What could be the reason why only belly fat is hard to lose?

It has been a few months since I started my diet, and my weight is decreasing little by little. However, strangely enough, I can feel the fat on my face, arms, and legs disappearing, but the belly fat—which is what I wanted to lose the most—sees almost no change. When I wear pants, the waist is still tight, and since the fat on my lower belly and sides remains the same, my motivation is gradually decreasing.

I am currently controlling my diet and consistently doing cardio exercises about 4 to 5 days a week. However, I am wondering if there is a specific reason why my belly fat is particularly hard to lose. People around me say that belly fat is the last to go away; is that really true? I would also like to know if stress, lack of sleep, or hormones could be hindering the loss of abdominal fat.

I am also curious whether doing a lot of abdominal exercises helps lose belly fat faster, or if combining strength training and cardio is more effective. I am also wondering if I should reduce my carbohydrate intake further or if increasing my protein intake would be helpful.

Has anyone else struggled like me, losing weight in other areas but stubbornly sticking with belly fat? I'm curious to know if you eventually managed to lose your belly fat, and what exercises or diets were most effective. I would appreciate it if those who successfully lost belly fat could share their realistic experiences and management tips. 😊