5 reasons you can’t shift that muffin top

If you’ve trained hard to look good but still can’t seem to melt the stubborn fat around your middle, here are 5 reasons you can’t shift that muffin top – and how to get rid of it once and for all!

1. Stress is your biggest problem
A study at Yale University found that non-overweight women who have higher cortisol levels due to stress are more likely to have abdominal fat. ‘The problem with many modern lifestyles is that stress is almost continuous and comes without the natural release that either fighting or fleeing might provide,’ says nutritionist Helen Ford. ‘Unless you do something physical (as your body is expecting you to) all that extra energy, in the form of fat and glucose, has nowhere to go. It must be simply redeposited as fat.’ The stress hormone cortisol causes fat to be stored centrally and this visceral fat can mean it’s tougher to target. Think about sorting out your stress levels before focusing on fat loss, as it could be the key to unlocking your problem.

2. You’re not exercising hard enough
You know you’re not pushing yourself when you find your workouts a little easier than when you first started doing them. Stagnancy in exercise can affect your fat loss. ‘When we exercise to burn fat, we want to speed up our metabolism and burn calories during and after working out,’ says personal trainer Tyrone Brennand. ‘High intensity and pushing out of your comfort zone will burn calories and help elevate your metabolism, which promotes fat loss.’ By doing a high-intensity workout, you’ll be sure to burn calories both during and after, which will help get rid of that stomach fat.

3. You can’t say no to a glass
If nothing looks more inviting than a glass (or bottle!) of red wine after a long day, then you may be in trouble. Drinking an excess amount of alcohol can have debilitating effects on your stomach as well as your liver. ‘Alcohol contains a huge amount of sugar, which is converted into fat if it surpasses energy requirements,’ says Helen. Next time, try reaching for the towel and not the tequila!

4. Your diet is sugar-laden
A study carried out at the University of Bristol, found that fructose (found in everything from your banana to your yoghurt) matures more fat cells in the belly, making it less able to respond to insulin, which is essential for fat loss. Counteract it by finding and sticking to your daily sugar allowance and use an online food app that will do all the calculating for you.

5. You’re relying on convenience food
No matter how attractive they look on the packet, steer clear of the packets of muffin-top hell. ‘Convenience foods are often high in refined carbohydrates and sugar so it’s best to cook from scratch where possible,’ says Helen. If you can’t help yourself from ‘lovin it’, be more mindful of what you choose – even little changes can help reduce abdominal fat.