When you hear of apron belly causes and solutions, it can get confusing. For instance, if you got it due to rapid weight loss, then some best practices that would lead to healthy weight gain might be helpful in your case. So, can weight loss help your apron belly?
Yes and no. It entirely depends on your specific situation and what caused you to develop the apron belly.
It is important to understand the cause of your apron belly so that you work out a simple solution to remedy it.
What Weight Loss Does
If you are a young person who has gained weight and are classified as obese according to the Body Mass Index, then weight loss will absolutely be a part of any plan to get rid of your apron belly. Nothing crazy here, if you’re obese, you should lose weight.
This specific scenario should start by practicing a healthy and active lifestyle that would lead to gradual weight loss. University of Vermont’s Larner College of Medicine recommends a slower and sustained pace of losing weight than a rapid one since a healthy and sustained one can help you lose belly fat.
To achieve that, you need to be keen on your diet and avoid foods that are high in calories. Reduced portions, reduced sugary foods, less alcoholic drinks, and high-fiber foods can help in the long run.
On the contrary, weight loss may cause you to develop a stomach overhang or apron belly, because your skin may not regain its original elasticity. This often occurs if you gain a lot of weight and then start losing it rapidly. Therefore, weight loss does not only help in getting rid of it but it can also lead to its development.
Unfortunately, this leads many to wonder if it is even worth losing weight in the first place, since they’re just going to have excess skin hanging around.
Weight Loss Before Panniculectomy
Many questions have also been asked about whether or not one should lose weight before undergoing a panniculectomy if that is even an option (as not everyone is a candidate for the surgery). Certified plastic surgeons from across the world agree that complications and risks increase with a person’s increase in body mass index (BMI).
It is also important to note that, apart from considerations on your weight, doctors also consider other factors, since weight alone doesn’t determine whether panniculectomy is appropriate or not. A doctor usually wants to see a healthy and physically active lifestyle prior to surgery, as this helps reduce risks of complications during surgery and speeds up recovery.
Weight Loss Best Practices That Can Help
As mentioned, if you gained a lot of weight and developed an apron belly, you can work on correcting it by practicing the following weight loss best practices:
Eat Fiber-Rich Food
Fiber is known to improve the appearance of the skin both outside and inside. Foods that are rich in fiber come with numerous benefits since fiber can cause you to stay full for longer. Some high-fiber foods include whole grains, nuts, fruits, and oats among others.
Reduce Your Portion Size
You need to control the amount of food that you take daily. This involves eating less junk food and more healthy options such as veggies, kale, broccoli, lean meat, spinach, fish, and healthy oils such as coconut oil and avocado oil.
When you eat more high-calorie foods, it becomes hard to manage your weight unless you exercise for hours and hours. Reducing your portions may mean a complete change in your eating habits. It takes effort, but it is worth it in the end.
Be Physically Active
Physical activity is necessary. You should be active in your daily routines and incorporate walking and other activities that would boost your metabolism and fat-burning. It is important to be consistent in this since it may take some time before you shed some weight.
Exercise can also help. You can do simple daily exercises such as sit-ups, leg raises, squats and any variation for about 30 minutes daily.
Reduce Alcoholic Drinks
It has been discovered that drinking too much alcohol can cause your belly fat to increase. This is because alcohol turns to sugar in your body and will, in most cases of overconsumption, lead to a beer belly (belly overhang). Therefore, if you cannot do without, it is recommended to do it in moderation – taking just a little of it in every once in a while. Alcohol turns to sugar in your body and sugar is the enemy of weight loss.
Drink Plenty of Water
Water is essential if you want to enhance the appearance of your skin. Weight loss can be hindered by inadequate water intake. Water plays crucial functions in the body.
It is recommended to drink about 8 cups of water daily to keep up with the amount that you lose through perspiration, bowel movements, urine, and breath. The recommendation varies based on your body size, activity level, and the environment you live in.
Final Thoughts
In an ideal situation, losing weight through the recommended best practices discussed above can help burn fat in your abdomen region, which is an important first step in getting rid of your apron belly.
After some months, you’ll be able to see if your skin is regaining elasticity. If it is, then great, carry on. If it isn’t, there are other options to help.