What is the best way to lose weight on thighs and stomach?

purplelady87

I do the elliptical 4 times a week and sometimes I will do the 30 Day shred. I carry all my weight on thighs and stomach. What kind of excercises worked for anyone regarding thighs and stomach?

_persephone_

Squats! Won't spot reduce fat, of course (because its impossible) but will give you great muscles in your thighs and bum and make them look fantastic.

CMmrsfloyd

I have the same problem, I think it's pretty common for women. Sadly there's no way to pinpoint what part of your body you lose weight from, you just have to keep working and wait for your body to catch up with your efforts. You can exercise to strengthen muscles but you can't make fat come off of specific parts of your body, your body just does what it's going to do.

thefuzz1290

The only way to spot reduce is to lose weight everywhere.

hypersensitiveb

I was mostly doing cardio to loose the weight first and drinking more water along with my mfp diet and my belly has gone down a lot. Just starting to get serious with weight today now that I lost some.

_Khaleesi_

Move more.

jadedone

Supposedly interval training burns more fat than other cardio. There is also some evidence that intervals burn more belly fat than other cardio. At the very least it burns more calories...and as a result you will lose more fat, which is a win win. So you might as well try it.

robot_potato

I do some cardio and lots of squats& crunches with medicine ball. I'm getting good results so far.

JessicaHoskins

Using a stationary bicycle or better yet, a REAL bicycle is ideal, because you work not just your thighs & stomach, but also your butt.

TheFitnessTutor

Supposedly interval training burns more fat than other cardio. There is also some evidence that intervals burn more belly fat than other cardio. At the very least it burns more calories...and as a result you will lose more fat, which is a win win. So you might as well try it.

Yea...key word: supposedly. EPOC, Afterburn effect, etc., show some increase in fat burning, but it's not enough to make any real difference for anyone. It's ultimately a way to try to sell something else to someone. Think about it, what would be the reason behind belly fat being increased more than say leg fat, if you're running sprints? It's just that people have come to hate belly fat so much that any hint to anything targeting it gets super blown out of proportion to sell people on getting to some website, on some list, buying this pill or that potion. Elliptical, running, cycling, squats, doesnt matter. Either you have the genetics with alpha/beta 2 receptors, etc., that burns belly fat faster than other sources or you don't. You work out, get your macs, and burn fat, and see where you are a year from today. The main problem is that people generally still don't understand the importance of proper fat and general nutritional intake. While this site is a good place to track it, I always tell my clients to rearrange most "default" parameters given on here. And the exercise protocol may need to change with the intake protocol. I still can't believe how many people are still trying to super-exercise off the weight around here, and everyone gets good comments because they "came in under their calorie goal"....every freaking day. i never see anyone, other than myself, comment on how you might need to make sure you ate enough. We track, and we still want to eat less and less and less...and wonder why our bodies don't want to do what we want them to do.

ronellevan

Cardio is good, but weight/resistance training is better - a mixture of both is best.

purplelady87

Thanks everyone!

purplelady87

so what exactly is your advice?

purplelady87

Supposedly interval training burns more fat than other cardio. There is also some evidence that intervals burn more belly fat than other cardio. At the very least it burns more calories...and as a result you will lose more fat, which is a win win. So you might as well try it.

Yea...key word: supposedly. EPOC, Afterburn effect, etc., show some increase in fat burning, but it's not enough to make any real difference for anyone. It's ultimately a way to try to sell something else to someone. Think about it, what would be the reason behind belly fat being increased more than say leg fat, if you're running sprints? It's just that people have come to hate belly fat so much that any hint to anything targeting it gets super blown out of proportion to sell people on getting to some website, on some list, buying this pill or that potion. Elliptical, running, cycling, squats, doesnt matter. Either you have the genetics with alpha/beta 2 receptors, etc., that burns belly fat faster than other sources or you don't. You work out, get your macs, and burn fat, and see where you are a year from today. The main problem is that people generally still don't understand the importance of proper fat and general nutritional intake. While this site is a good place to track it, I always tell my clients to rearrange most "default" parameters given on here. And the exercise protocol may need to change with the intake protocol. I still can't believe how many people are still trying to super-exercise off the weight around here, and everyone gets good comments because they "came in under their calorie goal"....every freaking day. i never see anyone, other than myself, comment on how you might need to make sure you ate enough. We track, and we still want to eat less and less and less...and wonder why our bodies don't want to do what we want them to do.

Anayalata

I still can't believe how many people are still trying to super-exercise off the weight around here, and everyone gets good comments because they "came in under their calorie goal"....every freaking day. i never see anyone, other than myself, comment on how you might need to make sure you ate enough. We track, and we still want to eat less and less and less...and wonder why our bodies don't want to do what we want them to do.

This has also dumbfounded me from day 1. Why are people congratulating each other on eating way under their calorie goals?

It just makes me feel kinda bad for them since I know it's going to backfire really badly.

