Why is my lower belly as big as Jupiter? How come it doesn't seem to shrink after months of dieting and exercising?
If it's any consolation to you, a lot of women ask the same questions.
But having a bit of pooch, according to Health.com, is actually good because "it protects your stomach, intestines, and other delicate organs."
Too much of it is dangerous because "they can contribute to problems like heart disease and diabetes."
It's usually the hardest to lose because it would mean giving up a long list of your favorite foods.
Let's focus though on the things we've probably been doing, eating, and avoiding, but do not help that much in terms of achieving our goal.
1. The usual crunches strengthen belly muscles, but do not really reduce belly fats.
That's based on the article published by FitnessReloaded.com.
Health.com recommended at least 250 minutes (or 35 minutes per day) of moderate-intensity exercise or 125 minutes (or 17 minutes per day) of high-intensity exercise every week.
2. White bread and crackers cause inflammation.
Health experts recommend whole grains instead of refined grains.
And if you want to skip rice, go for brown rice.
3. Sipping green tea does not do anything to your belly.
HuffingtonPost.com wrote, "You’d have to drink about seven cups of green tea to match the level of catechins, an antioxidant compounds thought to be responsible for tea’s fat-burning potential, given to people in clinical trials."
4. Eggplant and cabbage should not be categorized under no-no veggies for puson.
You've probably heard your lola say "talong and repolyo" make your tummy bigger because of their high-water content.
But steptohealth.com cited that an element called saponin found in eggplant "noticeably decreases the absorption of fat."
Meanwhile, cabbage is rich in fiber.
5. Choosing fruits for your dessert is okay but...
If you've made fruits a part of your meal because you're thinking it's a better option over cake or muffin, you just have to remember two things.
First, it can actually cause bloating if you eat it after a meal.
According to MindBodyGreen.com, "If it's held in the stomach too long along with other foods, it will rot and ferment in the gut."
Second, it must be eaten alone or in an empty stomach, and at least an hour before a meal.
"That's because the simple sugars contained in fruit need time to be completely absorbed by your body. When fruits are eaten alone, your stomach can more easily process all of the nutrients, fiber, and the simple sugar...This is the optimal 'proper way' to benefit from the fruit you eat."
Now going back to the goal of saying goodbye to your puson, it's really more than just dieting and exercising.
It's a change in lifestyle, and it also entails having more sleep and less stress.