The only way to understand how to lose belly fat without surgery is to make some lifestyle changes. These are following a healthy diet and doing appropriate exercises. Stomach fat is really stubborn and it takes hard work to lose it. But if you stick to your guns, the result will be a new sleeker you.

First and foremost, lose the junk food. As the old saying goes, "you are what you eat," so the junk must go. The main culprits in junk food are refined carbohydrates and high sugar content. After eating them, your blood sugar level rises. When this happens, your appetite increases.

Don't keep chips, candy or cookies in your home. Stock up with healthy snacks like seeds, nuts, wheat-free crackers, low fat yogurt and fruit. Snacks like these will keep your blood sugar in check and satisfy hunger pangs. You will soon get to enjoy your new snacks if you don't keep junk food at home.

While carbohydrates are vital for good health, there are bad carbohydrates and good carbohydrates. All foods containing refined flour must be avoided. For example, stay away from cakes, biscuits, donuts, white bread and pasta. They cause poor digestion, bloating and an accumulation of fat.

Good carbohydrates are contained in fruit and vegetables. Foods that contain slow-release carbohydrates are also excellent. These include brown rice, oats, sweet potato, and pulses. A diet that derives most of its carbohydrates from foods like these is healthy.

Look for foods with a low GI (Glycemic Index) when shopping. These are foods that are digested slowly and are therefore released into the bloodstream gradually. This will keep you feeling fuller for longer because your blood sugar level will remain constant. Wholegrain bread is a low GI food.

A healthy meal should look like this: The carbs on the plate should be about the size of your palm, and the protein content should be no bigger than a deck of cards. Vegetables or salad should comprise the balance of the plate's contents.

Late night snacking is another big NO. If you're into the habit of raiding the fridge at bed time, you will have to stop. The body cannot expend energy while you are sleeping. Therefore, the calories can't be burned, and your snack will turn into fat.

Alcohol is another fat accumulating culprit. People who drink too much often gain weight around their waists. The tell-tale sign is a slim body with a fat belly. This is often caused by drinking too much alcohol.

Once you have your diet sorted, the next thing to confront is exercise. Get off that couch and head down to the gym. Find out which exercises are best for the stomach. You can do this by looking on the internet or buying a book. There are many exercises that are especially designed to help achieve fat burning.