Crunches are something you’ve been doing. There are a lot of them. On the treadmill, I could run for kilometers. Green smoothies were consumed.
Despite your efforts, your stomach seems to be larger than ever, and that stubborn belly bulge is driving you insane! It’s possible that it’s not your fault.
Your regular routines and behaviors, as well as some of the food you consume, might unintentionally make your stomach seem larger, and abrupt weight gain may have nothing to do with it.
Why is my lower belly so big?
Some of the most common reasons out of them include;
- Deposition of belly fat
- too much of stress
- not enough sleep
- Chewing sugar-free gum, and tight hip flexors. Continue to read and we will explore them in detail.
1. Tight hip flexors
Shortening your flexors with ab activities like crunches and sit-ups will tilt your hips forward and make you seem to have a belly bulge even if you don’t.
Planks and Pilates-based routines are ideal for strengthening your core since they target your abs without putting stress on your hip flexors.
If left untreated, tight hip flexors may lead to a more severe injury. A foam roller or frequent yoga practice might help to loosen tight hip flexors. This will not only assist with the abdomen swelling, but it will also improve your general strength.
2. Sugar-Free Gum Chewing
Surprised? Chewing sugar-free gum may be contributing to that annoyingly large tummy. In fact, when it comes to your stomach, there’s double problem.
When you chew gum and swallow air, it gets stuck in your stomach and small intestines, causing bloating. Because artificial sweeteners aren’t absorbed by your body, bloating worsens if you consume sugarless gum. Instead, try a mint or give up the habit altogether.
3. Dealing with too much of stress
Your body creates the hormone cortisol when your stress levels are high. This hormone causes your body to shift fat from healthy places like your butt and hips to your belly, according to studies.
This is known as visceral fat, and it is not only unsightly but also unhealthy since it surrounds your important organs. If you’re looking for a cause to tell your employer you need to cut down on your workload or take a vacation, this is it.
4. Insufficient Sleep
Adults should sleep for seven to nine hours each night, with eight being the optimum number to aim for. Sleep deprivation raises cortisol levels in the body and blood sugar levels, giving you a double whammy.
Cortisol causes you to accumulate fat in your stomach, and high blood sugar causes you to seek carbohydrates and junk food, both of which wreak havoc on your waistline.
Establish a consistent nighttime routine and do the math each night to ensure you get the required amount of sleep.
On the other hand, you should avoid oversleeping, which may lead to sadness and other severe health consequences. Your middle will be pleased if you can find a happy medium.
Why is My Lower Belly so Big? (Explained)
5. An excessive amount of fiber or sugar
On the surface, kale, broccoli, cabbage, and legumes like lentils and peas are excellent additions to your diet. If you’re trying to live a healthy lifestyle and consuming these meals on a daily basis, you’re probably annoyed that you can’t figure out why you have a huge stomach.
You may be surprised to learn that these foods contain a sugar called raffinose. Because your body is unable to digest them correctly, bacteria take over and feast on them, causing gas and bloating.
When paired with fiber, this effect might give you a belly bulge, making you seem larger and fuller. It’s not a good idea to eliminate these items completely from your diet, but if you eat them together multiple times a day, they might be the source of your stomach problems.
6. Acid Reflux
Do you regularly feel nauseous or queasy after a typical meal, in addition to your tummy ballooning? Do you burp often or get burning in your stomach or throat within an hour after eating? Acid reflux or indigestion may be at fault if you responded yes to any or both of those questions.
Foods strong in acidity, such as tomato sauce, orange juice, and fatty meats, may raise the acid in your stomach, causing it to bloat and inflate.
Acid reflux treatment is sometimes a trial-and-error procedure. Consult your physician to develop a treatment plan that is right for you. Over-the-counter pain relievers like Tums may help, but a prescription drug may be required to thoroughly treat the problem.
7. Constipation
The basic reality is that if you have more in your stomach and intestines, it will seem larger. You’ll notice it if you haven’t used the restroom in days.
Gas from your intestines becomes caught behind slow-moving bowels and builds up, causing your stomach to expand. Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), dehydration, and eating a low-fiber diet are all potential causes of constipation.
A doctor’s visit may help you figure out what’s causing your constipation but drinking more water and eating more fiber is always a good place to start.
8. Dairy intolerance
You may be lactose intolerant if you become gassy and uncomfortable after eating ice cream or cheese, or after drinking milk.
Lactose intolerance is caused by a lack of enzymes that break down lactose (the sugar found in dairy products). This might irritate your stomach and cause gas to build, resulting in bloating.
Before you start feeling sorry for yourself because of your body’s dairy intolerance, realize that you are not alone.
Lactose malabsorption affects around 68 percent of the global population, according to a research published in The Lancet in 2017.
In principle, the remedy is simple: eliminate as much dairy from your diet as possible or find dairy replacements to satisfy your need.
Final words
You must be dealing with a bigger belly because of one or more of these reasons. Just keep them in mind and make sure that you act accordingly to get rid of the big belly you are dealing with.
Then you can overcome the struggles of having frustrating belly fat.