A personal trainer shares 6 workout tools and supplements to target and lose stubborn fat

A personal trainer shares 6 workout tools and supplements to target and lose stubborn fat

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Some areas of fat are harder to lose than others. The good news here, if there is any, is that you are not imagining it.

Places like your arms, shoulders, chest, face, and legs will be faster to slim down with increased activity and healthy eating, but areas like your stomach, hips, lower back, and thighs will be more reticent to adjust.

So, if you’re trying to lose stubborn belly fat, for instance, one of the best ways to do that is simply by lowering your overall body fat percentage, and especially so if you're doing so by using exercise tools and supplements that help target your problem areas and trigger increased fat burning.

Because it can be hard for the average person to get advice from professionals, I askedLuke Hartelust, owner of three F45 Training gyms in California and personal trainer of 10-plus years to give readers his own best practices and tools for targeting stubborn fat faster and better.

You’ll find suggested products to pick up below, but here are a couple tips and tricks to combine them with for maximum results.

Best practices according to personal trainer Luke Hartelust:

Mix apple cider vinegar with warm lemon water and MCT oil in your coffee as a morning ritual prior to hitting the gym. It will increase your performance and kick-start the fat-burning process.

Take a shot of apple cider vinegar with lemon and warm water right when you wake up — it jump-starts your metabolism, aids digestion, and boosts your immune system.

According to Hartelust, "When looking to get lean, the optimal way is a combination of all of the above together with an intermittent fasting diet and a high-intensity training program like F45 Training."

Why? High-intensity programs burn away fat, and during a period of fasting, "The systems of your body are relying on fat and the sugar that is stored in your liver for energy. Your muscles still have their own sugar that they need for exercising." In other words, it's a smarter way to fast-track losing fat. 

If you're looking to get rid of stubborn belly fat or slim another slow-to-change area, check out Hartelust's go-to suggestions below: 

3. Kettleball

My hands-down favorite piece of equipment for an all-around workout session is the kettlebell. It's super versatile. You can put together a variety of workouts that combine cardiovascular, strength and flexibility training, and can target the entire body. Incorporating both cardio and strength exercises into your workout is the most efficient way to burn more fat.

This is a great piece of workout equipment to have at home because it doesn’t take up a lot of space and it's really cost-efficient.

AmazonBasics Enamel Kettlebell, 25 lb, $33.99 4. Matcha Green Tea

Throughout the day when I need energy I use pure matcha green tea. Green tea increases thermogenesis (the burning of fat), helps with recovery, and increases strength. It also has a number of cancer-preventing properties.

Also, drinking it throughout the day keeps your metabolism high, helping to rev up your fat-burning.

Viva Naturals Organic Matcha Green Tea Powder, 3 oz, $10 6. Concept Model D Indoor Rowing Machine

I highly suggest investing in an indoor rowing machine because it is an effective full-body workout that will blast away those troubled fat areas.

It's one of the most efficient exercises because of the combination of power output and cardio fitness. You are using pretty much every part of the body, and it keeps your heart rate elevated the entire time. To really get into the fat-burning zone, combine your rowing with strength movements such as squats and lunges.