Belly fat?

GraceW1992
GraceW1992 Posts: 43
in Fitness and Exercise
Hey guys,

I was wondering, as I eat a low fat diet and exercise regularly, is there anything else I can do to help target my belly fat?
I keep my workouts varied to avoid the body being complacent, but I'd like any advice on good exercises or target foods for the belly?

Any help is greatly appreciated :)

Replies

  • kittyhasclaws
    kittyhasclaws Posts: 446 Member
    You can't target any kind of fat. Reducing your overall body fat is the only way to get rid of ANY kind of fat.
  • sophayz
    sophayz Posts: 592 Member
    unfortunately there is no way to target fat loss. even if you do more crunches the abs will develop but still be hidden under the fat. though if you are prone to being stressed or eating too few calories your body will be having cortisol spikes which tends to make us store more body fat in the belly area. i suggest you continue doing what you do , sleep more and cut the sweets
  • GraceW1992
    GraceW1992 Posts: 43
    I guess it's watching fat as well as calorie content for me then
  • kittyhasclaws
    kittyhasclaws Posts: 446 Member
    I guess it's watching fat as well as calorie content for me then

    Nope. The amount of fat food has is not going to have any bearing on body fat %. As long as you eat at a caloric deficit, you can eat all the fat you want. I wouldn't recommend it, but you can.
  • sophayz
    sophayz Posts: 592 Member
    yea studies show that fatty food has notting to do with weight gains as long as the calorie is withing range . the only thing that can make you gain is too much calories or too much sugar
  • Lady_Bane
    Lady_Bane Posts: 720 Member
    No such thing as targeting an area, abs are 99% diet.
  • GraceW1992
    GraceW1992 Posts: 43
    I don't agree, your point has basis, but I used to weigh 185lbs and now I weigh 135lbs. I did it by watching the saturated fat in foods, I ignored calories completely. So I guess it has some bearing, maybe it depends
  • sophayz
    sophayz Posts: 592 Member
    well fat filled food are higher in calories so just avoiding them alone reduced your calorie count
  • GraceW1992
    GraceW1992 Posts: 43
    At least you can eat gummi sweets though :)
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    I guess it's watching fat as well as calorie content for me then

    dietary fat doesn't make you fat. Actually, people go down this route and do more harm than good. Dietary fat is important for weight loss and weight control in general as it regulates hormones. It also is necessary for proper organ function and brain function.

    You lost cutting saturated fats before because you were cutting a very calorie dense macro-nutrient from your diet...unwittingly or not, reducing your calorie consumption. It had zero to do with the fact that it was fat in and of itself. Weight loss, maintenance, gain is science...it's called the laws of thermodynamics...nobody is exempt from the laws of thermodynamics. It's actually very simple.

    Also...you can't "target" fat...when you have a deficit of energy from a maintenance level of energy, your body dips into stored energy (fat)...and your body takes that fat from wherever it wants to.
  • j6o4
    j6o4 Posts: 871 Member
    I don't agree, your point has basis, but I used to weigh 185lbs and now I weigh 135lbs. I did it by watching the saturated fat in foods, I ignored calories completely. So I guess it has some bearing, maybe it depends

    most likey because you reduced your fat intake, you reduced tha amount of calories you were eating. The rounded estimate of calories per gram for protein and carbs is 4 calories and for fat it is 9 calories per gram. Fats are higher in calories but they are needed to regulate your hormones.
  • pastryari
    pastryari Posts: 8,646 Member
    I guess it's watching fat as well as calorie content for me then

    Calories in, calories out (barring any medical conditions).
    Science.
  • AJ_G
    AJ_G Posts: 4,158 Member
    I don't agree, your point has basis, but I used to weigh 185lbs and now I weigh 135lbs. I did it by watching the saturated fat in foods, I ignored calories completely. So I guess it has some bearing, maybe it depends

    That is correlation, not causation. Saturated fat is not bad for you. Your understanding of nutrition is very lacking. It can actually be detrimental to you if you cut your dietary fat too low as it can cause hormone imbalances. Dietary fat is important for hormone production and nutrient absorption. Set up correct macros, stop trying to go low fat, count calories, eat at a deficit and you will lose weight. Eating low dietary fat may cause you to lose weight, but if done for a prolonged period of time, it is certainly not healthy
  • skeo
    skeo Posts: 471 Member
    Bump..lot of good info in here. Want to bookmark.
  • Hazel9999
    Hazel9999 Posts: 21 Member
    Hold your tummy in whenever you can. If you are driving practice pulling it in and out, when you are at the bus stop pull it in and do pelvic tilts, Non-one will notice if you have a coat on - obviously not in this weather
  • GraceW1992
    GraceW1992 Posts: 43
    I have a chemistry degree, but body science I don't got.

