Muffin Top

Hi, I am not overweight, but could just do with losing a couple of pounds and toning up. The bit that always gets to me and upsets me more than anything else is my muffin top. No matter what i do diet/exercise wise, it doesnt go. I do a lot of exercise-cardio, weights etc and i eat well the majority of the time, but the fat on my lower back just wont budge.
Anyone got any ideas or suggestions? I would really appreciate it :)
«1

Replies

  • kini324
    kini324 Posts: 239 Member
    I've been told that it's all diet at that point. Low sugar, low carb- lean meats/proteins and veggies are key to getting rid of it. Good luck!
  • Firefox7275
    Firefox7275 Posts: 2,040 Member
    Toning up does not exist because all muscles have tone unless you are incapable of standing, I assume you mean you want to build lean muscle and lose a little bodyfat. Less quantity of exercise more quality: try training maximum four times a week for maximum one hour, high intensity cardio intervals and heavy weights working a lot of muscle mass at once. Many women just don't work hard enough to get serious results, either they are chronically under-recovered or they don't realise what they are capable of.

    Nutrition wise no idea what are you doing at present, your diary is locked. Aim for a low glycaemic index, anti stress diet and lifestyle. Plenty of nutrients which are associated in the literature with reduced bodyfat such as those in oily fish and reduced fat dairy. Lose processed, high glycaemic index, low nutrient and junk food.
  • FitbeTMF
    FitbeTMF Posts: 251
    I've been told that it's all diet at that point. Low sugar, low carb- lean meats/proteins and veggies are key to getting rid of it. Good luck!

    And sticking with it for a LONG time lol. Adipose fat is SO hard to eliminate
  • VanillaBone
    VanillaBone Posts: 119 Member
    Key to immediately losing muffin top: WEAR PANTS THAT FIT. If that means going up a size, so be it.
  • BeingAwesome247
    BeingAwesome247 Posts: 1,171 Member
    Key to immediately losing muffin top: WEAR PANTS THAT FIT. If that means going up a size, so be it.

    Win \m/
  • auddii
    auddii Posts: 15,357 Member
    Key to immediately losing muffin top: WEAR PANTS THAT FIT. If that means going up a size, so be it.

    Ha, made me laugh.

    OP, from the experience of a lot of other women on this site, it seems that lifting heavy is the key. (And I mean heavy, like using the 45lb barbell and then add additional weights.) Get off the machines and explore the free weights section of your gym. Most of the success stories also say they cut down cardio when they started lifting heavy. I am at the start of my journey, so I can't provide much personal help.
  • allie491
    allie491 Posts: 91 Member
    Ugh, I'm in the same boat as you, stupid muffin top.
  • LivingtheLeanDream
    LivingtheLeanDream Posts: 13,342 Member
    I have one of those too!! but the good news it is diminishing - with each pound I lose it gets smaller!! I think you'll find as you lose a few more pounds it will disappear - in saying that, I do think where we store our fat is genetic, I know myself I will never completely lose it (and it doesn't help that most trousers are low rise either!) but I am loving my newer shape and as another commented, buy good fitting trousers/jeans and that'll take care of it :)
  • ciaramcevoy85
    ciaramcevoy85 Posts: 2 Member
    Not sure if you're already doing this. But side planks work really well. I tend to be the same, not overweight but for me it's upper thighs and at times muffin top. The only thing that works for me is side planks. You can really feel the burn. And it only takes a couple of minutes. So maybe try do them a few times a day when you get the chance. Good luck!
  • tpow1196
    tpow1196 Posts: 51 Member
    Key to immediately losing muffin top: WEAR PANTS THAT FIT. If that means going up a size, so be it.

