Cannot get rid of my belly!!

lauragreenbaum

I've been doing Pilates daily for 9 months now, and it's definitely making a big difference in my arms, legs, and butt. However, the improvement to my abs has been minimal. Crunches are really hard on my back- is that the only way to get good abs and lose this tummy? Any suggestions appreciated.

MikePTY

Ab exercises don't have anything to do with losing stomach fat. Only eating at a calorie deficit can do that. Unfortunately, we don't get to choose where our body chooses to lose fat from, and for many people, their stomach is the last place that they will lose from. The only thing that will lose stomach fat is continued weight loss.

lx1x

lauragreenbaum wrote: »

I've been doing Pilates daily for 9 months now, and it's definitely making a big difference in my arms, legs, and butt. However, the improvement to my abs has been minimal. Crunches are really hard on my back- is that the only way to get good abs and lose this tummy? Any suggestions appreciated.

Tried planks?

lauragreenbaum

Yes, love planks and can incorporate more.

nighthawk584

I had a huge stomach when I started. Staying in a consistent calorie deficit is really the only thing that helped reduce it. That isn't to say crunches, hanging leg lifts or deadlifts don't help with the overall appearance and great for core strength. The thing that helps my back with crunches, is to lay on the floor and have my legs bent at a 90 degree angle resting on top of bench or ottoman...like pictured.

lauragreenbaum

MikePTY wrote: »

Ab exercises don't have anything to do with losing stomach fat. Only eating at a calorie deficit can do that. Unfortunately, we don't get to choose where our body chooses to lose fat from, and for many people, their stomach is the last place that they will lose from. The only thing that will lose stomach fat is continued weight loss.

This is probably true- I have not always stayed within my calorie max every day. I'm also middle aged and I think my body likes to hang onto fat in my tummy area. God knows why!

mmapags

Losing belly fat isn't about exercise. It's about lower body fat through calorie deficit.

duskyjewel

MikePTY wrote: »

Ab exercises don't have anything to do with losing stomach fat. Only eating at a calorie deficit can do that. Unfortunately, we don't get to choose where our body chooses to lose fat from, and for many people, their stomach is the last place that they will lose from. The only thing that will lose stomach fat is continued weight loss.

Since I have now regained a lot of what I lost and am working on losing it again, and have worked on it intermittently for a couple years, I will tell you that every time I lose weight, it goes from the outside in. I notice my lower legs and arms getting slimmer, then my thighs and upper arms, then my breasts and butt get smaller, and my stomach/abdomen is always the absolute last place I see a difference. You might be built to lose weight the same way. Frustrating, I know, since our belly is usually the thing that really motivates us to start trying to burn off fat in the first place. I get the age thing too. Losing weight seems a lot slower and harder at 44 than it did in my 30s.

puffbrat

https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1161603/so-you-want-a-nice-stomach/p1

https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10689837/does-this-uterus-make-my-stomach-look-fat/p1