Do you feel that you are losing your self-confidence due to your bulged stomach area? If belly fat is your concern, then you are just not the only woman in the world with this problem.

Research shows that almost 50% to 60% of women in this world are not satisfied with the type of belly they have and are looking at ways and means of reducing the fat stored in their bellies.

Every woman loves to fit into any dress that they have in their wardrobes but, finds it difficult to rock such dresses due to the excess baggage that they possess around their waistline.

 If you want to have a near perfect flat belly, then you should be ready to make a few lifestyle changes with a lot of patience to reduce the excess belly fat from your body.

One of the best ways to get a slim waistline is to exercise. This article focuses on providing you with techniques, which will aid in pumping out the excess fat that has built up round your abdomen area.

Research previously revealed that belly fat is healthy as it could be utilized by a person whenever he or she needs some extra energy. But, the times have changed now. It has been researched that excess belly fat will result in people to easily catch cardiovascular diseases. So, it is vital for every man and woman to keep track of their belly fat and to keep it under check always. The following are the ways you can measure your waistline:

• Waist to hip ratio

Measure the narrowest part of your waist and then measure the broadest part of your hip. To calculate the waist to hip ratio, all you need is to divide the values to get the ratio. If the ratio is about 0.8 or more, then you can fall prey to cardiovascular diseases easily.

• Body mass index

Body Mass Index or BMI is the ratio of your weight in kilograms divided by their square of your height in meters. If your BMI is in the range of 25 to 29.9, then you are in the overweight category and if your BMI ratio is over 30, then you are an obese person. You will need to cut down on your belly fat considerably if you are to stay free from health risks.

•     waist circumference

Use a tape to measure your waistline at the level of your navel. You should breathe normally when you are taking the measurement. If your waist size is more than 34 inches, then you are at a risk of catching chronic heart disease.

Top foods to help you reduce belly fat

If you find that you have excess belly fat, then you should immediately cut down on consumption of carbohydrate rich food and start to take foods that are rich in fibers. The following are the super foods that will help you to reduce your waistline.

• Apples: They are super foods that you can take three to four times a day as a substitute to carb-rich foods.
• Almonds: Rich in Vitamin E and has high fibre content that will make you feel full and reduce your hunger.
• Green leafy vegetables: They are rich in fiber and very low in calories. They will help in preventing water retention.
• Avocado: They are rich in high fiber and have high monounsaturated fatty acids that help in reducing belly fat.
• Cucumber: Cucumber is a vegetable that has high water content and is very low in calories.
• Watermelon: It is a fruit that has 80% water content in it and very few calories. They help in easily attaining desired waistline.
• Beans: This vegetable helps in improving digestion, as well as strengthening muscles. It will help in toning the belly by reducing hunger and prevent you from overeating.

Along with these foods, it is also important for you to do some exercises to reduce excess belly fat. You need to combine exercise and diet in order to get rid of belly fat efficiently. It is important for you to incorporate simple exercise routines in your daily schedule so that you stay in the best shape always.