Have you ever had the experience where, all of a sudden, you realize you haven’t had your period in a while? You then look in the mirror and notice a few added weight here and there.
If you’re sexually active, you would instantly think that you’re pregnant. Then again, it might just be belly fat, too. We know; being a woman is never easy.
While taking a pregnancy test will solve this question, you can also try to figure out the differences between pregnant belly vs fat belly yourself. For that, we’ve got you covered.
If it turns out to be just a little extra weight, we’ve got another treat for you.
This guide offers tips on how you can kickstart your fat loss journey by providing advice on what to eat and what to avoid.
It offers you a chance to boost your body’s metabolism and gain access to unique nutritional tips.
Pregnant Belly vs Fat Belly
Physical changes around the mid-section are among the first tell-tale signs of pregnancy.
How can you tell whether you have a growing baby inside you or just had too much to eat?
What Is a Pregnant Belly Like?
Pregnancy comes with many changes inside a woman’s body happening all at once. For one, the uterus grows, which leads to more pressure on the abdomen.
You might feel a little hardness around your belly area if your uterus is growing to support the baby’s development.
It shouldn’t be rock-hard, though. Instead, while the hardness level changes at different times, there must still be a little give throughout the pregnancy.
What Is a Fat Belly Like?
On the other hand, if you’re sure you aren’t pregnant, what could be the cause of your belly fat?
Here are the most common types of belly fat to give you a better understanding of what might be the cause of your belly:
1. Inflated Belly
You will know you have a bloated belly when your stomach only grows as the night approaches.
This might be the cause of an imbalance in your intestinal flora, sluggish bowels, or an allergic reaction to certain types of food.
2. Low Belly
Does your body have a generally slim profile, but your stomach is protruding a bit? If yes, you might have what people call low belly.
This can be due to a recent pregnancy, an unchanging diet, or just how your spine is curved. It might also be that you do a monotonous gym routine.
3. Love Handles
The next possible reason is one we all know too well. Love handles are distinguished by those “cushions” found on a person’s sides.
This excess weight around the belly area is caused by a sedentary lifestyle partnered by lots of sugar and carbs, as well as excess alcohol consumption.
4. Stress Belly
Compared to love handles, which are somewhat loose, you might have also heard of stress belly.
This is identified as fat around the belly button, causing the stomach to look “thick.” The most obvious cause of a stress belly is chronic stress.
On the other hand, it might also be that you always skip your meals, drink several cups of coffee each day, and binge on unhealthy food choices.
5. Mom’s Belly
Finally, there’s the mommy belly, which is a type of belly fat that new moms have just after giving birth.
How do you address each belly fat type? You’d need the right kind of exercise routine to target these problem areas. Along with that, you must follow a proper diet.
It’s often very easy to get caught up in the excitement of taking a pill and “magically” losing weight. However, everyone knows that it can’t really happen that easily.
To lose weight, you’ve got to work for it and do so long and hard. Though exercise plays a key role, you’ve got to eat right at the same time.
Getting Rid of Belly Fat Through Exercise
Regardless if it’s a post-pregnancy belly or just a product of having one too many beers, here are different types of exercise routines you can do to target belly fat:
1. Interval Training
Instead of a steady, regular pace, give your cardio routine bursts of higher-intensity efforts here and there. Doing this boosts your body’s fat-burning potential and is especially helpful for targeting belly fat.
You can do this with whatever your choice of cardio exercise is, including running and cycling. This also applies to indoor workout equipment like an elliptical trainer, stationary bike, treadmill, or rowing machine.
2. High-Intensity Interval Training
As you may have guessed from the name, this is quite similar to interval training. The only major difference is that it is more intense.
With a HIIT program, you might only have short 15- to 30-second bursts of high-intensity effort, but it’s so brutally intense that it burns calories at an amazing rate.
3. Circuit Training
Another type of exercise that targets belly fat is circuit training. This involves resistance or strength training exercises combined with cardio.
From jumping jacks and sprints to squats and burpees, this is a routine that is sure to improve aerobic fitness and help build muscle at the same time.
4. Weight Training
Those with stubborn belly fat will also find that they can achieve amazing results with weight training.
This is because an exercise routine that is packed with several reps of lifting weights helps burn calories even after the session is done.
For this, you would want to invest in a kettlebell and do pulls, crunches, lunges, rotations, and twists.
5. Tummy Toner
Of course, there are also exercises that specifically target the belly area. These include routines that strengthen the core, such as lunges, planking, sit-ups, leg lifts, press-ups, and more.
Conclusion
Knowing the differences between pregnant belly vs fat belly shows whether you’re taking care of your body or not.
If you do find out that you’re gaining weight around your mid-section, now is the best time to address the problem.
With the right exercises and diligence, you can be on your way to looking and feeling your best. What’s more, you’re sure to lower your risks of many diseases and illnesses.