Even after a busy week of eating healthy, working out, and drinking plenty of water, there’s always one place on your body that doesn’t seem to get any smaller; your belly! And the worst part is that even when you’ve dropped countless pounds from everywhere else, it still remains.
While it might be frustrating and leave you wondering, “Does massaging belly fat away actually work?” the fact is that as long as you’re living a balanced lifestyle overall and improving your health each day, losing weight in this area can be a reality for you.
But can something like massage really help? In today’s blog, I discuss massaging belly fat away and whether or not it can be done.
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Massaging Belly Fat Away: What Is Belly Fat Massage?
Belly fat massage is a type of bodywork that focuses on the abdominal area and is used to help with a variety of health issues. One of the most common uses for belly fat massage is to help reduce the appearance of cellulite. It’s also beneficial for people who are dealing with water retention, digestive issues, and endocrine problems.
Belly fat massage is often used in conjunction with other treatments to help improve overall health. For example, it can be combined with lymphatic drainage, which helps rid the body of toxins and waste products that can contribute to weight gain and cellulite development.
Belly fat massage can also be used in conjunction with connective tissue manipulation—a type of bodywork that focuses on elasticity, flexibility, and muscle tone—to create a comprehensive approach to improving the way your belly looks and feels.
Belly fat massage can be performed by a licensed professional, or you can learn how to do it yourself using online resources or self-help books. A licensed professional will likely use a special technique called biodynamic lymphatic drainage (BDLD) to target cellulite buildup in the abdomen as well as treat related skin conditions such as acne, rosacea, and eczema. The BDLD method involves four phases: mechanical massage, compression, suction, and drainage.
The technique is based on the theory that lymphatic flow is responsible for removing toxins from your body and helping it stay healthy. In addition to BDLD, some belly fat massage specialists may offer other types of bodywork, such as sports massage or neuromuscular therapy.
Can Belly Fat Be Massaged Away?
The dimpling of the skin that comes with the accumulation of fat is what’s generally referred to as cellulite. Recent studies have shown that massages do help to reduce the appearance of cellulite, but not permanently.
This is because when you get a massage, your body releases endorphins or feel-good hormones. These hormones work to temporarily relieve pain and stress, causing muscle relaxation and improved circulation, which can make skin look smoother.
Unfortunately, these benefits are only temporary. The stimulation of metabolism during a massage can also lead to the breakdown of fat deposits in your body, but this only works for so long—and it’s not a permanent solution by any means.
Exercise has been found to be more effective at reducing the appearance of cellulite than massages alone. Not only does exercise help you lose weight overall, but it can also reduce localized fat deposits.
As you lose weight with diet and exercise (as well as massage), the appearance of cellulite will diminish as well.
Are There Any Studies Conducted?
Studies have shown that massage can help relieve a number of different ailments, and the effects of massage have even been incorporated into the routines of many athletes. Massage has also been used to treat certain types of pain, inflammation, and diseases. But one question still remains: Can massaging your belly fat away actually work?
Using the term “belly fat” might be a bit misleading, though—specifically, it’s abdominal adipose tissue (also known as abdominal fat) that we’re talking about. This is essentially made up of lipids that are stored in the body and build up around the waist.
Belly fat is associated with cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, high blood pressure, and several other health issues. With this in mind, it’s easy to see how massage could be beneficial in losing belly fat.
Studies have shown that when you receive regular massages, it improves circulation, reduces stress levels, and can help combat pain. Those who regularly receive massages tend to experience less anxiety and depression than those who do not.
The effect of massage on belly fat specifically has not been studied extensively yet, but one study found that people who received a deep tissue massage for ten minutes on their abdomen three times a week lost almost twice as much abdominal fat in four weeks compared to those who received no treatment at all. This is likely because the massage itself helps break down fat cells and improve circulation.
The same study also found that people who received massages experienced increased blood flow to the abdominal area, which may have contributed to some of the weight loss effects.
