Can cardio help you lose stomach fat?

As a fitness expert with years of experience in the field of health and wellness, I can tell you that while cardio can certainly contribute to overall weight loss, it's important to understand that you cannot target fat loss in a specific area like the stomach through exercise alone. This is due to a concept known as spot reduction, which is a myth. Your body decides where to lose fat from based on a variety of factors, including genetics, and not from the area where you perform the exercise. However, incorporating cardio into your fitness routine can help you burn calories and improve your cardiovascular health, which are both essential components of weight loss. High-intensity interval training (HIIT), for example, has been shown to be particularly effective for burning fat and can be done through cardio exercises. Additionally, it's crucial to pair cardio with a healthy diet and strength training to build muscle. Muscle tissue burns more calories at rest than fat tissue does, so having more muscle can increase your resting metabolic rate, which can help with fat loss over time. In summary, while you can't spot reduce stomach fat with cardio, it can play a significant role in your overall weight loss and fitness journey when combined with a balanced diet and strength training.

No, endless crunches aren't the secret to a flat belly. Crunches, sit ups and planks may strengthen the muscles that lie underneath excess belly fat, but they don't burn it off. Cardio exercise that raises your heart rate for an extended period of time is more likely to help you slim down that muffin top.