lose belly fat Archives

July 15, 2022 By Hardika Vira Leave a Comment

More Common Reasons For Not Losing Belly Fat

In my previous article, we looked at some common mistakes for not losing belly fat. In this part, we’re going to go over some more reasons which make it difficult for an individual to lose belly fat. As mentioned before, losing belly fat that has accumulated over the years is no easy feat and these habits make the journey even more difficult. Let’s look at them!

Reasons Why You’re Not Losing Belly Fat

Lack of sleep: Sleep deprivation or disturbed sleep not only adds on to physical and mental stress, but also affects your choice of food items i.e. you end up eating junk/carbs when you are unable to sleep at night. The ideal procedure of fat loss, growth and development actually takes place when you are in deep sleep. I think now you can relate why people with high stress levels tend to gain weight day by day even when their portions are controlled. Sleeping for 6-8 hours daily is very important.
Starvation: In my practice as a dietician, I have come across a lot of people who starve themselves to lose weight, most importantly, belly fat. It is one of the worst things that you can do to your body. The first thing that your body does when it has access to food post a long gap is to store all the calories in the form of fat and spend the least for various functions of the body as well as for other activities. Small frequent meals and not keeping your body starved for long hours will really help improve metabolism.
Consuming fruits at night or post meals: Most people think that eating fruits at night is healthy and light. But, the fact is that fruits are a rich source of carbohydrates and supply constant energy. We are neither that active at night nor is our metabolism good post sunset. Thus, all the unused calories get stored in the body in the form of fat. With regards to having fruits with/post meals, it increases the carbohydrate load of the meal and all the excess and unused carbs is converted into fat. It is better to consume fruits as a mid meal snack before sunset or a great option to start your day to boost your metabolism.
Sweets/Dessert post meals: Sweets such as ice-cream, pudding, cake or chocolates are sugar laden. Eating them after a meal is quite a bad idea as it leads to more fat deposition. That doesn’t mean you should not enjoy sweets and desserts. You can enjoy them as a mid meal snack. If you manage to have it during the first half of the day, nothing like it. If you are a person who cannot do without sweets post meals, opt for a piece of more than 70% dark chocolate, a small piece of jaggery, chikki made of jaggery and nuts or squeezed rasgulla.
Dehydration: Consuming less water/fluids or increased consumption of caffeinated drinks like tea, coffee, pepsi, coke, etc. leads to dehydration of cells. In the state of dehydration, the cells and organs cannot function at their optimal level and metabolism falls. This aids in less energy utilization for various functions of the body and the unused energy or calories get converted into fat, which are generally stored in the belly region. When you drink less water, all the toxins that are present within the body do not get flushed out of the system and affect some functions of the organs like the liver, kidney, heart and other muscles which further reduces metabolism and effective calorie consumption of the body. This increases the conversion of excess energy into fats. Consuming at least 2.5- 3L of water and choosing fluids like lemon water, vegetable juices, buttermilk, and coconut water over caffeinated drinks, will help you hydrate and rejuvenate your cells.

While you might be making these common mistakes without realizing that they’re harming you, you now have a better idea of what needs to be done! After making these small changes to your life, you can bring about a great difference within you and work towards your health goals.

We hope this article helps you on your journey to losing belly fat and maintaining healthy weight. Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

For more articles on weight loss, check out Healthy Reads or get the right advice, tailored to your goals, from an expert, by subscribing for GOQii’s Personalised Health Coaching here: https://goqiiapp.page.link/bsr

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July 8, 2022 By Hardika Vira 5 Comments

Common Reasons For Not Losing Belly Fat

Belly fat is not accumulated in a day or two. It takes several weeks and months of unhealthy eating and lifestyle to build it. When people finally decide to lose belly fat, the first thing they wonder is ‘Why am I not losing belly fat even after exercising so much and cutting down on junk food?’ There are several reasons for it.

Reasons Why You’re Not Losing Belly Fat

Here are a few common reasons why most individuals find it difficult to lose belly fat.

