There’s still time to flatten your stomach for summer!
We are a couple weeks away from the summer solstice and bathing suit season, are you ready for it?
If you are dealing with unwanted belly fat then the idea of getting into a bathing suit this summer probably doesn’t sound appealing at all, and it likely leaves you feeling uncomfortable in your skin all year long.
What you probably don’t know is that there’s a LOT more to losing belly fat than just diet and exercise. This month’s blog is all about belly fat facts and everything you need to know to banish belly fat for good!
I would say 95% of the people that I talk to would love to lose weight around their midsection. Most of them are seeking that ever-so-elusive flat stomach. Are you one of those people? If so I have good news for you… There’s still time to flatten your stomach for summer!
And it doesn’t require counting calories, dieting, or spending hours at the gym.
Belly fat is NOT always a result of eating too much and exercising too little. There is a plethora of research these days showing how calorie counting and dieting can in fact actually cause weight gain long-term.
Here are some facts about belly fat that I bet you didn’t know…
Excessive inflammation increases your storage capacity for fat cells, particularly white fat cells which are directly related to your “spare tire”.
White fat cells that accumulate around your midsection also serve as a protective mechanism to store the toxins you’re exposed to in order to prevent them from affecting your brain. So the more toxins you’re exposed to, the more white fat cells you make and the bigger the spare tire gets.
Constipation and poor liver detoxification can lead to a buildup of toxins in the body which creates even more white fat cells around your midsection.
Excessive amounts of white fat cells trigger even more inflammation which can result in fluid retention (edema), resulting in even more white fat cells! And a toxic body will intentionally hold onto fat to hide toxins in order to protect you and your brain from the recirculation of toxins if they are not eliminated.
Low glutathione levels reduce mitochondrial function which leads to weight gain or loss resistance. Glutathione is the body’s most powerful antioxidant, and mitochondria are the organelles within our cells which generates energy from the food we eat.
Here are 4 simple steps to help reduce your inflammation and toxic load while boosting your liver function and glutathione levels to help you get that flat stomach for summer.
Step 1: Boost Glutathione & Liver Function
Your body needs cysteine ( a sulphur-rich amino acid), B2 and selenium to make glutathione and for your liver to function optimally. Eat foods rich in these nutrients such as organic grass-fed red meat, wild salmon, eggs, chicken, lamb, almonds, brazil nuts, tuna, halibut, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, asparagus, onions, mushrooms and spinach.
Step 2: Cut Down Carbs (especially processed ones)
This one should be easy if you focus on replacing carbs, especially processed ones, with some of the nutrient-rich foods mentioned above. Eating too many carbs in one sitting, or multiple times a day can oversaturate your cells with glucose causing insulin resistance, even in the “healthiest” people. Focus on replacing your carb intake by bumping up your healthy fats with avocados, fattier cuts of organic meat and poultry and oils such as olive, coconut and avocado oil. This will cut your carb cravings, and leave you feeling fuller longer and less bloated.
Step 3: Minimize Toxic Exposures
We can’t always control what toxins we are exposed to because we can’t always see, hear, smell or feel them BUT taking action to control the ones you are aware of can drastically reduce the toxic load on your body. Some toxic-reducing actions that you can include: using non-toxic home cleaning and personal care products, drinking and cooking with filtered water only, getting a HEPA air filter for your bedroom and office, and getting outside for fresh air multiple times a day.
Step 4: Reduce Inflammation
By minimizing your toxic exposures, cutting down on carbs, and boosting your liver and glutathione levels you’ll already be on your way to reducing inflammation. There are a LOT of other unforeseen things that can cause inflammation such as food sensitivities, parasites, bacteria and yeast overgrowth in the gut. To sort out these other inflammatory agents you’ll need to do some testing. But you can also take reducing inflammation to the next level by getting to bed by 10 pm and avoiding the top most toxic and inflammatory foods such as gluten, dairy, sugar, soy and alcohol.
Follow these steps, and your belly fat will start to go away in 30 days or less! If you still feel stuck with belly fat that just won’t budge, let’s test so you don’t have to guess anymore! To figure out the right tests and resources you need, click here to schedule a complimentary discovery call with me!