Doctor Michael Mosley's 'quickest' method to lose belly fat and it isn't cardio

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Diet guru Dr Michael Mosley offered up some good advice for getting rid of belly fat. The late doctor, known for his expertise in health and fitness, had a huge fanbase thanks to his top tips for shedding pounds and improving lifestyles.

Michael, whose diet plans include The Fast 800, 5:2, The Way of Life and The Fast 800 Keto, passed away earlier this year whilst on holiday in Greece.

However, he left behind a trove of advise for people looking to lose weight. Offering tips on specific foods and exercises to target different areas, his one big tip was the most effective way for getting rid of belly fat, reports Surrey Live.

Speaking on his Radio 4 ‘Stay Young’ programme, Dr Mosley shared a workout routine that’s more effective at burning fat around the stomach than cardio exercises.

He mentioned that scientific studies have shown resistance exercise targets the stomach area more effectively, and also benefits other areas such as memory, sleep and potentially even extending lifespan.

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As the festive period looms, it might be of interest to some to get in shape for the parties that come with it. Dr Mosley explained to the listeners of the show his own workout regime.

He said: "Today I’m doing something that will not only help me stay strong but should also improve my memory, my sleep, my waistline, make me look good and perhaps even help me live longer. I’ve been doing press-ups.

"I try to do at least 30 of these every day, followed by at least 30 squats. Resistance exercises are the quickest and simplest way to improve your muscle mass."

He said the idea was well-known among gym-goers. He added: "It is something we should all do because maintaining your muscle mass is one of the best ways to preserve your health as you age. Without resistance exercises, your muscles start to decline after the age of 30.

"Your muscles have a remarkable ability to regenerate in response to resistance training. Studies have shown that in just 12 weeks you can increase your muscle mass by up to 10 per cent and your strength by up to 150 per cent."

He explained the exercise also helped the whole body, stating: "For a start, it can give your brain a boost. A review of dozens of studies on the effects of exercise on the over 50s has shown that both aerobic and resistance training are good for the brain but researchers found that resistance training was especially good for memory and executive function which includes things like problem-solving."

When it comes to loosing belly fat, he emphasised the effectiveness of weight exercises, explaining: "Resistance exercise can also help you lose fat, particularly around your belly. Researchers at Harvard University followed around 10,000 men for 12 years and they found minute-for-minute strength training targets belly fat better than cardio.

"That’s important because the fat that accumulates around your belly doesn’t just sit there passively, it produces chemicals that can have a negative effect on your blood sugar levels. Muscle cells on the other hand have a positive effect. When you exercise they soak up blood sugars like a sponge.

"In fact one study found that for every 10 per cent increase in your skeletal muscle, there was a 10 per cent reduction in your risk of pre-diabetes. Which means not only does building muscle make you look and feel younger but it could also add years to your life. A recent analysis found that 30-60 minutes of resistance training a week, reduces the risk of dying from heart disease and cancer by up to 20 per cent.

"Why does it have such an impact? Well, resistance exercise seems to rejuvenate you at the cellular level."

Sharing his personal experience, the then 66-year-old said he did regular running, and brisk walking, and performed 30 press-ups and squats every morning. But said he didn’t like gym workouts questioning: "Does that matter?"

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A Professor from the University of Copenhagen in Denmark, Abigail Mackey advises: "I think that heading into old age if you really want to go in with the best conditions possible for maintaining independent living for as long as possible then you need to using weights which for most people means having access to a gym. The squats and the push-ups are excellent because they train so many muscles."

Although Dr Mosley admitted that although he’s not a fan of gyms, he had taken to using some weights his son left in his garage.

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