Sit-Ups Are Useless for Fat Loss
If you’re stressing about belly fat after a rough week, let’s clear up a common myth.
You can’t target fat loss from one area.
No matter how many crunches you do, your body isn’t taking orders on where to burn fat first.
Why Spot Reduction Is a Lie
- Spot reduction sounds appealing. It’s also nonsense.
- Fat loss isn’t local. Your body pulls fat from everywhere, not just your stomach or thighs.
- You don’t get to choose. Genetics decide where fat comes off first — and where it hangs around the longest.
- Ab workouts don’t burn belly fat. They strengthen the muscles underneath the fat, but that’s it.
If sit-ups worked for fat loss, everyone doing them would have visible abs by now.
They don’t.
Why It Feels Like You’re Gaining Fat in Certain Areas
Ever feel like your stomach looks worse after a weekend of eating out or a stressful few days?
That isn’t new fat.
That’s water retention, food volume, digestion, and bloating. The same applies when stress is high—it’s temporary, not permanent.
Here’s the difference most people miss:
- Fat loss comes from a calorie deficit over time.
- Water weight comes from stress, carbs, sodium, hormones, and digestion.
- Strength training builds muscle, which gives you the “toned” look people actually want.
When the scale jumps, or your stomach feels softer, it’s usually water — not failure.
What Actually Works
If you want real, visible change:
Focus on overall fat loss by staying in a calorie deficit.
Lift weights to shape your body as you lose fat, so you don’t just end up smaller and disappointed.
Stay patient. If your stomach hasn’t changed yet, fat is coming off somewhere else first.
That’s normal. Stick with it.
Your Task for Today
- Swap “I need to lose belly fat” for “I need to stick to my plan.”
- Look at past progress, where did fat usually come off first for you? That’s your pattern.
Tomorrow: Detoxes & Cleanses – Useful or Useless?
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30 Days to Sample the Goods – £99
4x personal training sessions. Start with just one 45-minute session a week to avoid overwhelm.
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Regular check-ins to keep you on track outside the gym.
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