A muffin top (also muffin-top) is a slang term typically used to describe a person’s body fat that extends horizontally over the edges of the waistline of tightly fitting pants or skirts, visible when there is a gap between the upper and lower garment.
Visceral fat is what gives a muffin top its bulge. A muffin top refers to those fatty parts of flesh at your waistline (like love handles and belly fat) that spill over your skirt, trousers, or jeans. Get Rid of Belly Fat: 3 Causes of Muffin Top When it comes to a muffin top, a slender body does not necessarily equate to health.
What is a muffin top?
“Muffin top” is a slang term used to describe an accumulation of fat around the midsection, just above the hips. In tight-fitting pants, this extra fat may spill out over the waistband — “just like a muffin above the paper cup,” explains Robert Ziltzer, M.D., FACP, FAAP, obesity medicine physician and coauthor of “Chasing Diets.”
What causes a muffin top?
Two types of belly fat may contribute to a muffin top, Ziltzer adds: subcutaneous fat (the soft, pinchable fat just below the skin) and visceral fat (a deeper layer of fat that surrounds the abdominal organs).
What happens to your Muffin Top when you lose weight?
Because about 90 percent of your body fat is subcutaneous, it has a lot of stores from which to draw when you’re losing weight. You usually reduce fat proportionally — a little from your thighs, a little from your tum. Your muffin top may be one of the last areas to hold on, even when you become considerably leaner.
Is it possible to get rid of a muffin top?
“It is definitely possible to lose the muffin top,” Robles says. “However, it is not an overnight fix.” It isn’t possible to spot-reduce fat from specific problem areas. But as you lose overall body fat, you’ll see your midsection shrink.
What causes muffin top fat?
“When there are high levels of estrogen, women tend to store fat in the chest, hips and buttocks but as estrogen levels decrease, there is a shift to store more fat in the abdominal area,” he says.
How do I get rid of muffin top fat?
The key is to choose primarily whole foods and eat small meals regularly. The best foods to get rid of muffin top fat are whole foods. This means fiber-filled vegetables, fruit, lean protein, and healthy fats. Walk the perimeter of your local grocer or visit a farmers market just to see your options.
Is a muffin top belly fat?
First, what is a muffin top? It’s that annoying flap that spills out over the waistband, also called love handles. For many people, especially for women, the body retains a large portion of excess fat around the stomach area. Unfortunately doing hundreds of crunches won’t work, because the muffin top is mainly fat.
Will losing weight get rid of muffin top?
“It is definitely possible to lose the muffin top,” Robles says. “However, it is not an overnight fix.” It isn’t possible to spot-reduce fat from specific problem areas. But as you lose overall body fat, you’ll see your midsection shrink.
What workouts get rid of muffin tops?
Do These 7 Exercises Everyday To Get Rid Of Muffin Top Belly
How can I lose my muffin top in 2 weeks?
Six ways to beat your muffin top in just two weeks
- Drink more water.
- Do some core workouts.
- Monitor your portions.
- Realise that stress is affecting your weight – and make relaxation a priority.
- Consume fat-burners like green tea and avocado.
- Ditch the sugar.
What causes Lovehandles?
The underlying cause of love handles is fat retention. Generally speaking, fat cells accumulate when your body takes in too many calories or you don’t burn as many calories as you’re consuming. Over time, these fat cells can become noticeable as they accumulate in certain areas, such as around your waist and hips.
Does everyone have a muffin top?
“Any woman can get a muffin top. But women are more likely to gain excess belly weight — especially deep inside the belly — as they go through perimenopause and into menopause when their menstrual cycle ends.
Is muffin top same as love handles?
Love handle definition
It refers to any weight that may have accumulated around the sides of an individual’s waist. This weight may also be visible extending over the edge of their pants or skirt. “Muffin top” is another term people may use to describe body fat that extends above the edge of their waistline.
How do I get rid of my muffin top belly?
7 ways to lose your muffin top
- Cut back on added sugars.
- Eat more fiber.
- Move around even in the office.
- Manage your stress levels.
- Get Enough Sleep.
- Eat more protein.
- Cut back on liquor.
Why is it so hard to lose my muffin top?
“Muffin top,” or excess fat around the midsection, is one of the most difficult areas on the body to sculpt into shape. Diet, exercise, sleep, and stress can all impact belly fat, making it particularly stubborn and hard to get rid of.
How long does it take to lose muffin top fat?
Keeping that 1,200-calorie minimum in mind, figure out how much you currently eat by tracking your intake for a week. Then figure out the most that you can reduce your intake by to lose weight safely. If your magic number is 800, you could expect to lose a pound of fat every four to five days.
What is a muffin top?
“Muffin top” is a slang term used to describe an accumulation of fat around the midsection, just above the hips. In tight-fitting pants, this extra fat may spill out over the waistband — “just like a muffin above the paper cup,” explains Robert Ziltzer, M.D., FACP, FAAP, obesity medicine physician and coauthor of “Chasing Diets.”
What causes a muffin top?
Two types of belly fat may contribute to a muffin top, Ziltzer adds: subcutaneous fat (the soft, pinchable fat just below the skin) and visceral fat (a deeper layer of fat that surrounds the abdominal organs).
How to get rid of a muffin top?
Get Rid of a Muffin Top by Eating These 9 Foods. 1 1. Wild Salmon. With high-quality lean protein that stabilizes blood sugar and healthy omega-3 fatty acids, wild salmon is helpful for regulating 2 2. Avocado. 3 3. Raw Nuts. 4 4. Green Tea. 5 5. Blueberry. More items
What Is a ″Muffin Top″ and How Do I Get Rid of It?
There’s a good chance you’ve heard someone moan about their ″muffin top″ at some point.Unfortunately, they aren’t referring to the perfectly-crusty top of a blueberry muffin or a pumpkin muffin here.Instead, it’s more probable that the ″muffin top″ in issue refers to a frequent problem region around the stomach, which includes what many people refer to as ″love handles.″ This article will explain what creates this persistent abdominal fat and what you can do to avoid it.
What Is a Muffin Top?
