Developing a “beer belly” happens to a lot of men as they get older. It can happen for a few reasons, including a drop in testosterone and doing less exercise compared to when you were younger. Some men are happy to embrace their beer belly and their new dad bod, but not everyone wants that. You might want to address it not just because of your self-image but also to help improve your health. Before you get started on your weight loss journey, there are a few things you’ll want to avoid if you really want to lose that belly fat.
Block Essential Hormones
A beer belly can be the result of a loss of testosterone as you get a little older. When you reach your 40s, your body’s ability to produce testosterone begins to decline. The formation of a beer belly can be one of the consequences, regardless of if you drink beer or not. However, some men mistakenly believe that one of the ways to address this is to use an estrogen blocker for men. They view estrogen as a female hormone and think blocking it will help to boost testosterone. But the truth is that men need estrogen too, and blocking it won’t help you lose weight.
Only Focus on Exercise
Too many people focus only on exercise when they want to lose weight. They think that if they go to the gym more often, they can work off the weight they want to lose. However, the truth is that it’s difficult to lose weight if you change your workout habits without changing your eating habits. You need to be burning more calories than you’re consuming, and cutting the calories you’re eating is the best way to do that. You need to rethink your diet and count calories if you really want to lose weight.
Not Realizing You Have a Literal Beer Belly
It’s not just what you eat that can result in a beer belly. It’s called a beer belly for a reason. A lot of people don’t realize just how many calories they might be getting from drinking beer or other alcoholic drinks. A pint of beer can have over 200 calories, which is a decent snack. And if you’re having several of them, the calories can quickly pile up. One of the best ways to lose weight for many is to be strict about how much they drink or even give it up completely.
Not Making Permanent Lifestyle Changes
One of the biggest mistakes anyone can make when trying to lose weight is seeing it as just a temporary change. If you develop a new diet and exercise plan to follow but go back to your old habits as soon as you reach your goal, you could find yourself having to do it all again pretty soon. Making permanent lifestyle changes is the best way to not only lose it but also keep it off.
A healthy waist measurement for most men is under 37″. So if you have a little excess weight on your belly, losing it could reduce your risk of diabetes, heart disease, and more.