Running to Burn Belly Fat and Get Flat Abs

One of the best cardio workouts to burn stomach fat (and also my favorite cardio of all) is running.

I admit that I'm prejudiced. I love running. I love it with all my heart. It was the main method by which I lost weight and became lean and it has remained a favorite workout of mine since then.

But what makes running so effective?

The key is intensiveness. Running is one of the most intensive cardio workouts there is. It not only works your legs but practically every muscle group in your body. Nothing stays still while you run. All of your muscle groups are in motion. Every body part is contributing to the effort.

This increases the rate in which running helps to burn fat. It's not sedantary like using a gym bicycle, or just works your legs like an elliptical machine. Running does it all.

Running to tone abs

What most people don't realize is that running is actually an abs exercise in disguise. I'll prove it to you: go out an run for a while. Then, place your hand firmly on your stomach while you run. You will feel the abs muscles contracting like crazy. This is because the abs are working while you run. You may not feel them, but they're getting a steady and continuous workout.

So, running doesn't just burn belly fat, it also tones the abs because it helps to strengthen the abs muscles.

Running on a treadmill or outside 

Running outdoors is usually harder than running on a treadmill. However, if you live in a city and you can't find a park to jog in, I wouldn't run through crowded streets. First, you might hit someone who's walking by. Second, there's all these traffic lights which will make you stop in the middle of your run and wait for the lights to change, which will ruin your rythem.

Of course, if that's your only option, run in the street. But running on a treadmill isn't such a bad option and has 1 great advantage: you can set your speed on a treadmill. This allows you to set the pace for your body which is something that is harder to do accurately outdoors.

Setting your pace is an excellent way to push your body to a more strenuous effort which will help you to burn more calories in less time.

Interval Running

The best way to burn the most belly fat with running is to do it in intervals. Interval running means to change the pace in which you run every few minutes, running very fast one moment and running more slowly the next.

This works your body in various levels of intensity which is an excellent way to make it fitter and leaner. It also allows you to do a more intensive workout in less time. The more intensive the workout the faster your burn fat.

Of course, you can't push yourself to extremes. Building your fitness level is something which takes time and is done gradually, but overall, interval running is far better than long duration running at the same pace.

Sprinting for abs

You already know that the stomach muscles work when you run. But they work the hardest when you sprint. Try to sprint for even 20 yards and your stomach muscles will contract hard. Your belly will feel like steel.

If you sprint for 10 dashes of 20 yards each for a month, you will have much stronger abs muscles.

Try it. It may surprise you.

Overall, running is one of the best belly fat burning cardio workouts there is and something which I encourage you to make a regular part of your workouts.

Before any intensive running workout, I recommend doing some dynamic warm up exercises to enhance your peformance and reduce risk of injury. I hope I've shown you how running helps to reduce belly fat. Enjoy your run.