By Jen K. Jones
Developing a bit of a beer belly is something most men will find happening to them at some point in their lives but it can also happen to women. A well-known and common cause of this is consuming too much, large volume alcoholic drinks such as beer. But don't be disheartened, losing your beer belly is really pretty simple.
Beer bellies are often caused by frequently drinking excessive amounts of alcohol. The reason for this is that alcohol and beer in particular has quite a high calorific content. These calories are in the form of carbohydrates and are very easily converted by the body into fat. This fat can be put on anywhere in the body but for men it seems to accumulate in the front of the upper body.
Should this fat build up be a concern? It's not just that having a beer belly can make you look unfit, unhealthy and a poor physical specimen, there are several serious health issues linked to having a beer belly.
The fat found in the stomach area is of two types; visceral fat and subcutaneous fat. The subcutaneous fat lies just below the skin and is unsightly and still has health ramifications but it is the deeper visceral fat that should be of real concern. As blood flows through areas containing visceral fat and onto the liver it contains higher levels of fat due to raised insulin levels in those areas. The liver is then less able to function correctly and it too becomes fatty. This ultimately leaves you at higher risk of developing diabetes and cardio vascular disease.
If you are the sort of person that drinks a lot of beer then it's likely you're doing so while away from home and in a social situation. It's at these time you're more likely to fall foul of fast food. When you consider that alcohol has a tendency to make you feel hungrier than you otherwise would be then you have a weight gain situation brewing.
The obvious solution to the problem of a beer belly is to stop drinking alcohol and get out there and exercise. But for many this isn't completely practical and it's better for them to reduce the amount they drink and start eating more sensibly, perhaps by following a weight loss program.
Many people still think that you can get rid of a beer belly just by doing a lot of sit-ups. This just won't work. Sure you'll get great muscles but no-one will see them because they'll still be under a layer of fat. The only way to get rid of your beer belly, so that people can see your muscles, is to exercise and follow a more balanced diet, one that's right for you.
Start exercising by doing at least 30 minutes of aerobic exercise, building up the intensity and making the session longer as you get stronger. If you do this 4 or 5 times a week then after a couple of months, as long as you've been watching your calories and eating the right foods, you'll notice an amazing difference. Your metabolism will have been given a great boost and your body will have been busy using up and clearing all that unsightly fat from your belly.
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Nothing in this article should be construed as instruction or advice and before beginning any diet appropriate medical advice should be obtained.