There’s no doubt about it. If people have one thing they wish they could achieve and maintain that’s related with their body, that is to have a slim waist and a flat (or even toned) stomach. After all, believe it or not, many see it as the symbol of sexiness. It’s also the reason gym memberships, personal trainers, and all sorts of diets — such as a low-calorie, low-fat, and low-carb diet, a high-protein diet, and Ketogenic diet — that help lose and burn fat are a boom recently.
Today, all sorts of help and information are available to help achieve a flat and good-looking stomach, but the problem still lies with the fact that not everybody can achieve it.
One of the few things in life that would make you wonder is the sheer stubbornness of belly fat. After consistent gym visits and several tries at diet trends, the bulge just remains unfazed. It doesn’t help either that it’s located right smack in the middle of the body where you (and others) can easily see it. More than its unshapely look, excess abdomen fat is also unhealthy since it increases the risk for cardiovascular disease, diabetes, or the dreaded Big C. Why exactly is belly fat so hard to shed?
The Science Behind the Stubborn Fat
Fat collects around the waist the same way other fat in the body builds up. When you’re gaining more energy than you’re spending, fat is stored. The exact reason belly fat is difficult to lose. According to Salt Lake City health experts, there tends to be a higher amount of fat cells in this part of the body and it’s somewhat resistant to lipolysis or the breakdown of fats.
There are two types of fat receptors in the body: alpha and beta. These two determine how easy it will be to burn fat, with the beta responding better to lipolysis than alpha. Belly fat tends to have more alpha receptors than beta, thus it’s much harder to shed.
A ‘Chill’ Solution to Burn Fat
While sweating it out and heating it up in the gym works to burn belly fat, it is (as you know) a slow burn. There’s a cooler way of doing it though, through coolsculpting. Clarity Skin and Salt Lake City plastic surgeons explain that it’s one of the safest ways to reduce fat, as it involves a non-invasive, fat-freezing procedure. The treatment involves the use of controlled cooling technology to aim for and kill fat cells. After a few weeks, the body would process and get rid of the frozen, dead cells.
There’s little to no pain during the procedure. You might just experience a few pulling and pinching sensations as the fat cells get frozen. After the treatment, there might be itching and swelling, but your doctor should give you care tips to manage such symptoms.
Again, don’t be surprised that you haven’t yet shed that beer belly after so many sweat sessions — it’s unfortunately just wired that way. Take hope, keep calm, and just “chill” literally.
