In the weight-loss game, not all fat is created equal. And if you're trying to lose that belly pooch you just know is hiding a six pack, stomach fat is a particularly stubborn beast.
But never fear: A recent study just found that one workout is particularly apt at burning off belly—a.k.a. visceral—fat.
Trying to get flat abs? If you've got a dumbbell on hand, you can do some of these moves:
Visceral fat is not only a pain in the butt, it’s also extra unhealthy, since it’s located in the abdominal cavity and surrounds several important organs. So, researchers looked into how certain types of training could slim this particular area.
In the study, which was published in the Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness, participants did four workouts a week, relying on various types of exercise. One group did four steady-state cardio and strength workouts, while another group did two steady-state workouts and two high-intensity interval training (HIIT) workouts. (Get toned arms, lean legs and sexy abs with Women's Health Beginner's Guide to Strength Training!)
Turns out HIIT is queen: The HIIT group not only lost more weight overall, they also lost more inches along their waistline, showing a significant reduction in visceral fat compared to the group that stuck to the steady-state gym routine. As an added bonus, the HIIT group also saw an increase in cardio respiratory fitness, while the other group did not.
Related: THIS Is How To Change Your Cardio Routine If You Want To Lose 10 Pounds
The researchers say the fact that HIIT workouts are short and intense—allowing you to push your bod to the limit—may be why HIIT does such a killer job at incinerating the most unshakable fat.
So, ready to HIIT it hard? Start with this five-move HIIT workout. That six pack will unveil itself before you know it.
Macaela MacKenzie is a journalist who writes about women and power. She covers women’s equality through the lenses of sports, wellness, and the gender gap across industries and is the author of MONEY, POWER, RESPECT: How Women in Sports Are Shaping the Future of Feminism. Mac was most recently a Senior Editor at Glamour where she directed all health and wellness coverage. Her work has appeared in Elle, Glamour, SELF, Bustle, Marie Claire, Allure, Women's Health, and Forbes among other publications.
