Fat belly, skinny everywhere else
SarahHadley95
Posts: 6 Member
So iv'e always carried a lot of weight on my stomach, specifically below my belly button, and after putting on a few pounds over Christmas i actually had a few people ask if i was pregnant which is why i decided to lose weight. I've lost just over a stone now (I'm 5'6'' , was 11 stone 6 now 10 stone 5 and a bit) , but my belly hasn't budged, I've lost maybe a half inch of my belly, if that. My arms, legs and particularly my face are noticeably thinner, and i don't really wan't them to get any thinner as im quite happy with them.
I've been given conflicting advice, some people say i should do sit ups and other stomach exercises, but others have said that because you cannot 'spot train' to lose weight all this will do is build ,muscle under the fat.
Any advice? Has anyone else had the same problem?
I've been given conflicting advice, some people say i should do sit ups and other stomach exercises, but others have said that because you cannot 'spot train' to lose weight all this will do is build ,muscle under the fat.
Any advice? Has anyone else had the same problem?
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You were probably carrying more weight in your arms and legs than you realized. You can't control where you lose weight, but once you lose the fat in your arms and legs, you should see your belly fat begin to reduce, since there won't be anywhere else for the energy to come from.0
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If you don't want to lose anymore weight, awesome! Congrats on the progress this far. What I would recommend is picking up a heavy lifting routine (Stronglifts 5x5 is good but I know others can recommend some others) and focus on hitting your macro goals, especially protein.0
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lemonsnowdrop wrote: »If you don't want to lose anymore weight, awesome! Congrats on the progress this far. What I would recommend is picking up a heavy lifting routine (Stronglifts 5x5 is good but I know others can recommend some others) and focus on hitting your macro goals, especially protein.
this - whilst eating at maintenance or just below maintenance for a slow recomp
read the sticky at the top - "So you want a nice stomach"0 -
SarahHadley95 wrote: »So iv'e always carried a lot of weight on my stomach, specifically below my belly button, and after putting on a few pounds over Christmas i actually had a few people ask if i was pregnant which is why i decided to lose weight. I've lost just over a stone now (I'm 5'6'' , was 11 stone 6 now 10 stone 5 and a bit) , but my belly hasn't budged, I've lost maybe a half inch of my belly, if that. My arms, legs and particularly my face are noticeably thinner, and i don't really wan't them to get any thinner as im quite happy with them.
I've been given conflicting advice, some people say i should do sit ups and other stomach exercises, but others have said that because you cannot 'spot train' to lose weight all this will do is build ,muscle under the fat.
Any advice? Has anyone else had the same problem?
We are almost exactly the same size (I'm 146 lbs, so 10 stone 6, and 5'6".) Unfortunately, there is no way to slow down the fat loss on some areas and speed it up on others. I am still losing weight on places where I don't need to lose weight (lost 1/4" off my neck and 1/8" off my wrist last month) but finally finally am starting to see my midsection shrink a bit (1/4" from belly, 3/8" from waist last month.) So just keep at it. And if you are not doing any weight training, I highly recommend that you start doing it. It helps your shape a lot.0 -
...I have the opposite problem, my torso is relatively slender...my arms and legs are where I carry a lot of weight. Like to the point friends have commented on it. I still do weights at the gym but pretty much worry constantly that I am just going to make them bigger by adding muscle under the fat.0
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you can't spot reduce fat, lift weights and calorie deficit and eventually the fat will go from your belly0
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You are me!
I'm training for a 10K currently (ignoring my core which my back hates me for). This winter I plan on using weights to get stronger. Stomach firming is also in the plan but I don't know how firm it can get. I've always been squishy there.0 -
Double post
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emmyjo1981 wrote: »...I have the opposite problem, my torso is relatively slender...my arms and legs are where I carry a lot of weight. Like to the point friends have commented on it. I still do weights at the gym but pretty much worry constantly that I am just going to make them bigger by adding muscle under the fat.
If you use lower weights and higher reps, you should be able to help tone your arms and legs, instead of gaining bulky muscle.
Same for you OP, yeah you can't "spot reduce" fat but I still suggest starting a good ab/core routine to help tone up the loose flab.-2 -
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MonkeyMel21 wrote: »If you use lower weights and higher reps, you should be able to help tone your arms and legs, instead of gaining bulky muscle.
Toning is just losing fat and exposing muscle, which means eating in a caloric deficit to lose overall fat. If you want to strengthen your muscles and eventually build some, you can lift heavy for low reps or go a bit lighter for more reps. There's no need to go light for high reps. The majority of unmedicated women are not going to end up bulky without trying really hard to get there. There are no accidental bodybuilders.MonkeyMel21 wrote: »Same for you OP, yeah you can't "spot reduce" fat but I still suggest starting a good ab/core routine to help tone up the loose flab.
You don't loose flab. You lose fat. And while ab exercises will help strengthen and build the core (depending on caloric intake), they will not help spot burn the fat there.
