Since Christmas I have had a few people ask me what my top fat loss tips are. The one thing I always tell them is ‘abs are created in the kitchen’! You unfortunately can’t ‘out train’ the cheat meals you eat, trust me I’ve tried! A good diet and the correct training are what go hand in hand as tips to cutting body fat.

My Top 5 Fat Loss Tips

Look out for these ingredients

Refined sugars, Saturated fats and Trans fats are the key ones to look out for. Basically anything processed will likely contain these culprits. With regards to refined sugars and saturated fats, 4g/5g per 100g is tolerable but when you start looking at the 10g+ in 100g this is where the damage is done. The body is unable to process all of these sugars and fats so it will start to leave a trail of destruction on its way. So keep these fats out of your diets wherever possible.

When buying food, keep an eye out for the nutrition charts on the front of the box. For example I picked up a pre-made steak pie in a shop the other week and each segment of the chart was red. So instead I whipped up a Joe Wicks Lean in 15 meat pie which contains a fraction of the badness with all of the tastiness of a steak pie. After all, when you have your eye on something you want for dinner, its what you’re going to have! When it comes to trans fats, stay away from these as much as possible. There’s are the worst of the group.

Never be afraid to stand and read the nutrition labels

This leads on from what I’ve just said, never be afraid to stand and read the nutrition labels on food in the supermarket. You may think that people are judging you but at the end of the day you’ll be the one who gets the last laugh when you become body satisfied rather than body conscious at the beach.

Be careful, a lot of ‘healthy’ foods can be fooling you with clever marketing to make you think you are selecting the healthier choice. For example a lot of ‘Fat Free’ products may be fat free but they will contain far more sugar or salt than their non low fat brother sitting next to them on the shelve. You’d be amazed how many everyday products like cereals, cereal bars and even protein bars have poor nutritional value.

Drink plenty of water

Drinking plenty of water each day is a great belly busting tip. A lot of the time you may feel you’re hungry but in fact you’re just thirsty. Water also does a lot of goodness to the body as well as clearing your skin. After all, your body is made up of about 65% water so you need to keep it topped up! Try and drink at least 2 litres a day and you’ll start noticing the difference.

Get lots of sleep

Don’t skip out on sleep when training. Sleep is a crucial element for retaining energy and stamina throughout the day. In addition, sleep supports the balance in hormone levels, which significantly affects body weight and body fat. A good night’s sleep allows your body to resolve the physical and mental stresses of the day and provides your body with the vital means to function correctly. Sleep also lets your metabolism do its thing and if you’re trying to lose the belly a happy metabolism is your friend!

Change your exercise routine

If you always run 5km in the gym and leave, try doing it as a HIIT session instead. Start training with weights if you don’t currently do so or conquer new equipment like battle ropes, skipping or ladders. These are great cardio workouts which get you panting quick. Finally if you want to recharge your core exercises, give yoga a go. If you think yoga is easy than you certainly haven’t given it a proper try.

What are your top fat loss tips?