1. Beer belly be gone!

The spare tyre, the love handles, the muffin top, the beer gut. For some men their central obesity or their being 'apple shaped' is a source of perverse pride; sort of a badge of honour.

But, for those that want to shed the extra kilos, the task can be a daunting one, and can be tough without the right support, so here we take a look at how best to tackle the dreaded beer belly. 

 

2. What causes a beer belly?

Danish researchers at the Centre for Alcohol Research showed that binge drinking once or twice a week was far more likely to lead to a beer belly than drinking the same amount over the whole week.

Whatever the link to alcohol, it is widely agreed that overeating and lack of exercise are the main reasons for a beer belly to grow.

 

3. Health risks

Doctors unanimously agree that having a beer belly increases the likelihood of developing high blood pressure and high cholesterol and increases the risk of heart disease, diabetes or having a stroke

4. Before you start

Measure your waistline. This may seem simple but knowing where you started can do wonders for your confidence a few weeks into the process when the differences start to be noticeable. The tape measure doesn't lie!

 

5. Achieve a balance

Balance is the key word when it comes to eating and drinking. It is important to keep eating a range of different foods so the body gets all the nutrition it needs.

 

6. Diet tips

  • Try these:
  • Reduce your overall calorie intake.
  • Cut down on fatty foods such as hot chips and meat pies. Some fat is fine, but keep it to a minimum.
  • Eat plenty of fruit and vegetables.
  • Try to cut down on alcohol and try switching to light or low-calorie beer.
  • Snacking on junk between meals can undo the good work.
  • Fruit snacks provide a healthy, low-fat alternative to chips or chocolate.

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    7. Are sit-ups the key?

    If the idea of endless sit-ups fills you with despair, you're in luck. Although great for strengthening the abdominal muscles, contrary to popular belief, sit-ups won't do much to get rid of a beer belly or help with weight loss in general.

     

    8. What does burn fat?

    What does burn fat is aerobic or cardio-vascular exercise which gets the heart rate up and gets you sweating. This can be achieved through anything from fast walking to swimming, rowing, cycling, jogging or squash.

    Subject to advice from a doctor, 30 minutes of aerobic exercise three times a week should be enough to get the belly shrinking.

     

    9. Self-belief and a positive attitude

    Without the right attitude, no attempts at beating the beer belly into submission are going to work.

    But, as daunting a prospect as weight loss might seem, a decent measure of self-belief and willpower are half the battle. The rest might be as straightforward as a fast walk in the park.