Help !!! How do I get rid of ""Belly Fat""

245

Replies

  • 1223345
    1223345 Posts: 1,386 Member
    Cut out Carbs

    Take fish oil, loads of water

    LIFT

    No need to cut carbs if you enjoy them, a deficit will take care of that. I haven't cut carbs and I've lost 3 inches off my waist in two months, it's all about where your body wants to take the fat from first. You can't change that it's genetic.

    Sorry, I must respectfully disagree. I enjoy carbs as well, but they still land in the middle of my big, fat belly and big old butt. If enjoyment of carbs were all that was needed to get a flat belly, we would all be in for an easy time.
  • 1223345
    1223345 Posts: 1,386 Member
    Get rid of wheat. Seriously. It never hurts to give it a shot.

    There is no need unless you actually have a problem with it - just eat at a calorie deficit and exercise.

    i lost 17lbs in 5 and a half weeks cuting carbs and lifting

    Because you reduced you calories and lifted, not because you cut carbs. If you had cut carbs and eaten at a surplus you would not have lost all that weight. (nice job thought :flowerforyou: )

    If you want to cut carbs that's great - but it is the calorie deficit that makes you lose the weight - not the lack of carbs. If you like carbs and wheat there is no need to cut them out at all.

    Again, respectful disagreement here. A person often will not realize what the culprit is unless they experiment. If an experimental item turns out to be okay they can always add it back to their diet. I do not think it is a good idea to discorage people from exploring their dietary choices.
  • Eat lean proteins and fresh fruits/veggies. Cut back on sodium, sugar and carb intake. People will disagree but try it for a while :)
  • slim422
    slim422 Posts: 104 Member
    It comes off my belly quickly when I give up bread and other processed carbs like pasta, etc.

    I've had a similar experience - I previously lost ~25lbs but kept a lot of my belly fat. Since mid Jan of this year I've lost almost 30lbs and my belly is melting away -that's the good news; however it's not for everyone. I have given up meat, dairy (with the exception of a very small amount each week), eat primarily gluten free and only eat whole wheat pasta about 1x per week. Absolutely no packaged/prepared food and never ever fast food.

    I know it's very restrictive but I do have a day about 1 in 10 where I consume considerably more calories/fat/carbs etc. Despite being restrictive it's completely worth it as my belly and butt are truly melting. I was a size 18 jeans in Jan and today size 12. I do not ever restrict my calories under 1200 except on about 4-5 days since Jan and have only been exercising for 2 weeks. You cannot spot reduce as so many others have stated but you can eliminate the chemicals, fat, GMO's, hormones and all the other crap in our food to help our bodies not only normalize our weight but clean out a lot of other things that are not good for us as well.
  • holothuroidea
    holothuroidea Posts: 772 Member
    Reduce your body fat percentage. You can't specifically take the fat off of your waist, but it will come off of there eventually.

    So how to reduce your BF%? Eat a moderate calorie deficit, and lift heavy things 3x a week. Cardio 2-3 times a week couldn't hurt, either.

    Basically, eat sensibly and work your *kitten* off.

    About the conflicting advice on this thread, there's no need to cut out carbs or fat, they're both necessary for a balanced diet for most people. Some people are "sensitive" to carbs and they do better when the carbs are low, but it's a very bad idea to go zero carb without medical supervision. Good low carb diets still include fruits and vegetables. Absolutely do not let your fat go below 20% of your calories if you're on a deficit. There are essential fats that your body needs to function. These fats are major building blocks of your cells and they're as important as protein.

    Some people do have gluten sensitivities that cause bloating, and that's where the advice to cut out wheat comes from. If you have other symptoms of gluten sensitivity, it could be worthwhile to cut out gluten for a while and see how you feel. However, you won't loose any fat, just bloat! If you're going the anti-bloat route I'd suggest looking to a low FODMAPs diet, too, if you regularly experience tummy troubles. But before you do any of that, reducing sodium and increasing water intake should get rid of some water weight.

    And also thanks to newme1313 for shutting down that zero carb nonsense. I'm just going to be over here looking sideways at all the people who advocate eliminating fruit and veggies. -_-
  • thebigcb
    thebigcb Posts: 2,210 Member
    <
    picture doesn;t lie. 5 1/2 weeks, no bread, rice, pasta, potatoes (carbs)

    No fruit, no coffee, no dairy.

