do i need to lift to get a flat belly?

quest67
quest67 Posts: 94
in Health and Weight Loss
i dont want a 6 pack. i want a flat belly but is lifting the only way?

Replies

  • mulecanter
    mulecanter Posts: 1,792 Member
    Belly's are made of fat, abs are made of muscle.
  • evileen99
    evileen99 Posts: 1,564 Member
    Yoga or pilates will give you a flat belly.
  • jwdieter
    jwdieter Posts: 2,582 Member
    Lifting is not a requirement for a flat belly.
  • AlanByam
    AlanByam Posts: 36
    Diet for flat. Work-out for definition. It's mostly bodyfat% based
  • birdiecs
    birdiecs Posts: 237 Member
    To risk sounding like a broken record, abs are made in the kitchen.

    Eat at a deficit, exercise, regardless of what it is, does not spot reduce. Exercise for the health benefits.
  • wheird
    wheird Posts: 7,963 Member
    Diet for flat. Work-out for definition. It's mostly bodyfat% based

    This.
  • usmcmp
    usmcmp Posts: 21,219 Member
    i dont want a 6 pack. i want a flat belly but is lifting the only way?

    Flat stomach is based on body fat. Having a 6 pack requires muscle volume, which means you need to lift.

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1161603-so-you-want-a-nice-stomach
  • Siege_Tank
    Siege_Tank Posts: 781 Member
    Diet for flat. Work-out for definition. It's mostly bodyfat % based
    This.

    That.
  • IpuffyheartHeelsinthegym
    IpuffyheartHeelsinthegym Posts: 5,573 Member
    abs are definitely made in the kitchen. Lower your body fat and you will see a flatter belly and/or one with definition.
  • NRSPAM
    NRSPAM Posts: 961 Member
    Lifting can help your belly look better. Will make it easier to "hold it in," lol, and make it look more toned. Not required, and you can't spot reduce your belly fat. Muscle does help burn fat though, and help you to lose inches. ;)
  • devil_in_a_blue_dress
    devil_in_a_blue_dress Posts: 5,214 Member
    Do you need to? No.

    But I will show you my results from about 3 months of workouts like 30DS/Kickboxing/Ripped in 30, then I will show you what I look like after 3 months of lifting.

    This is me at 151 pounds prior to any working out:
    vfjaco.jpg

    This is me at 148 pounds 3 months later:
    dy26p1.jpg

    At this point I was like screw it, too much effort not enough results.

    I went back to looking similar to the first pic (very little weigh gain, but all the inches came back). Then I was like "Oh, maybe I should try lifting".

    This is me at 153 pounds after lifting 4 months (one month I took off for surgery):
    35na8ag.jpg

    Throughout the entire thing, I was eating about 1,700 per day. Like everyone is telling you, no you don't need to lift and visible abs are a matter of body fat%, but I look far better lifting than I ever did with lots of cardio (and I like cardio -- not trashing it).
  • Josie_lifting_cats
    Josie_lifting_cats Posts: 949 Member
    Do you need to? No.

    But I will show you my results from about 3 months of workouts like 30DS/Kickboxing/Ripped in 30, then I will show you what I look like after 3 months of lifting.

    This is me at 151 pounds prior to any working out:
    vfjaco.jpg

    This is me at 148 pounds 3 months later:
    dy26p1.jpg

    At this point I was like screw it, too much effort not enough results.

    I went back to looking similar to the first pic (very little weigh gain, but all the inches came back). Then I was like "Oh, maybe I should try lifting".

    This is me at 153 pounds after lifting 4 months (one month I took off for surgery):
    35na8ag.jpg

    Throughout the entire thing, I was eating about 1,700 per day. Like everyone is telling you, no you don't need to lift and visible abs are a matter of body fat%, but I look far better lifting than I ever did with lots of cardio (and I like cardio -- not trashing it).

    BEST. AB RESPONSE. EVER. Thank you for all of the pictures!
  • ndj1979
    ndj1979 Posts: 29,136 Member
    your priorities seem off...
  • quest67
    quest67 Posts: 94
    your priorities seem off...
    ]

    what does that mean?
  • quest67
    quest67 Posts: 94
    your priorities seem off...
    ]

    what does that mean?
  • jardimgirl
    jardimgirl Posts: 522 Member
    Wanna read this thread.. bump
  • psuLemon
    psuLemon Posts: 38,432 MFP Moderator
    There are two factors for abs/definition.... 1. low body fat percentage, 2. adequate lean body mass. If you don't have muscle (as seen in many underweight people) then you won't have any definition.

    There are thoughts that genetics could effect abs, but I haven't seen anything definitive on that.
  • albayin
    albayin Posts: 2,524 Member
    Diet for flat. Work-out for definition. It's mostly bodyfat% based

    so true~ :flowerforyou:
  • albayin
    albayin Posts: 2,524 Member
    There are two factors for abs/definition.... 1. low body fat percentage, 2. adequate lean body mass. If you don't have muscle (as seen in many underweight people) then you won't have any definition.

    There are thoughts that genetics could effect abs, but I haven't seen anything definitive on that.

    I think abs' shape is somewhat genetic. My husband doesn't have the standard 6 packs but he has packs, they just look different. :love:
  • Marymoe138
    Marymoe138 Posts: 68 Member
    bump
  • jardimgirl
    jardimgirl Posts: 522 Member
    Double bump lol

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