Five Reasons Why You’re Not Losing Stomach Fat

So you want to get rid of your pooch belly but you’ve tried dieting and countless crunches to no avail. Before you give up on your quest to get a tight and flat tummy you’ll want to look for some hidden culprits. With over 20 years experience as a fitness professional I’ve found there are a handful of common inhibitors that can stop fat loss around your stomach dead in its tracks. Read down through the list below to see if one or more of these factors may be affecting you.

#1: Stress

The impact of stress on the body’s hormonal system has been thoroughly researched and the results are clear. Too much stress causes your body to reduce production of DHEA which has a direct impact on testosterone levels. This hormone has a very important role in helping to create optimal conditions for fat loss to occur. Stress can also contribute to insulin resistance which will make fat loss extremely difficult. Bottom line is if you have chronic stress in your life you’ll find it hard to achieve the flat stomach you desire.

#2: Sleep Deprivation

It’s during sleep that the body rebuilds and recovers. Growth hormone is secreted during deep sleep so if you’re not getting adequate rest you’ll essentially be handcuffing your ability to lose fat. A lack of sleep is one of the most common causes of stress and can lead to imbalances of leptin and ghrelin which are two very important hormones that affect appetite and fat storage. There have been numerous studies that show a lack of sleep also affects how your body processes and uses carbohydrates. If you don’t get enough sleep you’ll be more prone to fat storage instead of fat burning.

#3: Food Sensitivities and Digestive Issues

Gut issues including excess bloating are a clear indicator that your digestive system is not functioning properly. Imbalances in your digestive system are commonly caused by a build-up of metabolic waste, yeast, or food sensitivities. Food sensitivities are different from classic food allergies due to Immuno-globulin (IgG) response. Certain foods like dairy, wheat, eggs, soy, gluten, malt, vinegar, and others can create a sensitivity issue in your digestive system. This creates inflammation which not only produces the bloating effect but it also impairs how your body assimilates nutrients. If you experience any bloating or irregularities in your digestive tract you should look to remove any problem foods through a process of elimination. I recommend you go on a diet of exclusively fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and low reaction proteins like chicken and fish until you can identify the culprits.

#4: Thyroid Fatigue

Low thyroid function can affect the body’s ability to build muscle, balance sex hormones, and lose weight. One common condition is sub clinical hypothyroidism or “thyroid fatigue.” This is where the thyroid stimulating hormone may be within the ideal range (1.0-2.5) and T4 levels are normal, but the amount of T3, the active thyroid hormone, is low. Symptoms include poor weight loss, yellowing of the skin, constipation, poor hair growth, slightly lower body temperature, depression, and fatigue. There are numerous causes and conditions for hypothyroidism and if you think this may be an issue I recommend you have your levels checked by a health professional.

#5: Toxic Build-Up

It’s no surprise that we’re exposed to a myriad of toxins in today’s world. They’re everywhere from the food we eat, to the air we breath and the water we drink. While we can’t protect ourselves from all these toxins, we can take measures to minimize exposure. It is always a good idea to eat range feed chicken and beef along with choosing organic vegetables when possible. You’ll also want to avoid excess nicotine, caffeine, processed sugars, and other chemicals in refined foods.

A diet high in fruits and vegetables helps to provide the body with phytonutrients and antioxidants to combat the free radicals from toxins. Toxins from any source have a negative effect on your body’s ability to burn fat. The reason is because toxins are stored in fat cells, allowing the body to hold onto more fat in order to protect itself.

A high toxic burden can lower thyroid function and body temperature in an attempt to lessen the damage from the effect of the toxins in the system. Reactions occur more rapidly with heat, so by cooling down the body, you can slow down some of the damaging effects of these toxins. Research has found that metabolism could be slowed down as much as 30% due to toxic burden.

The secret to losing stomach fat is not with severe caloric restriction diets, excessive cardio, or abdominal exercises. Fat loss is 100% controlled by the hormonal balances in your body. If you want to remove stubborn stomach fat you’ll want to start by cleansing your digestive tract. Follow a Primal Blueprint or Paleo type diet along with removing processed and refined foods. From an exercise standpoint the best approach is to do high intensity- short duration “burst training” to help create a release in powerful fat burning hormones like testosterone, growth hormone, nor-epinephrine, and IGF-1.