We know that the best way to burn stomach fat is to change your lifestyle; to start eating more healthy food and to exercise more. When we think about food, nutritionists try to find ways to make eating healthy a bit more enjoyable, so find recipes that will inspire people rather than put them off.
But we don't often apply the same method of thinking to exercise. I know a lot of people who have really struggled with the exercise part of their drive to burn stomach fat, not because they were lazy, but because they found running on a treadmill or swimming too boring. So with that in mind, I thought I'd write up a quick blog post that discussed some alternatives that will still help you lose the weight, but keep you interested for the long-term. Also worth noting is that some of these examples may be more expensive than you would like, but that's the negative to having a much more interesting method of keeping fit and healthy.
1) Snowboarding/Skiing: There are so many indoor slopes opening up now that this is a great way to burn stomach fat and have a good time. It can also lead to some fantastic holidays in the winter! My advice is get lessons in the summer; most people will get lessons in January to February in preparation for snowboarding holidays, so the courses get busy. Summer lessons still take place, especially at the indoor slopes, but they tend to be more quiet, so it's easier to get some good 1-1 time with the instructor. Gear can always be rented until you are committed enough to buy your own.
2) Rock climbing: This is such a great way to build up both upper and lower body strength, and a brilliant way to burn stomach fat and tone up your stomach muscles. You can do this at the indoor climbing walls, and when you're feeling a bit braver you can take it outside and do the real thing.
3) Martial Arts: The practical use is that anything you learn here can be applied to self defence, but martial arts are a fantastic way to stay in shape. Kickboxing, Tae Kwon Do, Kung Fu, most towns and cities have an instructor running, normally very cheap classes. Don't worry if you can't keep up with the pace straight away, part of their job is to help you develop.
4) Paintballing: A great way to have fun whilst helping you to burn stomach fat. It's just you, the great outdoors, a bunch of friends and a paintball gun. Of course, if you spend the whole day hiding behind a barrel, you're going to struggle a bit, so make sure you keep active!
5) Go-Karting, Horse Riding: Both hugely physical in their own seperate ways, and both things that can become a life-long passion rather than just a simple way to stay in shape and lose a bit of weight.
6) Dancing: Any style you like, although you are probably going to get more out of the faster paced stuff like hip hop and street dance. That's not to say that ballroom or salsa dancing doesn't require a lot of moving around, and with the average lesson being an hour or two, it's still a really good way to burn stomach fat.
7) Team Sports: Football, Rugby, Hockey, take your pick. Anything involving a team really. Great because the team element keeps it both exciting, sociable, and something that you're more likely to stick to as you will become part of a small social network of people who rely on YOU rather than just you relying on you!
8) Rowing/Canoeing: If watersports are your bag more than snow related sports this could be ideal for you. It's potentially more suitable if you live in a warmer country, but I know a guy who rows part time and he's one of the fittest people I've ever met.
9) Cross Country Cycling: Sometimes it's as simple as changing the venue. Rather than just cycling around your local estate, take a cycle around a nature park, or off-road into some woods or somewhere equally exciting. More effort involved equals more opportunity to burn stomach fat.
10) Home Consoles - Wii Fit, PlayStation Move, XBox Kinetic: If working out indoors on your own is more your bag, the new home consoles are brilliant. Not only that, as Sony and Microsoft have just released their options, there's now more choice than ever before.
More ideas or suggestions? Stick them in the comments.