‘I have lost weight but my tummy fat is still there – how can I get rid of it?’
How many of us can relate to this? Whether you had a flat stomach to begin with or not, after having children it can be very tough to get the stomach that you had (or wished for).
Many of us are impatient and just want to get back into shape fast without putting in the hard yards of eating well and moving more. But wishing to lose the ‘mummy tummy’ won’t get rid of it – you have to do something about it!
Many people will say that you can’t target certain areas of the body, so there’s no point trying to target belly fat.
We don’t agree with that and you will see from our amazing before and after shots below that many of our mums have clearly reduced the size of their stomachs by following our plans. Read Linda’s story here (pictured above) – she lost 40kg with us.
The foods that you choose DO affect your stomach area, and you can choose to eat foods that will help reduce bloating and inflammation rather than hinder it.
1) Healthy Diet and Exercise
You’ve taken the first step to getting rid of tummy fat by signing up for the 28 Day Challenge. Our weight loss plans involve very little processed foods, lots of lean proteins, plenty of fruit and veg, healthy snacks such as nuts and yoghurt, and our vitamin and mineral packed Healthy Mummy Smoothies.
The plan also includes regular exercise done in short bursts throughout the day (this is the HIIT training on your 28 Day Challenge).
Just from focusing on the 28 Day Challenge you will be well on your way to a leaner stomach. But if you are impatient (anyone?) and want to give your body the best chance to get better results, there are some other ideas that you can also try.
2) Breastfeed
If you are a breastfeeding mum, then breastfeeding can really help you lose stomach fat as it can help your uterus go back to its normal size more quickly. If you are not breastfeeding – don’t worry – we have lots of other ways to help!
3) Reduce Alcohol
Alcohol, especially sweet fizzy based drinks and beer make it nearly impossible to lose stomach fat and puts extra stress on your liver to clear out the toxins. This extra pressure on your liver can make it very hard to build muscle which is key to losing belly fat. Click here to see why the liver is so important in weight loss.
4) Probiotics
You can try a probiotic as this is a supplement that will assist with digestion, especially if it is sluggish. A probiotic can help flatten your stomach and get rid of body fat.
5) Fibre
Increase the amount of fibre in your diet as this is a great way to improve digestion. Think fruit and veg as your first port of call, plus nuts, legumes and wholegrain bread. Our Healthy Mummy Smoothies are also high in fibre (and taste great!). Want to read more about fibre? Click here.
6) Fish Oil
Available from our shop, taking fish oil tablets is another tool to speed up fat loss. Fish oil can positively influence metabolism, meaning that you’ll digest your food more quickly. It will activate enzymes in your body that are responsible for burning fat, which also means that your body burns fat more easily, and also helps to reduce insulin resistance.
Studies have shown that taking fish oil supplements in conjunction with doing regular aerobic exercise can help you to burn off up to 26% more calories per day and more body fat than if you didn’t take any fish oil supplements.
7) Food Intolerances or Allergies
Many people are living with food intolerances or allergies that negatively affect their digestion. As you are constantly exposed to the food that your body can’t handle well, it can cause inflammation and digestion issues. Result? Stomach bloating, fluid retention, nausea, and gas.
If you suspect an intolerance or allergy why not try cutting out that food for a couple of weeks and see if it makes a difference. You can also do blood tests or skin prick tests if you are unable to determine the source of the issue.
If you have issues with dairy or gluten you’ll be pleased to know that our Healthy Mummy Smoothies are gluten and dairy free.
8) Nutrition Deficiency
Being pregnant or having had children can also deplete women of various nutrients such as iron and iodine, so it may be worth getting a blood test or complete thyroid panel to rule out any deficiencies if you are getting stuck with your weight loss efforts.
A great natural medicine practitioner can also check for genetic irregularities that your GP may not test for, such as the modern day ‘Fat Gene’. It is a simple and affordable DNA test which can greatly help in difficult cases.
Real Results From Mums
We have helped thousands of mums lose weight, and specifically stomach fat.
There are so many before & after photos on our site from mums on our plans. They show how mums have lost tummy fat on our plans and how we understand on our plans how you can do this.
The HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) such as the 30 minute at home exercises on the Challenge each day is one of the best ways to burn away body fat and tummy fat.
You can see some great pictures of mums on our plans below and click here to read stories
Special considerations
- Have you had a C-section? Click here to read Australia’s most highly awarded Post Natal Physiotherapist & Exercise Specialist, Lisa Westlake’s advice on exercise post C-Section
- Do you have muscle separation? Click here to read our advice
- If you only recently had your baby – please read Lisa Westlake’s advice here on advice about safe exercise post pregnancy
