Doing Sit-Ups to Lose Belly Fat: Is It Possible?

Find out if sit-ups are a good addition to your exercise routine for losing belly fat.

Anju Mobin - Writer for Trim Down Club
By Anju Mobin
Nevena Radulović - Editor for Trim Down Club
Edited by Nevena Radulović

Updated May 25, 2023.

Woman doing sit-ups on a yoga mat

Yes, sit-ups help you lose belly fat—but not the way you may expect. You can't actually spot-reduce fat with any type of exercise, although you can tone specific muscle groups.

However, sit-ups tone core muscles and burn calories, so if you're consistent with your exercise and a healthy diet, you'll definitely lose fat from your belly, along with excess fat in other areas of your body.

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So, How Do You Lose Belly Fat?

How to lose belly fat is actually no secret—a regular exercise routine and healthy eating and sleeping habits are all you need. Sit-ups alone can't make much difference, but combining them with these elements can get you great results.

Regular Exercise

To lose belly fat, you need to exercise regularly. This helps burn calories, strengthens muscles, improves circulation, reduces stress, and releases endorphins that leave you feeling great after the workout.

Strength training and HIIT workouts are known to help build lean muscle mass, tone the body, and burn calories. Exercise increases the release of irisin, a hormone that converts white fat cells to brown ones and increases both fat blocking and fat burning. Irisin also increases the afterburn, meaning calories continue to be burned even after the workout is over.

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Healthy Eating

Healthy eating habits are a must if you want to lose weight. A low-carb, high-protein diet is recommended for reducing belly fat quickly. The reduction in carbs uses up stored glycogen and mobilizes fat reserves for burning, while high-protein intake suppresses appetite, boosts metabolism, and keeps you feeling satiated.

» See the various health benefits of a fast metabolism

Don't Neglect Your-Sit Ups

Sit-ups should definitely be a part of your exercise routine. Among others, the benefits of sit-ups include the following:

  • Improving hips and abs muscle strength
  • Boosting core strength
  • Improving your flexibility
  • Increasing body balance and stability
  • Strengthening your diaphragm
  • Boosting athletic performance
  • Improving your posture

Include Sit-Ups Into Your Belly Fat Loss Routine

Sit-ups are a great addition to your exercise routine for reducing belly fat. However, make sure to always maintain a proper form to get the most out of your sit-ups and prevent injury. Although sit-ups won't be enough on their own to get rid of belly fat, combining them with eating healthy and regular workouts will prove successful.

» Lose belly fat by combining sit-ups with the right superfoods