Last Updated: July 22, 2008
People everywhere are plagued with areas of fat on their bodies that they have a horribly difficult time getting rid of. A large number of those people have the same problem area and are looking for a solution to the same question: what is the best way to remove lower abdominal fat? The answer to that, unfortunately, is not always the same for all people.
Most everyone knows that to maintain a healthy weight, diet and exercise are crucial. But to remove stubborn lower abdominal fat, it often takes more than that. Even those who adhere to a healthy diet and exercise daily can have areas, especially on their bellies that resist shrinking. An important question at this point has to do with precisely how much fat is involved? Once this is answered honestly, the situation can be examined with a more critical eye.
If a person actually has more than a little bit of lower abdominal fat to deal with, their main focus should be on cardiovascular exercise coupled with strength training. Cardio helps to burn fat, whereas strength training builds muscle, which in turn revs up your metabolism and helps to burn more fat. Aerobics, walking, running, biking, and many other activities are wonderful cardiovascular workouts. Weight bearing exercises of any sort can help to build muscle. Mind you, these are not "targeting" workouts because the problem is bigger than one that can be addressed in such a way. Rather people in this group need a more all-encompassing workout. For those looking for a more extreme, harder hitting workout, HIIT (high intensity interval training) can be helpful. One thing about HIIT bears emphasizing – if done correctly, it is extremely intense. As such, consult your doctor before beginning.
If a person truly only needs to remove lower abdominal fat, and not a lot of it, targeting exercises paired with cardio can be very effective. The cardio will still work on burning the fat, whereas the exercises "target" your problem area. Crunches are great for your abs, but the style of crunch most people know is better for the upper abdominals. To "target" your lower abs, one needs to look at something different. Reverse crunches, leg raises, and many exercises from yoga and Pilates are perfectly suited to build muscle in your lower abdominals.
There are some people who have literally tried it all and still have lower abdominal fat to remove. Those individuals may have to look for more invasive means, such as surgery. Liposuction literally removes those areas of stubborn fat that refuse to respond to diet and exercise. The procedure results in a flatter belly, but at the cost of possible scarring, lumpiness or even infection, not to mention the obvious monetary cost. For most people, this should be a last resort due to its invasive nature and the risks involved.
So, what is the best way to remove lower abdominal fat? The simplest answer is a healthy diet and a lot of exercise. The real question is what type of exercise is best suited for your specific problem. Once you answer that, you can figure out what you need to do in order to have those washboard abs you have dreamed about.