What makes this even more challenging is the fact that your trouble spots are usually the last to disappear when you start losing weight.

So don't be surprised when you start losing weight to see it coming off of areas you didn't expect. For example, when I start losing weight it always comes off my face, neck, hands and calves first.

You need to stay realistic about this fact and don't be too hard on yourself. Your belly fat will come off as long as you stick with your healthy diet and exercise plan.

Building muscle is the most important factor in losing weight. The more muscle you have the more fat you burn.

Unlike fat, muscle tissue is always active, meaning that it requires calories to be maintained. Fat uses up no calories.

If you were starving your body would not feed off fat, instead it would eat your muscles first. This is why cutting too many calories can actually back fire on you.

So keep in mind that as you build more and more muscle mass your body will turn into a calorie burning machine.

Another point to thing about is how active you are. The more active you are throughout the day the more you can eat without gaining weight. The same rule applies with muscle mass.

Some people say that a pound of muscle weighs more than a pound of fat. This is not true. A pound weighs a pound no matter how you weigh it. The only difference is a pound of muscle is smaller than a pound of fat because it is more compact, plus it gives you the added bonus of calorie burning.

Two women right next to each other who weigh the same amount, but have different fat ratios will look considerably different. The one with more fat will be larger than the one with more muscle.

Instead of only focusing on weight, you should also look at fat percentage. This will give you a better idea of how in shape you really are. The numbers on the scale only say a little bit.

As you work to reduce belly fat, think about all the components that come into play.