Considered underweight but have a pooch

QuietBloom

Sheesh, a little pooch is considered sexy! Plus, if you are on vacation, you are eating foods you are not used to and you may be a bit bloated.

QuietBloom

Of course I track my calorie intake! I'm always under my goal.. I don't ever use dressings or sauces and the only type of sugar I eat is from the teaspoon of honey I eat every evening
I can't afford to go to a gym in my area so I do pilates from videos off youtube, however, I would love to start 'pumping' up my muscles

Someone else said it, but I think it bears repeating. It sounds like your body is pretty much going into starvation mode. Constant under-calories everyday will tell your body that enough food never comes so preserve everything it gets as backup fuel, i.e. body fat in your favorite storage sites. (belly, thighs, whatever).

To sum it up, not enough calories and no triggers to direct those few calories to anything like muscle growth and you are seeing the result. Probably muscle loss and fat storage. Skinny fat. Like a malnourished distance runner.

I ought to know, i've fought that skinny fat problem since may. now i'm just maintaining at skinny while i try to dial in my gaining calories. It is a tough balancing act, but i think you have got to bump your calories to start, or else you may keep trading muscle for pooch even at the same weight.

Also, I don't think eating honey is doing your situation any favors. I would maybe replace it with something else, like plain greek yogurt or even natural peanut butter. I don't know what to make of the whole insulin spike stuff, but if you are worried about a pooch coming on, i'd at least read up on things that inspire fat storage.

I don't mean to start a "sugar is bad" flamefest, but i really think that a dose of pure empty sugar calories should be waaaay down your priority list.

The benefits of honey: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/264667.php

DerArschHut

Sheesh, a little pooch is considered sexy! Plus, if you are on vacation, you are eating foods you are not used to and you may be a bit bloated.

Very good point. I know i am a guy, but i can relate to the fact that a pooch/gut/whatever, does not look good in the absence of other balancing features like in my case pecs, shoulders, or biceps, lol! So i can see why she has the concern with it.

Also not discounting honey, assuming she is eating the fully raw un-processed stuff. She didn't say so i don't know. I just meant that she needs to likely fulfill some essential macros first over sugar.

QuietBloom

Sheesh, a little pooch is considered sexy! Plus, if you are on vacation, you are eating foods you are not used to and you may be a bit bloated.

Very good point. I know i am a guy, but i can relate to the fact that a pooch/gut/whatever, does not look good in the absence of other balancing features like in my case pecs, shoulders, or biceps, lol! So i can see why she has the concern with it.

Also not discounting honey, assuming she is eating the fully raw un-processed stuff. She didn't say so i don't know. I just meant that she needs to likely fulfill some essential macros first over sugar.

I should qualify: A pooch on a woman is considered sexy. Sorry.

TheRealParisLove

Just going to put it out there, I eat VERY clean! I don't eat fried foods at all, I don't eat junk food or processed food either. I don't ever eat bad carbs and I drink 2 litres of water a day, so I am quite healthy.. I just eat too little in general.

You might be surprised at what a little dirty eating now and again will do for your body fat percentage. I've increased my calories over the last month, and although my weight is stable, my body fat is dropping. And I'm one of those people who only does cardio and eats dirty way more often than I should.

Nutritional science is far from being settled. So long as you are eating whole foods, a whole-grain crust pizza with a beer for dinner is going to help your body fill in some nutritional gaps you may be experiencing. This will let the body release some fat because you have enough nutrients to sustain good health.

TheRealParisLove

Sheesh, a little pooch is considered sexy! Plus, if you are on vacation, you are eating foods you are not used to and you may be a bit bloated.

Very good point. I know i am a guy, but i can relate to the fact that a pooch/gut/whatever, does not look good in the absence of other balancing features like in my case pecs, shoulders, or biceps, lol! So i can see why she has the concern with it.

Also not discounting honey, assuming she is eating the fully raw un-processed stuff. She didn't say so i don't know. I just meant that she needs to likely fulfill some essential macros first over sugar.

I should qualify: A pooch on a woman is considered sexy. Sorry.

It can too be sexy on a guy. It all depends on what is going on from the neck up.

DerArschHut

for me now, i'm at 4-pack and ribs ... still not the right combination, lol! but to the OP, if you want honey at night every night, maybe use it to dip some chicken breast instead of just knocking it back plain. best of both worlds!

Cindyinpg

Just going to put it out there, I eat VERY clean! I don't eat fried foods at all, I don't eat junk food or processed food either. I don't ever eat bad carbs and I drink 2 litres of water a day, so I am quite healthy.. I just eat too little in general.

You might be surprised at what a little dirty eating now and again will do for your body fat percentage. I've increased my calories over the last month, and although my weight is stable, my body fat is dropping. And I'm one of those people who only does cardio and eats dirty way more often than I should.

Nutritional science is far from being settled. So long as you are eating whole foods, a whole-grain crust pizza with a beer for dinner is going to help your body fill in some nutritional gaps you may be experiencing. This will let the body release some fat because you have enough nutrients to sustain good health.

IN! For dirty eating (in moderation) and cardio (in moderation)... and weight training.

mallen404

This is almost freaky, I have the EXACTsame problem/stats, I am 175cm and 52 kg and I have a little pooch. But in my case I think it is just genetics, I have always had it, no matter how much I weigh or train my core muscles, it is just the way it is and I am fine with it. Just out of curiosity, what are your other stats (waist, hips, belly bf% etc.)? Maybe, in contrast to me, it is just water retention for you;)

It's probably what you are eating.. Are you eating clean? Lean proteins, veggies and fruit, whole grains?

