TV doctor hails belly fat burning exercise that's 'better than running'
Belly fat isn't just a problem if you're dreaming of a six pack - it can also have serious health implications, as it can surround your vital organs. Frustratingly, it also turns out to be one of the hardest areas to lose fat, especially if haven't found a type of exercise you enjoy.
Thankfully, Doctor Michael Mosley, inventor of the Fast 800 and 5:2 diet plans, has shared an exercise that will not only help you lose belly fat, but help you live longer and sleep better. It's even better news if running is your idea of hell.
Cardio, such as running or skipping is often hailed as the best method for losing weight around your midline, as well as being in a calorie deficit, but according to the TV doctor, there's an even better method. Instead, Dr Mosley recommended weight training as the best way to rejuvenate the body.
Belly fat can be hard to get rid of (stock image) (Getty Images/iStockphoto)According to the doctor, resistance training not only helps keep his waistline in check, but it also helps him "look good", sleep better, and improve his memory, reports Wales Online.
Speaking on the Stay Young podcast, which was broadcast on Radio 4, the 66-year-old said he makes a point of doing two bodyweight exercises every morning. He said: "Today I'm doing something that will not only help me stay strong but should also improve my memory, my sleep, my waistline, make me look good and perhaps even help me live longer - I've been doing press-ups. I try to do at least 30 of these every day, followed by at least 30 squats."
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The presenter continued: "Resistance exercises are the quickest and simplest way to improve your muscle mass. Gym bunnies have long known this. But it is something we should all do and that’s because maintaining your muscle mass is one of the best ways to preserve your health as you get older. Unless you do resistance exercises your muscles start to decline after the age of 30."
Going further into how weight training can help you lose weight, Dr Mosley said: "Resistance exercise can also help you lose fat, particularly around your belly. Researchers at Harvard University followed around 10,000 men for 12 years and they found that minute-for-minute strength training targets belly fat better than cardio."
He continued: "That's important because the fat that accumulates around your belly doesn't just sit there passively, it produces chemicals that can have a negative effect on your blood sugar levels. Muscle cells on the other hand have a positive effect. When you exercise they soak up blood sugars like a sponge. In fact, one study found that for every 10 percent increase in your skeletal muscle, there was a 10 percent reduction in your risk of pre-diabetes.
"Which means not only does building muscle make you look and feel younger, but it could also add years to your life. A recent analysis found that 30-60 minutes of resistance training a week, reduces the risk of dying from heart disease and cancer by up to 20 percent. Why does it have such an impact? Well, resistance exercise seems to rejuvenate you at the cellular level."
The NHS recommends being active for 150 minutes per week to lose weight, which can be broken into smaller sessions. In order to lose weight in a healthy way, the health body recommends aiming to lose 1-2lbs a week.
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