Why is my belly area not going down

kissedbythesunshine
kissedbythesunshine Posts: 416 Member
edited November 29 in Health and Weight Loss
So I've lost about 28lbs so far and I'm so excited about this. I still have around 40 to go give or take before I reach my goal. My problem is I'm losing weight everywhere except my belly area. Even my wedding bands are loose now. While I'm happy with my fingers, breasts, and back fat leaving, I want to start to see some changes in my belly area. Tell me what I need to do differently.

I don't have access to fancy equipment. I usually walk or do exercise dvds for workouts. I'm not expecting a flat belly by no means necessary after carrying 5 children. I just want to start to see changes in that area.
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Replies

  • lorrpb
    lorrpb Posts: 11,463 Member
    Fat leaves various areas of the body at different rates. Youve lost about 1/3 of your goal, just keep going. By the time you lose another 40 you'll be happier. You can't spot reduce.
  • momoharuno
    momoharuno Posts: 141 Member
    Unfortunately you cannot spot reduce, genetics determine when and where fat comes off and how it went on in the first place. If you just keep at it it'll go down eventually, you can do workouts to tone but that will not spot reduce. You can do it just stick with it! :)
  • jemhh
    jemhh Posts: 14,261 Member
    lorrpb wrote: »
    Fat leaves various areas of the body at different rates. Youve lost about 1/3 of your goal, just keep going. By the time you lose another 40 you'll be happier. You can't spot reduce.

    Correct.

    In addition, for many people the stomach region is the slowest to lose. As in it happens at some point during the last 10 pounds of weight loss.
  • CharlieBeansmomTracey
    CharlieBeansmomTracey Posts: 7,682 Member
    jemhh wrote: »
    lorrpb wrote: »
    Fat leaves various areas of the body at different rates. Youve lost about 1/3 of your goal, just keep going. By the time you lose another 40 you'll be happier. You can't spot reduce.

    Correct.

    In addition, for many people the stomach region is the slowest to lose. As in it happens at some point during the last 10 pounds of weight loss.

    well I have between 15 and 25 to go(to goal weight) and still have a little bit of a pooch as some call it.
  • CoffeeNCardio
    CoffeeNCardio Posts: 1,847 Member
    lorrpb wrote: »
    Fat leaves various areas of the body at different rates. Youve lost about 1/3 of your goal, just keep going. By the time you lose another 40 you'll be happier. You can't spot reduce.

    Yes. And any fancy equipment, diet, or lifting/cardio program that claims you can is a LIAR and you should 180 as soon as you see it.
  • emmycantbemeeko
    emmycantbemeeko Posts: 303 Member
    What everybody else said. Where our bodies store fat is luck of the genetic draw, and a pretty common scenario is last on-first off, so you'll probably see the weight come off in the reverse order of how you put it on. Was your belly the first part of you to gain fat? If so, it's probably going to be the last place you see it come off.

    It *will* come off if you keep losing weight, but there's nothing short of surgery that will take weight off a specific target spot, and anyone promising otherwise is either misinformed or lying.
  • bendyourkneekatie
    bendyourkneekatie Posts: 696 Member
    If you could spot reduce I wouldn't have a hip waist ratio that puts me in the obese category.
  • Thanks everyone. I guess it's silly of me to get upset about my belly anyway. The alternative (continuing to gain weight) was certainly not the answer. I'll just keep doing what I'm doing.

    And yes, my belly was the first place I started to gain weight in years ago. So I'm guessing it'll just be the last area to go.
  • CoffeeNCardio
    CoffeeNCardio Posts: 1,847 Member
    Thanks everyone. I guess it's silly of me to get upset about my belly anyway. The alternative (continuing to gain weight) was certainly not the answer. I'll just keep doing what I'm doing.

    And yes, my belly was the first place I started to gain weight in years ago. So I'm guessing it'll just be the last area to go.