Original Question: There's no way to spot reduce. Just keep working out and eating right and you'll lose the fat. Slowly but surely.

purplelady87

I understand what you are saying and I do completely agree with you. I eat enough and healthy foods, I do not starve myself and get in as much as nutrients, protein and carbs as I should. My exercises have been working for me so far but I want to change it up so my body doesn't get use to one or two things and I hit a plateau.

purplelady87

Thanks!

Captain_Tightpants

I think it's a myth that you can't spot reduce. I find that a sharp scalpel and some heavy duty bandages work pretty well.

Sauterelle67

I drink a "green shake" every morning and it reduces bloating (a lot)!
In a blender (1 cup cold water, about a cup of kale (leafs only), a cup of chopped celery, about half a english cucumber, one apple, 5 frozen strawberries, juice of half a lemon and 1 tablespoon of grounded chia seeds).

marquesajen

Lose weight overall. You can't lose weight in just one area. You can do strength exercises to tone muscle, but that's about it. Do some squats and planks to tone, it does make you feel good in the mean time. Everyone is different, but I found the elliptical to be a waste of time unless you do a harder level, so I switched to a treadmill until it's warm enough to bike and run outside.

Sackit

I have also hit a plateau and utilize my elliptical atleast 4 times per week, swim and bike another day. I am starting to research some other exercises. I found this one today and I am giving it a shot. http://www.examiner.com/personal-training-in-hartford/tone-you-inner-thighs-with-cosmopolitan I am finding the pretzel is impossible for me. I will have to really work on that one. After the ankle tap, it has to be working my inner thigh is on fire.

shortandfeisty

Have you tried running? I used to hate it but then I went thru a period where I wasn't a member of a gym so I started out really slowly. It has made ALL the difference in my thighs and stomach. My stomach is still a work in progress post 2 C-sections, but its coming along!!

ErinBeth7

Running is good for everything, but really you cannot spot reduce fat. I wish it was possible!!! The best thing to do is focus on losing weight and it will come off in its own time. Frustrating, I know.

tinalatina

if you stick with 30 DS till level 3 you will really work the thighs and AB's. But squats are good also running! Stomach....pilates and core excercises....

shvrngrl

I have been reshaping my body doing lots of squats and lunges along with oblique and ab exercises. I use to have a really, really flat bum and large "apple" tummy. Now my stomach is smaller and my bum is amazingly rounder! But to get the fat off and actually be able to see my results I do in HIIT format and I run 3 days a week. You can't spot reduce just those areas.

mhotch

I think it's a myth that you can't spot reduce. I find that a sharp scalpel and some heavy duty bandages work pretty well.

Or a good suction catheter!

samhelen

Supposedly interval training burns more fat than other cardio. There is also some evidence that intervals burn more belly fat than other cardio. At the very least it burns more calories...and as a result you will lose more fat, which is a win win. So you might as well try it.

Yea...key word: supposedly. EPOC, Afterburn effect, etc., show some increase in fat burning, but it's not enough to make any real difference for anyone. It's ultimately a way to try to sell something else to someone. Think about it, what would be the reason behind belly fat being increased more than say leg fat, if you're running sprints? It's just that people have come to hate belly fat so much that any hint to anything targeting it gets super blown out of proportion to sell people on getting to some website, on some list, buying this pill or that potion. Elliptical, running, cycling, squats, doesnt matter. Either you have the genetics with alpha/beta 2 receptors, etc., that burns belly fat faster than other sources or you don't. You work out, get your macs, and burn fat, and see where you are a year from today. The main problem is that people generally still don't understand the importance of proper fat and general nutritional intake. While this site is a good place to track it, I always tell my clients to rearrange most "default" parameters given on here. And the exercise protocol may need to change with the intake protocol. I still can't believe how many people are still trying to super-exercise off the weight around here, and everyone gets good comments because they "came in under their calorie goal"....every freaking day. i never see anyone, other than myself, comment on how you might need to make sure you ate enough. We track, and we still want to eat less and less and less...and wonder why our bodies don't want to do what we want them to do.

Good points -- thank you.

macylane4

Running...it's the only way to tighten everything up!!! I hate running, but it"s what works

samhelen

I think it's a myth that you can't spot reduce. I find that a sharp scalpel and some heavy duty bandages work pretty well.

Or a good suction catheter!

Ouch - might have a flat tummy after that but it'll come with a good bit o' scar tissue

CleanCarol

Abs are made in the kitchen.

If you want to get rid of the fat around your middle, you need to really watch what you're eating (as opposed to X amount of calories you're taking in). Salt, processed foods and fat are the best things to eliminate to get you where you want to go!

mathen2

I have the same issue. I have been doing a lot of plyometric moves along with HIIT training ( high intensity workouts). I definitely see the difference even though its a slow progress. It is easy to get impatient. After 4 months of workout I can now fit into dresses and skirts which were tight around my hips. Pants is a totally different story as I am in between sizes!