Are you interested in burning belly fat but don’t want to rely on running?
Aside from running, there are many ways you can burn belly fat, including cutting out carbs, improving sleep, and trying different exercises. While running is a great way to lose belly fat, it isn’t suitable for everyone and there are many more effective ways to reduce fat.
In the following article, we look at thirteen of the best ways to burn belly fat without relying on running.
1. Try aerobic exercises
A great alternative to running for burning belly fat is to try another aerobic exercise. While it’s not possible to target specific areas for fat loss, aerobic exercises are some of the best you can do to burn belly fat.
Aerobic exercises are thought to be amongst the best for fat burning in general. There are also many different types of aerobic exercises you can try, so you’re bound to find something you enjoy. Let’s look at some of the most popular aerobic exercises to try:
- Dancing,
- Swimming,
- Indoor cycling,
- Cardio classes,
- Spin classes,
- Kickboxing.
However, the amount you work out and the duration of each workout are equally as important with aerobic exercises as with other types. Aim for around 300 minutes a week and you should begin to see a difference.
2. Cut down on carbs
Cutting down on the number of carbs you are taking in is a great way to burn fat across the body, including belly fat. A low-carb diet can help to reduce the stubborn fat that appears on the belly.
One of the best ways to do so is to replace unhealthy refined carbs with healthier, unprocessed options, which can greatly reduce stomach fat. This means cutting out foods like bread, rice, pasta, and candy in favour of vegetables and fruits.
3. Try resistance training
When done correctly and frequently, resistance training is a great option for building muscle. However, it can also work to reduce belly fat, particularly when combined with other types of exercise.
A combination of multiple types of exercise has been found to be one of the most effective ways of cutting back on potentially dangerous visceral fat. So, to get the most out of a resistance training routine, consider adding aerobic exercises, walking, and cardio.
4. Cut back on alcohol
Drinking excessive alcohol is one of the biggest causes of belly fat. Not only can it cause serious health concerns, but it can also lead to an excessive amount of weight being stored around the middle.
To help you lose belly fat, consider cutting back the amount of alcohol you are consuming. Even reducing by a small amount can have huge benefits for your health and help you to reduce belly fat.
5. Work on improving sleep routine
One of the best things you can do to improve your overall health and work on fat loss is to improve your sleep routine. The most effective sleep routine is one which allows you to rest comfortably for a good length of time, ideally eight hours.
Periods of rest are important for allowing your body to burn fat and calories naturally. Allowing yourself to rest properly and gain good quality sleep is vital for helping your body effectively burn fat in a safe and healthy way.
An effective sleep routine is also great for making sure your body gets enough rest in between workouts, allowing for adequate recovery. This means you are likely to have more energy for when you do work out, and also allows your body to recover from the stress of a previous workout.
6. Make sure to eat lots of fibre
If sticking to a diet is something you find difficult, consider increasing the amount of fibre you are eating instead. Simply adding more fibre to your diet can help to increase the amount of weight you can lose and burn belly fat in the long run.
Adding plenty of fibre to your diet is a great way to aid your digestive system to process food more thoroughly, which helps you to feel full. Not only does this mean you will likely eat less, but it can also decrease how many calories your body takes in from the food you eat.
Foods high in fibre include things like bread, vegetables, beans, fruits, oats, and chia seeds. To effectively lose weight, try to get some of these foods into your daily meals. This will allow your meals to work more efficiently and burn excess fat.
7. Cut out sugary foods
We all know sugary foods aren’t healthy, but studies have shown that there is a link between excessive consumption of sugary foods and high levels of belly fat. Sugary foods lead to an increased amount of fructose, which is responsible for abdominal fat build-up.
Limiting the number of sugary foods in your diet is one of the most effective methods of reducing belly fat, so consider reducing your sugar intake as much as possible to really see the benefits.
8. Walk as much as possible
Walking as regularly as possible has been proven to burn belly fat. Even a moderately-paced walk can help to reduce belly fat. Walking daily is a great way to get your body moving and kickstart your body into burning belly fat.
The best thing you can do to burn belly fat increases the amount of movement you get into your day, and walking is a brilliant way to get started in doing so. Walking is one of the best exercises you can do to ease yourself into exercising and start the process of losing belly fat.
Walking is a particularly good exercise for anyone who usually doesn’t get much movement into their day, as it is fantastic for starting your journey into exercising.
9. Avoid trans fats
Trans fats can cause increased fat growth in many areas, including belly fat. Not only do trans fats add new fat to the body, but they also move fat to the belly from other places. This makes them even more dangerous for belly fat.
Trans fats are also thought to be the cause of numerous dangerous health concerns like heart disease, bodily inflammation, and insulin resistance. By cutting them out, not only can you protect yourself from these diseases, but you can also reduce the amount of belly fat.
10. Add healthy fats
It might seem counter-productive to eat more fats in order to burn fat, but it’s an important step in making sure you lose belly fat. Healthy fats come in the form of monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats and are great for supplementing your diet with healthy acids.
Not only do healthy fats help you to feel full for longer, but they also come with loads of benefits for your health. They can protect you from diseases and help your body better absorb the nutrients it needs to be healthy.
To get more healthy fats into your diet, try supplementing your meals with things like nuts, eggs, fish, and oils. Foods that have plenty of healthy acids are ideal for making the feeling of fullness last longer and help you to burn belly fat over time.
11. Reduce stress
Avoiding stress as much as possible is vital for ensuring your overall health, including reducing fat levels. Stress can be very difficult to avoid, but it’s important to remember that when you’re stressed, your whole body feels the effects.
Many people turn to food when dealing with stress, but this only serves to increase fat levels. If this is something you struggle with, consider taking time to face stressful situations and think about how you can manage them in healthier ways.
Having an adequate stress management system will not only help you to improve your mental health but can also be a great way to maintain your weight and reduce excess belly fat.
12. Avoid processed foods
To reduce belly fat, try to avoid processed foods wherever possible. Processed foods have been found to increase inflammation in the body, which is one of the major causes of excess belly fat. Cutting them out and replacing them with whole, unprocessed foods will lead to the body creating less fat and burning the fat it already has stored.
13. Try an eating plan instead of a diet
Diets don’t work for everyone, and an eating plan can be a more beneficial alternative when looking to lose fat. An eating plan is a long-lasting routine of choosing and consuming healthy, nutritious foods.
Whereas a diet tends to be short-lived and fast-working, an eating plan can help to form better habits that can help you to reap the benefits longer. By consciously choosing healthier foods, belly fat can be actively worked against.
Final Thoughts
While running is an effective way to burn belly fat, there are many alternatives for people who don’t wish to rely on running to reduce fat. Trying other aerobic exercises, improving sleep routine, and cutting out foods high in carbs, sugar, and unhealthy fats are all effective ways to reduce belly fat.