1. Eating Heavy Meals At One Time
Most people struggling with losing belly fat and weight loss are the ones who tend to have too much food at one time. The reason for this is largely either long gaps between the meals or skipping previous meal or if the person consumes food very fast. How is this related to belly fat?

When a person consumes food, it gets broken down to release/provide energy. Firstly, it will fill in the glycogen stores and then the excess calories that are not used up with good physical activity get converted into fats and the most common sites of fat storage is the belly, arms, thighs and buttocks.

When you are having food, only post 20-25 mins of eating, the satiety centers in the brain are activated and you feel full and satisfied. When you eat fast the satiety centers of the brain are not activated and you end up eating more. Small frequent meals and chewing your food thoroughly and eating mindfully is the key to control food portion.

2. Dinner Meals Are High In Carbs & High In Quantity
Due to a hectic schedule, the only meal that we have together with the family turns out to be ‘dinner’ and in turn, it ends up to be the largest meal with a variety of food that the entire family enjoys. Ideally, dinners should be light and should be high in proteins and less in carbs. This is actually vice versa of what is generally practiced.

The reason for the dinners to be light and high in proteins and less in carbs is that post dinner, we are not that active. Hence, there’s no real requirement of all the carbs for energy. The process of recovery of all the muscles that are used up throughout the day, the repairing of all the wear and tear happens during the night and that requires proteins, not carbs.

3. Physical & Mental Stress
This is only with regards to people who are excessively obsessed with exercise to lose belly fat. Excessive exercise leads to physical stress and thus, high cortisol levels. In case of mental stress, you might have noticed that the first thing you would choose is chocolates/ice creams or any comfort foods that are high in sugar or carbs for that matter. At this point of stress, the food gets broken down and is converted to fat and stored in your belly area. Exercise in moderation and keep yourself stress free by indulging in some yoga and meditation or your hobbies.

4. Consumption Of Processed Food
Do you have the habit of reading labels? Do pick one product that you eat the most and read the label today. Most of the processed or ready to eat food products are high in sugar, fat or refined carbs. They are extremely low in fiber as well. Even the fiber enriched product gives less than 2gm of fiber per serving. Read labels and choose wisely. The best solution here is to eat homemade food or you can try some variations to increase fiber intake by incorporating more veggies/fruits along with the main product.

5. Aerated Drinks
Products containing HFCS (High Fructose Corn syrup) or liquid glucose, that are present in all the aerated drinks like Cola, flavored sugar syrups, etc. do not get metabolized and are stored in the belly as fat, which is really tough to get rid off through just activities. Instead, opt for buttermilk, lemon water, coconut water, and fresh lime soda (salted) over the above drinks.

We hope this article helps you make better choices and avoid these common reasons for not losing belly fat. For more on weight loss, check out Healthy Reads or ask a GOQii Coach for guidance by subscribing for personalized health coaching here: https://goqiiapp.page.link/bsr

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March 23, 2022 By Meenakshi Sharma 2 Comments

What Is Visceral Fat & Why It Is Dangerous

You might have heard of the term belly fat but you might not be aware of terms like subcutaneous and visceral fat. Subcutaneous fat is the kind you can grasp with your hand on any part of your body. It is situated under the skin. Belly fat or what experts call visceral fat is a particularly dangerous type of fat that forms inside the abdomen. It’s a type of fat that surrounds the internal organs, like the liver and intestines and is also known as ‘active fat’ as it influences how hormones function in the body.

You can have too much belly fat even with a normal BMI. So pay attention to your waist circumference rather than the number on the scale.

How To Measure It

Waist size: This is an easy way to get a rough estimate. Wrap a tape measure around your waist over your belly button (don’t suck in your stomach). In women, 35 inches or more is a sign of visceral fat. In men, it’s 40 inches.
BMI: Body mass index is a formula for how much you weigh relative to your height. A BMI of 30 or higher is overweight. That could be a sign of visceral fat. In Asia, a BMI of 23 or higher could be a concern.
Hip-to-waist ratio: You divide your waist size by your hip size. Some doctors think the number gives a good idea of your risk for visceral fat. But studies suggest it may be no better than a simple waist measurement.
Body shape: Look in the mirror. If you’re an apple – a big trunk and slimmer legs – it often means more visceral fat and is more common among men. Women are more likely to be pears with bigger hips and thighs. Research shows that upper body fat is more dangerous to your health, which might be one reason why women usually live longer than men.
Imaging tests: These scans are the only way to check the exact amount of visceral fat you have. If your doctor orders a CT scan or an MRI test to check for another medical condition, they can also get a detailed picture of your visceral fat.