    No it's not. There's nothing wrong with disliking a part of your body. I'd deck anybody who told me to just like my body the way it is. It's my body, **** off. As long as you can look forward and you're not obsessing over it, it's okay to desire something different. And the best news in the world is that if you still don't like it once you get to goal weight (I bet you will though), you can engage in some strength training to alter it's shape. Lots of options, lots to look forward to:)
  • Christine_72
    Christine_72 Posts: 16,049 Member
    I've lost weight everywhere, some parts even too much, yet my belly still protrudes like I'm pregnant! There's a pic in my profile that I took a couple of days ago (black pants, red tanktop) that shows what I mean :cry:
  • lorrpb
    lorrpb Posts: 11,463 Member
    Thanks everyone. I guess it's silly of me to get upset about my belly anyway. The alternative (continuing to gain weight) was certainly not the answer. I'll just keep doing what I'm doing.

    And yes, my belly was the first place I started to gain weight in years ago. So I'm guessing it'll just be the last area to go.

    This is a great shift in outlook!
  • Thanks again everyone.
  • 1stplace4health
    1stplace4health Posts: 523 Member
    Eliminate starchy foods and sugar. Best wishes.
  • aureliem1a
    aureliem1a Posts: 15 Member
    Just keep eating healthy... Avoid sugars n processed food. If I were u, I would do a few core exercises n high intensity workout. :) u will get there, be patient.
  • bellabonbons
    bellabonbons Posts: 705 Member
    For s female, according to the cosmetic surgeon who performed my tummy tuck, you can diet and exercise and never see the success that you would like in your tummy area. I had the cosmetic surgical procedure and I am very pleased with the result. My tummy is flat. Worth the investment to have it done. You will love the results.
  • WishfulThinking0
    WishfulThinking0 Posts: 54 Member
    As already said you can't spot reduce but you can still work on toning your abdomen muscles :) good luck with the rest of your weightless journey!
  • MommyL2015
    MommyL2015 Posts: 1,411 Member
    For s female, according to the cosmetic surgeon who performed my tummy tuck, you can diet and exercise and never see the success that you would like in your tummy area. I had the cosmetic surgical procedure and I am very pleased with the result. My tummy is flat. Worth the investment to have it done. You will love the results.

    That's fabulous for people with money to blow on that. For me, that's a fantasy that will never happen and while it is an option, it's not a realistic one for a lot of people.

    My belly is my nemesis. It's the last place I lose and the first place it sticks back on. I will just keep on keepin' on and hope one day it gets a little flatter.
  • jemhh
    jemhh Posts: 14,261 Member
    My belly is definitely the last place to go. I don't remember it being the first place to gain (started gaining too long ago and really just didn't pay attention) but I'm guessing it was.
  • cityruss
    cityruss Posts: 2,493 Member
    Eliminate starchy foods and sugar. Best wishes.

    Are you able to provide any evidence, or maybe just a rationale as to why doing this would have any effect on the fatty tissue that OP is talking about?

  • ama3387
    ama3387 Posts: 242 Member
    cityruss wrote: »
    Eliminate starchy foods and sugar. Best wishes.

    Are you able to provide any evidence, or maybe just a rationale as to why doing this would have any effect on the fatty tissue that OP is talking about?

    While it May not be scientifically based I have noticed that once cutting out extra sugar and starches I have been less bloated in my stomach. Giving me the feeling of it getting smaller
  • misty589
    misty589 Posts: 319 Member
    Have you taken measurements? I bet you have had some change, you just cant see it. Keep at it
  • emdeesea
    emdeesea Posts: 1,823 Member
    I read somewhere recently that typical weight loss goes like this: Out then In.

    That means that you lose weight in your fingers, face, calves. Then the forearms, the thighs, then the upper arms, shoulders, hips.

    The last to go is the abdomen and torso and they linked this to an evolutionary advantage, although now I can't remember why. I wish I could find the page I read.

