Waist size

Ajocal18

Alright so I started MFP in march at 198.8 lbs and am down to 148.6. Yay 50lbs! While my waist has obviously shrunk I am still measuring at 41 inches I know I am an apple shape but with 17 lbs to a healthy BMI it seems that my waist size is impossible. I am shrinking everywhere but my gut it feels like, at 5'1 and 148 lbs I am beginning to think I will never loose this weight. Are there any ladies of similar height that are apple shape as well, was your waist this large around 150lbs. I know you can't spot reduce so I'm basically just looking for reassurance it will shrink ! Thanks in advance

Kalikel

As you continue to lose, it will continue to shrink.

Patience is the hardest part of losing weight, IMO. Hang in there.

segacs

Where are you measuring your waist? At the narrowest point, or around your belly?

Take heart, though. I'm 5'1" and, at my SW of 155lbs my waist was 36". Now I'm down to 105lbs and my waist is 27". It really does make a difference.

CasperNaegle

Not a lady, but I can tell you it will come off. Great job on your 50 lbs, btw. Keep at it and you will slow melt that fat away!!

mireina33

Hey, I'm a personal trainer in Reno, and I have lost 175lbs and now weigh 127 lbs. I went through a similar struggle with my waist size. When you lose large amounts of weight there is excess skin around your mid section which is frustrating but as you continue to exercise and eat right I promise your skin will tighten and your waist will shrink. It's a process and takes time. We all go through periods when we can't see results and we plateau just keep at it and the results will come!

Asher_Ethan

congrats on the 50 pounds! I am in a similar situation as you but for different body parts. You have to continue what you are doing. You are doing great don't let this discourage you.

Ajocal18

Thanks , for all the support! I am measuring at the largest point however the narrowest is only a few less.

oocdc2

I'm having the same problem: I look like a deflated balloon on two popsicle sticks at the moment. (I even lost a shoe size...I had no desire to lose a shoe size...) Folks keep saying it'll come off eventually, so we all patiently wait.

Bshmerlie

Congrats on your weight loss. It looks like you've lost the 50 pounds in about 7 months correct? I'm at 195 right now and when I did the math that was kinda what I was figuring it would take. Just glad to see somebody was able to pull it off in that time frame.

kimny72

Ajocal18 wrote: »

Thanks , for all the support! I am measuring at the largest point however the narrowest is only a few less.

Your actual "waist" measurement should be taken just above your navel. I do measure around my gut because I want to see that number move , but if you are trying to get to a healthy waist measurement, it is referring to a specific place - basically, when you bend to the side, where the bend happens is your waist.

Ajocal18

Bshmerlie wrote: »

Congrats on your weight loss. It looks like you've lost the 50 pounds in about 7 months correct? I'm at 195 right now and when I did the math that was kinda what I was figuring it would take. Just glad to see somebody was able to pull it off in that time frame.

Yes from march 7th to September 23. I actually got off track and didn't loose a single pound one month so it may be possible in 6 months

Ajocal18

kimny72 wrote: »

Ajocal18 wrote: »

Thanks , for all the support! I am measuring at the largest point however the narrowest is only a few less.

Your actual "waist" measurement should be taken just above your navel. I do measure around my gut because I want to see that number move , but if you are trying to get to a healthy waist measurement, it is referring to a specific place - basically, when you bend to the side, where the bend happens is your waist.

Thanks for the tip! I will start measuring that are too, like you though I'm just really concerned with seeing the number change regardless of the spot I'm measuring!

Ajocal18

oocdc2 wrote: »

I'm having the same problem: I look like a deflated balloon on two popsicle sticks at the moment. (I even lost a shoe size...I had no desire to lose a shoe size...) Folks keep saying it'll come off eventually, so we all patiently wait.

Yes, I've lost weight in my face, neck, legs, ankles, thighs, feet , arms , wrist ,breast pretty much anywhere but my mid section. I'm getting concerned I look weird with my legs and boobs shrinking and my stomach staying exactly the same.

Ajocal18

Ajocal18

Ajocal18

I uploaded a few pics so you can see what I'm talking about and to brag a little lol. Anyhow the first pic with the side view is current.

rsclause

as someone who carried a large beer gut for decades, I can tell you its the last to go and the first to come back when you over eat. Keep up the good work, you got this!

Ajocal18

rsclause wrote: »

as someone who carried a large beer gut for decades, I can tell you its the last to go and the first to come back when you over eat. Keep up the good work, you got this!

Thanks, do you think I would have to go to the lower end of a healthy Bmi to get a flatter stomach. I know it will never be flat but just a slight chub would be fine

minties82

You look amazing!

vickypalfreyman471

Wow you look great! Well done! Xxx

jemhh

Ajocal18 wrote: »

rsclause wrote: »

as someone who carried a large beer gut for decades, I can tell you its the last to go and the first to come back when you over eat. Keep up the good work, you got this!

