Your clothes feel tight when you have fat accumulated in your mid-section. Not only does it look awkward, but it is also not healthy. Lack of exercise and eating unhealthy food is the main cause of belly fat. Abdominal fat can lead to serious health conditions like diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and colorectal cancer. Generally when you start working out to lose weight, fat around your belly is the last one to burn.

Count your calorie intake:
The first step in your fat-burning program is limiting your calorie intake. If you start to take 500 calories less every day in your diet, you will lose 1 pound a week. To find out how many calories you need for your ideal weight, you need to multiply your body weight by 15 if you are an active man, and multiply it by 12 if you are an active woman. If you lead a sedentary lifestyle, multiply the body weight by 13 for men and multiply by 10 for women. The answer will be your ideal calorie intake.

Have a healthy breakfast:
Protein is good for you when you want to lose weight. According to a study conducted by the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, protein makes you feel full. So when you eat protein for breakfast, you are less likely to eat unhealthy snacks later in the day. Start the day with a healthy breakfast. It can be something like a ham, omelet, low-fat Greek yogurt with berries and almonds, two pieces of lean bacon grilled with tortilla, or a protein shake with two servings of fruits.

Ensure a protein-packed lunch:
Your lunch should also be packed with protein. The main portion of your lunch can be canned tuna, cottage cheese, salmon, or turkey. Depending on your calorie intake, select your protein. If your calorie intake is low, go for a protein salad and a soup for lunch and if you exercise regularly, and if your calorie intake is more, take your protein along with a wrap or a bagel and mixed nuts.

Opt for a healthy dinner:
Your dinner can have complex carbohydrates along with protein and healthy fats. You can choose to have a shrimp and avocado rice bowl or a vegetarian pizza with a crust made with whole wheat flour. You can make your dinner interesting as long as you keep your recipe according to your diet plan.

Snacks:
Choose no-sugar low-fat snacks to eat between your meals. Some of the healthy snacks include low-fat cottage cheese, raw nuts, pre-cooked meat, low carb protein bars, and others.
Along with a balanced diet, you also need to work out to burn fat accumulated around your tummy.