    Win \m/

    :) I have a bakers dozen! Wearing tight pants makes it even worse.
  • Of course idk what your diet looks like already but lower back and lower abs and thighs are stubborn fat areas for most people and it will be the very last place that your body will lose at.... And I'm about to go nutrition geek here but unless your literally reaching sub 20% body fat which is becoming lean for females most of the time those stubborn fat areas won't ever leave.... And if lean mass and fat loss are your goal... Unless you have been weight training for years your still a beginner and will benefit from basically any weight program if your lifting heavy. And HIIT cardio will or a least can ruin your muscle gains because your body will target carbs for energy instead of fat.... Use low intensity steady state cardio while having and empty stomach while supplementing with caffeine and a supplement called yohimbine (I know you probably never heard of it or only heard of it as a male enhancement drug) but yohimbine has benefits for losing stubborn fat from hard areas like the lower back...
    Macros for nutrition while trying to lean out and build muscle would have to look like this
    Workout days - weight training
    1 gram of protein per lb of lean body mass
    About 1.2 grams of carbs per lb of mean body pass
    Fats keep at about .4 grams per lb
    150 lb per at 20% bf would eat 130 grams protein 176 grams carbs and 25 grams of fat
    Non weight training days- low intensity cardio
    Early morning cardio with no food while taking 300mg caffeine and 12mg yohimbine 45 min cardio
    130 G protein
    Less than 60 grams of carbs
    100 grams or lower of fats
    This is for optimal gains in strength and losing purely fat and is a very complicated diet but this would most likely get you into almost fitness model shape if your into that... Like I said I went nutrition geek on ya but trying to help :D
  • xxxemaxxx
    xxxemaxxx Posts: 29 Member
    Key to immediately losing muffin top: WEAR PANTS THAT FIT. If that means going up a size, so be it.

    I think it would occur even if i did gfo up a size, but the size i wear is the right size for my legs/bum etc. if i went up a size, it would be baggy :( im not squeezing myself in to clothes that are too small (i hate that look!)
  • xxxemaxxx
    xxxemaxxx Posts: 29 Member
    Thank you all. I wasn't aware that my food diary was locked so i'll open it now. :)
  • Key to immediately losing muffin top: WEAR PANTS THAT FIT. If that means going up a size, so be it.

    Ha, made me laugh.

    OP, from the experience of a lot of other women on this site, it seems that lifting heavy is the key. (And I mean heavy, like using the 45lb barbell and then add additional weights.) Get off the machines and explore the free weights section of your gym. Most of the success stories also say they cut down cardio when they started lifting heavy. I am at the start of my journey, so I can't provide much personal help.

    This ^^^^^^^^
  • I have the exact same probably.
    For me, i'm not so bothered about weight anymore, just shape
    I'm keeping with my healthy diet, and trying to mix up different cardio with wieghts.
    It is by far to most difficult part of your body to perfect.
    All i can suggest is keep to the healthy diet, loosing a few pounds will make it smaller, but lots of cardio to burn fat and lots of weight training to gain some decent muscles which will help the burn a lot more.
    It just a game of patients and commitment =[
    We will get rid of it though if we keep going! Promise!
  • VanillaBone
    VanillaBone Posts: 119 Member
    So...you're not overweight, and eating well and exercise have had no effect on it, but it's still definitely not the pants.

    Maybe some kind of subcutaneous, parasitic bulge-worm?
  • HIITMe
    HIITMe Posts: 921 Member
    Key to immediately losing muffin top: WEAR PANTS THAT FIT. If that means going up a size, so be it.

    SOME OF US ARENT THAT LUCKY... because of my MUFFIN TOP I had to wear pants that were 2 or 3 sizes TOO BIG everywhere else..... THAT LOOKS A MESS!!!!
  • lawandfitness
    lawandfitness Posts: 1,257 Member
    Besides the snarky comments, most of the advice given above is solid. Change up your workout routine to more heavy lifting and some cardio and see if that will do the trick..... best of luck to you!
  • VanillaBone
    VanillaBone Posts: 119 Member
    SOME OF US ARENT THAT LUCKY... because of my MUFFIN TOP I had to wear pants that were 2 or 3 sizes TOO BIG everywhere else..... THAT LOOKS A MESS!!!!

    Then I guess it comes down to personal preference; baggy jeans or rolls sticking out the bottom of your shirt?
    Or, go to a tailor...or try a different fit...a different brand..There are options.
  • drmerc
    drmerc Posts: 2,603 Member
    lose more weight?
  • meghadeath
    meghadeath Posts: 13 Member
    Yup was going to say the same thing!
  • HIITMe
    HIITMe Posts: 921 Member
    SOME OF US ARENT THAT LUCKY... because of my MUFFIN TOP I had to wear pants that were 2 or 3 sizes TOO BIG everywhere else..... THAT LOOKS A MESS!!!!

    Then I guess it comes down to personal preference; baggy jeans or rolls sticking out the bottom of your shirt?
    Or, go to a tailor...or try a different fit...a different brand..There are options.

    walk a mile in my shoes....... or my jeans... it isnt that simple for me... but you are a MFP certified expert so I will leave you to your one size fits all advice
  • goody2shews
    goody2shews Posts: 129 Member
    Key to immediately losing muffin top: WEAR PANTS THAT FIT. If that means going up a size, so be it.