It is common terminology to refer to an accumulation of fat around the stomach, just above the hips, as a ″muffin top.″ The additional fat may pour out over the waistband of tight-fitting jeans — ″exactly like a muffin above the paper cup,″ notes Robert Ziltzer, M.D., FACP, FAAP, obesity medicine physician and writer of ″Chasing Diets,″ who describes how this happens.According to Ziltzer, there are two forms of belly fat that might contribute to a muffin top: subcutaneous fat (the soft, pinchable fat immediately below the skin) and visceral fat (the fat that is stored deep inside the abdominal cavity) (a deeper layer of fat that surrounds the abdominal organs).
What Causes a Muffin Top?
A number of factors can increase the likelihood of developing a bulge in the belly, including:
Diet
″Muffin tops″ are manufactured in the same way as genuine muffins are produced in the kitchen.Making a habit of eating too many calories every day can lead to fat storage around the midsection, so make sure you are burning more calories than you are consuming, advises Brittany Noel Robles, M.D., M.P.H, CPT, an OBGYN and NASM-certified personal trainer.″If you are eating too many calories every day, it can lead to fat storage around the midsection,″ she says.
Heredity
According to Ziltzer, your genetics impact how and where you retain fat. While you have no control over your genes, exercise and a balanced diet can assist you in losing weight.
Stress
Anxiety, anxiety, and despair can all contribute to the development of stomach rolls.According to Abby Nouis, an ACSM-certified personal trainer and facility director at QuickHIT Fitness in Madison, WI.″Stress causes the production of cortisol in your body, which instructs your body to hang on to that fat, particularly around your waist,″ she explains.Stress can also lead to binge eating, which can contribute to weight gain in the long run.
Lack of exercise
If you aren’t burning off as many calories as you consume, those additional calories will almost certainly end up in your midsection. Whether you favor high-intensity interval training (HIIT), barre, dance, or boxing, make sure you’re getting your body moving every day.
Not enough sleep
According to recent research, a shorter sleep duration is connected with a higher body mass index, a larger waist circumference, and more subcutaneous fat accumulation.The lack of sleep has an impact on your hunger, desires, and mood, according to Nouis, and it can also impair your drive to exercise, she adds.Relaxing with meditation or stretching before bed might assist you in getting a good night’s sleep.
Can I Lose My Muffin Top?
Yes, but it will take time and effort on your part as well.The muffin top can be lost, according to Robles, who believes it is doable.″However, it is not a solution that can be implemented immediately.″ It is not viable to target fat reduction in specific problem regions of the body.However, when you decrease total body fat, you’ll see a reduction in the size of your stomach.As a result, Robles believes that the most effective weight-loss strategy is a multi-channel approach that targets the controllable contributing elements, such as nutrition, exercise, sleep, and stress reduction.Preserving a balanced diet and getting the right amount of calories is essential.
Nouis advocates eating a variety of nutrient-dense vegetables, such as broccoli, kale, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, spinach, and cauliflower, in addition to a sufficient amount of protein.Last but not least, remember to take care of yourself.Healthy stress management techniques can help you lower cortisol levels in your body and sleep better at night, both of which can help you avoid gaining weight and losing your waistline (or muffin top).
How to Lose a Muffin Top & Belly Fat Fast
Adopting healthy behaviors might put an end to your aggravation with your waistline.Credit: IAN HOOTON/Science Photo Library/Getty Images for the image.A muffin top and a big stomach have an impact on more than simply your clothing choices.Both harmful to your health and detrimental to your attractiveness, this fat is toxic to your health.There is no amount of situps in the world that will make your waist circumference smaller or eliminate a muffin top.Only a well-rounded fitness program combined with a reasonable, low-calorie diet can help you lose weight in this region.
These tactics will take time, but they will increase the likelihood that you will see long-term effects.Recognize that lowering your belly’s overall circumference may prove to be less difficult than removing the last ounce of pinchable fat off your tummy.
The Fat That Makes Up Your Muffin Top and Belly
Both visceral fat and subcutaneous fat can be found in your belly button.As a result of having excess visceral fat, your waistline will be wider than 40 inches around for men and 35 inches around for women, and you will be deemed at risk for health problems.Known as visceral fat, it is located deep within the abdomen and surrounds your internal organs, pushing your stomach outwards.This substance, since it has a high metabolic activity, produces molecules that enhance physiological inflammation and increase your chance of developing chronic illnesses such as some malignancies, heart disease, and type-2 diabetes.Subcutaneous fat constitutes the great majority of the total amount of fat present on your body.What causes a muffin top look is fat that is just beneath the skin and forms the pinchable inch or more on either side of the midsection.
Because it is more metabolically active than subcutaneous fat, visceral fat responds to weight-loss attempts more quickly than subcutaneous fat.Subcutaneous fat is notoriously difficult to lose, so you may notice a reduction in the size of your stomach quite quickly, but your muffin top or pinchable fat on your abs will likely remain for a longer period of time.
A Calorie Deficit to Lose Weight
You may shed both visceral and subcutaneous belly fat by following the same strategy: eating less and moving more frequently.In the United States, one pound is equivalent to 3,500 calories, so if you maintain a daily 500- to 1,000-calorie deficit for a week, you will lose 1 to 2 pounds in total over the course of those seven days.The majority of people find that merely eating less to have a calorie deficit results in them having an insufficient calorie intake.Because it is typically nutritionally insufficient and unsustainable, it is not recommended to consume less than 1,200 calories per day for women or 1,800 calories per day for men unless you are pregnant or lactating.A diet with such a low calorie intake frequently results in the loss of important calorie-burning muscle mass as well.Instead, use a combination of nutrition and activity to generate a deficit in your body.
For example, every day, set a goal to burn 250 additional calories through activity while also reducing 250 calories from your meals.This adds up to a daily calorie deficit of 500 calories, which results in a pound of weight loss every week.Although you may like to lose weight more quickly, rapid weight reduction increases the likelihood that the weight will be regained.
- Aside from that, quick-fix weight-reduction procedures employ harmful, unsound weight-loss strategies that result in the loss of a significant amount of muscle and water rather than true fat.
Targeting Abdominal Fat
Generally speaking, attempting to lose fat from a specific area of your body is not a realistic goal.You lose weight by mobilizing fat from all over your body when you suffer a calorie deficit rather than simply the area you want to lose weight from.Visceral fat, on the other hand, has a different effect on the stomach.Visceral fat is not perceived by the body as a storage depot, but rather as a health danger, and the body responds rather swiftly to efforts to eliminate it.Visceral fat accounts for a portion of the initial fat you shed when you increase your physical activity.Subcutaneous fat, on the other hand, is more difficult to shed.
