Liverpool personal trainer answers question 'asked two million times' on Google

A Liverpool gym owner has revealed their go-to’s to “banish” stubborn belly fat. Connor O'Brien, the founder behind Castle Street’s Absolute Body Solutions, cliams despite what the majority of people think, sit-ups aren’t the way forward.

The fitness fanatic explained how maintaining a trim midsection can improve your health and help you live longer. With this in mind, he said, “It’s no surprise that ‘how can I lose belly fat’ pulls up over two million hits on Google, and it’s a common question asked by many starting out on their fitness plans”. Connor said there is no quickfire way to get rid of belly fat but shared his top tips and tricks for those who are “willing to put the effort in”.

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Complications of larger waistlines

Connor said a larger waist measurement can mean you have too much visceral fat, which is the fat stored around internal organs like your liver and pancreas, often referred to as belly fat.

Larger waistlines are also linked to a higher risk of heart disease, diabetes and even cancer, and losing weight and stomach fat can improve blood vessel functioning and sleep quality.

Diet plan

Connor explained how abdominal work in the gym alone won’t get you a six pack, and that rather it’s all about melting the body fat that’s on top of the muscle tissue. He said: "Your diet plays a large part in this process, and following a stricter nutrition plan along with training will help you reduce your body fat."

Connor said if you want to lose belly fat, follow a fat loss nutrition plan and keep in mind these three top tips:

• Hit a protein target

• Eat in a calorie deficit

• Find a realistic plan you can stick to long term

Ab work alone won’t banish fat

Nutrition comes hand-in-hand with training, and to slim your waist, Connor recommends training around three to four times per week. During these sessions, he said to include plenty of exercises that help your core including deadlifts, squats, leg presses and pull downs. He added: "Remember to really think about your core and brace your abs during the compound movements as part of the exercise."

Increase your NEAT

To help banish the bloat, boost your NEAT (Non-Exercise Activity Thermogenesis) by aiming to walk 12k steps per day. There’s loads more simple daily activities to help increase your NEAT, such as taking the stairs, parking further away or cleaning more. Gradually, with the correct training and diet, you should start to see a reduction in body fat, and alongside this, a reduction in belly fat.

Connor's conclusion

He said: "Everyone’s body type differs, and it may take some longer than others to lose fat around the stomach, but if you stick to your nutrition plan and train regularly, your body fat percentage will drop and you’ll be well on your way to banishing that belly fat."