Ask A PT: Help! I Can’t Shift My Stubborn Belly Fat

Dear Ornagh

I’m reasonably fit, I work out often and I eat well most of the time. But no matter what I do, I can’t seem to shift my belly! Are there any moves or diet tricks you can recommend to help blast my stubborn spot?

Yvonne, 29, Meath

S U N S H I N E Trying to catch some rays while warming up for some stretching ?? Ireland’s weather is unpredictable to say the least! ?

A post shared by O R N A G H | L E E (@ornagh_morechalk) on Feb 15, 2016 at 9:26am PST

Dear Yvonne,

That stubborn belly pouch is often the hardest place to lose fat, and there’s a big list of reasons why. Stress and intolerances both come into play, but the root cause is most often diet, so make that your starting point. As the saying goes, ‘Abs are made in the kitchen.’

In terms of exercise, core-targeted moves won’t burn that body fat away as many workout plans would have you believe. Rather than killing yourself with endless ab crunches, combine full-body training with a balanced diet of carbs, protein and healthy fats.

If you find it tough to stay on top of your workout plans, I’d recommend a training app like Seven, which gives you workout reminders, exercise tips and rewards for achieving solid workout streaks . It’s a great way to kickstart a sustainable exercise habit.

Ornagh x

This article first appeared in STELLAR’s March issue. Our April issue is on shelves now!