Men and women of different generations and social backgrounds are trying their very best to look good and stay healthy. It’s safe to say that this is a common motive we all share. One of the most important aspects of looking good is, of course, having a flat tummy. The fairer sex is a bit more concerned about this than men, but the guys also love having a flat stomach and showing off their abs.

Of course, looking good shouldn’t be the only motive for you to burn your belly fat. There are also a lot of health reasons you should consider. For example, reducing the risks of heart diseases, type 2 diabetes, and other, life-threatening diseases.

Most people relate to having a flat stomach and well-defined abs with sit-ups, but this is not the only exercise that can flatten your stomach. As a matter of fact, running is one of the best ways to burn your belly fat. Here’s how and why.

If You Want To Burn Your Fat, You Have To Get Moving

Crunches and sit-ups are good for strengthening and toning your abs, but these exercises won’t help you to burn belly fat. To burn your subcutaneous and visceral fat you must get your heart rate up. One of the best ways to do this is, of course, by running. If you don’t think your body can handle running, maybe you should opt for a tummy tuck procedure first. This way you will remove a considerable amount of fat and weight, and this will help you to run without worrying about injuries.

To burn belly fat, you must burn more calories than you take in. It’s that simple. This will cause your body to burn fat, in the absence of calories. But how many calories do you have to burn?

Well, to burn 1 pound of fat, you must have a deficit of 3,500 calories. In other words, if you lose 500 calories more than you take during one day, you will lose 1 pound after one week. The good news is that the visceral fat in your abdomen area is usually the first fat the body burns during your running sessions.

Try Doing Intervals

As stated before, running is a good exercise for burning belly fat, but sometimes running at a slow and steady pace won’t win you the race. Pun intended. If you want quicker results, you should definitely try intervals.

This is when you go from high-intensity bursts of running to slow jogging or recovery walks.

Of course, you should start with a 5 to 10-minute warm-up. Slow jogging is the safest way to raise your body temperature and prepare your muscles for an intense workout. When it comes to doing intervals, you should run hard for 30 seconds and then rest for one minute. Repeat the exercise for about 20 minutes and then cool down. Pay attention to your fitness level and don’t strain yourself.

Burning belly fat can be a great motivation for you to start training. This is a wonderful thing for your health and your look. However, make sure to be careful, listen to your trainer, and take care of your body.