“Tight Hip Flexors Can Inhibit Fat Loss”
16 Jul, 2019
Did you know that there’s a muscle in your body that, when it’s too tight, undertrained or locked up, can inhibit fat loss?
But, when unlocked, this muscle will not only help you lose fat, it will also improve your strength and athletic performance. Which muscle do you think it is?
Okay, it’s the psoas muscle which is part of your hip flexor muscles. It’s the only muscle in the human body connecting the upper body to the lower body.
Psoas muscle
Your psoas muscle has many important functions. It stabilizes the hips, supports the lower spine and abdomen, supports the organs in the pelvic and abdominal cavity, and gives you greater mobility and core strength.
It’s also deeply connected to our natural survival instinct. It instantly tightens in moments of danger to either protect you (in a fetal position) or help you run, fueled by the release of adrenaline.
If your psoas (hip flexors) is constantly tight—let’s say because of sitting too much—it signals to the body you are in constant danger, leading to overworking of the adrenal gland.
When this happens, your immune system suffers and your body automatically switches into fat storing mode in anticipation of danger.
This is how tight hip flexors can inhibit fat loss.
But not only that, tight hip flexors can also make you look fat even if you’re not. It’s called Bulging Belly Syndrome.
Wonder why your stomach still sticks out even though you’re hammering those fat-burning exercises every day? It’s a common myth that bulging belly is due to weak abdominal muscles.
The real cause is likely to be tight hip flexors, which cause the lower back to curve pushing out the stomach. When your hip flexors also known as the psoas works properly, it pulls the abdomen back tucking the tummy in, giving you a strong flat stomach.
That’s why some people can look fat with a bulging stomach even if they’re not fat.
Fat loss inhibition and bulging belly syndrome are not the only issues caused by tight hip flexors. They can also cause other nasty issues such as back pain, nagging joint pain, bad posture, trouble sleeping, sluggishness, digestive problems, weakened immune system, and circulatory issues.”
