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If you are trying to understand how to lose belly fat, you will have to exercise and make some key changes to your diet. Belly fat is extremely stubborn, and it won't go quickly. It has to be lost gradually, but you will reap the rewards. You will be healthier and have a lean looking body.

The first step is to cut out all that junk food. They say 'you are what you eat', so forget about the junk. It's the high sugar content and refined carbohydrates in junk food that are the culprits. When digested, they cause the blood sugar level to quickly rise. This only makes you hungrier.

Don't keep cookies, candy, or chips in the house. Stock your kitchen with healthy snacks like fruit, low fat yogurt, wheat-free crackers, nuts, and seeds. These foods will satisfy the hunger pangs and keep your blood sugar level correct. If you don't have junk food in the house, you will soon get used your new snacks.

Carbohydrates form an essential part of a healthy diet. However, there are good carbs and bad carbs. Avoid any foods made with refined flour. These include cakes, donuts, biscuits, pasta, and white bread. They will cause bloating, poor digestion, and will turn into fat.

Good carbohydrates are contained in fruit and vegetables. Foods that contain slow-release carbohydrates are also excellent. These include brown rice, oats, sweet potato, and pulses. A diet that derives most of its carbohydrates from foods like these is healthy.

When shopping, look for foods that have a low Glycemic Index (GI). These foods are broken down slowly and are gradually released into the bloodstream. Because of this, you are less likely to feel hungry because your blood sugar won't rise. A good example of a low GI food is wholegrain bread.

A healthy meal should look something like this: The protein portion should be the size of a pack of cards. The carbohydrates should be the size of your palm. The balance on your plate should be vegetables.

Another major culprit is late night snacking. If you are guilty of this habit, you are going to have to break it. If you eat before going to sleep, your body won't expend the energy required to burn up calories. Your snack will simply turn into fat.

Over-consumption of alcohol also develops stomach fat. A fat belly is the main characteristic of people who drink too much. They often have slim bodies and fat stomachs. This is a sure sign of the excessive use of alcohol.

When you have your diet sorted out, you are going to have to confront exercise. Drag yourself off the couch, and get to the gym. Start doing exercises geared for the stomach. You can either buy a book or look on the internet. They must be exercises that are designed to get fat loss.