Wanted: A Flat Stomach!

ittyXbittyXbritty
ittyXbittyXbritty Posts: 73
in Health and Weight Loss
Okay, so my entire life I have always had a really pudgy belly...even in my photos of me as a toddler and in pre-school, my tummy jutted out. I cannot stress how sick and tired of it I am. My entire life (okay, only eighteen years, but still) I have had this problem...and once it was pointed out to me when I was eight (yes EIGHT) years old, I could not stop thinking about it. It's always been on my mind...and probably one of the reasons I have bulimia now. But, I digress...

Can ANYONE help me get my stomach flatter?! I have tried crunches, pilates, and different exercise machines at the gym but I haven't seen results...Even when I was starving myself and burning hundreds of calories a day, my stomach STILL was super pudgy. It's like it just won't go away.

Does anyone know how to fix this?
If it also helps to know, I'm trying to recover. I run anywhere from 2.5 - 5 miles each day OR I bike about 12 - 14.

Replies

  • jjefferies7
    jjefferies7 Posts: 120
    eat at a reasonable deficit, dont starve
  • jcolier
    jcolier Posts: 64
    try eating more. Seriously! not candy, coke, breads, or pasta. Good food. I've read that your body keeps fat if you don't eat enough food. I'm in the same boat (but male, and much older). I eat more and don't gain weight, since I exercise every day. When you get your metabolism back up to speed, then you can cut back.
  • slkehl
    slkehl Posts: 3,801 Member
    The quickest fix is a proper posture. Throw those shoulders back, sit up straight, and it'll look smaller.
  • AzhureSnow
    AzhureSnow Posts: 289 Member
    try eating more. Seriously! not candy, coke, breads, or pasta. Good food. I've read that your body keeps fat if you don't eat enough food. I'm in the same boat (but male, and much older). I eat more and don't gain weight, since I exercise every day. When you get your metabolism back up to speed, then you can cut back.

    Google "starvation mode myth". It is just that - a myth.
  • vdolmstead
    vdolmstead Posts: 17 Member
    Believe it! Holding it in strengthens those muscles and flattens the belly. Crunches help as well, but holding it in is an exercise in itself that can be done ANYWHERE and ANY TIME.
  • wgn4166
    wgn4166 Posts: 771 Member
    i want one too!
  • spammyanna
    spammyanna Posts: 871 Member
    Reduce your body fat %.

    You can't spot reduce, in fact I read somewhere that doing too many crunches will make you tummy look bigger.

    Eat enough to fuel your body. Lift weights with your whole body, deadlifts, squats...

    Do HIIT (high intensity interval training)

    (PS: just cause you can google something, doesn't make it true [or false)
  • happypath101
    happypath101 Posts: 534
    This is the thorn in my side too. I'm older than you and I've had a cesarian. So, I really struggle with it. Along with the things you've tried, I also find that going lower carb/higher protein REALLY helps. Also, you might want to try Jillian Michaels' 30 day shred. Good luck! Just remember to keep the self-love as you try to get rid of the belly. :O)
  • Rae6503
    Rae6503 Posts: 6,294 Member
    You need to seek treatment for your eating disorder first and foremost. Your obsession over one body flaw isn't healthy. Treat your mental health first, then worry about your physical appearance.

    You stomach is probably where your body stores it's last remaining fat stores. Our bodies like fat stores. When we do things like starve ourselves by eating too little our bodies use muscle as energy in order to preserve this precious fat. This is why you still had/have stomach fat at a relatively low body weight. Once you get your mental health taken care (seriously, do this first) of what you need to do is maintain a SMALL calorie deficit, eat plenty of protien and lift weights.
  • CharityPearce
    CharityPearce Posts: 215
    Sadly, a lot of that is genetic, and there's only so much you can do about it... For instance, you can't control where your body stores fat. But eating a healthy diet and exercise (all over, not just abs) will help you get all over proportions under control. There is no miracle food or miracle exercise that will give you a flat tummy. Just keep eating right, drink plenty of water, and exercise, mixing cardio and strength training. And good luck. You're such a beautiful young lady to be stressing so much over this. And standing up straight is great for you all over, not to mention that it makes you look confident, which always makes you more beautiful!!! Hang in there! :wink:
  • juanmacko
    juanmacko Posts: 4
    Well said lol
  • whitefang66
    whitefang66 Posts: 38 Member
    You need to seek treatment for your eating disorder first and foremost. Your obsession over one body flaw isn't healthy. Treat your mental health first, then worry about your physical appearance.

    LOL who are you? Judge frickin Judy???
  • athenagv
    athenagv Posts: 63
    Sadly, a lot of that is genetic, and there's only so much you can do about it... For instance, you can't control where your body stores fat. But eating a healthy diet and exercise (all over, not just abs) will help you get all over proportions under control. There is no miracle food or miracle exercise that will give you a flat tummy. Just keep eating right, drink plenty of water, and exercise, mixing cardio and strength training. And good luck. You're such a beautiful young lady to be stressing so much over this. And standing up straight is great for you all over, not to mention that it makes you look confident, which always makes you more beautiful!!! Hang in there! :wink:

    Perfectly put!!! Just keep at it and you'll see results! It wont happen overnight...but with hard work, you'll get there :) Good luck to you hun......and You are Too Pretty to stress over this. But I do understand! We as females care how we look and something like a pudgey tummy does lower self confidence. But like i said work hard at it and dont give up!! :)
  • foxyforce
    foxyforce Posts: 3,078 Member
    first, watch this pot belly scene, pulp fiction:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOfNk7TxASo

    second, cardio and less processed crap


    third, don't focus too much on your tummy, i just started wearing my hair up since i was 14...when a girl told me i looked ugly with it up. i'm 26 now. isn't that silly?
  • amystyran
    amystyran Posts: 84 Member
    on 30 day shred, jillian used to make me do obliques to get the bottom podgy bit from my stomach! youtube it to see what she does. or buy the dvd, it should help :) and it's only £5 :)!
  • MireyGal76
    MireyGal76 Posts: 7,334 Member
    Believe it! Holding it in strengthens those muscles and flattens the belly. Crunches help as well, but holding it in is an exercise in itself that can be done ANYWHERE and ANY TIME.