There are areas on your hips, thighs, upper arms, and of course your muffin top where it may be found.It causes your body to manufacture more molecules that are healthy, and it serves as a safeguard against famine, even though it is not a genuine concern in current times.Because subcutaneous fat accounts for around 90 percent of your total body fat, your body has a large number of fat reserves from which to pull while you’re trying to lose weight.
- Most of the time, you remove fat in a proportionate manner: a bit from your thighs, a little from your stomach.
- Even if you lose a significant amount of weight, your muffin top may be one of the final regions to retain its shape.
An Eating Strategy for Fat Loss
Most people may lose weight by reducing their daily caloric intake to between 1,200 and 1,800 calories.The number of calories you require is determined by your height, weight loss rate objective, activity level, gender, and age.Consult with a dietitian to evaluate your optimal caloric intake for weight loss purposes.Once you’ve determined your calorie requirements, you may create a meal consisting primarily of whole foods.Consuming vegetables, fruits, and lean meats such as chicken breasts with no skin or boneless fish fillets or a lean steak should be a regular part of your diet.Reduce your intake of creamy salad dressings, full-fat dairy products, and thick sauces.
As an alternative to using sauces, try using vinegar, citrus juice, olive oil, herbs, and spices to enhance the flavor.Whole grains, rather than refined grains such as white bread or white rice, might help to fill out your meals by substituting them in moderation.According to a research published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition in 2010, whole grains do not promote the formation of belly fat in the same way as refined carbohydrates do.
- The convenience of processed foods is undeniable, but the sugar and refined carbohydrates they contain are often detrimental.
- In place of potato chips, white crackers, and cereal bars, go for fresh fruit, low-fat yogurt, or almonds as a more nutritious choice to help you lose weight faster.
- A diet consisting primarily of these items will aid in the reduction of visceral fat in the short term and subcutaneous fat in the long term.
Revise Your Beverage Intake
Soda, flavored coffee, and energy drinks all contain significant calories that can easily cause you to exceed your daily calorie goal, resulting in you gaining weight as a result.The use of beverages sweetened with sugar or high-fructose corn syrup may also contribute to the accumulation of visceral fat and liver fat, according to a review published in the journal Diabetes Care in 2013.Sugary beverages do not fill you up, so you consume calories from meals in addition to the calories from the drinks.Despite the fact that fruit juice contains some nutritional value, it is quite simple to consume huge amounts of it and consume a significant amount of calories.Juice also lacks the fiber found in whole fruits, and fiber is responsible for the slowing of digestion.It helps you feel fuller for longer periods of time and reduces the influence of the sugar in the fruit on your blood sugar levels.
Drink plenty of water or unsweetened tea instead of calorie-laden drinks the majority of the time.
Strength-Train to Tone Your Midsection
Magazine advertisements and fitness devices make bold claims about how their routines would help you lose weight and get rid of your muffin top.Exercise will not melt or burn fat from a specific place; rather, it will merely strengthen and build the muscles that are already there beneath the fat layer.A thorough training program that works your entire body to improve the amount of lean muscle on your body, as well as aerobic exercise that burns excess calories, can assist you in losing visceral and subcutaneous fat, as well as belly fat.Strength-train at least twice a week, focusing on all of the key muscular groups – the hips, thighs, arms, shoulders, back, and chest, as well as the abdominals – to get the best results.Multijoint movements such as squats, lunges, pulls, and presses train numerous muscles at the same time, allowing you to complete your workout in less time.Make eight to twelve repetitions of each exercise you pick, and use a weight that feels heavy by the time you reach the last couple of reps.
Start with a single set and gradually increase the number of sets to two or three.
Burn Calories to Drop Weight
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, moderate-intensity exercise of at least 150 minutes per week is recommended for maintaining and improving health.According to the American College of Sports Medicine, more cardiac activity is required for weight loss, with at least 250 minutes per week being recommended.It is possible to achieve this aim by taking a quick walk or participating in water aerobics, dance fitness, or light cycling.Maintaining a high-intensity interval training program as part of two or three of your weekly cardio workouts can help you lose visceral and subcutaneous fat more quickly.According to a review published in the Journal of Obesity in 2011, this sort of exercise, which involves alternating brief bouts of high-intensity labor with equal bouts of less intense work, increases fitness while reducing insulin resistance and producing greater fat oxidation, or burning.A typical HIIT program consists of a five-minute warm-up followed by five rounds of alternating two-minute sprinting parts with two-minute walking phases, five times each.
Finish with a brief cool-down period.Small amounts of movement should be incorporated whenever possible throughout the day.Walking or bicycling to work, doing home tasks, pacing while on the phone, and using the stairway rather than the elevator are all good ways to stay active.
- Despite the fact that these motions appear insignificant, the calories they use add up and raise your overall daily calorie expenditure in order to lose weight.
What is a Muffin Top and How do I Get Rid of It?
When we hear the phrase ″muffin top,″ we may feel a bit self-conscious about our appearance.Eventually, we may find ourselves dragging our shirts down or wearing loose-fitting slacks to conceal this portion of our bodies.However, having excess fat in this particular location is very typical for both men and women!Looking and feeling well, on the other hand, is still the primary objective for many of us.Fortunately, in this day and age of modern medicine and technology, we have a variety of options for dealing with this bothersome condition.For those interested in learning more about muffin top remedies, please continue reading to find out more information.
What Exactly Is a Muffin Top?
When it comes to persistent fat around the stomach, the words ″love handles″ and ″muffin tops″ are commonly employed.In order to get muffin tops, you need to have a lot of subcutaneous fat and a lot of visceral fat in your belly.Subcutaneous fat accounts for 90 percent of our total body fat, with visceral fat accounting for just around 10 percent of total body fat.Contrary to popular belief, visceral fat is what makes it so difficult to remove stubborn belly fat.The reason for this is because visceral fat is found behind the abdominal wall, making it more difficult to lose weight.Not to mention that visceral fat cells have the potential to discharge poisonous compounds into the body, which can lead to catastrophic disorders.
As a result, preventing this fat from accumulating is extremely crucial for your general health and look!
