If you want to learn how to lose belly fat, you are going to have to make some changes to your diet and start exercising. Stomach fat is very stubborn and it won't go overnight. The process will be gradual, but the rewards are rich. The result will be a great looking body and a healthier you.

The first step is to cut out all that junk food. They say 'you are what you eat', so forget about the junk. It's the high sugar content and refined carbohydrates in junk food that are the culprits. When digested, they cause the blood sugar level to quickly rise. This only makes you hungrier.

Don't keep chips, candy or cookies in your home. Stock up with healthy snacks like seeds, nuts, wheat-free crackers, low fat yogurt and fruit. Snacks like these will keep your blood sugar in check and satisfy hunger pangs. You will soon get to enjoy your new snacks if you don't keep junk food at home.

Carbohydrates are essential for health, but there are good carbohydrates and bad carbohydrates. Foods that contain refined flour should be avoided. Some examples are pasta, white bread, donuts, biscuits, and cakes. They cause an accumulation of fat, poor digestion, and bloating.

Fruit and vegetables are rich in good carbohydrates. Also eat foods that have slow-release carbohydrates like oats, pulses, brown rice, and sweet potatoes. A healthy diet is one that gets its carbohydrates from foods such as these.

When shopping, look for foods that have a low Glycemic Index (GI). These foods are broken down slowly and are gradually released into the bloodstream. Because of this, you are less likely to feel hungry because your blood sugar won't rise. A good example of a low GI food is wholegrain bread.

A healthy plate of food should contain protein the size of a deck of cards and carbohydrates the size of your palm. The rest of the food on the plate should comprise of vegetables or salad.

If you are guilty of late night snacking, this is another habit you are going to have to break. When you eat before sleeping, the body cannot expend enough energy to burn calories. The food will just turn to fat.

Over-consumption of alcohol also develops stomach fat. A fat belly is the main characteristic of people who drink too much. They often have slim bodies and fat stomachs. This is a sure sign of the excessive use of alcohol.

When your diet has been sorted out, it's time to think about exercise. Raise yourself up from that couch, and go to the gym. Do exercises that will target your stomach. If you are not sure how to start, speak to a professional trainer. Buy a book or search the internet for fat loss exercises.

For maximum results, include some weight training in your exercise routine. It's not easy to understand how to lose belly fat because it is actually there for a reason. The human body is programmed to produce fat around the stomach to protect vital organs. That's why it is so hard to get fat loss.