Fat Coming Off Disproporitonally

basschick

Like many people, I've always carried most of my weight around my lower abdomen. Since reaching my goal weight a year ago, I've been working on taking off the lower belly pooch that remains. I've never had kids, but I've had this roll of fat in that area since I was about 8 years old, even though I was very skinny everywhere else.

In adulthood, I slowly gained 50 lbs. over time and then took it off. Now, I'm 5' 5", weigh 120 lbs., I wear a size 4 but my hips are actually the measurements for a size 0 and are all bone. My face is so thin it's all skin and bones and bordering on gaunt looking. My arms and legs are thin and muscular. I keep reading on the boards that abdominal fat is the last fat to go and that you just have to keep losing and eventually it will come off. I just don't think I can lose any more and still look healthy! I eat fairly cleanly, stay at or under my calorie and carb goal almost every day. I do cardio 2-3 times a week and I lift heavy weights (my husband, a power lifter, trains me and says I lift the same amount as many women competitive power lifters.) In the year since I've lost weight, my chest and upper back have gotten bigger from the muscle I've built but my weight has stayed the same. Still the belly bulge remains. I'm so sick of it. I've worked too hard and denied myself for too long to look the way I do. I'm beginning to think that surgery might be the only answer. Anyone else have personal experience with this or actually have a medical opinion. Are there some people that just will always have excess fat in a certain area no matter what they do?

CyeRyn

I know how you feel. I'm also 5'5" but 135lbs with a goal weight of 125lbs. My belly likes to hold onto some fat but the most part that annoys me are the love handles. They make me feel very disproportionate too since one side seems to be slightly fatter than the other (gotta love genetics). I've found that doing calisthenics 4 times a week has helped a bit and I've only been doing this for a little over a month but I have high hopes that it will help tone up that area. Perhaps giving it a try if you haven't already and see how it goes for a month?

nxd10

I have three thoughts . . . for what they're worth. Both coming from knowing my husband, who has all his fat in his belly and who also has major intestinal issues so I've seen lots of pictures of him both from the outside AND the inside.

First, do you drink regularly? Not like problem drinking, but just a drink every day or two? If so, those alcohol calories that are above and beyond what you need are stored in your internal organs - specifically your liver. And they make you look heavier. The only answer to that is to drink much less. My husband dropped beer from his life and that disappeared.

Second, is it fat or bloat? A lot of people are very sensitive to certain foods so if they eat them, they balloon out. They aren't gassy or anything, they just look big. Different things set different people off. For my husband it was high fat foods and, again, beer. He dropped that and he took 6" (!) off his waist overnight. Two beers and its back. Some people are sensitive to wheat. Again, I would experiment.

Third, are you getting enough fiber? If you are sensitive to it, you might try Metamucil or some other dietary fiber - you can get it at any pharmacy - it doesn't taste bad and, frankly, it's good for you anyway.

Finally, so you just have poor muscle tone in that area? Since I lost weight, I also have a pooch - and I didn't before I lost weight! Mine really is caused by empty space where fat used to be that muscles aren't holding in yet.

OR it could just not be fat and be how you're built. We really are all different. The more you lose elsewhere, the relatively larger it looks.

Good luck!

basschick

.

basschick

I have three thoughts . . . for what they're worth. Both coming from knowing my husband, who has all his fat in his belly and who also has major intestinal issues so I've seen lots of pictures of him both from the outside AND the inside.

First, do you drink regularly? Not like problem drinking, but just a drink every day or two? If so, those alcohol calories that are above and beyond what you need are stored in your internal organs - specifically your liver. And they make you look heavier. The only answer to that is to drink much less. My husband dropped beer from his life and that disappeared.

Second, is it fat or bloat? A lot of people are very sensitive to certain foods so if they eat them, they balloon out. They aren't gassy or anything, they just look big. Different things set different people off. For my husband it was high fat foods and, again, beer. He dropped that and he took 6" (!) off his waist overnight. Two beers and its back. Some people are sensitive to wheat. Again, I would experiment.

Third, are you getting enough fiber? If you are sensitive to it, you might try Metamucil or some other dietary fiber - you can get it at any pharmacy - it doesn't taste bad and, frankly, it's good for you anyway.

Finally, so you just have poor muscle tone in that area? Since I lost weight, I also have a pooch - and I didn't before I lost weight! Mine really is caused by empty space where fat used to be that muscles aren't holding in yet.

OR it could just not be fat and be how you're built. We really are all different. The more you lose elsewhere, the relatively larger it looks.

Good luck!

Thanks for the suggestions! I only drink an alcoholic beverage about once a month. I tried a strict gluten free diet for two months and it didn't make a difference in my belly fat, level of bloat, or how I felt, but it did kick off the start of my 52 lb. weight loss, because it forced me to adopt better eating habits in general and those habits stuck even after I went back to eating gluten. I do tend to really retain lots of water when I eat high sodium foods, so I try to keep the sodium down. My muscle tone used to be poor but I've really worked my abs hard (I've worked up to where I can hold a plank for a minute and a half) and I now have rock hard abs under the layer of fat. I supposed it's true that losing elsewhere has made my lower belly stick out more. My upper abs are actually quite toned and lean and my hips are the smallest they've ever been. I guess I've just never seen anyone who is as thin as I am everywhere, but yet has a big lower belly roll.

onyxgirl17

This is interesting and I'm in the process of losing weight right now, it's definitely disproportionate for me. My abdomen is larger than it was when I was at this weight on my way gaining weight up LOL. I used to have a problem with pants fitting my legs, now I'm having the problem with the pants fitting my waist grrrrr.

careyannal

I have the same problem. I feel like my stomach looks bigger now because everything else has gotten smaller. SO annoying!

lilmisfit

I can relate. I've lost the weight I want to lose and am happy with the number on the scale, but the lower belly bulge is still there and it's very frustrating! :grumble:

I've been at this 8 months. I feel like if I lose any more weight I'm going to look anorexic and it feels like the belly should have caught up by now, ya know?

Today I met with a personal trainer (who is a friend of mine) and he developed a new work out program for me that involves compound lifts with weights and body weight. It's completely different than what I've been doing - isolation exercises and an hour of cardio every day - but I'm hoping that it's just what my body needs to get itself together and get rid of that damn pooch!

I'll send ya a friend request and keep ya posted on how it's going.

BTW...in regard to your username - do you play bass? I'm a beginning bass player myself, although I haven't picked up my bass in months and need to start lessons again. :blushing:

tugboating

Unfortunately, contrary to popular belief, you cannot control where you lose or gain weight from. Everyone is different and your body will decide where it will store the fat, or where it will burn it from.

One of the common adages is that "You don't lose lbs and inches at the same time." To help people overcome the fact that their clothes fit better, while the scale isn't moving and vice versa.

Obviously this statement is completely false because when you lose weight you are in essence "shrinking", but that could be from any part of your body. Your calves, ankles, forearms, hands, feet, fingers, upper back, inner thigh etc etc.

Before I keep rambling uncontrollably, it really comes down to patience and time. Just keep at it and don't get frustrated. In time your body will adjust and even things out.

Also, one more thing. Adding a steady regiment of weight training will only help you burn more fat. It is a proven fact that increased lean muscle boosts your metabolism.
Hope this helps!