Belly Fat Exercises (+ Free Video)

How long does it take to see results from cardio exercises if I want to lose belly fat?

The time it takes to see results from cardio exercises in regards to belly fat loss varies from person to person as it depends on several factors such as age, gender, body composition, diet, and the intensity and duration of the workout. However, consistent cardio exercises coupled with a healthy diet can help reduce belly fat within a few weeks to a few months.

I like to give the general guideline of – give yourself 4 weeks to start to see physical changes. If you are doing my workouts, you will feel a difference immediately on day 1. This is the feedback I have received from thousands of women. But to start to SEE the changes, and have other people notice, you need at least 4 weeks minimum.

Cardio exercises such as jumping jacks, high knees, squat jacks, running, cycling, swimming, and brisk walking are effective in burning calories and reducing body fat, including belly fat. To achieve significant results, try to exercise for 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week.

If that feels out of reach, start wherever you’re at and build up to the recommendation above. It is perfectly normal to start with just a 10 minute workout 3 days a week.

Quick Note – on Intensity of Belly Fat Workouts

There is a misconception that the intensity of the workout is the most important thing. Yes, intensity plays a role. But your consistency is far more important. The person that does a low impact workout everyday is going to see more progress in 1 year than the person that did the hardest workout ever for only 2 months and then fell off.

So forget about high-intensity interval training (HIIT) if it is not for you. Listen to your body and give it what it needs and can handle.

Diet is also an essential factor in losing belly fat. It is important to create a calorie deficit by consuming fewer calories than you burn through exercise and daily activities. Consuming a well-balanced diet that includes plenty of fruits, vegetables, lean protein, and whole grains can also help support belly fat loss.

FYI there are many other awesome benefits of cardio exercises. Cardio exercises provide other health benefits such as improving heart health, reducing the risk of chronic diseases, and boosting mental health. They’re an awesome bunch! 🙂

In summary, the time it takes to see results from cardio exercises in regards to belly fat loss depends on several factors. However, consistent cardio exercise coupled with a healthy diet can produce amazing results. And as a rule of thumb, give yourself a least 4 weeks to start to see results.

What are the most effective cardio exercises for losing belly fat?

When it comes to losing belly fat through cardio exercises, there are a few exercises that are particularly effective.

These exercises help to increase the heart rate, burn calories, and reduce overall body fat, including belly fat.

1. Jumping Jacks (or Step Jacks):

Doing jumping jacks or step jacks is a great way to increase cardiovascular endurance and burn calories. The step jack is a low impact modification which is easier on the knees.

These exercises can be done anywhere, making them one of the most accessible cardio exercises. Incorporating jumping jacks or step jacks into an overall workout of about 30 minutes a day, five days a week, can help to reduce belly fat and body fat overall.

2. High Knees:

High Knees is another great cardio exercise that can be done indoors or outdoors. It also has a low-impact modification which you will typically see in my workouts.

High Knees are a little easier on the joints and can help to burn a significant amount of calories. Like jumping jacks, high knees – when incorporated into a well designed 30 minute workout, five days a week, can help to reduce belly fat and body fat too.

3. Squat Jacks:

Squat Jacks is a form of cardio exercise that does double duty. It not only helps burn calories in the moment, but also helps strengthen the leg muscles so the muscles there continue to burn calories when you rest.

This type of exercise can help to burn calories, increase cardiovascular endurance, strengthen muscle, and build overall endurance, making it a powerhouse exercise to add into your rouine.

These are just 3 easy to remember, solid exercises that are extremely effective for reaching your goal of burning belly fat.

There are many other exercises that are also effective and you will see them featured in lots of my workouts.

Remember that with exercise, variety is also important. So spice up your routine with jumping jacks, high knees, and squat jacks – but don’t get stuck in a rut with them.

What are some common mistakes people make when trying to lose belly fat through cardio exercises?

When it comes to losing belly fat through cardio exercises, there are a few common mistakes that are easy to avoid. People that make these mistakes end up slowing down their progress so they’re really good to be aware of. Here are a few examples of mistakes to avoid:

1. Relying solely on cardio:

While cardio exercises can be effective for burning calories and melting away fat, they should not be the only type of exercise in your routine. Resistance exercises which target your core muscles are also important. You also want to be doing multi-purpose exercises like planks.