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MonkeyMel21 wrote: »emmyjo1981 wrote: »...I have the opposite problem, my torso is relatively slender...my arms and legs are where I carry a lot of weight. Like to the point friends have commented on it. I still do weights at the gym but pretty much worry constantly that I am just going to make them bigger by adding muscle under the fat.
If you use lower weights and higher reps, you should be able to help tone your arms and legs, instead of gaining bulky muscle.
Same for you OP, yeah you can't "spot reduce" fat but I still suggest starting a good ab/core routine to help tone up the loose flab.
Can you please show to me what “bulky muscle” looks like? The only kind of muscle I’ve ever seen is lean and strong. Like jemhh so aptly put it, there are no accidental bodybuilders. Maybe take a look in success stories for women who lift.0 -
MonkeyMel21 wrote: »emmyjo1981 wrote: »...I have the opposite problem, my torso is relatively slender...my arms and legs are where I carry a lot of weight. Like to the point friends have commented on it. I still do weights at the gym but pretty much worry constantly that I am just going to make them bigger by adding muscle under the fat.
If you use lower weights and higher reps, you should be able to help tone your arms and legs, instead of gaining bulky muscle.
Same for you OP, yeah you can't "spot reduce" fat but I still suggest starting a good ab/core routine to help tone up the loose flab.
That's just ridiculous
OP please ignore0 -
Light weights higher reps....still laughing
http://www.nerdfitness.com/blog/2011/07/21/meet-staci-your-new-powerlifting-super-hero/
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^^^ THANK YOU. Yes, look at all that bulky muscle. So unsightly. /end sarcasm0
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MonkeyMel21 wrote: »
If you use lower weights and higher reps, you should be able to help tone your arms and legs, instead of gaining bulky muscle.
Same for you OP, yeah you can't "spot reduce" fat but I still suggest starting a good ab/core routine to help tone up the loose flab.
Says "you can't spot reduce"
Suggests low weight/high rep to "spot reduce"
Yes...please ignore this.0 -
At the risk of getting jumped all over...how much added sugar are you eating? Not saying this is your answer, BUT I find that for me, eating extra added sugar (especially from cookies, cake, candy and other sweets) makes my stomach bloat. When I cut or reduce added sugar, my stomach looks smaller (not flat, but smaller), and I feel so much better, too. Might be one of several things you can try.0
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At the risk of getting jumped all over...how much added sugar are you eating? Not saying this is your answer, BUT I find that for me, eating extra added sugar (especially from cookies, cake, candy and other sweets) makes my stomach bloat. When I cut or reduce added sugar, my stomach looks smaller (not flat, but smaller), and I feel so much better, too. Might be one of several things you can try.
What sugar would you recommend she cuts out: fructose? glucose? lactose? Or just the sugar that comes in cake and candy0 -
MonkeyMel21 wrote: »emmyjo1981 wrote: »...I have the opposite problem, my torso is relatively slender...my arms and legs are where I carry a lot of weight. Like to the point friends have commented on it. I still do weights at the gym but pretty much worry constantly that I am just going to make them bigger by adding muscle under the fat.
If you use lower weights and higher reps, you should be able to help tone your arms and legs, instead of gaining bulky muscle.
Same for you OP, yeah you can't "spot reduce" fat but I still suggest starting a good ab/core routine to help tone up the loose flab.
What in the actual?? OP - DO NOT listen to this!
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Light weights higher reps....still laughing
http://www.nerdfitness.com/blog/2011/07/21/meet-staci-your-new-powerlifting-super-hero/
I love this! So many people need to see this photo! I was a scale obsessed person once, now... Not so much. I weigh more than I wanted my "goal weight" to be, but I look way better, my clothes are smaller and I am alot less inches
Thanks for sharing this. 0 -
Thanks for all of the advice
I think i'm going to continue with the diet to see if the weight starts coming of my stomach now that it has gone everywhere else, and introduce some exercise to try and tone up.
I do go over my sugar macros quite a lot, but that tends to be from fruit.0 -
Fruit is good. NOT added sugar. You are on the right track!0
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I can't do sit ups because of umbilical hernia. I hate losing because my belly looks even.larger. what can I do for my belly area??0
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Try planks! There is a blog post on MFP that explains planks.0
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amylynn194 wrote: »I can't do sit ups because of umbilical hernia. I hate losing because my belly looks even.larger. what can I do for my belly area??
Get surgery. You know that most umbilical hernias in adults continue to get bigger over time, right?0 -
http://blog.myfitnesspal.com/a-beginners-guide-to-carbs/
Never said eating sugar stops you from losing weight. If you're going to quote me, please be accurate. I also said that FOR ME, reducing added sugar flattens my belly, which is what OP is asking about. May work for her, may not, TRYING TO BE HELPFUL BY SHARING MY EXPERIENCES. In my last post i meant that fruit is not added sugar.0 -
I also never said sugar makes you fat. Please do not put words in my mouth.0
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This discussion has been closed.
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