By Jen Miller

Most of us have to carry around a bit of a belly or a "muffin top" as it is more affectionately known. There are a variety of factors that contribute to this dilemma like drinking too much alcohol, not getting enough exercise and eating the wrong foods. In this article we will focus on how to permanently eliminate belly fat by making a few changes to your lifestyle and eating habits.

Have you been exercising enough?

It's a simple question, but you need to ask it. If you really think about the amount of exercise you've been getting, I'm sure most of you will easily see you haven't been trying hard enough. Perhaps you haven't always stuck to the routine; perhaps you had a day off here and there. Mostly the problem is our busy working life and how we can fit our program around it. We have to try to incorporate exercise into our schedule and thoroughly stick to it; in order to lose that excess fat you are going to have to put in the effort.

Go and see a trainer at your local gym. They should be able to come up with a fitness plan that works with your schedule and one that will help you in your goal to eliminate belly fat. Make sure you allocate yourself a time period to go there and stick to it. Many people go after work on the way home. This means you don't have to go out of your way for it. Although exercising early in the morning is arguably better for you, if you tell yourself to get up at 6am every day to go to the gym you will find yourself less motivated as time progresses. Maybe you can squeeze in a nice leisurely run two or three times a week as well. Just a quick jog around the local park works wonders for your body, improving your overall cardiovascular fitness is never a bad thing!