    Don;t believe me if you don;t want too
  • cmeiron
    cmeiron Posts: 1,599 Member

    <snip>

    I'm offering sensible true advice.

    <snip>

    For the last time.

    Eat at a moderate deficit + cardio + lifting = fat loss.

    No need to cut out any macro groups.
    ^ QFT

    <<<- picture doesn't lie.

    Ate bread, rice, pasta, potatoes, fruit, coffee, dairy.

    Also chocolate.

    And cake.

    And beer.
  • endoftheside
    endoftheside Posts: 568 Member
    If it's fat, the only way to do it is reducing overall body fat and it will eventually come off the belly. If it's bloat, cutting wheat/gluten can make a big difference in how you look/feel, so it might be worth a try.
  • Stephiestephs
    Stephiestephs Posts: 132 Member
    I feel like bread pasta rice potatoes bloat me up, I have dropped that stuff to once a day if at all Mostly. I am still having trouble dropping weight, even though I cut that stuff back significantly.
  • Greta22L
    Greta22L Posts: 1
    You should make a "roll" from food membrane with red pepper or coffee
  • thebigcb
    thebigcb Posts: 2,210 Member
    got that straight now? lol
  • Omakitkat
    Omakitkat Posts: 27 Member
    Thanks to everyone for all the helpful advice. Here's what I;m going to try :
    Reduce the Carbs- No heavy breads ... yes occasional heathy pockets and wraps
    -no Heavy in sugar fruits........yes to berrys and low sugar fruits
    -no white potatoes............yes to sweet potatoes/yams
    -light on other starchy veggies( corn)...lots of fiber rich bright colors veggies (bell pepper, beets, eggplant etc)
    Reduce the Fat - yes to Lean cuts of beef , pork, and chicken
    - yes to healthy fat seafoods ( salmon)
    I'll add lifing weights , some cardio, walks , fish oil, LOTs of water.
    I'll eat less calories :smile:
  • felicia8604
    felicia8604 Posts: 274 Member
    I have read several things that a flat belly is made in the kitchen not the gym. So maybe try to eat super clean. No processed foods. Alot of fruits, veggies, and lean meats! and lots of water! Good luck!!
  • Sarauk2sf
    Sarauk2sf Posts: 28,072 Member
    <
    picture doesn;t lie. 5 1/2 weeks, no bread, rice, pasta, potatoes (carbs)

    No fruit, no coffee, no dairy.

    Don;t believe me if you don;t want too


    It wasn't the caloric deficit that did it then?


    <
    eats lots of carbs all the time, and has copious amounts of coffee, fruit and dairy.
  • vjohn04
    vjohn04 Posts: 2,276 Member
    <
    picture doesn;t lie. 5 1/2 weeks, no bread, rice, pasta, potatoes (carbs)

    No fruit, no coffee, no dairy.

    Don;t believe me if you don;t want too

    for you= caloric deficit plus water weight loss.

    No need to cut out food groups. Carbs are not evil or 'fattening'. Excess calories are fattening.

    When you go back to eating carbs, you will gain water weight. thus minimizing your losses. One of the reasons low carb is not sustainable in the long run.....

    my food diary is open open open. I eat lots of carbs.
  • DCpaleochick
    DCpaleochick Posts: 211 Member
    I am yet to see any major results but have just invested in a Polar FT7. It shows that when I am doing weights my body is burning more fat. i.e I can do a 30 minute kettlebell routine and 30 minutes on the cross trainer. I burn about the same amount of calories BUT I burn more fat doing the kettlebells. This is what I love about the FT7 and it has changed how I workout.

    I also read yesterday that by doing weights your body will continue to burn fat even after the workout is over. So if you aren't doing weights then give them a try. I also found my 45 minute legs, bums, tum's class is also a great fat burner even though you don't particularly work up a sweat, it is burning that fat!

    I will have to look for one of those FT7!
  • MassiveDelta
    MassiveDelta Posts: 3,271 Member
    eat cleaner and lift weights...heavy weights
  • WinnerVictorious
    WinnerVictorious Posts: 4,733 Member
    <
    picture doesn;t lie. 5 1/2 weeks, no bread, rice, pasta, potatoes (carbs)

    No fruit, no coffee, no dairy.

