Belly Business

If you haven't learned that belly fat is the most dangerous, you need to read this entry. I've copied the information below directly from the RealAge website.


The fat you don’t see is the most dangerous. The soft, superficial stuff that ripples your thighs and tummy may be a bikini spoiler, but if you can pinch it, it probably won’t kill you. However, if you have a solid “beer belly" . . . well, you’re likely headed for more trouble than a politician hooked up to a polygraph. That’s because too much deep fat churns out supersize amounts of hormones and proteins, which can lead to big hazards. Among them: lousy LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels; high blood sugar and blood pressure; insulin resistance; and widespread inflammation. All are instigators of many diseases -- including dementia, cancer, heart disease, and diabetes. But often you can get a “do over,” and it doesn’t take that long and isn’t that hard, if you know what you’re doing. So don’t stop reading!

First, don’t rely on your scale. As you start to reduce risky belly fat, your weight may temporarily go up. So ditch the scale in favor of the tape measure. If you’re a woman, your waist should be 32.5 inches; if you’re a man, 35 inches. Creep past 37 inches for women or 40 for men, and the health dangers increase.

If you're in a panic, don't worry, it's not too late to make a u-turn and start heading in the other direction. Start by walking 30 minutes every single day. No excuses! Your life depends on it. Walking will also relieve stress, and, believe it or not, stress makes you fat. So, kill two birds with one stone and get out for a walk when you finish reading this blog. Once you've been walking for about a month, you're ready to hire a trainer for some professional help with designing a workout program tailored to your needs.

Stay off the scale, get a tape measure, go for a walk, and relax! There's more to it than that, but that's the best place to start.