One of the number one places that people want to change (which means reduce) on their body is their belly. So, it only goes to reason that one would ask whether an aerobic activity such as running helps you lose belly fat. Unfortunately, the answer isn’t quite as simple as you would think.
Running and Belly Fat
Overall, when you participate in a regular running program, whether it is on a track, on a treadmill, or outdoors in nature, you will lower your overall body fat percentage. This automatically means that some of the fat you lose is going to come off your abdominal area, making it true that running does, in fact, help you lose belly fat.
However, this particular activity doesn’t build your core muscles the same as doing crunches or inverted sit ups. Certainly, it will help tone your midsection, but it won’t give you those six-pack abs you’re after. What it does do is tone your belly area, which gives you a flatter stomach solely because there is less fat on top of it.
Getting Better Results
That being said, you can actually make your abs stronger and more defined when running by making sure you run with the proper posture. This means making sure your tummy muscles are held in tight as your feet hit the road (or the treadmill, as it may be) so that you work your muscles and get them in the best shape they can be in.
In conclusion, running is a great addition to a thin belly exercise program but if you want stellar abdominal results, you’re going to have to do more than that. You’re going to have to engage in abdominal exercises and work your stomach muscles specifically to get the results you want.
Some other thin belly tricks are to drink lots of water, eat more proteins and fewer carbs, and consume a lot of fiber. Do all of these and you’ll be on your way to a thin, taut tummy that you can be proud of!