    In any case, everyone is different, but I certainly lost my weight in this order. I have about 10 pounds left to lose and it's all in my torso.
  • LivingtheLeanDream
    LivingtheLeanDream Posts: 13,342 Member
    You said yourself you still have 40lbs to go, give it time and your belly will reduce along with the rest of your body...
  • stevencloser
    stevencloser Posts: 8,911 Member
    emdeesea wrote: »
    I read somewhere recently that typical weight loss goes like this: Out then In.

    That means that you lose weight in your fingers, face, calves. Then the forearms, the thighs, then the upper arms, shoulders, hips.

    The last to go is the abdomen and torso and they linked this to an evolutionary advantage, although now I can't remember why. I wish I could find the page I read.

    In any case, everyone is different, but I certainly lost my weight in this order. I have about 10 pounds left to lose and it's all in my torso.

    It protects your torso which houses all your squishy organs.
  • cityruss
    cityruss Posts: 2,493 Member
    ama3387 wrote: »
    cityruss wrote: »
    Eliminate starchy foods and sugar. Best wishes.

    Are you able to provide any evidence, or maybe just a rationale as to why doing this would have any effect on the fatty tissue that OP is talking about?

    While it May not be scientifically based I have noticed that once cutting out extra sugar and starches I have been less bloated in my stomach. Giving me the feeling of it getting smaller

    Nowhere in the OP is there any mention of gastrointestinal bloating being a problem.
  • Carlos_421
    Carlos_421 Posts: 5,132 Member
    For s female, according to the cosmetic surgeon who performed my tummy tuck, you can diet and exercise and never see the success that you would like in your tummy area. I had the cosmetic surgical procedure and I am very pleased with the result. My tummy is flat. Worth the investment to have it done. You will love the results.

    Of course that's what a cosmetic surgeon would say. They'd go broke if they told everyone that all they have to do is cut calories and stick with it.
  • emdeesea
    emdeesea Posts: 1,823 Member
    emdeesea wrote: »
    I read somewhere recently that typical weight loss goes like this: Out then In.

    That means that you lose weight in your fingers, face, calves. Then the forearms, the thighs, then the upper arms, shoulders, hips.

    The last to go is the abdomen and torso and they linked this to an evolutionary advantage, although now I can't remember why. I wish I could find the page I read.

    In any case, everyone is different, but I certainly lost my weight in this order. I have about 10 pounds left to lose and it's all in my torso.

    It protects your torso which houses all your squishy organs.

    Yeah, that's probably it. It's where the important bits are. :)
  • Expatmommy79
    Expatmommy79 Posts: 940 Member
    Carlos_421 wrote: »
    For s female, according to the cosmetic surgeon who performed my tummy tuck, you can diet and exercise and never see the success that you would like in your tummy area. I had the cosmetic surgical procedure and I am very pleased with the result. My tummy is flat. Worth the investment to have it done. You will love the results.

    Of course that's what a cosmetic surgeon would say. They'd go broke if they told everyone that all they have to do is cut calories and stick with it.

    I'm pretty sure even 30 pounds lighter my stomach - post 3 csection babies will never look the same as it did as a young adult.

    Sometimes surgery is the last resort for a sleeker final look.
  • UG77
    UG77 Posts: 206 Member
    Thanks everyone. I guess it's silly of me to get upset about my belly anyway. The alternative (continuing to gain weight) was certainly not the answer. I'll just keep doing what I'm doing.

    And yes, my belly was the first place I started to gain weight in years ago. So I'm guessing it'll just be the last area to go.

    It's not silly to get frustrated. If we were complacent we wouldn't have gotten up and started moving.

    What everyone else has said is correct about not spot reducing but I didn't see anyone mention visceral fat. This is a fat deposit in your abdominal cavity that hangs out around some of your internal organs, most notably your liver. Your body really loves to hang on to this one so it's going to most likely be the very last thing that gets worked off.
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