Here are 7 useful strategies to reduce facial fat

Gaining excess fat around your face is a sign that you’re gaining weight. Fortunately, this can be remedied by making a few simple lifestyle changes. If you want to get rid of the chubby cheeks, you can try these useful strategies for reducing excess facial fat.

Engage in regular cardio exercise

One of the best ways to lose weight and get rid of excess fat is to engage in cardiovascular exercise on a regular basis. Cardio can increase your heart rate and help you burn those extra calories more efficiently than other forms of exercise. The more intense your cardio and the longer you exercise, the better.

But don’t get discouraged if a high-intensity exercise regimen isn’t your style. Even low-intensity cardio is better than nothing. Try to find a physical activity that best suits you. Some fun ways to get your heart pumping include dancing, biking, swimming and roller-skating. With enough cardio exercise, your face should shape up in no time.

Facial exercise

Since your main goal is to lose facial fat, it makes sense to give your face a specialized workout. It might sound silly in concept, but it wouldn’t hurt to try flexing those cheek muscles in front of a mirror every day. You can help tighten your facial muscles by clenching your teeth together and holding a smile for several seconds at a time. You can also try puffing out your cheeks and moving the air from side to side. (Related: Exercise your face: Facial exercises found to yield firmer skin, more youthful appearance.)

Enjoy eight hours of deep, restful sleep each night

Getting your beauty sleep is important if you want your face to look its best, and also if you want to avoid overeating. Your stomach naturally produces the hormone ghrelin to tell your brain that it is hungry. But lack of sleep can lead to a spike in ghrelin levels, which can cause you to eat more calories than usual. Inadequate sleep also causes your body to produce higher levels of the stress hormone cortisol, which can slow down your metabolism considerably.

Drink eight glasses of water a day

Staying hydrated isn’t just important for your face, but also for the rest of your body. By drinking ample amounts of water, you can keep fluid retention down and prevent puffiness or facial bloating. You can also drink a full glass of water before meals to trick your stomach into feeling full and reduce your food intake.

Limit your alcohol consumption

While moderate alcohol consumption can provide some health benefits, excessive alcohol intake can cause dehydration, bloating and increased fluid retention. These can leave you with a swollen or puffy face because your cells will try to hold on to as much water as possible. Alcoholic beverages also contain empty calories, which can lead to additional weight gain.

Limit your salt consumption

Aside from alcohol, you should also limit your intake of salt. Having too much sodium in your body can lead to increased fluid retention. If you want to slim down your face, reduce your intake of salt and salty foods. You should also avoid eating processed foods, as these contain high amounts of salt.

Limit your sugar consumption

Sugar is another thing you’d want to cut down on if you wish to get rid of facial fat. After all, sugary foods and drinks are fattening and offer very little nutritional value. Foods that contain refined sugars can also increase your cravings and cause your body to store more fat. If you want to indulge your sweet tooth, do it the healthy way and munch on fresh fruits and berries instead.

Reducing facial fat is not easy, but it’s not impossible to do. Follow the tips above to get a slimmer face and achieve a healthy weight.

Sources include:

MedicalNewsToday.com

Greatist.com