Muffin Top Causes
Certain causes, ranging from hormone production to food, might result in muffin tops in some people. Women are frequently ignorant of the specific factors contributing to their weight increase. This might make it more difficult to notice improvements, even if you’re exercising and eating well!
Hormone Changes
Changes in a woman’s hormone levels can have an affect on her complexion, weight, and even hair density.It is possible that hormonal changes are caused by aging, birth control, or pregnancy in some cases.These hormonal fluctuations are rather common and will eventually restore their normal levels over time.Some women, on the other hand, experience long-term hormonal abnormalities.If that’s the case, reducing weight may be nearly hard to do.The lady should consider having a surgical procedure, such as liposuction or a stomach tuck, or taking prescription drugs to assist balance her hormones in these situations.
Hereditary Causes
Unfortunately, your genetics play a role in determining where certain body fats are deposited in your body.As a result, some people’s genetics will cause them to store fat around their waist, while others will store fat around their back and buttocks.In other words, if you’re wondering why your muffin top is more noticeable than the muffin tops of other individuals who weigh the same as you, it’s because your genetics prefer to store fat in this location.
Menopause Causes
Menopause is one of the most common causes of weight gain, hair loss, sadness, and anxiety among women of reproductive age. Unfortunately, this is something that we as women are powerless to prevent. Menopause also produces drastic hormonal changes, which, as previously discussed, can lead to an increase in body weight.
Stressors and Anxiety
Stress causes cortisol levels to rise, causing your body to go into survival mode and store as much fat as it can to keep you alive. You will maintain your current weight regardless of how hard you train out or how much you eat. Some women have a tendency to overeat in order to reduce stress, which can lead to the development of muffin tops.
Diet and Exercise
This one appears to be a no-brainer, but we’ll include it nevertheless as a warning tale.Diet and exercise should still be a part of your daily routine, even if you feel you have a hormone imbalance or one of the other explanations listed above, to begin with.When it comes to exercising and eating right, you might be questioning why it is so necessary even if you do not notice any results because of these conditions.However, just because you do not notice visible benefits on the outside does not indicate that the combination is ineffective in the fight against undesirable fat.Diet and exercise, for example, have been shown to significantly lower stress.As a result, by lowering stress, you would also be able to lose weight.
Diet and exercise can also aid in the treatment of hormonal imbalances caused by menopause or other conditions that may be contributing to your weight inconsistency.
Muffin Top Solutions
There are a plethora of options for dealing with muffin tops. Tummy tucks and other fat reduction operations are often the most successful and provide the most immediate effects. However, even after your wound has healed completely, it is still essential that you maintain a rigorous diet and exercise regimen in order to keep the excess fat at bay.
Liposuction to Remove a Muffin Top
Even though liposuction might provide you with immediate benefits, you’re undoubtedly wondering what exactly this surgery includes.For begin, sedation is delivered with great caution.A tiny incision will be made near your stomach as a result of this procedure.Local anesthetic will be administered to this incision to alleviate any bleeding and bruising that may occur.When the region is ready, a small tube containing a surgical vacuum will be precisely inserted into the incision with precision.Light thrusting motions will be used by the surgeon to dislodge the fat, after which the fat will be suctioned out of your body.
Having carefully removed the right quantity of body fat, the surgeon may stitch the incision and wrap it to complete the procedure.Liposuction is a relatively straightforward and non-invasive fat removal surgery when compared to other fat reduction procedures.The majority of patients recover within 3 to 6 weeks of their procedure.
- One or more of the following adverse effects may occur following the procedure: bruising, swelling, pain, and discomfort When performed poorly, liposuction can result in body shock syndrome, serious body infections, and even death if the procedure is not done properly.
- If you’re considering cosmetic surgery, it’s critical that you select the best plastic surgeons possible.
Tummy Tuck to Remove Muffin Top
A stomach tuck, like liposuction, is performed under anesthesia for the patient’s comfort and safety.It is necessary to make a horizontal incision between your pubic area and your belly button once the appropriate amount has been supplied.To reach the fat, an incision will be created that is either longer or shorter depending on the amount of extra skin present.Once the incision has been done, the extra skin is removed and the abdominal muscles are given a chance to recover their strength.Women frequently experience difficulty losing weight as a result of a split in the abdominal wall!Using sutures, the remaining skin is brought back to its normal place after the extra skin has been removed and the abdominal wall has been repaired.
The stomach appears flat and tightened as a result of this effect.In addition to bruising, swelling, pain, and discomfort, a belly tuck might cause.Infections, tears, and death are all possible adverse effects of this medication.
- The success rate for this procedure, on the other hand, is quite high.
- The best method to avoid issues is to adhere to the aftercare recommendations provided by your surgeon!
- After 4 to 7 weeks, the majority of women are totally cured.
Diet Pills and Teas for Muffin Tops
Weight reduction gummy bears, drinks, and tablets are among the most popular topics for Instagram influencers to post about.The truth about these gimmicky products, on the other hand, is that some of them are really harmful and do not deliver long-lasting effects.Some people notice transient benefits, but they are caused by laxative-based treatments rather than by a fat-burning strategy, which is not recommended.To put it another way, your body is swiftly ridding itself of pollutants.With this strategy, you’re also removing other essential nutrients from your body at a rapid pace, which is an issue.The best course of action when considering over-the-counter weight reduction drugs is to conduct extensive study.
If you’re considering of going this way, consult with a specialist and learn about the components in the product first before proceeding.
Best Diet for Muffin Top and Weight Loss
Even if you intend on pursuing one of the choices listed above, maintaining a healthy diet will help you get longer-lasting effects.The outcomes of liposuction and stomach tucks are seen almost immediately.These methods, on the other hand, do not eliminate every single fat cell.Aside from that, by ingesting a large number of calories every day, your stomach becomes a prime target for fat cell growth.Overall, this may be readily avoided by burning a larger number of calories than you consume in a given day!For example, if you consume 3,000 calories per day, aim to burn as many as possible by engaging in physical activity!