Thanks, do you think I would have to go to the lower end of a healthy Bmi to get a flatter stomach. I know it will never be flat but just a slight chub would be fine

First, you look great and have done so well so far. Congrats on that

Second, my guess is that you'll have to have a lower BMI, meaning not the top of your healthy range, to see a flatter stomach. My build is very similar. I look much slimmer when people see me from the front than I do from the side. I'm at pretty much the same weight as you, which puts me about 5 pounds below the top of my healthy range, and a bit taller (5'5.5") and my waist is still my largest measurement, proportionally speaking. My best guess right now is that I'm going to end up going to mid- to high 130s to get it to be less...big. Like you, I'm not looking for a flat stomach. Just not a big one.

Ajocal18

jemhh wrote: »

Ajocal18 wrote: »

rsclause wrote: »

as someone who carried a large beer gut for decades, I can tell you its the last to go and the first to come back when you over eat. Keep up the good work, you got this!

Thanks, do you think I would have to go to the lower end of a healthy Bmi to get a flatter stomach. I know it will never be flat but just a slight chub would be fine

First, you look great and have done so well so far. Congrats on that

Second, my guess is that you'll have to have a lower BMI, meaning not the top of your healthy range, to see a flatter stomach. My build is very similar. I look much slimmer when people see me from the front than I do from the side. I'm at pretty much the same weight as you, which puts me about 5 pounds below the top of my healthy range, and a bit taller (5'5.5") and my waist is still my largest measurement, proportionally speaking. My best guess right now is that I'm going to end up going to mid- to high 130s to get it to be less...big. Like you, I'm not looking for a flat stomach. Just not a big one.

Thanks for the advice, thats what I was fearing

segacs

Yeah, the stomach on a lot of us is the first to come and the last to go. I think it's more obvious on us petites because we have short torsos and there's not a lot of space for the fat to go, so it sort of goes outward instead of up and down.

Take heart: You're in good company. Your photos look great!

Oh, and I lost a shoe size, too. Dammit. I was a nice comfy 6 or 6.5, and now I'm a 5.5 in a lot of shoes and can't find them anymore. WTH?

flrancho

I'm 5'6" and have lost about 114 pounds in total, most of it here on MFP. The last time I measured my waist I was at 42 inches. Quite disheartening. I wish this belly would go.

kshama2001

Ajocal18 wrote: »

oocdc2 wrote: »

I'm having the same problem: I look like a deflated balloon on two popsicle sticks at the moment. (I even lost a shoe size...I had no desire to lose a shoe size...) Folks keep saying it'll come off eventually, so we all patiently wait.

Yes, I've lost weight in my face, neck, legs, ankles, thighs, feet , arms , wrist ,breast pretty much anywhere but my mid section. I'm getting concerned I look weird with my legs and boobs shrinking and my stomach staying exactly the same.

Oh no, I can definitely see a difference in your stomach

Thanks for posting the pictures and way to go!

victoria_1024

Hmm, are you sure you're measuring at the right place? Right above the belly button where your waist naturally goes in? You're similar in size to me. I'm 5'2.5" and 142 and my waist measurement is 29 inches. It's hard to tell in the pictures but you don't look overly heavy around the tummy area.

victoria_1024

Now that I'm reading the comments, I'm thinking maybe you are measuring your tummy, not your waist. My tummy is 39 inches, so that sounds closer to your measurements. I'm ok with it though, I've come so far! Plus I've had 4 babies so it's not surprising that it's taking a while for my tummy to shrink!!

Jmgkamp

Ugh. I feel your pain. I'm hour glassy, 5'1.5", and have gone from 219 to 149 since March. My waist is 38.5 but my things are gigantic. I mean, I need to lose in my waist too... but my upper thighs are just wrong. Wrong I tell you. And I've noticed that I'm losing around my knees and mid thighs so now it almost looks like my upper thighs are big, round balls.

gilliebee63

Some of the helpful getting started posts talk about this. "So you want a flat belly.." And the ever popular "sexypants". You're in good company.Those posters talk about the need to incorporate some strength training at some point. Now that I am close to my own goal weight, that's probably what's next for me too... In my personal journey to "sexypants".

lorrpb

Great job! I agree about strength training go everyone. The sooner you start the better. I started from day 1. It's not heavy lifting. It's a combo of weights, resistance bands, bodyweight, TRX, and more.

randomsue

I'm not an expert or at my goal weight but I didn't really start losing my belly until my diet changed along with lifting. There's a list of foods out there that can reduce inflammation and belly fat...Olive oil, avocadoes, nuts.