nature has devised a system for survival in lean times. When we eat more calories than we use up in activity, we store excess calories as fat in our bodies, which is distributed to different areas of our bodies, and according to our own DNA, likely accumulating most in those problem points we want to target. We know that some fat is stored beneath the skin ( the fat we 'see' and aim to 'target') and some can be stored around the organs. Exercising tends to reduce the sub-skin fat, while diet eliminates the organ-based fat. Therefore, we need to attack the fat with both weapons - Diet and Exercise. Diet-based fat reduction alone can leave loose, sagging skin if enough fat was stored. Exercise alone may not eliminate the fat dangerously stored around the organs.
Thus, before you can even aim for those chiseled abs or slinky thighs, you need first to eliminate the excess fats and calories ingested. If you continue a penchant for empty calorie junk foods, fat-laden or sweet indulgences - and just extra calories in general, regardless of source - you will continue to deposit fat in your tissues, and no 'magic' gadget or remedy will solve your weight problems. And -- avoid those fad diets! They are not geared to your natural programming. A healthy, balanced diet is important!
Add Cardio and Muscle Building Exercise to your Weight Loss Recipe
Schedule cardio/aerobic activity to burn calories for fat loss along with weight bearing routines for muscle gain.
Firm muscle will replace the fatty bulk. Along with healthy changes in your diet, undertake exercises you enjoy and can continue! Improving your body improves not only your fitness but your overall perspective on life as well, which helps you keep going to success.
Only after mastering the diet and cardio/weight training requirements to reduce overall fat should you focus on the targeted abdominal exercises or the thigh slimmers. This is the proper point in time to really focus on working out for the six-packs and the beach-ready butt.
It's not nice to try to fool Mother Nature, and working with your natural programming will help you find that 'hidden' you beneath the bulge! This is how you work healthy -in tune with your nature -- and Smart!
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