Perfect Exercise Routine for Muffin Tops
High-intensity aerobic exercise mixed with core-strengthening activities will help you lose some of the unsightly fat around your middle.Try to get in thirty minutes to an hour of exercise four times a week, if at all feasible!Start by stretching your whole body to make your muscles ready and prevent any tears from occurring.If you want to use a treadmill, begin by running at a moderate pace and gradually adding in 30 seconds of intensive cardio.You should do some core strengthening exercises once you get your body warmed up a little bit more.Side bends, pushups, rising planks, and mountain climbers are all excellent core-strengthening workouts.
Results Are Possible and Highly Achievable
Muffin tops don’t have to be an issue anymore! There are a plethora of options available for getting rid of that pesky fat. So say goodbye to your long tee-shirt and hello to that enticing bikini you’ve been admiring all summer long. Do not forget to call us immediately to set up an appointment for a consultation!
Muffin top – Wikipedia
This article is about the fashion craze that has swept the world.The Muffin Tops is the 155th episode of the television comedy Seinfeld, first aired in 1989.See Muffin Muffin topping for more information about the baked delicacy.A lady walking with her muffin top exposed at her waist An individual’s body fat that extends horizontally over the margins of the waistband of tightly fitting pants or skirts is referred to as a muffin top (also muffin-top) in slang.When there is a gap between the upper and lower clothing, this fat is visible as a muffin top.The word refers to the appearance of a muffin after it has been cooked in a muffin pan, in which case the top of the muffin extends horizontally over and around the top of the tin or casing, as shown in the image below.
Origin
A muffin that has a broader top than it has at the bottom.Muffin-top began as an Australian slang term in the middle of 2003, but it has since gained popularity throughout the English-speaking world.A large number of non-English-speaking nations in western Europe, such as Germany and France, have also embraced its use.It is possible that the Australian television show Kath & Kim was the first to popularize the phrase.This phrase was recognized as the word of the year in 2006 by Australia’s Macquarie Dictionary, and it was also recognized as one of the ″most inventive″ new terms by the American Dialect Society later that year.During the month of March 2011, the Oxford English Dictionary upgraded its online version and included the phrase.
‘Muffin-top’ fills a lexical hole, according to William Safire, who writes in The New York Times Magazine, and ″describes the roll of surplus flesh flowing out particularly in front but maybe all around.″ By 2007, the popularity of low-waist pants and skirts had waned in favor of higher-waisted clothes, resulting in a decrease in the prevalence of muffin tops.
See also
- T-shirt or top that is cut shorter than the waistline
- crop top
- Whale tail
- Camel toe
- Low-rise pants
- Lower-back tattoo
- Camel toe
- Abdominal obesity is defined as an excess of fat around the stomach and abdominal region.
3 Muffin-Top Facts: Get Rid of Belly Fat for Good
If you compress the skin of your arm between your fingers, the flesh between your fingers is subcutaneous fat, which is found beneath the surface of the skin.This fat beneath your skin is distinct from visceral fat in several ways.Many women who battle with abdominal obesity do so because they have little estrogen and excessive testosterone in their bodies.Visceral fat is responsible for the bulge on a muffin top.When you have a muffin top, it refers to the fatty areas of flesh around your waistline (such as love handles and belly fat) that hang over the tops of your skirts, trousers, and pants.
Get Rid of Belly Fat: 3 Causes of Muffin Top
- The absence of a muffin top does not necessarily indicate that one is in good health. Even if you are ″slim,″ you may still have persistent abdominal fat. Visceral fat is unique among fat tissues in that it wraps itself around organs in the abdominal cavity, unlike any other form of fat tissue in the body. Visceral fat is a kind of fat that stores the hormone estrogen. In addition, it has been shown to be pro-inflammatory, which means that it promotes to inflammation. (3) If you have a muffin top or a beer belly, you are suffering from metabolic stress, which is characterized by excessive visceral fat. It also informs you that your reproductive hormones are out of whack, as shown by the symptoms. A muffin top that refuses to budge is not only inconvenient, but it may also be harmful to your health. Drinking a probiotic on a regular basis, such as Passion Fruit Biotic, will help to reduce sugar cravings, which can help to reduce stubborn belly fat. Excessive visceral fat is associated with the following conditions: type 2 diabetes
- insulin resistance
- polycystic ovarian syndrome, or PCOS
- metabolic syndrome, which includes heart disease and high blood pressure
- non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, or NAFLD
- and obesity.
What causes muffin tops, beer bellies, and other forms of abdominal fat?
1. Too Much Sugar and Too Little Sleep
The hormone insulin, which regulates blood sugar levels, gets thrown out of balance if you rely on coffee, sugar, or carbohydrates as your major fuel source, according to the American Diabetes Association.The cells in the body become insulin resistant when the machinery that regulates blood sugar is pushed out of sync on a regular basis.This indicates that your body is making insulin, but is unable to utilize it effectively.The fuel for cells is glucose, which is a kind of sugar.When cells develop a resistance to insulin (the hormone that transports sugar into cells), they are unable to obtain the sugar they require and, as a result, are unable to create the energy your body requires.Because the cells are unable to respond effectively to insulin, the body attempts to create more insulin in an attempt to provide the glucose that the cells require to function normally.
Type 2 diabetes develops when the body is unable to maintain its ability to produce an excessive quantity of insulin over an extended period.I’m curious in what happens to the extra sugar.It is transported to the liver, where it is turned to fat.
- As a result, there is weight growth throughout the body.
- If you have a sugar sensitivity, consider using stevia or lakanto to fulfill your sweet taste instead of regular sugar.
- Stevia has a natural ability to reduce blood sugar levels.
- You could also think about include probiotic drinks in your diet.
- Having a few ounces of the sour flavor might help to keep sugar cravings under control.
2. Imbalanced Reproductive Hormones
Insulin resistance and reproductive hormones have a mutually beneficial interaction.The greater your insulin resistance, the more probable it is that you will have abnormally high amounts of hormones that you do not want in your body.Insulin resistance and a muffin top are associated with an excess of testosterone in females.Many women who battle with abdominal obesity do so because they have little estrogen and excessive testosterone in their bodies.According to research, women who have more upper body fat (as opposed to lower body fat on the thighs and buttocks) have larger quantities of free testosterone floating about in their bodies.(3) When there is recurrent sugar excess, such as in polycystic ovarian syndrome, we detect these elevated amounts of free testosterone in the blood (PCOS).