2. Overdoing it:

Some people make the mistake of thinking that the more cardio they do, the more fat they will lose. The thing is, too much cardio can actually backfire and cause burnout, rapid adaptation, and injuries. It’s important to find a balance between cardio and resistance exercises that allows you to make steady progress without wasted effort.

3. Relying on steady-state cardio:

Steady-state cardio like cycling at a consistent pace, can be effective for burning calories, but it is best to also have other forms of cardio in your routine. For example, i regularly include tabata cardio workouts in my program for this reason. It combines short bursts of intense exercise with periods of rest – similar to HIIT but less awful, more fun, and highly effective.

4. Nutrition Debt:

Nutrition debt is the mindset of “i’ll eat this now and burn it off later”. I don’t know if you’ve tried this before but it’s very hard to burn off anything we eat. It’s honestly easier and best to eat nutritious foods from the start. Eating a balanced, nutritious diet that is rich in protein, fiber, and healthy fats can support your weight loss efforts and help you to shed belly fat more quickly.

5. Focusing only on abs:

Core exercises like planks and crunches are PHENOMENAL for sculting and toning the abs. But they cannot – by themselves – remove belly fat. These exercises must be combined with cardio and resisance training to really see some fantastic results.

To sum up, cardio exercises can be an effective way to lose belly fat, but try to avoid these mistakes if you can.

It’s okay to be imperfect at this. Afterall, to err is human. Do your best to incorporate resistance training, variety, and healthy eating – and you’ll be on your way!

What is the best way to get started with doing cardio exercises?

The smart (but unsexy) way to go is slow and steady.

Sart with shorter workouts fewer times a week than what you think you can handle.

This will dramatically increase your consistency, prevent injury and avoid burnout.

Additional tips on how to get started with cardio exercises:

1. Talk to your doctor: Before starting any new exercise routine, consult with your doctor to ensure you’re physically ready for it.

2. Choose cardio you like: my sister LOVES swimming and you will never catch her running. This works for her and I encourage her to stick with it! I on the other hand love the *idea* of running. Implementing running into my life though, is a different story LOL

3. Choose low-intensity over high intensity: People think the harder the workout, the better. Wrong. This mindset is the reason most of us can’t stick to our routine (not talking about you. I’m talking about myself or the neighbor or the cat. yes, the cat). 😂

My point is, go for low intensity in the beginning. Do step jacks instead of jumping jacks for example.

Go for a walk instead of running. And for heavens sake, leave the jump squats alone.

Leave that for the athletes that need to jump to make money. You and I are just trying to be healthy and cute and have thriving relationships.

Finally, listen and respond to what your body needs. It’s frustrating to need rest when you want to exercise. But the body has its own wisdom that is different from what we typically want. The best solution is to cooperate with your body and rest when you need.

Can doing cardio exercises alone be enough to get rid of stubborn belly fat?

Stubborn belly fat is often associated with visceral fat, which is the fat that surrounds the organs in the abdominal area.

It is considered to be one of the most dangerous types of fat as it can increase the risk of chronic diseases like heart disease, diabetes, and more.

While cardio exercises can help burn calories and reduce overall body fat, they are not specifically targeted towards visceral fat.

So, relying solely on cardio exercises may not be 100% effective in reducing stubborn belly fat.

To achieve significant results, a combination of cardio and strength training exercises, along with a healthy diet, is recommended.

Strength training exercises, such as squats and lunges can help build muscle mass and increase metabolism, leading to a higher rate of calorie burn even at rest. Many studies have shown that a combination of exercise and diet is more effective in reducing visceral fat than exercise alone.

Also, a healthy diet that is rich in protein, fiber, and healthy fats, and low in processed and sugary foods, can also aid in reducing belly fat. Consuming fewer calories than the body needs can create a calorie deficit, leading to weight loss and a reduction in belly fat.

To summarize, while cardio exercises are great for burning calories, losing weight, overall fitness and health, they may not be enough to get rid of stubborn belly fat.

A combination of cardio, strength training, and a healthy diet is recommended to achieve significant results in reducing belly fat.