Stomach flab - is it just down to genetics?

jono2970 · December 2012

I do a lot of sit ups but my stomach remains flabby. The rest of me is getting reasonably taut, but I just feel that making my abs appear a little and tighten in the side flab is real difficult. any advice on this would be great thank you!

canelly · December 2012

Well it could be. But it will improve a whole lot if you keep working hard. ; )

Acg67 · December 2012

I do a lot of sit ups but my stomach remains flabby. The rest of me is getting reasonably taut, but I just feel that making my abs appear a little and tighten in the side flab is real difficult. any advice on this would be great thank you!

Do 190237819872 sit ups everyday and won't make your tummy tighten if your diet isn't right

Chief_Rocka · December 2012

To an extent, yes. You lose fat from different areas at different speeds depending on your ratio of alpha to beta adrenoreceptors.

Also, how lean you can comfortably get depends on genetics. For example, some males can hold 8% bodyfat effortlessly (think of the body of your typical basketball player). Another male might not be able to get that lean without his hormones crashing.

That being said, the amount of sit ups you do has almost nothing to do with it.

Ythiel · December 2012

There's no such thing as spot-reducing... it's all a matter of losing weight and (eventually) toning up by strength excercise... I recommend Insanity. Great way of getting yourself in shape~

BusyRaeNOTBusty · December 2012

To an extent, yes. You lose fat from different areas at different speeds depending on your ratio of alpha to beta adrenoreceptors.

Also, how lean you can comfortably get depends on genetics. For example, some males can hold 8% bodyfat effortlessly (think of the body of your typical basketball player). Another male might not be able to get that lean without his hormones crashing.

That being said, the amount of sit ups you do has almost nothing to do with it.

I love it when you talk smart.

Chief_Rocka · December 2012

To an extent, yes. You lose fat from different areas at different speeds depending on your ratio of alpha to beta adrenoreceptors.

Also, how lean you can comfortably get depends on genetics. For example, some males can hold 8% bodyfat effortlessly (think of the body of your typical basketball player). Another male might not be able to get that lean without his hormones crashing.

That being said, the amount of sit ups you do has almost nothing to do with it.

I love it when you talk smart.

You should hear me dissect offensive line play during a football game. rawr

nhradeuce · December 2012

I do a lot of sit ups but my stomach remains flabby. The rest of me is getting reasonably taut, but I just feel that making my abs appear a little and tighten in the side flab is real difficult. any advice on this would be great thank you!

The good news is that all the sit ups probably have your abs developed pretty well. The bad news is that your abs actually showing has nothing to do with sit ups and everything to do with your BF%. If you want your abs to show you need to get your BF% lower. Keep doing sit ups too so they look good when the fat is gone.

Firefox7275 · December 2012

Sit ups will not give you a flat stomach, they will give you strong hip flexors and possibly weak glutes (buttock muscles). To get a flatter stomach you should be working the transversus abdominis muscle which is like a giant belt around your waist.

To get rid of fat on the stomach area you need to get your diet right, do intensive interval cardio workouts, intensive weights routines where you are lifting more than you are resting and using a lot of muscle mass at once. Research suggests you can spot reduce the abdominal area ONLY if you get your diet and exercise right. That is because the fat in that area tends to be encouraged by anything the body finds stressful (poor sleep patterns, sugar/ white refined carbs, smoking, alcohol, etc) but is readily mobile in 'fight or flight' situations. Genetics do play a role but the effect can be reduced or overcome.

mtiheartmuscle · December 2012

Pretty simple: ABS are not made in the gym, abs are made in the kitchen. Focus on clean eating (5-6 meals a day, small portion, no processed foods, high protein, low carbs) and your abs will pop. I just started an "ab attack" challenge for myself (that's why my profile pic is of my abs..lol) - All I'm doing is eating clean, documenting, and making myself accountable by posting my weekly ab pictures on my page. :-)

emtjmac · December 2012

You already have great abs but in order to see them, you need to lose the fat that's covering them up. This may be more difficult for some than others but anyone can do it.