In addition, it occurs with the passage of time, such as after menopause.(5)
3. A Congested Liver
The liver is associated with both blood sugar imbalance and hormonal imbalance.For starters, the liver is responsible for the metabolization (or detoxification) of reproductive hormones.SHBG is also produced by the liver (sex hormone binding globulin).SHBG is a hormone binder that binds to estrogen and testosterone.SHBG is required in order to maintain stable levels of free (and active) hormones in the body.That being said, here’s the issue with SHBG: More insulin resistance means less SHBG in the body, and in the case of women, this means more unwanted testosterone in the body as a result of that insulin resistance.
When the liver is overworked, exhausted, and congested, it is unable to perform its hormone metabolization functions properly.And when the liver is forced to store extra glucose as a result of insulin resistance, it (as well as your muffin top) becomes bloated and fatty.(6) This condition is referred to as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
- Researchers at the University Hospital Ulm in Germany discovered only last year that both men and women with a fatty, congested liver were more likely to have low levels of SHBG in their blood.
- The use of herbs such as milk thistle, wasabi, artichoke leaf, and sarsaparilla, which are present in LivAmend, is one of the most effective treatments for an overworked, exhausted, and congested liver.
- (7) There has been evidence that these herbs help to directly support the liver and alleviate some of the strain that we throw on it on a daily basis.
- We also recommend that you consume a lot of fermented cruciferous veggies.
- Complimentary to this are fermented vegetables such as cabbage, kale, broccoli, and cauliflower, which contain nutrients that promote liver function.
- Fermentation also enhances the digestion and absorption of these vegetables.
If you’re new to fermented foods, this dish is a fantastic place to start!
What To Remember Most About This Article:
Your muffin top that just won’t go away is caused by visceral fat, which is stored deep within the body.No matter how much weight you have, it is possible to have problems with stubborn belly fat that persists.Visceral fat is problematic since it is pro-inflammatory and may be a symptom of a more serious underlying health problem, such as hormonal imbalances in the reproductive system.It has been established that excess visceral fat is associated with insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, PCOS, the metabolic syndrome, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.When you have a muffin top that won’t budge, there are three basic reasons why:
- Too much sugar combined with little sleep Insulin levels will be thrown off if you consume caffeine plus sugar or carbs as fuel. Over the long run, this raises the chance of developing type 2 diabetes and places a strain on the liver. You may naturally limit your sweet tooth by drinking liquids made with stevia or lakanto, or by drinking sour probiotic beverages.
- Reproductive hormones that are out of whack. The presence of a persistent muffin top in women who have insulin resistance is associated with an overabundance of testosterone in the body, according to research. High free testosterone levels have been associated to sugar overload, which has been connected to illnesses such as PCOS and a congested liver. A liver that is overworked and clogged will not be able to adequately process hormones. When the liver is overburdened with glucose as a result of insulin resistance, it can become fatty, resulting in a condition known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). One of the most effective ways to assist a fatigued liver is to consume herbs that are present in LivAmend such as artichoke leaf, wasabi, milk thistle, and sarsaparilla.
REFERENCES:
- Mattsson, C., and Olsson, T. (in press) (2007). The role of estrogens and glucocorticoids in the metabolism of adipose tissue. Contemporary Medicinal Chemistry, 14(27), 2918-2924
- Lam, Y. Y., Mitchell, A. J., Holmes, A. J.
- Denyer, G. S.
- Gummesson, A.
- Caterson, I. D.
- et al. Current medicinal chemistry, 14(27), 2918-2924
- et al (2011). The gut has a role in the development of visceral fat inflammation and metabolic diseases. Obesity, 19(11), 2113-2120
- Kirschner, M. A., Samojlik, E., Drejka, M., Szmal, E., Schneider, G., and Ertel, N. Obesity, 19(11), 2113-2120
- Kirschner, M. A., Samojlik, E., Drejka, M., Szmal, E., Schneider, G., and Ertel, N (1990). Women with upper body obesity vs lower body obesity* have different androgen-estrogen metabolism. 473-479 in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism
- Borruel, S., Fernandez-Durán, E., Alpaés, M., Mart, D., lvarez-Blasco, F., Luque Ramirez, M., and Escobar-Morreale, H. F., et al (2013). Women with polycystic ovarian syndrome have increased adiposity throughout their bodies, as well as increased thickness of intraperitoneal and mesenteric adipose tissue depots (PCOS). Cao, Y., Zhang, S., Zou, S., Xia, X., et al., The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 98(3), 1254-1263
- Cao, Y., Zhang, S., Zou, S., et al., The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 98(3), 1254-1263
- Cao, Y., Zhang (2013). The relationship between endogenous androgens and body fat distribution in early and late postmenopausal women was investigated in this study. Item, F., and Konrad, D. (2009). PloS one, 8(3), e58448 (2012). The portal theory of visceral fat and metabolic inflammation has been re-examined. 30–39
- Flechtner-Mors, M., Schick, A., Oeztuerk, S.
- Haenle, M. M.
- Wilhelm
- Koenig
- EMIL-Study Group
- EMIL-Study Group
- Obesity Reviews, 13(S2) (2013). This study looked at 1657 subjects and looked at the associations between fatty liver disease and other factors that affect serum SHBG concentrations. Hormone and Metabolic Research, (EFirst)
- Hormone and Metabolic Research, (EFirst)
6 Causes of a Muffin Top and How to Correct Them
Muffin top is a joking word that refers to extra fat around the waistline and upper belly that is used to characterize the condition.When you bake a muffin, the top of the muffin extends up and over the beltline, just like a muffin does when it is baked in its paper wrapper.Most people don’t enjoy this.Muffin tops are not only unsightly, but they are also harmful to one’s health.If you can squeeze more than an inch of fat around your waist, you’re at a higher risk of developing pre-diabetes, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease.In order to minimize your chance of developing these prevalent, life-shortening health concerns, it’s critical to identify and address what’s generating the unpleasant roll of waist fat.
Let’s take a look at six reasons why you could be gaining weight around your waist.
Aging
While it is possible to develop a muffin top at any age, the condition becomes more prevalent throughout middle age and later in life.Women’s waist circumference is associated with a hormonal change that occurs around the time of menopause.When a woman goes through menopause, her estrogen levels decline, causing changes in where she stores fat.Body fat transfers from your hips and thighs to your waist and belly, rather than remaining in those areas.As estrogen levels decline, the stress hormone cortisol rises, which contributes to the accumulation of fat around the waist.As we grow older, not everyone develops a muffin top.
