Visceral Belly Fat

Matiara

OK, I've managed to freak myself out.

My stomach is my main problem area and when I allow myself to get out of shape, my midsection is where 99% of the excess body fat that I gain settles.

So, now that I've been on track for the past couple of months, the belly fat is slowly, but surely, going away. The jelly rolls on my back are shrinking and the subcutaneous fat that I carry in front is almost exclusively on my lower tummy, so I now have a 4 1/2 pack.

However, even if I were to take the fat over my muscles away, my stomach still sticks out quite a bit. I got curious as to why and researched the anatomy of the abdominal cavity where I was introduced to the wonderful world of visceral fat. I must have a truckload of the stuff under my belly for my stomach to pooch the way that it does. I understand that some of it is probably water weight and even the contents of my stomach at times, but I know it's fat for the most part.

Both my parents, both my grandmothers, and several of my maternal aunts have diabetes. Watching my mom poke herself with multiple needles everyday is a good motivator to stay on track. Hypertension also runs in my family. Though I'm in good health and on the right track to fitness, I've gotten paranoid since I now understand what's under my stomach muscle and the diseases it's related to. I've even had what I swear are heart palpitations. It's so silly and I'm mad at myself for falling for the power of suggestion.

I guess it's good to know what's in there, as it's another motivator to keep going, but it's scary. I feel like sending some of the links that I read to my cousins, who live grossly unhealthy lifestyles, as a scared straight method. Ugh.

MrBrown72

It is also possible that your lower abs are developing faster than the upper. that big strap of muscle that makes up the lower abs can push your belly fat forward. Just keep eating right and hitting the gym, it'll all work out.

amyhoss

Send me that link; lol. I would say 75% of my excess fat is visceral belly fat.

TigersLions

I've always had a big belly too. Add 3 babies to that, and it is even worse. The only time it is "flat" is when I binge drink the night before and am completely dehydrated. So, I've attributed it to that is where I carry water. Is that what hypertension is? I'll have to look that up. I just get tired of people asking me if I'm pregnant when I'm NOT!!!

wbutterfras

hypertension is high blood pressure.

Matiara

Send me that link; lol. I would say 75% of my excess fat is visceral belly fat.

Here are a few. I tried to stick to academic sources and sites that weren't selling stuff.

http://www.prevention.com/health/weight-loss/flat-belly-diet/flat-belly-diet-belly-fat/article/03ff4bd1d08c6110VgnVCM10000013281eac____

http://www.health.harvard.edu/fhg/updates/Abdominal-fat-and-what-to-do-about-it.shtml

I know Wikipedia is not the most reliable source on a lot of things, but this seemed straightforward:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abdominal_obesity

http://www.mayoclinic.org/medical-edge-newspaper-2011/jul-29a.html

Matiara

I've always had a big belly too. Add 3 babies to that, and it is even worse. The only time it is "flat" is when I binge drink the night before and am completely dehydrated. So, I've attributed it to that is where I carry water. Is that what hypertension is? I'll have to look that up. I just get tired of people asking me if I'm pregnant when I'm NOT!!!

I don't even have the excuse of children. Laziness and overeating caused my problem.