    Don;t believe me if you don;t want too

    fat loss is due to calorie deficit.

    if you lost fat, that's the reason.

    going low/zero carb also helps you shed stored water. bodybuilders do that right before a show.

    but shedding water weight is not fat loss, so it will come back as soon as you allow your body to replenish itself.

    you cannot spot reduce, but if you're mostly bloated in your belly from excess fluids, obviously this is where your body will shed most of the fluid, making it appear as if you are preferentially losing fat around your belly.

    i'm sure you did lose some weight during those 5 1/2 weeks due to calorie restriction. i'm also certain you shed water weight as well. a gallon of water weighs ~8lbs and i've read that some body builders can shed as much as 10lbs of water weight before a show just by restricting carbs, so the question remains.. how much of your 17lbs was fat and how much was water?
  • WinnerVictorious
    WinnerVictorious Posts: 4,733 Member
    I have read several things that a flat belly is made in the kitchen not the gym. So maybe try to eat super clean. No processed foods. Alot of fruits, veggies, and lean meats! and lots of water! Good luck!!

    it's not what you eat, it's how many calories you eat.

    there is nothing wrong with processed foods. it's also not mentally healthy for people to live in constant fear of food.
  • MassiveDelta
    MassiveDelta Posts: 3,271 Member
    <
    picture doesn;t lie. 5 1/2 weeks, no bread, rice, pasta, potatoes (carbs)

    No fruit, no coffee, no dairy.

    Don;t believe me if you don;t want too

    for you= caloric deficit plus water weight loss.

    No need to cut out food groups. Carbs are not evil or 'fattening'. Excess calories are fattening.

    When you go back to eating carbs, you will gain water weight. thus minimizing your losses. One of the reasons low carb is not sustainable in the long run.....

    my food diary is open open open. I eat lots of carbs.

    Thats not entirely accurate. Your body uses carbs for fuel. If you arent eating a bunch of carbs it uses fat stores for fuel. the less carbs you eat the more fat your body uses for daily burns. HOWEVER; carb free or severe limitation is hard to maintain. Its better to reduce your carbs to manageable level then to eliminate them. You are correct that Excess calories cause fat accumulation you are just misinformed about how the body is fueled.

    Carbs dont make you fat
    Fat is a good fuel source use that instead of carbs
  • Stephiestephs
    Stephiestephs Posts: 132 Member
    I love this thread I feel like I am learning so much about the carb issue. Thanks!
  • 1223345
    1223345 Posts: 1,386 Member
    I have read several things that a flat belly is made in the kitchen not the gym. So maybe try to eat super clean. No processed foods. Alot of fruits, veggies, and lean meats! and lots of water! Good luck!!

    it's not what you eat, it's how many calories you eat.

    there is nothing wrong with processed foods. it's also not mentally healthy for people to live in constant fear of food.
    Who is afraid of food? And again, why are you so against healthful choices? I know that the world is not black and white. What happens over here, may not happen over there. By the way, I didn't get this bangin body from eating spinach salad and celery stalks. And yes, I have practiced moderation with my choices. Processed food made me feel more hungry, and feel tired a whole lot. When I cut out wheat my appetite normalized, when I cut out man made garbage my weight began to come off. Slowly, but still it began to come off.
    By the way, you CAN get too many carbs. True story!
  • MassiveDelta
    MassiveDelta Posts: 3,271 Member
    I have read several things that a flat belly is made in the kitchen not the gym. So maybe try to eat super clean. No processed foods. Alot of fruits, veggies, and lean meats! and lots of water! Good luck!!

    it's not what you eat, it's how many calories you eat.

    there is nothing wrong with processed foods. it's also not mentally healthy for people to live in constant fear of food.
    Who is afraid of food? And again, why are you so against healthful choices? I know that the world is not black and white. What happens over here, may not happen over there. By the way, I didn't get this bangin body from eating spinach salad and celery stalks. And yes, I have practiced moderation with my choices. Processed food made me feel more hungry, and feel tired a whole lot. When I cut out wheat my appetite normalized, when I cut out man made garbage my weight began to come off. Slowly, but still it began to come off.
    By the way, you CAN get too many carbs. True story!