Risks & Dangers Of Excess Visceral Fat

Increased Inflammation: If you have more fat stored than you need, especially around visceral organs like the liver, heart, kidneys, pancreas and intestines, your body becomes inflamed. This kind of fat stores inflammatory white blood cells and this is why inflammatory belly fat is linked with cognitive decline, arthritis, diabetes and so on.
Higher Risk of Diabetes: Visceral fat is thought to play a large role in insulin resistance, which means a heightened risk for developing diabetes. Abdominal fat is viewed as a bigger health risk than hip or thigh fat, not only for diabetes but for many other chronic diseases too. Some evidence suggests that pear-shaped women are better protected from metabolic diseases like diabetes compared to big-bellied people. While men are more likely to store noticeable levels of visceral fat, women are definitely at risk, too.
Makes It Harder to Lose Weight: One of the main reasons is that stored body fat affects hunger levels, especially visceral fat. Leptin hormone which is released by stored fat plays an important role in appetite control, metabolism and weight loss . Leptin is a satiety hormone and ghrelin is a hunger hormone are two of the most hormones to pay attention to in reference to losing weight naturally. Your “set point” is basically the weight that your body tries to maintain through control of the brain’s hormonal messengers. When you eat refined carbohydrates such as white flour and sugar, the fat-storing hormones are produced in excess, raising the set point and making it hard to follow a moderate-calorie, healthy diet.
Higher Risk for Heart Disease and Strokes: Fat-generated inflammatory cytokines are the main contributors to heart disease and other inflammatory disorders. When your body is inflamed, your liver becomes overwhelmed with cholesterol and toxins, which leads to plaque buildup in your arteries. Visceral fat is associated with an increased risk for cardiovascular disease markers like high triglycerides, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.
More Likely to Battle Dementia: Research shows that people with the biggest bellies have a higher risk of dementia than those with smaller bellies. The bigger the belly, the more negative impact felt on the brain’s memory . In fact, many experts now feel that visceral adipose tissue (VAT) levels rather than BMI should be considered as an important risk factor in the development of dementia.
Higher Likelihood to Have Depression and Mood Problems: Visceral fat is a unique pathogenic fat that consists of metabolically active adipose tissue that interferes with the hormones and healthy neurotransmitter function. Depression is especially associated with greater fat storage in women. In a study of middle-aged women over 50 years old, visceral fat, but not subcutaneous belly fat or waist circumference, was related to depressive symptoms.

How Can You Get Rid Of It?

Exercise: is an excellent way to reduce visceral fat. People should include both cardio vascular exercise, which raises a person’s heart rate and strength training, which improves muscle size, into their routines. Cardio exercise could include running, cycling, swimming, aerobics, circuit training. Strength training could include squats, weights, pushups.
Reduce Stress: When someone is stressed, their body releases a cortisol hormone, which increases how much visceral fat a person’s body stores. People with high visceral fat try to reduce their stress levels by relaxation techniques, such as meditation, deep breathing, and other stress management tactics, can help a person lose visceral fat more efficiently.
Diet: A healthy diet should include fruit and vegetables, whole grains like quinoa, millets and oatmeal, and lean protein like skinless chicken, fish, eggs, beans, complex carbohydrates such as sweet potatoes, beans. Studies suggest that more calcium and vitamin D in your body may be linked to less visceral fat. So load up on leafy greens like collards, spinach, tofu and sardines are also good picks, as are low-fat dairy foods like yogurt, cheese, and milk.