    This is what I do all day... works for me. I don't do any crunches apart from boxing class once a week.
  • Rae6503
    Rae6503 Posts: 6,294 Member
    You need to seek treatment for your eating disorder first and foremost. Your obsession over one body flaw isn't healthy. Treat your mental health first, then worry about your physical appearance.

    LOL who are you? Judge frickin Judy???

    You think it's okay for someone with an admitted eating disorder to be seeking diet advice on the internet?
  • DaintyAngelDreams
    DaintyAngelDreams Posts: 55
    Hey :)

    My fiancee always had a 'pouch' and I was reading up of ways to get rid, and read an article saying that carbs (esp the bad one's) cause you to gain fat in the lower tummy area, and that this was then impossible to lose through exercise unless you cut right back on bad carbs, and limit the good carbs. He tried and within a month his "pouch" had gone, and he now has a flat tummy, which is something he'd never had before. Also drink plenty of water, and keep salt intake to a minimum so you avoid water retention (which makes you bloated)

    Hannah
    xx
  • iplayoutside19
    iplayoutside19 Posts: 2,304 Member
    You need to seek treatment for your eating disorder first and foremost. Your obsession over one body flaw isn't healthy. Treat your mental health first, then worry about your physical appearance.

    LOL who are you? Judge frickin Judy???

    I'm with Rae, In terms of health, the eating disorder needs to be addressed first. If that's not corrected the rest is frivolous. That's not a judging others issue. It's an effectiveness issue.
  • Erisad
    Erisad Posts: 1,580
    I want one too but I figure I'll worry about that once I get closer to my goal weight. I'll take any progress I can get at this point. :)
  • ittyXbittyXbritty
    ittyXbittyXbritty Posts: 73
    considering I'm asking for legitimate advice and said I was trying to recover, yeah, I think I'll be okay...

    I'm not some idiot girl who wants to lose 20 pounds in like a week so I can look good at some beach trip and is asking for starvation tips. I'm still going to have my bad days when I regress back to my old ways, but I'm more or less trying to get into healthier habits that will benefit me in the long run, and help me fix a problem I've had since I was a child.
  • meledo85
    meledo85 Posts: 27 Member
    Me too:smile:
  • red_road
    red_road Posts: 761 Member
    lower your sodium intake
  • blinkiii
    blinkiii Posts: 90
    I feel the exact same way! It's like, all the fat will leave my boobs and butt, yet NEVER my stomach!
  • xxpipsxx
    xxpipsxx Posts: 30 Member
    hey its just a suggestion, but if you stomach sticks out considerably for your size it may be that you have severe bloating. This can be caused by gluten intolerance (and maybe lactose as well but not sure) may be worth getting checked and see if you do have an intolerance to something, I had a friend who has a gluten allergy and when she cut it out her diet her bloating flattened out in weeks, may not be your reason but just a suggestion :) x
  • Dylex
    Dylex Posts: 15 Member
    Believe it! Holding it in strengthens those muscles and flattens the belly. Crunches help as well, but holding it in is an exercise in itself that can be done ANYWHERE and ANY TIME.

    I've been squeezing my gut in lately at the gym while doing anything & so far it's giving that extra bit of help.

    I've always had a gut too not matter the weight/health I was at. So, I understand the frustration. Do try tensing it on a more frequent basis.
  • doneatfour
    doneatfour Posts: 120 Member
    Is it fat or the shape of your belly? I was a really skinny child and teenager and I always had a pregnant belly look. Not jiggly, just rounded and it protruded. One of my daughters took after me. She is very skinny, bordering on underweight, but has a belly that sticks out when you look at her in profile. Another thing we share is that the belly just pops out even more right after a meal. So, I agree with the post above that said it was largely genetic. I think it has to do with having looser ab muscles and poor posture (in my case). I'm hoping that I can get my abs used to holding my insides in by standing/sitting properly, consciously tightening my muscles throughout the day, and doing planks (which I read may be better because it doesn't make the muscle appear bigger as it strengthens). I still have about 10 or so pounds of fat to lose, so I don't know yet how successful this is. Good luck!
  • apriltrainer
    apriltrainer Posts: 732 Member
    The quickest fix is a proper posture. Throw those shoulders back, sit up straight, and it'll look smaller.

    I second that!

    I used to have a really bad anterior pelvic tilt. As soon as I realized it and worked on correcting it- tummy tightened. I also drink lots of water.....double the recommendation and when I get enough water..I have flat abs!
  • ittyXbittyXbritty
    ittyXbittyXbritty Posts: 73
    I'll work on posture and lowering sodium and a few other things...

    but to those of you who suggested things like gluten allergies and whatnot, I'm pretty sure I'm just fat. In fact, I know I'm fat.

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