The 5 Habits That Will Help You Burn Fat Efficiently!
In recent years, weight loss has become a taboo subject that isn’t often discussed, but it really doesn’t need to be.
If you want to lose weight to improve your overall well being or achieve your fitness goals, there is absolutely nothing wrong with that, so long as you take a healthy approach.
The problem is, when you focus only on aesthetic goals, you often miss out on the bigger picture. Restrictive diets, fancy weight loss products, and using exercise as punishment are common traps that people fall into when trying to lose weight, and they are not healthy or sustainable methods.
When I made changes to get healthier and fitter five years ago, I had no intention of losing weight. I simply wanted to feel more energized, nourish my body with natural foods, and exercise in a way that I enjoyed each and every day. I chose to develop healthy and sustainable habits which have stuck with me ever since.
Research shows that the following five habits can help you burn fat efficiently. Most importantly, they are healthy and sustainable, and they just so happen to be some of the habits I adopted five years ago. So go ahead and ditch the weight loss shakes, detox teas, and restrictive diets, and focus on achieving balance through the following practices instead.
1. Adopt this type of training.
I cannot stress enough how important it is to follow an exercise plan that includes both cardio and weight lifting.
Many people think that doing endless hours of cardio is the only way to burn fat effectively, but they are missing a crucial piece of the puzzle.
While studies have found that cardio exercise is efficient for fat burning and that there is a correlation between increased aerobic exercise and increased belly fat loss, strength training also has similar effects, with the added bonus of increased muscle mass to help you achieve a more toned look.
In fact, one study found that:
“Strength training reduced visceral fat (a type of dangerous fat that surrounds the organs in the belly) in 78 people with metabolic syndrome.”
Another study found that:
“12 weeks of strength training paired with aerobic exercise was more effective at reducing body fat and belly fat than aerobic exercise alone.”
Although both aerobic exercise and strength training have incredible benefits on their own, the pairing of the two together will help you truly maximize fitness gains. I accomplish this balance with a 30 minute run 6–7 times per week as well as a weight lifting session 2–3 times per week.
2. Consistently eat enough protein.
Protein is incredibly important when it comes to burning fat and building muscle. It is an essential macronutrient that helps your muscles repair and grow.
Furthermore, studies have found that:
“eating more high-quality protein is associated with a lower risk of belly fat.”
Although getting enough protein may seem like a daunting task, it actually isn’t that difficult. There is protein hidden in a ton of foods that you might not even expect, such as nuts, seeds, lentils, beans, tofu, vegetables, etc.
You can even use your favorite protein powder to create healthy desserts. I recently posted a video on my YouTube channel which shows you four different healthy dessert recipes that sneak in some extra protein:
