can I get a flat stomach through just a diet?

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Replies

  • Iwishyouwell
    Iwishyouwell Posts: 1,888 Member
    Diet alone won't result in a flat stomach from my experience. I'm very close to being underweight. Technically, I'm not but I'm as thin as I dare be. I don't exercise except when my life calls for it (shoveling, yard work, etc.). My stomach is not flat.

    stomach.jpg

    How is that not a flat stomach? Because you have a natural curve that has nothing to do with excess fat? Many women naturally have that curve.

    Trust me, many people would KILL to have a stomach as flat as yours definitely is.
  • Aaron_K123
    Aaron_K123 Posts: 7,122 Member
    Well technically I think diet alone can get you a "flat" stomach but when most people say flat stomach what they have pictured in their head is the stomach of someone who is athletic and muscular and has a six pack or at least a flat stomach flanked by some oblique muscles. That look...that "flat stomach" look, that comes from weight lifting not from diet alone. You need to diet to lose the fat to expose the underlying muscle but if you don't weight lift you aren't going to get that firm flat look.

    Another thing I believe about that is that if you weight lift and eat to support that and build muscle then it takes less fat loss to expose that firm look which means you can operate at a higher percent bodyfat while still looking like that. Higher bodyfat on that end of the scale can actually give you more strength and energy. If you starve yourself down to 12% bodyfat (as a woman) you might have so little fat that your stomach appears flat but perhaps not in the way you would consider attractive and at the cost of your strength.
  • earth_echo
    earth_echo Posts: 133 Member

    How is that not a flat stomach? Because you have a natural curve that has nothing to do with excess fat? Many women naturally have that curve.

    Trust me, many people would KILL to have a stomach as flat as yours definitely is.

    Yes, it's that curve I'm talking about and is what I wanted to show. Not having a truly flat stomach is fine, imo. Having a rounded stomach doesn't mean "fatness". I see lots of ab/flat stomach pics on this site. Whoa. Yeah, for me that would be soooooo hard/not worth it.
  • Meerataila
    Meerataila Posts: 1,885 Member
    Depends on your genetics.

    so does that mean if my family stores fat primarily on their stomach, i can never have a flatter stomach?

    My family stores fat in their stomach primarily. Even I did. You just have to have low enough body fat to get there. Depending on your personal build you may need to add some muscle to keep from having to lose lots of weight.

    PhotoGrid_1380639685183_zps218147ba.jpg

    I'm so encouraged by this!
  • goldfinger88
    goldfinger88 Posts: 686 Member
    You do not get a flat stomach at all with exercise. You only get it by lowering your body fat and I mean low. Abs are made in the kitchen not the gym.
  • Iwishyouwell
    Iwishyouwell Posts: 1,888 Member

    How is that not a flat stomach? Because you have a natural curve that has nothing to do with excess fat? Many women naturally have that curve.

    Trust me, many people would KILL to have a stomach as flat as yours definitely is.

    Yes, it's that curve I'm talking about and is what I wanted to show. Not having a truly flat stomach is fine, imo. Having a rounded stomach doesn't mean "fatness". I see lots of ab/flat stomach pics on this site. Whoa. Yeah, for me that would be soooooo hard/not worth it.

    Your stomach is what I personally would classify as "flat", definitely. It just looks like a flat stomach with that natural outward curve many women have.
  • natashabefit
    natashabefit Posts: 76
    what does weight lifting have to do with a flat stomach if i may ask? arent their lifters that are heavy and have big stomachs?
  • natashabefit
    natashabefit Posts: 76
    and is lifting the only way to have a tight belly? can i do planks instead?
  • usmcmp
    usmcmp Posts: 21,219 Member
    what does weight lifting have to do with a flat stomach if i may ask? arent their lifters that are heavy and have big stomachs?

    I covered that previously. As you lose weight (especially when your body fat gets lower) your body will use some of your lean mass. Strength training helps preserve the lean mass along with adequate protein intake. That means you will have to lose less weight in the long run because you will be losing a greater percentage of fat than just diet or diet and cardio. It also improves body composition.

    There are powerlifters and some bodybuilders who have large stomachs. They're also eating large amounts of food, often taking steroids and lifting extremely heavy for many years. They also have significantly higher testosterone than you. Your stomach will not accidentally look like that. I am a woman who has been lifting for a few years and actually trying to gain huge muscles, it is a very long slow process to add significant muscle.

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1161603-so-you-want-a-nice-stomach

    http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/8-reasons-women-should-lift-weights.html
  • usmcmp
    usmcmp Posts: 21,219 Member
    and is lifting the only way to have a tight belly? can i do planks instead?

    Planks can help strengthen your core, but lifting helps preserve lean mass over your entire body.
  • leahraskie
    leahraskie Posts: 260 Member
    A couple of years ago I just simply walked and ate a ton less and lost 15-20lbs. My stomach wasn't toned, but it was fairly flat, it probably would have been more so if all I ate wasn't candy, ice cream and rice though.

    Be careful though, although I didn't realize it at the time I may have been borderline anorexic caused by the ideal that not eating would make me thin. Just reduce calories to a decent level and walk and you should lose some weight though.
  • natashabefit
    natashabefit Posts: 76
    Ive tried lifting in the past but I dont enjoy nor like it at all. Are there any other ways
  • amandagorder
    amandagorder Posts: 36 Member
    ITS NOT HUMAN!!!
  • AllOutof_Bubblegum
    AllOutof_Bubblegum Posts: 3,646 Member
    Ive tried lifting in the past but I dont enjoy nor like it at all. Are there any other ways

    No. I'm sorry. There are not. Learn to love the weights.
  • rileamoyer
    rileamoyer Posts: 2,412 Member
    Lots of things apply. Have you had kids? If so how many? How much did you lose? Lots?? I say keep exercising and give it a year. If it doesn't there is always lipo and tummy tucks. At my age - there will always be a little flab there - not going to spring for lipo or tuck. I earned my granny roll LOL:happy:
  • earth_echo
    earth_echo Posts: 133 Member
    Ive tried lifting in the past but I dont enjoy nor like it at all. Are there any other ways

    If you don't enjoy something, don't do it. Forcing is never good. If you have extra body fat, lose it by eating at a deficit (very doable). Dieting alone will get you very close to what you're after (low end of BMI). However if what you're looking for is a toned, flat stomach like those sported by athletes, it's gonna take more than just diet. If you want to look like an athlete, you'll need to behave like an athlete.

    "90% of your time is spent perfecting the last 10%"

    Diet will get you 90% there, exercise/strength training will get you that last 10%.
  • natashabefit
    natashabefit Posts: 76
    thanks

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