    Exactly this. Having a good seamstress is key for jeans.
  • zyxst
    zyxst Posts: 9,149 Member
    SOME OF US ARENT THAT LUCKY... because of my MUFFIN TOP I had to wear pants that were 2 or 3 sizes TOO BIG everywhere else..... THAT LOOKS A MESS!!!!

    Then I guess it comes down to personal preference; baggy jeans or rolls sticking out the bottom of your shirt?
    Or, go to a tailor...or try a different fit...a different brand..There are options.

    walk a mile in my shoes....... or my jeans... it isnt that simple for me... but you are a MFP certified expert so I will leave you to your one size fits all advice

    What type of pants are you wearing? Do they stop at your hips or cover your belly button? The only time I've ever gotten a muffin top is when I tried wearing pants that insisted my waist was at my hips. Honestly, I'd rather wear baggy-in-the-leg-and-butt pants than have rolls of fat hanging over the waistband. It's damned difficult to find anything other than hip huggers because clothing companies think my waist is 6" below my belly button.
  • MystikPixie
    MystikPixie Posts: 342 Member
    Key to immediately losing muffin top: WEAR PANTS THAT FIT. If that means going up a size, so be it.
    Truth!
  • HIITMe
    HIITMe Posts: 921 Member
    SOME OF US ARENT THAT LUCKY... because of my MUFFIN TOP I had to wear pants that were 2 or 3 sizes TOO BIG everywhere else..... THAT LOOKS A MESS!!!!

    Then I guess it comes down to personal preference; baggy jeans or rolls sticking out the bottom of your shirt?
    Or, go to a tailor...or try a different fit...a different brand..There are options.

    walk a mile in my shoes....... or my jeans... it isnt that simple for me... but you are a MFP certified expert so I will leave you to your one size fits all advice

    What type of pants are you wearing? Do they stop at your hips or cover your belly button? The only time I've ever gotten a muffin top is when I tried wearing pants that insisted my waist was at my hips. Honestly, I'd rather wear baggy-in-the-leg-and-butt pants than have rolls of fat hanging over the waistband. It's damned difficult to find anything other than hip huggers because clothing companies think my waist is 6" below my belly button.

    I have a tiny waist which is disproportionate to my hips... my muffins pop a lil higher than at my waistline ( Thank God for high waisted SPANX) ... I highly doubt I have the body type that you do so you wouldnt understand.... had the same problem at 125 lbs as I did at 205 lbs...... its not as simple as taking jeans to a tailor ( or fixing them myself since I do pretty well with a sewing machine)


    I suppose its a matter of taste, but Id rather not wear jeans at all than to wear baggy legs,,,Id never have a problem with them being baggy in the butt (fortunately or not dpeneding on your perspective) ... I dont wear hip huggers or low riders.... Years ago The Gap made "reverse fit" which were the closest to perfection I ever found....
  • VanillaBone
    VanillaBone Posts: 119 Member
    walk a mile in my shoes....... or my jeans... it isnt that simple for me... but you are a MFP certified expert so I will leave you to your one size fits all advice

    My initial advice was to someone who said that she
    a. is not overweight
    b. does a lot of cardio and weight lifting
    c. finds her muffin top to be the most bothersome thing about her body

    You popped in and tried to explain (totally unasked) why that doesn't apply to your situation, and now you're going to accuse me of giving out one-size-fits-all advice?
  • dmichelle100
    dmichelle100 Posts: 1 Member
    I have muffin top when I wear certain jeans (mostly pants from my 5-10 lb. lower weight days). Not wearing those anymore at the moment.

    However, I don't have MT when I'm lounging around the house in yoga pants with a comfy wide band waist. That tells me yoga pants have stretch and are somewhat evil in terms of weight loss.

    Sometimes I just sit around in those old jeans feeling uncomfortable, so I can realize the difference between comfort and reality..

    I agree, muffin top really sucks.
  • FitbeTMF
    FitbeTMF Posts: 251
    I find that hip hugger style pants do this to me as well. Nothing worse than saggy butt. I wear belts, and now: Workout
  • deksgrl
    deksgrl Posts: 7,237 Member
    80% diet and 20% exercise. Body weight resistance exercises, old school calisthenics has helped me. Jogging in place, jumping jacks, burpees, planks, etc.