Somebody please HELP. My stomach is EVIL !!!

jaysonbrody

Ok so I have been losing weight consistently for the last few months. Just 3 months ago I was at 217 lbs. I am back at 178 lbs at 5'11 once again and stuck there for a few days now ugh. But that's besides the point. I keep losing weight everywhere but the dreaded section from my mid stomach down seems to be holding on for dear life. People keep telling me, if my face gets any thinner I will look sick. My prominent Spanish cheekbones will stand out like golf balls lol. I don't want to look sick but I DESPERATELY WANT ABS. I eat clean not consuming white bread rice or anything bleached or hi in calorie. I try and stay away from processed foods. I lowered my carbs and fat intake. Most of my carbs come from vegetables or ezekiel bread, sometimes psyllium husk. I only drink water or tea sweetened with stevia mostly. I have dramatically lowered my sugar intake. All my sugar comes from a minimal amount of fruit or sometimes kefir in small amounts. I even lowered my salt intake. I workout 4 days a week mostly cardio. My calorie intake is usually around 1000. I just want to grab a knife and cut the fat out myself. SOMEONE PLEASE HELP !!!

michaelocampo

It sounds like youve done the nutrition portion already. The other component to lowering overall body fat % is working to raise lean muscle mass. Right now it appears you are just lowering overall mass, which may not change body fat % optimally. It is generally accepted that abs appear around 12%, and 6 packs around 10%, BUT you have to have lean muscle mass too. Time replace the cardio with lifting. Workouts that push multiple major muscle groups (Pull ups, Rows, deadlifts,) and once you are around 10%-12% THEN you can start doing the ab isolation workouts.

Zakiya05

Thanks, that was great advice michael. I'm no where near as diciplined in my diet as Jay, don't think I could ever be. But does that mean I will never get my toned tummy? I know people who don't work out who have six packs, could genes play a very huge role in the scheme of thing?

michaelocampo

I personally dont do any ab isolation exercises, but my overall activities (mainly martial arts) are enough to work my mid-section... so when my body fat % lowered, they appeared. There are also those who have a lower body fat % but do not have picture-perfect abs.. and it is recommended those body types do isolation exercises to increase the muscle mass in that area to get them to show.

My logic is this: Never say never, unless you (anatomically / biologically) do not have abdominal muscles. hahaha just kidding. Really, someone should be able to get abs to appear with the proper guidance, nutrition, and exercise. im certain genetics make it easier for certain body types... but if you have the muscle group, you can make them appear.

as far as the disciplined diet, that was just a major part of MY personal equation, when I got to a lower body fat % (fat mass down, lean mass up). i suppose you could have a less disciplined diet, but would have to be an absolute monster in the gym. everyone is different.