The persons who don’t have this problem are the ones who are most physically active and committed to living a healthy life.
Insulin Resistance
Another factor that leads to the development of age-related muffin tops is a loss in insulin sensitivity with age.One of the symptoms of deteriorating insulin sensitivity is an increase in the circumference of the waist and the accumulation of deep stomach fat.You may notice a slow and progressive increase in your serum triglyceride level, as well as a decrease in HDL, or good cholesterol, as well as an increase in your blood pressure if you have insulin resistance.The presence of these characteristics, as well as a rise in waist circumference, are indicators of metabolic syndrome, which is another term for pre-diabetes.You can acquire insulin resistance at any age, although aging is a risk factor for developing insulin resistance.Women who suffer from a disorder known as polycystic ovarian syndrome, on the other hand, are young and have insulin resistance.
They also tend to gain weight around their waist and upper torso, a condition known as ″muffin top.″ As a result, while age is a risk factor, it is possible to develop it at any age.The greater the amount of body fat you have on your physique, the greater the risk.
Chronic Stress
As a result of being under stress, your adrenal glands secrete a variety of hormones, including one known as cortisol, which has been termed the ″stress hormone.″ Cortisol is a stress hormone that prepares your body to fight or flee in order to enable you react swiftly when faced with a stressful situation.Although cortisol causes glycogen to be broken down and your liver to create more glucose, allowing you to have a readily available source of fuel, it also causes the accumulation of waist and belly fat.Short-term stress will not result in a muffin top, but if it continues for an extended period of time, it may cause your waist size to fluctuate.Aside from that, elevated cortisol levels lead to a desire for calorie-dense meals that are heavy in fat and sugar.Fat deposits in the pelvic cavity, as well as surrounding organs such as the liver, are a result of an excess of calories consumed.In reality, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), a sickness characterized by an accumulation of fat around the liver, is becoming increasingly prevalent in western countries.
In this case, a muffin top indicates that you may also have extra fat in the area surrounding your liver.It is possible for fatty liver disease to proceed to inflammation, and in rare cases, cirrhosis.As a result, it’s critical to determine whether you have it and to take steps to reduce your chance of contracting it.
Lack of Sleep
Cortisol levels might rise if you don’t get enough sleep over a period of days or weeks.Cortisol, on the other hand, induces a rise in belly and waist fat.This isn’t unexpected, considering that not getting enough sleep is a stressor on your body’s systems.A lack of sleep, in the same way that prolonged mental and physical stress do, leads your adrenal glands to create more cortisol, causing your blood pressure to rise.In addition, sleeplessness has been shown to boost cortisol levels.The quality of your sleep is equally important!
Eating the Wrong Foods
Eating a diet high in ultra-processed foods can also increase your waistline and cause you to develop a muffin top.Sugar, and particularly sugar-sweetened beverages, are also a factor in this.Even fruit juice, no matter how nutritious it appears, has been shown to increase waist and stomach fat because it lacks the fiber that needed to keep blood sugar levels stable.Maintain a focus on whole fruit, non-starchy vegetables, high-quality protein sources, and healthy fats, while avoiding starchy and processed foods that are devoid of nutritional value.The Mediterranean diet, which has been associated to a decreased risk of a range of common health concerns, including cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and stroke, is an excellent model to model your own diet after.
Lack of Exercise
Muffin tops are more prevalent in those who are sedentary, which is not unexpected.Exercise can help you lose weight and get rid of a muffin top, but only if you do it correctly.It’s possible that doing hours of cardio each week will have the reverse impact of what you’re hoping for.You may believe that the calories you burn will help you lose weight, but excessive exercise may stress your body to the point that your cortisol level rises, making it even more difficult to lose weight.Strength training can take the place of certain cardio.Increase the number of brief, high-intensity interval training segments you do in favor of longer sessions of moderate-intensity cardiovascular exercise (MIAC).
With intensive activity, you’ll have some cortisol release, but you’ll also experience a surge in growth hormone and testosterone, which will help to balance out the cortisol release.Reduce your sitting time as well.When you sit for lengthy periods of time, you increase your chance of developing type 2 diabetes and your triglyceride levels go up.
- Small amounts of modest movement, even for brief periods of time, can assist to break up the sitting cycle and keep your body from entering hibernation mode.
Health Problems
A muffin top may be a symptom of a more serious health concern.The metabolic syndrome and polycystic ovary syndrome have already been described.Furthermore, it might be a symptom of an underactive thyroid or of a disorder known as Cushing’s syndrome.Some drugs, notably corticosteroids, have been linked to the development of a muffin top.A physical checkup and blood tests should be performed if you observe your waistline growing.Determine whether or not your expanding waistline is due to a medical condition.
The Bottom Line
You should now be aware of the six reasons why people acquire a muffin top. On the bright side, adopting a healthier lifestyle that addresses these difficulties can assist you in losing that excess pouch around your waist. If you have a muffin top that makes it difficult to wear your favorite tank tops, consider changing your way of life!
References:
Researchers at Yale University have shown that stress may develop extra belly fat in normally slim women. ″Sleep Is Linked to Increases in Abdominal Fat,″ according to the National Sleep Foundation. Sleep Medicine Clinics, 2(2), 279–291, published online June 2007. It is possible to obtain further information at: 10.1016/j.jsmc.2007.04.002.
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Muffin Top: 7 Ways To Lose That Stubborn Belly Fat
It’s true that the word ″muffin top″ may seem appetizing to your taste senses, but in fact, it refers to the obstinate abdominal fat that just won’t go away.Specifically, it is the lower-belly fat that hangs over your waistband and is generally only noticeable when you are wearing a pair of high-waisted jeans.The process of attempting to remove excess fat might leave one feeling disappointed and tired, but it’s crucial to remember that removing a muffin top will take time and persistence.
What exactly is a muffin top?