    X survery Says...

    Processed foods are in fact worse for you then whole unprocessed foods. Make the right choice. Its not about being afraid of anything its about choosing proper body fuel.

    If you have to buy and eat something processed so be it just avoid making processed foods your primary food source your body will thank you.
  • vjohn04
    vjohn04 Posts: 2,276 Member
    <
    picture doesn;t lie. 5 1/2 weeks, no bread, rice, pasta, potatoes (carbs)

    No fruit, no coffee, no dairy.

    Don;t believe me if you don;t want too

    for you= caloric deficit plus water weight loss.

    No need to cut out food groups. Carbs are not evil or 'fattening'. Excess calories are fattening.

    When you go back to eating carbs, you will gain water weight. thus minimizing your losses. One of the reasons low carb is not sustainable in the long run.....

    my food diary is open open open. I eat lots of carbs.

    Thats not entirely accurate. Your body uses carbs for fuel. If you arent eating a bunch of carbs it uses fat stores for fuel. the less carbs you eat the more fat your body uses for daily burns. HOWEVER; carb free or severe limitation is hard to maintain. Its better to reduce your carbs to manageable level then to eliminate them. You are correct that Excess calories cause fat accumulation you are just misinformed about how the body is fueled.

    Carbs dont make you fat
    Fat is a good fuel source use that instead of carbs


    tell that to my 24% down to 18% body fat. I never cut carbs once.
  • weinbagel
    weinbagel Posts: 337 Member
    go gluten free!
  • yo_andi
    yo_andi Posts: 2,178 Member
    Cut out Carbs

    Take fish oil, loads of water

    LIFT

    No need to cut carbs if you enjoy them, a deficit will take care of that. I haven't cut carbs and I've lost 3 inches off my waist in two months, it's all about where your body wants to take the fat from first. You can't change that it's genetic.

    Sorry, I must respectfully disagree. I enjoy carbs as well, but they still land in the middle of my big, fat belly and big old butt. If enjoyment of carbs were all that was needed to get a flat belly, we would all be in for an easy time.

    That is not at all what she said. Clearly enjoyment =/= weight loss. She said there is no need to cut carbs if you don't have a valid reason to do so because a deficit, regardless of carb intake, will take care of weight loss. Duh.
  • jennaworksout
    jennaworksout Posts: 1,739 Member
    low carb and lift
  • runlisaloo
    runlisaloo Posts: 35 Member
    Just keep working at it. For me, it's the last place I lose. Bummer.
  • jennaworksout
    jennaworksout Posts: 1,739 Member
    <
    picture doesn;t lie. 5 1/2 weeks, no bread, rice, pasta, potatoes (carbs)

    No fruit, no coffee, no dairy.

    Don;t believe me if you don;t want too

    for you= caloric deficit plus water weight loss.

    No need to cut out food groups. Carbs are not evil or 'fattening'. Excess calories are fattening.

    When you go back to eating carbs, you will gain water weight. thus minimizing your losses. One of the reasons low carb is not sustainable in the long run.....

    my food diary is open open open. I eat lots of carbs.

    Thats not entirely accurate. Your body uses carbs for fuel. If you arent eating a bunch of carbs it uses fat stores for fuel. the less carbs you eat the more fat your body uses for daily burns. HOWEVER; carb free or severe limitation is hard to maintain. Its better to reduce your carbs to manageable level then to eliminate them. You are correct that Excess calories cause fat accumulation you are just misinformed about how the body is fueled.

    Carbs dont make you fat
    Fat is a good fuel source use that instead of carbs

    disagree I believe carbs make you store fat
    I eat good fats and protein and low carb for energy source , and losing fat from my belly first time ever after 15 years of dieting.
  • fbmandy55
    fbmandy55 Posts: 5,263 Member
    The carb thing does not apply to a healthy person with no metabolic issues. Many people who notice that reducing carbs gives them greater success probably have an underlying metabolic issue like PCOS, IR or diabetes. I have PCOS and tend to have success when I cut back on carbs, even from fruit and when I do not cut back on them, struggle to lose at all.