| There are no miracles in weight loss, though there are | | | | deposits to get more. The result is less fat and weight |
| lots of myths. You may have heard a new one | | | | loss. |
| making the rounds: cortisol will 'dissolve' fat around the | | | | But it does that in an overall way, with no narrow |
| waist. Not so. | | | | location getting most of the benefit. Most of the fat |
| Whenever you take in more calories than you use, the | | | | may indeed come from the waist, but that's because |
| remaining energy is stored in chemical bonds between | | | | that's where most of it is, as a percentage. But the |
| adipose tissue (fatty deposits). In adult men those fat | | | | exercise doesn't target that fat in any way. |
| deposits are preferentially stored around the waist and | | | | Second, during a vigorous abdominal workout those |
| abdomen, in women around the hips, thighs and | | | | muscles are being worked harder than others. That's |
| abdomen. | | | | the whole point of abdominal exercises. As a result, |
| As you take actions that place a demand for energy | | | | those muscles (along with the back muscles, typically) |
| on your body that is greater than can be supplied by | | | | are being strengthened. Toning and strengthening |
| available glucose (its preferred source), it turns to fat | | | | those muscles helps restore their youthful ability to hold |
| to supply the deficit. Fat molecules are broken down | | | | in the internal organs, primarily the stomach. |
| and severing those chemical bonds releases the | | | | At the same time there will be a (largely temporary) |
| energy needed for maintaining internal temperature, | | | | loss of fluid that contributes to both weight loss and |
| muscle movement, etc. | | | | slimming. The net effect is that the waist looks slimmer, |
| But, here's the kicker: you have no control over where | | | | the bulge is reduced. That's definitely a good thing, both |
| the body takes that fat from. Cortisol may aid in | | | | for general health and weight loss or fat reduction. |
| releasing those fat deposits and breaking down those | | | | But it's not the same thing as targeting specific fatty |
| bonds, but it isn't targeted. There is, currently, no | | | | deposits, as the makers of cortisol pills (and other) |
| technology that will remove local fat deposits from any | | | | 'miracle cures' would like to sell you. The only effective |
| part of the body except mechanical removal, such as | | | | program for reducing fat deposits - around the waist, |
| in liposuction. | | | | on the thighs and buttocks, or anywhere else - is the |
| It's true that doing abdominal exercises, though, helps | | | | old-fashioned, high effort, high willpower one. |
| reduce fat around the waist, and in two ways. | | | | A program of adequate daily exercise and proper diet |
| First, since abdominal exercises typically involve | | | | is the key to long-term health, safe weight loss and fat |
| large-scale movement that requires high effort, it | | | | reduction. You'll feel better and your health will be |
| naturally requires lots of energy. Once the available | | | | optimized. And, not coincidentally, you'll reduce those |
| free energy is consumed, the body turns to those fat | | | | unattractive fat deposits around the middle. |