women who carry their weight in the midsection?!

High cortisol (from stress and not getting enough sleep, for example) make one more likely to store fat on the belly. Age is also a factor as we become more sedentary as we age (leading to higher blood sugar/insulin levels and more abdominal fat). Exercise lowers cortisol and it seems to burn fat from the areas where one is fattest and build up muscle in areas with less fat--sometimes completely changing one's shape. It can even offset some of the changes of aging (shrunken glutes leading to poor standing posture, leading to "dowager's hump" and slack abdominals which make the gut look even fatter than it actually is). Running high insulin levels from eating too many carbs and too many total calories will also raise cortisol levels. Eating large meals in the evening is also a bad idea as it will raise insulin levels too near to bedtime and the increased insulin will lower human growth hormone which is secreted predominantly in the first hours of sleep. Increased human growth hormone will also help offset the tendency to abdominal fat as a person ages. One should stop eating 2-3 hours before bedtime to maximize HGH. It won't likely make a significant difference for dieters in their 20s as they still mostly have a plentiful supply--children, of course, have the largest supply . For a woman, estrogen dominance causes one to deposit more fat on the belly (and in the breasts), progesterone (the "other female hormone") causes one to burn fat at a greater rate because of its effects on thyroid hormone utilization. Progesterone production wanes before estrogen production as one approaches peri-menopause or menopause itself. The herb, Chasteberry, will raise progesterone levels. Exercise will lower estrogen levels and balance things out by making what progesterone a woman has "go farther". Hormones are important.

That's awesome progress for just 30 days!

Thank you! This was from doing 30 Day Shred and eating fairly clean. I have two kids, gained 55+ lbs with each child.. if I can do it, anyone can do it. Just get moving!!!

Yup, that is/was me. For me this was also the fastest to go, from my thighs to below the bust. I have no tips then the generic moving more and eating less...a lot less. In previous times my chest was the first to shrink, this time the mid section, of course I had way more to lose this (the last) time.

I have not done any specific exercise in this area either, so far my stomach area is receeding nicely, where I have excess skin is in the inner top of my thighs, I think there are some things we just have no control over.

That tummy looks so flat!! Nice job! This is really inspiring!

thats me mine is extra horrible because there is an actual perminant line that runs across my lower abdomen where the fat above it sits. this is what i primarily lost weight for and what hasnt yet disappeared. sad face. i wonder if it will ever go!

Eyeing this thread. I wonder if I will ever get that flat victoria secret tummy too. And enough people say it's possible, so I'm going for it!

:happy: you look great!!

Hi,

I think the best for the waist area is getting an eight pound medicine ball, put it above waist level then go across, then go at out front cross, then down, then cross. Think figure eight. Do three reps of fifteen just like on the weight machines. This was on a show about getting to a bridal gown. I did it for months and it really trimmed the stomach and sides.

For bloating in the evening, I hate the stuff but yogurt with probiotics does seem to be the cure.

Good luck with your tummy. Just like who you are at whatever weight you are and keep increasing whatever you're doing.

I carry a lot of my weight there as well, mostly as freaking love-handles which are always super attractive (not). Anyway, I'm doing the 30DS and I'm on the 14th day right now, can already see a huge difference (which you can also see in my profile photo). Before that, I was doing endless amounts of 80 cardio for 4 months and lost 20 pounds but gained no definition and I was still 39 inches around my waist. Now that I'm doing 30DS I've lost 5 pounds and I'm 36 inches around my waist. Which.. is progress.

I read somewhere that carrying extra weight in your midsection typically means that you are eating too many carbs and that those tend to get stored in your midsection. I was always a pear until about 5 years sgo. Since then, my stomach just kept growing and growing. I went to a holistic gal and she confirmed-I was eating too many carbs. I've had some success cutting back on carbs (especially wheat and sugar). My weight loss is only 7 lbs so far, but I've lost 3 inches in my tummy area this month.

The other biggie is to destress. When you are stressed, your cortisol levels are elevated, which encourages you to store fat-in your midsection.

Good luck!

I read somewhere that carrying extra weight in your midsection typically means that you are eating too many carbs and that those tend to get stored in your midsection. I was always a pear until about 5 years sgo. Since then, my stomach just kept growing and growing. I went to a holistic gal and she confirmed-I was eating too many carbs. I've had some success cutting back on carbs (especially wheat and sugar). My weight loss is only 7 lbs so far, but I've lost 3 inches in my tummy area this month.

The other biggie is to destress. When you are stressed, your cortisol levels are elevated, which encourages you to store fat-in your midsection.

Good luck!

That's not exactly right. People who are apple shaped and high hip hourglasses (spoons) like me, are going to carry their weight in their midsections no matter how many carbs they eat. I have a friend who eat like 300g of carbs & has abs....so yeah. So people don't react well to carbs or better yet, gluten. Which can cause bloat, but that has nothing to do with fat storage.

That's me! Even when I was down to my low weight (132-135) last summer I still had too much fat in my stomach area. My face looked so thin (too thin almost) and the rest of me was reasonably thin but with a gut still. The ONLY time I have had a flat stomach was when I didn't eat a single bite of food for 4 days straight. (Not a recommended way to lose the belly, lol)

Anyone can feel free to add me. I understand your frustrations!

Wow, some inspirational photos here. I've always had trouble with my midsection. Even when at normal weight, my arms and legs can be quite thin, but I still have a bit of a belly.

I'll have to try some of the tips.

bump for later

I carry in the belly as well. I've been at it for 8 months now and have dropped 28 lbs and 8 inches around the belly button. I have gone from a size 12 pants to a size 4, but even with that I need to wear a belt most days. I do have some pics in my profile.

I go to the gym 6 days a week right now (lifting every day with short cardio --20 min -- a few times a week) and aim for an 80/20 approach to eating where 80% is good, whole foods and the other 20% comes from processed foods I just won't give up.

It takes time and effort to lose the body fat. Be patient and strive to be mostly good about exercise and diet. Don't stress about not being perfect all the time. No one is and it is about the long term, not how you do each day or week even.