I dropped a lot of my body fat by WHAT foods I was eating

lacaro1

This is almost freaky, I have the EXACTsame problem/stats, I am 175cm and 52 kg and I have a little pooch. But in my case I think it is just genetics, I have always had it, no matter how much I weigh or train my core muscles, it is just the way it is and I am fine with it. Just out of curiosity, what are your other stats (waist, hips, belly bf% etc.)? Maybe, in contrast to me, it is just water retention for you;)

It's probably what you are eating.. Are you eating clean? Lean proteins, veggies and fruit, whole grains?

I dropped a lot of my body fat by WHAT foods I was eating

In general , with most people, you would definetely be right, but I have been interested in nutrition all my life and I eat very healthily and clean (no processed food, high protein, good carbs lots of veggies, fruits and healthy fats etc.), so I don't think this is the problem. I do not seem to have a high bf% either because I am so bony that people have asked me before whether I am anorexic (which I am definetely NOT, I eat about 2000 cals per day and love eating;) So I guess it is really genetics, but I am (almost:D) ok with it..

Dr1nkbleachndye

If you are underweight and have a dog, the simple answer is you don't have enough LBM (lean body mass aka muscle).

Weight counts for nothing when what it's comprised of is a high ratio of bf>LBM

Lift weights like other people suggested, and the balance will have your pooch return to its dog house and not spend so much time out in the yard where it's noticible. Diet is very important going forward to utilize how fast you will achieve the results you desire.

RonnieLodge

Youtube - Jillian Michael's 6 pack in 6 weeks.

Plus, eat more protein and fats - nuts, seeds, avocados (although I prefer butter, bacon and coconut oil).

Been doing it a couple of weeks and for the first time in my life getting proper abs.

darrensurrey

I suspect you've done this on a VLCD? In any case, this is the result of sustained undereating. You have two options:

1) continue to undereat until your belly catches up, you'll experience all manner of health issues along the way but it's possible to remove all fat - I see this with cancer patients undergoing chemo.
2) eat more food, eat more protein, start strength training to build muscle which will result in a more healthy physique.

I know which option I prefer. If (2) is your choice, MFP is the right place for advice and support.

As for your current location, presumably you're only there for a couple of weeks? I'd just enjoy the food as 2 weeks is nothing in the greater scheme of things. Food is part of the culture of wherever you are so you should enjoy it. Walking to offset the cals is a good idea but you'll be doing that anyway. Then go back home and start anew.

There was no need for point 1 at all.

You're right but cancer is a big part of my life at the moment so I tend to talk about it a lot.

Just_Scott

I think it is perfectly acceptable to have a pooch--I have two--big labby dogs! So go ahead keep the pooch!

DamePiglet

Huh. I find it amusing that it's been women who have suggested that your little belly pooch is likely a temporary condition occurring because of the change in your environment. Could that be EXPERIENCE talking? .

Why not reserve your judgement about what to do about your tummy (if anything) until you get home?

Live4theLift

Belly pooch = High BF%

BeachGingerOnTheRocks

You need to eat more and get involved in some form of strength training. Pilates isn't enough to up your lean mass. What you are experiencing is very common with chronic undereaters.

When I was 17, I weighed 106 pounds at 170 cm, and I had a rounded belly even though my hip bones protruded. I look at photos of me when I was 16 and a track runner/sprinter, and I had a good bit of muscle on my body, even at 120 pounds. By the time I was 17, I looked almost sickly and had cellulite. Undereating did a lot of damage to me in one short year.

You need to eat more and strength train.

lilacinfinity

I do not seem to have a high bf% either because I am so bony that people have asked me before whether I am anorexic

At 52kg and that height, you'd be unlikely to have a high LBM%
If people think you look bony and skinny, then your BF% probably is high, it's the lack of lean mass that's giving that look, not the lack of body fat.
If you look around at all the women on here who have low BF% they all weigh a lot more than you do

If you like the way you look then awesome, but don't go kidding yourself that slim = low BF

Cranquistador

I think you need to see a Dr. Many of your threads have shown that you have disordered thinking when it comes to food.

best of luck.

lacaro1

I do not seem to have a high bf% either because I am so bony that people have asked me before whether I am anorexic

At 52kg and that height, you'd be unlikely to have a high LBM%
If people think you look bony and skinny, then your BF% probably is high, it's the lack of lean mass that's giving that look, not the lack of body fat.
If you look around at all the women on here who have low BF% they all weigh a lot more than you do

If you like the way you look then awesome, but don't go kidding yourself that slim = low BF

Well In general you are probably right and I should continue to work on my LBM, but my bf% is between 17 and 19%, depending on the method I use to determine it, so I don`t think that that is necessarily a high number..

Lupercalia

I think you need to see a Dr. Many of your threads have shown that you have disordered thinking when it comes to food.

best of luck.

I agree that you need to see someone about your relationship towards food and your body. Your posts make me suspect you're unwell. :flowerforyou:

macchiatto

This is an interesting thread. I am not quite as thin but I have a similar issue; I'm 37, 5'7" (171 cm) and got down to 128 lbs and still have a pouch. For me part of it is "twin skin" from carrying twins to full-term a few years ago (my skin is permanently stretched out/wrinkly in that area) but it's been frustrating to still have belly flab even after working so hard to lose weight and get down to a weight I haven't been in almost 20 years. I have been running since January and am now doing Jillian Michael's 6 Week Six-Pack that pp mentioned. Haven't been doing it long enough yet to see results but hoping it helps! Part of it is probably also genetics since most of my family seems to have a bit of a belly even when they're slim, and my body is not at all prone to building muscle so my bf% might be high relative to my BMI. It sounds like yours is in a healthy range but I agree with the others that it's worth seeing a dr about your under-eating and general health.