Boiling, steaming, baking, and grilling foods will help to make meals healthier and lower in fat. On the other hand, certain foods encourage belly fat like trans fats are found in meats and dairy as well as in deep-fried or processed foods. Also avoid sodas, candy, baked goods, and other foods sweetened with fructose. This is why it’s important to kick your sugar addiction and address weight gain and visceral fat formation early on, as opposed to letting the situation escalate. So, read labels and avoid ingredients like “partially hydrogenated oils” or “high-fructose corn syrup”.

We hope this article helps you! If you are keen on losing weight in a healthy, sustainable way, check out GOQii Transform for a personalized weight loss program you can manage! For more articles on weight loss, check out Healthy Reads.

To learn more about visceral fat and weight loss, speak to your GOQii Coach by subscribing for personalized coaching here: https://goqiiapp.page.link/bsr

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March 19, 2022 By GOQii 1 Comment

Losing 14kg In 13 Months – How Reshmi Sujesh Wrote Her Healthy Story!

Have you tried shedding off extra weight but haven’t been successful? Do you feel that no amount of exercise or diet plans can help you? When it comes to weight loss, there’s always more than one or two factors involved. Our Player Reshmi Sujesh was in a similar predicament where she couldn’t lose weight, till she opted for GOQii’s personalized health coaching.

Life Before GOQii

Reshmi Sujesh is a 43 year old working professional based in Bengaluru. She had first joined GOQii in 2017 and had tried the personalized health coaching service for 3 months but chose to discontinue as she found it too intrusive.

2 years later, she got extremely busy with her professional life and had gained a considerable amount of weight. She did try walking regularly along with exercise but she struggled to lose weight.

In November 2020, she received a parcel that came for her husband. The parcel contained a GOQii tracker along with the GOQii Balance Body Composition Monitor. When she weighed herself, she was horrified at the number displayed on the screen. She weighed around 84.5kg. That was her wake up call and she decided to get healthy!

Making Lifestyle Changes

She informed her husband that she was taking the GOQii tracker and she began her health journey. This time, she opted for personalized health coaching and set her goal to weight loss. Her BMI at this point was around 31.

After speaking to her GOQii Coach, she slowly began dietary changes which included drinking overnight soaked methi dana water on an empty stomach in the morning. Methi dana or Fenugreek promotes weight loss by burning stubborn fat from the belly and adipose tissues. Fenugreek is filled with fiber and antioxidants, and as a result, it also flushes out harmful toxins.

She initially began walking 5k steps daily and gradually moved to 7k and 10k. Over time, more dietary changes were included. She was persistent and tried her best to follow all the habits set by her GOQii Coach. She also kept track of her diet by logging in her food and water intake in the GOQii App.

Her current routine includes 30 minutes of walking. Her step counts now touch an average of 12k steps per day. She also performs 15 minutes of Surya Namaskar along with core exercises. Thanks to all these lifestyle changes, she was able to lose 14kg in 13 months.

She recently spoke to our Founder & CEO Vishal Gondal about her Health Story and how hard she worked to lose weight in a healthy way. You can watch the entire episode of GOQii Health Stories feat. Reshmi Sujesh here –

What Does Coach Ankita Baheti Have To Say About Reshmi Sujesh’s Transformation?

“My player Reshmi Sujesh stands tall at 154 cm, weighs 70kg and is 43 years old. Her current BMI IS 29.9. She was transferred to me from another GOQii Coach. When I started coaching her in July, she weighed 74.70kg & her BMI was 31.5.

Her health goals were weight management, improving strength and eating healthy. She is persistent and tries her best to follow all the habits daily and also provides updates for the food logs. It was very challenging for her to reduce weight due to her sedentary lifestyle and medical conditions. But, thanks to her dedication and regularity towards her health goals, she achieved what she aimed for!”

It’s never easy when you have to achieve a health goal. There are lots of sacrifices you need to make. But if you are determined and persistent, then success is not far away. Reshmi Sujesh exemplifies this fact. Her current health goal is to reduce another 10kg.

Does this story inspire you? Do you want to lose weight or make a healthy lifestyle change and begin your own Health Story? Then reach out to our GOQii Coaches and subscribe for personalized health coaching here: https://goqiiapp.page.link/bsr

To read more inspiring Health Stories, check out Healthy Reads.

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