How Can I Breathe to Lose Belly Fat?

Deep breathing is a form of breathing that can release the stress and tension that triggers cortisol release which is associated with weight gain. This deep breathing technique can be done anywhere, anytime, and with no special equipment. The following is an exercise you can do to practice deep breathing to lose belly fat.

4-minute exercise: · Place your hands on your stomach and take in a deep breath for five seconds · Hold the breath for 10 seconds · Release the breath for 10 seconds · Repeat this exercise four times or until you feel comfortable with the process. 

How Breathing Affects Fat Loss

Deep breathing is a great exercise for fat loss. Breathing deeply draws in more oxygen, which helps to speed up metabolism. Oxygen also has an effect on the brain and nervous system, which helps to improve mood and reduce stress. The hormone cortisol regulates metabolism and stress levels throughout the day.

When we breathe deeply, we decrease our production of cortisol for fat loss and improve moods. More oxygen boosts our metabolism so that our body will use more energy so it can burn off fat. Some people might think that deep breathing can hurt or cause damage but this isn’t true because when we exhale the diaphragm flattens out under the lungs naturally so we aren’t exerting any pressure on anything while it’s flattening out underneath.

This comes with a caveat, though: you should not exert yourself more than you feel comfortable. Too much deep breathing can make you feel dizzy and unwell.

Alongside deep breathing, consider adding aerobics to your daily routine. Aerobics is one of the best fat-burning exercises. Aerobic exercise typically consists of moderate-intensity, continuous exercise (such as walking, jogging, and running) rather than high-intensity intermittent activities. Studies suggest that aerobic exercise reduces abdominal body fat more than high-intensity interval training or resistance training alone.

It’s recommended to start with 30 minutes a day of moderate-intensity aerobic work, 5 days a week. For those with limited time for exercise, you can still get your 30 minutes of aerobic exercise in by walking briskly for 10 minutes. You’ll burn an additional 120 calories or so during this time.