The abdominal area is often an area of focus when people are looking to slim down. For many, the go-to method for achieving a flatter stomach is to suck in their stomachs as much as possible. But, does holding your stomach in help flatten it?
The age-old question of whether or not sucking in your stomach helps you lose weight has been debated for years. Some say that it does help, while others claim it is nothing more than a myth. So, what is the truth? To understand if holding your stomach in burn calories and make your belly flatter, let’s find out what does sucking in your stomach actually do!
Table of Content
What Does Sucking In Your Stomach Do?
So, what actually happens when you suck in your stomach? When you create a stomach vacuum, you are contracting your abdominal muscles, it is not the same as doing a crunch or sit-up. This action pulls your bellybutton inward and makes your stomach appear smaller. This action creates a space between your organs and your skin, which makes your stomach appear flattered.
You engage your transverse abdominal muscles when you hold in your stomach, which wraps around the abdomen like a corset. While this may be a quick fix for looking slimmer, it is not a sustainable or healthy method to make your belly look flat.
In fact, holding your stomach in all the time is bad and can actually lead to some serious health problems. It can have detrimental effects on our balance and posture. Repeatedly squeezing your abs can lead to muscle imbalances, creating tension and discomfort in the lower back.
In addition, constantly focusing on “sucking in” can restrict breathing and limit oxygen intake, leading to potential issues with digestion and overall health.
So instead of trying to suck in your stomach all day long, focus on strengthening and maintaining healthy abdominal muscles through exercises like planks or crunches. Your body (and your posture) will thank you for it in the long run.
If you are suffering from lower back pain, read how to lose belly fat without hurting your back.
Does Sucking In Your Stomach Help Lose Weight?
Many people assume that sucking in their stomach during daily activities can lead to weight loss. However, this practice is not effective in reducing body fat, or weight.
There’s only one phenomenon that makes you lose weight is ‘calorie deficit’. You consume less calories than your body requires and burn extra during exercise. Sucking or holding in your stomach does not burn calories, thus it does not help you lose weight.
The temporary flattening of the stomach muscles does not actually cause them to become stronger or more toned. In fact, constantly engaging these muscles can lead to discomfort and even injury.
A study published in the International Journal of Eating Disorders found that people who engaged in abdominal muscle-holding exercises were more likely to develop an eating disorder.
Since this technique does not address overall body weight and may even encourage disordered eating behaviors.
Instead of relying on stomach-sucking exercises, your best bet is to focus on building a balanced exercise routine and making healthy nutritional choices. This approach will lead to more sustainable weight loss and improved physical strength. Ultimately, true weight loss requires a comprehensive lifestyle change.
Does Sucking In Your Stomach Burn Fat?
When it comes to trying to achieve a flat, toned stomach, many people believe that sucking in their stomach is an effective strategy for burning body fat.
However, the reality is that this technique does not actually have any impact on fat loss. In fact, constantly holding in your stomach and creating stomach vacuums are not safe, and can even cause tension and result in pain or discomfort.
See if there’s any truth behind losing belly fat with vaseline overnight.
Benefits Of Holding Your Stomach In
Despite the lack of scientific evidence, some people believe that there are benefits to sucking in your stomach.
Anecdotally, people report feeling more confident and attractive when they suck in their stomachs. This temporary fix can provide a boost of self-esteem, especially in tight-fitting clothing.
Beyond simply improving one’s physical appearance, this habit also helps to improve muscle tone and strength, leading to improved posture and reduced back pain. Some people believe that when the abdominal muscles are pulled in, it forces the spine to straighten, but there’s no biochemical or biological study to prove it.
It also activates the body’s natural core stabilizers, which can improve balance and reduce the risk of injury during physical activity.
Side Effects Of Holding Your Stomach In
While there are some potential benefits to sucking in your stomach, the practice can have negative impacts on the body’s natural alignment.
Continuously sucking in your stomach can restrict breathing and limit oxygen intake. This can lead to digestive problems, fatigue, cramping, and overall poorer health.
It puts a lot of strain on the abdomen muscles, leading to muscle imbalances and postural issues by causing tension and pain in the lower back.
Sucking also messes up the intestines’ natural movements and can cause gas, bloating and constipation.
In females, sucking in the stomach is bad for vagina, it can cause urinary incontinence and other pelvic floor problems.
Pregnant women should avoid sucking in their stomachs as it can put unnecessary strain on the abdomen and lower back.
Letting go of trying to constantly control and constrict one’s stomach can alleviate these potential side effects.
Bottom Line
There is no scientific evidence to support the claim that sucking in your stomach helps you lose weight. It can only provide temporary cosmetic effects to look good – nothing else. In fact, the practice can have negative impacts on health, including digestive issues and back pain!
If you are looking to improve your posture or confidence, there are other, more effective ways to achieve these results. Ultimately, a comprehensive lifestyle change, healthy dietary choices and regular exercise is the best way to achieve sustainable weight loss.
Pregnant women and those with back pain or other health conditions should avoid sucking in their stomachs.
Frequently Asked Questions: (FAQs)
Can sucking in your stomach make it flatter?
Yes, sucking in your stomach can make it appear flatter for a short period of time. However, this technique does not actually make the stomach flatter for longer, it does not strengthen or tone the abdominal muscles. Additionally, constantly engaging the stomach muscles can lead to discomfort and even injury.
What happens if you suck in your stomach?
Sucking in your stomach can restrict breathing and limit oxygen intake, which can lead to digestive problems, fatigue, cramping, and overall poorer health. It pushes or pulls on the intestines and other organs, which can cause gas, bloating and constipation. Additionally, it puts a lot of strain on the abdomen muscles, leading to muscle imbalances and postural issues.
Does tying your stomach reduce belly?
No, there is no evidence to support the claim that tying your stomach will help reduce belly fat. This method is not recommended as it can cause discomfort and even injury.
How long do you have to suck in your stomach to get skinny?
Sucking in your does not make you or keep you skinny. However, for immediate results, you would have to suck in your stomach for extended periods of time, which is not recommended.