However, there are many other possible explanations for this effect, including the fact that massages often make people feel better and more relaxed. Overall, it’s likely that massage can help you lose weight if you combine it with healthy eating habits and regular exercise.
Are There Any Other Benefits of Massages?
Massages are a great way to relax, but are they helpful for anything else? A lot of people get massages and think that the massage therapist is just a glorified back rub artist. They aren’t sure if it’s helpful for anything other than making you feel better.
Massages can greatly help with pain management and stress relief. Massage therapists use their hands to manipulate the soft tissues of your body in order to relieve knots, stretch tight muscles and help improve blood flow. It’s these benefits that make massages so great.
Massage therapy has been shown to help with numerous ailments, including:
- Reducing muscle pain and spasms
- Reducing stress
- Improving circulation
- Promoting proper lymph drainage
- Relieving headaches and migraines
- Preventing or relieving chronic musculoskeletal pain
There are many different types of massage therapy available, such as Swedish massage (which focuses on long strokes), deep tissue massage (which focuses on pressure points), and hot stone massage (which uses heated stones). Many people find that regular deep tissue massage helps reduce their muscle tension and myofascial pain issues.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to massage belly fat away
There are many ways to massage belly fat away. The first thing you need to do is make sure your diet is healthy and balanced and that you’re exercising regularly. You should also perform specific abdominal exercises for at least 30 minutes daily (such as crunches or sit-ups).
Does stomach massage reduce belly fat?
Not entirely. Massaging your stomach will help to reduce the appearance of fat in that area, but it won’t make you lose weight. If you want to lose weight, then you should focus on a healthy diet and regular exercise.
Does pinching fat make it go away?
It’s not possible to make fat disappear by pinching it. Fat is made of cells called adipocytes, which store energy and protect your organs from injury. These cells are found in the subcutaneous layer of skin, but they can also be found inside the body in other organs such as the liver or pancreas.
Can you squeeze belly fat away?
No, you can’t. Belly fat is a combination of fat cells, muscle, and fluid. The only way to lose belly fat is to reduce your overall body fat level through exercise and healthy eating habits.
What can I put on my stomach to burn fat?
You can’t put anything directly on your stomach to burn fat. However, if you want to lose weight, then you should start by making small changes in your diet and exercise routine.
Can you rub coconut oil on your stomach to lose weight?
No, you can’t. Some people believe that rubbing coconut oil on your stomach will help you lose weight, but there is no scientific evidence to back this up. You should also avoid using oils on your skin, as these can cause acne and clogged pores.
Can deep tissue massage break up fat?
No, deep tissue massage can’t break up fat. Massaging your body can indeed help release stress and tension, which may make you feel more relaxed and less stressed after a session. However, this has nothing to do with breaking up fat cells or helping you lose weight.
Conclusion
If you’re looking to effectively firm up your midsection, then it’s going to take more than a good massage.
Visceral fat is a type of fat that collects under your skin and in your abdominal cavity. It surrounds your vital organs and, unfortunately, can’t be burned off through exercise alone.
You should do exercises to help manage your visceral fat. Doing ab workouts, for example, will help you burn subcutaneous fat while getting rid of visceral fat in the process.
On the other hand, eating foods that combat visceral fat, such as green tea, ginger, and apples, will aid you in losing the belly fat around your organs. Be sure to check out the related articles below this article to learn more about losing belly fat!
References
- Lymphatic Drainage Massage: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/21768-lymphatic-drainage-massage
- Connective Tissue Manipulation: https://www.physiotherapyjournal.com/article/S0031-9406(05)66573-X/pdf
- Bio-Dynamic Massage: https://sauntonsands.co.uk/source-spa/treatments-and-products/bio-dynamic-massage-lymphatic-drainage/
- Objective and Subjective Reduction of Cellulite Volume Using a Localized Vibrational Massage Device in a 24‐week Randomized Intra‐individual Single‐blind Regression Study: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7317706/
