Belly and Leg Areas of Fat

I have the same issue
But I've been told by my gym instructor that 1200 calories a day isnt enough and I should know increase to at least 1500 a day... I've dropped clothes size and weight but I still have an issue with my stomach. Im worried if I increase my calorie intake I will gain weight. What should I do?

I was in your same postion, I still have a belly and flabby thighs with skinny arms and chest (basically skinny fat)

I upped my calories to 1500, started lifting and gradually moved to 1800 and I am starting to see the belly melt away

Hope this helps

Weights will not help you lose fat in stubborn areas. In fact, they may end up making you look bigger if you build up muscle in areas where your body likes to store fat no matter how thin you are. You have to concentrate on losing fat through diet and doing cardio.

I'm not saying give up weights, but watch where you use them. You may not want to use direct resistance in certain areas.

^ I agree

People stop giving advice you've "heard from a friend"

Only give advice if its backed by factual evidence you've personally read in a study, not hey this seems like a smart thing to say...

So if I still have flabby areas on my inner thighs and belly, when I get down to my perfect weight (another 15 pounds or so), does this mean that the fat will be gone? I'm so close to the ideal, I just don't understand the flab in those areas.

Nope. Just because you are at your "ideal weight" doesn't mean that you will have more lean muscle than body fat. You will have to continue to lose body fat to get the look you want.

Body image does not equal number on the scale.

You need to start strength training - and ignore the advice about not using weights in certain areas. That's just wrong. I have large legs. I squat heavy. My legs have gotten smaller. You know why? Because I'm losing the fat covering up my muscle. Most people who think they have "large, muscular" body parts really have normal sized ones that are covered in fat. But because it's not jiggly, they assume it's muscle.

Lose weight to look good. Lift weights to look good naked. Enough said :laugh:

Thanks to everyone who have responded. I will continuing the strength training. I do it two times a week, 3 sets of 12 reps. Is this sufficient? Do you think I would see better results with free weights or with the traditional strength machines? Do I need more sets or is 3 sets enough?

Free weights are better!! Don't be afraid to move out of your comfort zone and try heavier weights....be challenged but safe. Also body weight exercises are awesome!! Pushups, pullups (on assisted pullup machine), dips, planks, squats, lunges. Calisthenics totally kick butt as well, jumping jacks, mountain climbers, burpees. When I started doing free weights and body weights exercises is when I really started to see a change in my body. Sometimes that goal weight on the scale is not the true weights that our body needs to look fit and trim! Shift your focus from weight loss and start googling info on body recomposition:flowerforyou:

So if I still have flabby areas on my inner thighs and belly, when I get down to my perfect weight (another 15 pounds or so), does this mean that the fat will be gone? I'm so close to the ideal, I just don't understand the flab in those areas.

NO!

I have been UNDER my ideal weight ..... did I have an "ideal" body? No, I still had fat legs. I will ALWAYS be somewhat pear shaped .... just as some people will always be somewhat "apple" shaped. This has a lot to do with genetics.

All you can do is lose fat & exercise .... and hope for the best (it does get better.... but maybe not perfect). The only "guarantee" would be liposuction.

DEAD LIFTS

SQUATS

You might also want to try to make sure you diet is filled with nutrient dense foods, for people that are close to goal a lot of times this does matter and can make a difference in things like this. Something worth looking into

So if I still have flabby areas on my inner thighs and belly, when I get down to my perfect weight (another 15 pounds or so), does this mean that the fat will be gone? I'm so close to the ideal, I just don't understand the flab in those areas.

NO!

I have been UNDER my ideal weight ..... did I have an "ideal" body? No, I still had fat legs. I will ALWAYS be somewhat pear shaped .... just as some people will always be somewhat "apple" shaped. This has a lot to do with genetics.

All you can do is lose fat & exercise .... and hope for the best (it does get better.... but maybe not perfect). The only "guarantee" would be liposuction.

Agree: hope, work, and then accept.

Just a note on liposuction (which I know you weren't necessarily advocating). Apparently, lots of people who've had it wind up with loose skin anyway, with no fat to hold up the structure.

They then look for skin *tightening* procedures, which provide minimal results (when they do). Of those, I think Thermage is the one that's supposed to have at least some effectiveness, for people who have enough collagen (but not too much fat).

There's a new device for 'cellulite' that I think does something towards its purpose, but has caused people to bruise heavily for > six months.

Surgery, i.e., a lift, is possible, but the scars are so invasive it's only recommended for older people with really significant loose skin. What I've read suggests that while tummy tucks are pretty effective, inner thigh lifts are mostly not. (Lots of different directions of force around there, delicate skin, even more unpredictable scarring than in other surgeries.)

Given all that, I think the best approach for someone who's at a healthy weight and is bothered by these issues is to:

1) Lose a BIT of fat, but not so much skin actually hangs. Probably more relevant to people over 35.

2) Beef up the muscle underneath so everything holds up better. I've seen someone here mention being strategic about that - building up the hamstrings and butt, especially, so the skin/fat drapes in a more appealing way (pulls away from the inner thigh) - and that makes sense to me (from an aesthetic POV anyway).

3) Of course, build up muscle in the rest of the body so there's more proportionality/distraction from the bothersome area.

4) Learn to like the body you have. Seriously work on accepting natural limitations. Live a full, healthy life that includes focus outside of the body.

In fact, they may end up making you look bigger if you build up muscle in areas where your body likes to store fat no matter how thin you are

I'm not saying give up weights, but watch where you use them. You may not want to use direct resistance in certain areas.

That is the biggest load of BS I have ever read

Here is my personal opinion/experience. My hips/Thighs/Butt have ALWAYS been my biggest area, its just where my body stores fat. Since lifting heavy doing weighted squats, lunges, one leg lunges and dead lifts I have substantially decreased the size of those areas, lifted my butt, it has been amazing. So i know people say that you cant spot reduce, i used to believe it, but my body has proved me wrong.