Both visceral fat and subcutaneous fat can be found in your belly button.Because it covers your internal organs, visceral fat is situated deep within your abdomen and pushes your belly button outward.Unfortunately, if it causes you to gain too much weight around your midsection and you end up with a waist measurement of more than 345 inches, your health may be jeopardized.In fact, visceral fat has been shown to raise the risk of chronic illnesses such as heart disease and type 2 diabetes by as much as 20 percent (1).While subcutaneous fat accounts for the great majority of fat present on your body, it is located just beneath the surface of the skin.As a result, it is responsible for giving you a muffin-top appearance.
Visceral fat has a higher metabolic activity than subcutaneous fat, making it simpler to shed.Unfortunately, subcutaneous fat is notoriously difficult to remove, which is why, when you adopt an active lifestyle, you may find that you’re losing weight and growing muscle in areas of your body other than your lower tummy while you’re doing so.So, what is it about subcutaneous fat that makes it so difficult to lose?
- It’s simple: your body need it.
- Subcutaneous fat is necessary for your body since it is used not only for energy storage but also as a type of insurance.
- Subcutaneous fat is used by the body to keep you from starving to death if you are starving.
- Now that you know what your body will use to get rid of your muffin top, you might be wondering what it will use to get rid of your muffin top.
- There’s no reason to be concerned in such instance.
- As previously said, subcutaneous fat may be located in a variety of locations throughout your body, so you won’t have to worry about that.
What causes a muffin top?
- The following are four variables that can be held responsible for your muffin top: Genetics
- a bad diet
- stress (2)
- hormones (especially in postmenopausal women)
- and other factors.
Muffin top no-no’s
Before we get into the specifics of how to get rid of your muffin top, it’s crucial to point out two things that people do that don’t work. They are as follows:
1. Spot reduction
When it comes to toning up our favorite region of the body, we’ve all tried different methods of spot reduction.Frequently, we’ll spend the greater part of an afternoon doing hundreds of crunches in the hopes of being bikini-ready, but this is not always the case.Spot reductions will not be effective.What’s the harm in trying?As previously said, the body mobilizes fat from all around the body, rather than just from one specific location.Therefore, it is critical to burn fat across your entire body rather than expecting it to burn in a single location.
2. Restrictive diets
Yes, your diet has a significant impact on your muffin top, but it does not imply that you should embark on a restrictive diet in order to lose weight and get rid of it.The truth of the matter is that you will lose weight if you follow a calorie-restricted eating plan.The downside is that after you’ve reached your desired weight and stop dieting, you’ll gain back twice as much weight as you lost.A restrictive diet might cause your body to go into famine mode, which can make removing the muffin top even more difficult to accomplish.
7 ways to lose your muffin top
Here are seven practical methods for getting rid of that dreaded muffin top.
1. Cut back on added sugars
The obesity pandemic, according to a research published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, is mostly caused by a diet high in added sugar, rather than by a lack of physical activity.In essence, you can’t escape a poor nutritional regimen.In order to avoid this, it’s critical to analyze your diet and make sure that it’s low in added sugars.The addition of sugars to a variety of processed meals, such as cookies, candies, sports drinks, and sodas, is not uncommon.Added sugars are not only responsible for belly obesity, but they can also raise the risk of heart disease and diabetes.
2. Eat more fiber
Fiber, in addition to its nutritional advantages, has the added benefit of making you feel fuller, which reduces your appetite and prevents you from snacking on sugary foods.People who increased their fiber intake by just 10 grams per day over a five-year period, according to a research published in the journal Obesity, lost around 3.7 percent of their visceral fat, according to the study.Nuts, seeds, peas, beans, wholegrain bread, and oats, as well as broccoli, are examples of fiber-containing foods.
3. Move around even in the office
Although the majority of us work at desk jobs, this does not imply that we should spend our whole days hunched over in front of a computer screen.Researchers discovered that every 15-minute increase in sedentary behavior (whether it be reclining or sitting) was associated with a 0.05-inch (0.13-cm) rise in waist circumference.This is in addition to the major health consequences that it can bring (3).If you find yourself sitting in front of your computer for an excessive amount of time, set a timer on your phone and get up every half hour to stroll to the water cooler or your colleague’s desk and have a little discussion with him or her.
4. Manage your stress levels
Cortisol is referred to as the stress hormone because it is produced by the adrenal glands in reaction to stressful circumstances.While this is totally natural, high amounts of stress can result in elevated cortisol levels, which can lead to symptoms such as anxiety, headaches, and belly weight gain, among others.Yoga and meditation can help you lose weight and manage your stress levels by reducing your muffin top and increasing your flexibility (the Headspace app is perfect for this).Other stress-relieving activities include listening to music and even taking a stroll around the office block to clear your head.
5. Get Enough Sleep
In a similar way to stress, a lack of sleep can raise cortisol levels as well.In fact, according to a study published in the Sleep journal, individuals who slept for less than five hours per night had higher belly fat than those who slept for seven to eight hours per night on average.Using essential oils or rearranging your bedroom might help you get more sleep if you’re having trouble sleeping.
6. Eat more protein
If you are serious about losing that lower belly fat, it is critical that you increase your protein intake. Aside from aiding in the reduction of cravings, protein can also assist in the acceleration of your metabolism, resulting in an increase in the number of calories expended. Eggs, nuts, seeds, legumes, as well as fish and poultry, are examples of protein-rich foods.
7. Cut back on liquor
The expression ″beer belly″ has never been more accurate.The consumption of alcoholic beverages not only increases appetite, but many of these beverages are also high in calories and sugar, both of which can lead to belly fat.Additional findings from the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition revealed a substantial correlation between moderate and excessive alcohol intake, as well as a higher risk of developing both generalized and localized obesity.It is true that having a glass of red wine a day has health benefits; nevertheless, it is crucial not to overindulge because doing so may compromise your overall health.
What are the best workouts for a muffin top?
1. HIIT
High-intensity interval training (HIIT) exercises are brief bursts of intense aerobic activity followed by a short time of rest between each burst of exercise.They’re one of the most effective and rapid workouts that one can undertake in a short amount of time.In fact, according to a study published in the Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness, high-intensity interval training (HIIT) sessions were more successful in reducing belly fat than traditional training alone over an eight-week period.
2. Side Plank with Leg Raise
This workout is designed to tone your muffin top, but it can be be used to tone your legs and booties as well.In order to perform this exercise, you need lie on your side and make sure that your legs are in a straight line from your feet to hips and shoulders.Once you’ve completed this, prop yourself up on your el