The Real Reason You're Struggling to Lose Belly Fat

Losing belly fat can be one of the most frustrating fitness challenges. Even with diligent diet and exercise, that stubborn fat often refuses to budge.

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Fitness trainer Christine Stines, who successfully lost nine kgs in four months, recently shared a surprising insight into why many women struggle with this issue.

In a September 8 Instagram post, Stines explained that the problem might not be how many calories you eat, but what kind of calories you consume.

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Sugar Burner vs. Fat Burner

According to Stines, your body has two primary energy sources: sugar and fat. The one it chooses to burn depends on what you eat, not just how much.

"Every time you eat carbs (like toast, oatmeal, or even bananas), your blood sugar rises," she explained. "That rise triggers insulin — and insulin tells your body to store energy, not burn it."

When insulin levels are consistently high, your body's fat-burning processes are switched off.

This can lead to energy crashes, constant cravings, mood swings, and, most notably, the storage of belly fat. If you're experiencing these symptoms despite working out and eating "healthy," you might be dealing with chronically high insulin.

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How to Switch to Fat-Burning Mode

Stines revealed that the key to overcoming her own struggle with stubborn belly fat was changing her first meal of the day.

"While I’m sleeping, my blood sugar stabilizes… and by morning, I wake up in fat-burning mode," she said.

However, many people break this fat-burning state immediately. "They start the day with oatmeal or toast, which seems healthy, but floods your bloodstream with sugar and flips your body straight back into sugar-burning mode."

Instead of focusing on counting calories, Stines emphasizes understanding the hormonal response to food.

For example, 150 calories from a donut and 150 calories from Greek yogurt may be equal in number, but they trigger completely different reactions in your body.

The solution, she suggests, is to manage the root hormonal issue. By starting your day with a meal that doesn't spike your insulin, you can keep your body in fat-burning mode for longer, finally making progress on losing that stubborn belly fat.

Source: hindustantimes

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