3 Ways to Combat Stubborn Fat

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Stubborn fat – just about everyone can relate to this issue.

Despite our best efforts, some body fat tends to cling on to certain areas. It usually likes to set up camp around the abdomen, hips and the thighs – like an unwanted houseguest who just won’t get the hint.

There are ways to combat this pesky flab, and people these days seem to be choosing to opt for invasive and expensive procedures – despite the risks involved.

Looking for a way to remove that pesky, unwanted body fat without having to risk going under the knife? From home remedies to in-office cosmetic procedures, here are three surgery-free ways to combat the fat.

1. Fat Burning Foods

If you’re seeking a way to amp up your fat loss, your answer could just be as simple as giving your diet an overhaul. Now, we all know that reducing calories will almost always result in weight reduction; however, these days, nutritional experts are getting hip to the fact that not all calories are created equal.  According to Women’s Health, these powerhouse foods are known fat burners:

  • ‘Almonds and other nuts (with skins intact) – Build muscle, reduce cravings
  • Dairy products (fat-free or low-fat milk, yogurt, cheese) – Build strong bones, fire up weight loss
  • Eggs – Build muscle, burn fat 
  • Turkey and other lean meats – Build muscle, strengthen immune system
  • Berries – Improve satiety, prevent cravings
  • Enova oil (soy and canola oil) – Promotes fullness, not easily stored as fat
  • Peanut butter – Boosts testosterone (a good thing even in women), builds muscle, burns fat
  • Fatty fish (such as salmon, tuna, mackerel) – Trigger fullness, fire up fat burning 
  • Grapefruit – Lowers insulin, regulates blood sugar and metabolism; be sure to eat the fleshy white membranes
  • Green tea – Fires up fat burning
  • Chili peppers – Spikes metabolism
  • Spinach and green vegetables – Fight free radicals and improve recovery for better muscle building
  • Whole grains (quinoa, brown rice, whole grain cereal) – Small doses prevent body from storing fat
  • Beans and legumes – Build muscle, help burn fat, regulate digestion
  • Whey – Builds muscle, burns fat’

Incorporate more of these foods into your calorie reduced diet and you just might be pleased with the results.

2) Cellulite Creams

In an effort to cash in on an industry worth billions of dollars, cosmetics companies are now starting to get into the fat reduction game. Just be wary – statements made by cosmetics companies are not heavily regulated and you run the risk of being duped by unscrupulous claims.

If you would like to test out one of these miracle creams, make sure that you select a product that contains both caffeine and retinol. Without these, that expensive cream is nothing but a glorified moisturizer.

As an alternative to expensive creams, you may also want to try Dr. Oz’s home cellulite remedies.

And when all else fails:

3) Non-Surgical Body Sculpting Procedures

In recent years, we’ve seen a surge in clinics specializing in Body Sculpting – an in-office procedure that claims to help people shed excess inches in as little as a few visits.  Even though it may seem too good to be true, the testimonials from the hundreds of satisfied patients are simply too great to ignore. Despite this, the idea that one can lose inches simply by walking into a clinic seems almost like something out of science fiction movie.

How does one of these magical contraptions work, you ask? Syneron and Candela, the company that manufactures the UltraShape, breaks it down for us on their website:

‘The UltraShape works by emitting acoustic waves of ultrasonic energy that converge into a confined focal volume targeting only subcutaneous fat at a controlled depth. Unlike traditional ultrasound technology, UltraShape energy transmits pulsed ultrasound, allowing control over temperature elevation (less than 0.5° C increase) and enabling fat destruction to occur instantly, selectively and mechanically (non-thermal).’

In a nutshell, it uses lasers to break down your fat. Science!

If the idea of being zapped with a laser makes you feel uneasy, you could check out the latest fad in Body Sculpting – Coolsculpting. It’s basically the same thing as the UltraShape, without the laser.

I know what you’re thinking; “Why would I fork out all of that money when I can just climb into my deep freezer for free?”

First of all, please do not climb into your deep freezer; I’m pretty sure it’s dangerous. Secondly, the Coolsculpting is a little more complicated than that.

‘The idea that cold can selectively affect fat led to the innovative cooling process developed by scientists at the Wellman Center for Photomedicine at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, a teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School. CoolSculpting technology safely delivers precisely controlled cooling to gently and effectively target the fat cells underneath the skin. The treated fat cells are crystallized (frozen), then die. Over time, your body naturally eliminates them, leaving a more sculpted you. ‘

Both of the aforementioned techniques are excellent options if you have stubborn fat that simply cannot be removed by diet and exercise alone. Depending on the area of the body -treated, you’ll be looking at a cost of about $700-$2,000; which seems like a bargain compared to traditional liposuction.

With all that being said, self-esteem does not come magically with an anti-cellulite procedure or magical cream. Before resorting to extreme surgical measures, why not celebrate your positive attributes rather than focusing on the parts of your body you’re not happy with?

At the end of the day, it’s just a little cellulite.

Kristyl Clark