    I'm pretty healthy in all honest, my fat percentage is healthy, my weight is healthy. I know calories will lessen with lower fat foods and I avoid the "low fat" foods as they're just full of sweeteners and other rubbish.

    Maybe I should rephrase my question....Are there foods I should avoid in my quest for a toned stomach, and any interesting exercises for the abs, obliques, lower abs section of the body?
  • Capt_Apollo
    Capt_Apollo Posts: 9,026 Member
    you can do some HIIT running, and high intensity metabolic conditioning work outs that "help target fat." they don't really target belly fat, just all around.
  • GraceW1992
    GraceW1992 Posts: 43
    Sounds good to me, I'll look it up
  • Capt_Apollo
    Capt_Apollo Posts: 9,026 Member
    Maybe I should rephrase my question....Are there foods I should avoid in my quest for a toned stomach, and any interesting exercises for the abs, obliques, lower abs section of the body?

    there are no specific foods you should avoid. a lot of this is trial and error. some people react to foods differently. some people smell bread and they get fat, others can have tons of pasta every day and be lean.

    as far as "interesting" exercises for the abs... well, i'd start using barbells at the gym. exercises like squats, dead lifts, bench press, and overhead press engage your core quite a bit when done right. they build muscle all around, which helps you burn fat.

    but the key is diet. and patience. this is a long process that takes more then a few months.
  • Hazel9999
    Hazel9999 Posts: 21 Member
    Avoiding bread helps me
  • mixedbag4444
    mixedbag4444 Posts: 189 Member
    Salt=water retention=bloat. Watch your salt intake so that your stomach will not be bloated.

    As a dancer (not professionally) we have to do a lot of core conditioning, so I can help you out there :). Here is a list of exercises that I would recommend:

    -The plank
    -The side plank
    -Crunches (they are good if you incorporate other exercises in your ab work)
    -Sit-Ups
    -Leg raises (lie on back, keep your legs together on floor, and keep them straight as you slowly raise them to a 90 degree angle from your torso... I'm not sure of the actual name)
    -Russian twists
    -Bicycle crunches

    *Any type of crunch that you do can be amplified by keeping your legs off of the ground, as the crunches work your upper abs and your legs work the lower

    If you have any questions just ask :)
  • zrjp9
    zrjp9 Posts: 86 Member
    Lots of cardio
  • GraceW1992
    GraceW1992 Posts: 43
    Great tips, thankyou :)
  • blessedmomof3girls
    blessedmomof3girls Posts: 61 Member
    Bookmarking this! Lots of good info!
  • irunoveru
    irunoveru Posts: 38
    I guess it's watching fat as well as calorie content for me then

    dietary fat doesn't make you fat. Actually, people go down this route and do more harm than good. Dietary fat is important for weight loss and weight control in general as it regulates hormones. It also is necessary for proper organ function and brain function.

    You lost cutting saturated fats before because you were cutting a very calorie dense macro-nutrient from your diet...unwittingly or not, reducing your calorie consumption. It had zero to do with the fact that it was fat in and of itself. Weight loss, maintenance, gain is science...it's called the laws of thermodynamics...nobody is exempt from the laws of thermodynamics. It's actually very simple.

    Also...you can't "target" fat...when you have a deficit of energy from a maintenance level of energy, your body dips into stored energy (fat)...and your body takes that fat from wherever it wants to.

    Smartest thing I've heard in a while! Great point! :)
  • Capt_Apollo
    Capt_Apollo Posts: 9,026 Member
    Lots of cardio

    i agree... but the right TYPE of cardio is necessary. a lot of people hear "do lots of cardio" and they think they need to log 8 miles daily.

    cardio can help create a calorie deficit, and for people starting out, it can be the key to dropping weight. but doing loads and loads of steady state cardio isn't the answer, at least not for everyone.

    a combination of the two (high intensity interval training and low intensity steady state) coupled with strength training, proper diet, and rest, is in my opinion, the best way to get an overall level of fitness and body recomposition.

    http://www.simplyshredded.com/cardio-for-fat-loss-high-intensity-interval-training-cardio-vs-low-intensity-steady-state-cardio.html

    http://stronglifts.com/hiit-interval-training-fat-loss/
  • LorinaLynn
    LorinaLynn Posts: 13,247 Member
    From personal experience... Eating at a SMALL deficit, and getting adequate protein and fat, while strength training, made the biggest difference in body fat, belly and otherwise.

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