Many people notice that their waist accumulates fat and although they lose weight, this is one of the areas that is the hardest to lose weight from. This can be due to various reasons, not only diet: a lack of protein, intestinal problems, muscular tension, etc.
n this article, we will explain the keys to slim your waist without making huge sacrifices, finding the cause, and solving it simply and naturally.
When Your Intestine is Inflamed
Many people have constipation or other intestinal problems and don’t realize that their waist is expanding, especially in slim people. This can be due to the organs underneath being inflamed. Constipation is very frequent today in men and women at all ages who ignore that they should have bowel movements as many times a day as you eat a meal.
That is why the first thing you should to slim your waist is to regulate your intestines. If you suffer from constipation, follow these tips:
- Eat foods rich in fiber (fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, etc.)
- Drink a glass of hot water with the juice of a half lemon on an empty stomach
- Drink water outside of meals
- Include linseeds in your diet
- Take magnesium supplements
On the other hand, if you have frequent diarrhea:
- Drink green tea infusions
- Eat gelatin made with agar-agar
- Find out if you are lactose intolerant, or allergic to gluten or other foods
- You should also treat possible emotional problems
Carbohydrates or Protein?
Toast for breakfast, pasta for lunch, bread on the side, pastries for a snack, pizza for dinner… Today, carbohydrates are very abused. They have the advantage of giving you energy all day. On the other hand, if you abuse them and don’t use this energy, it turns into reserves, or in other words, makes you fat. Also, if they are refined carbohydrates and not whole, they can contribute to constipation and bloating. That is why we recommend including a good amount of protein in your diet, but not abusing it. There should be some protein in every meal. You will not only burn more calories but you will also see your waist shrink. In what foods can you find protein?
- Meat
- Fish
- Eggs (in the egg whites mainly)
- Milk and dairy products
- Legumes
- Dried fruits
- Mushrooms
It’s Better to Not Eat too Much
The stomach adapts itself to the amount you eat, and you often eat more than what’s necessary. You should get used to always being a little hungry at meals. It’s best to stop eating when you’re not hungry. This feeling will go away quickly, because it has been proven that hunger lasts approximately 15 to 20 minutes. It is also very important that you learn to chew your food well, which will help you eat less, feel satisfied sooner, and have better digestion.
Another way to get used to this is by drinking a digestive infusion. In this way, you will prevent your waist from getting bigger and your body will get used to the amount that you give it without having to get hungry.
Avoid Carbonated Drinks
Carbonated drinks are very harmful to your body. Besides causing you to get bloated, they can cause cardiovascular diseases in the long run, as some studies have shown. That is why we recommend reducing or avoiding drinking them.
They are also sugary drinks that make you fat and are harmful to your health in many cases.
Back Problems
We cannot fail to mention that some people have waists that are too large for their size, and even though they lose weight, it is because of posture problems. For example, people who suffer form lordosis or scoliosis (deviations in the spine that go forward or towards the side) can ave more muscular mass or fat in the stomach or on the sides because the body feels the need to create a natural support to balance your weight because otherwise you would be very imbalanced. These people should do some type of exercise in postural re-training or stretching, yoga, or tai-chi. Harsh sports that make your body bounce are the least recommended, like jogging or cardio.
Images courtesy of DorteF, joannova and Acedip
