Underweight with tummy fat, help! (pics)

You look amazing, I wish my tummy bulge was like yours

I'm worried this will only make me grow muscle underneath the fat

Muscle is not a bad thing!!! You can't focus just on your stomach and expect to see results either- You can't spot reduce! Cardio is great for you heart and it will help you gain a caloric deficit- but it's not the only way to lose fat! I've included some links to recent threads that were started that may be of some benefit for you!

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/865577-may-i-please-have-your-undivided-attention
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/862337-why-girls-shouldn-t-lift-weights-like-men-disgusting-hey

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/654536-in-place-of-a-road-map-2-0-revised-7-2-12


Follow the info on this link.
Get TDEE.

Eat 10% above TDEE every day.
Lift heavy 3x a week using www.stronglifts.com.

You are skinny fat.
Thats okay because its reversible.

If you do what I say youll lose the fat and gain a little lean mass.
This will round you out.
;D

Thanks for the replies! And for the kind words It really is more pronounced in real life, I literally have a crease under my belly button from the bulge. even my boyfriend has commented on it asking me why I dont have a normal stomach. :frown:

A couple questions...

I have read before that heavy lifting could help, but is it possible at home? All i have is 3lb-25lb dumbbells.
Would doing a low weight/high rep workout like 30 day shred not give me the right results/make me lose too much weight?

Also I'm going to admit that I tend to eat under 1000 calories a day. I simply don't get that hungry. Because of my size, I was never able to eat alot without gaining weight. Im worried that my metabolism has slowed down and that even eating at TDEE will make me gain weight very fast=more fat.

Is the only way to gain muscle by increasing my calories? Will lifting weights stop me from gaining fat as well?

And is there a point in me doing cardio if i have to eat more?

Your boyfriend sounds like a right keeper there babes.... :huh:

You honesty look AMAZING. I think looking at before pictures will help to boost your self confidence as well,and did you tke measurements,waist measurements before to see the difference? Maybe before when you were "heavier (hate that word) the belly was less noticeable but now the weight has gone from other places it feels more pronounced? You should still be so proud of what you have achieved!

Personally, I don't know a lot about lifting but I have just ordered my kettlebell this morning to start me off on weight/strength training as so many forum posts suggest this to help lose the "skinny fat" look and help tone up. I would suggest weight/strength training also,and possibly eating more protein?

Lots of people rate the jillian micheals dvds (all on youtube) and 30 day shred and 6 week six pack are a good mix of cardio strength and compound moves which you may find help tone you up.=)

I agree. Not a nice supportive boyfriend thing to say. No-one has a "normal" anything, so tell him to sod off next time he is mean.

Doing some heavy lifting and gaining some weight will help. If you eat the right foods (i.e. real food, high protein, good fats like nuts,avocados) and do the right exercises you will gain mostly muscle not fat. And you will look even better than you already look. AND feeling like a bad *kitten* will help your self confidence, because we can all tell you how beautiful your body is, but you will not believe us I fear.

I find this story inspirational:
http://www.nerdfitness.com/blog/2011/07/21/meet-staci-your-new-powerlifting-super-hero/
(have a look at her final photos!)

The same website has good body weight workouts, and I like some of the dumbbell workouts on this site:
http://www.stumptuous.com/category/training/workout_ideas

Good luck
*HUGS*

Can't see your diary, so don't know what you are eating. You are small, so you don't need a lot of calories, but I bet 1000 is still too low, especially if you aren't trying to lose.

Work out with weights, even the ones you have at home. You don't have to lift "heavy" to build muscle, but you do have to lift, and as your muscles get used to the weight, you have to increase. You can start with just your body weight, tho, doing pushups and squats. Planks are also great for your abs. Check out youtube for body weight workouts. Make sure you are eating at least 80g of protein per day from healthy sources and eat plenty of healthy fats. Carbs can make your belly stick out more than it normally would, so don't eat more than 60% of your calories from carbs, and try to eat much lower--I aim for 45, but lots of MFPers aim for more like 40 or even lower.

Part of what makes your belly stick out like it does is just estrogen, being a girl, so you don't really want to get rid of that, but you can firm your body up a little. And if you are finished losing weight, you can definitely eat more, but if you are scared of gaining, only increase your calories by a little at a time. Maybe 150 more calories per day this week, then in a couple of weeks if things are going ok, add some more?

You are so beautiful! I don't see any fat on that tummy. Don't need to lose a pound. Just stay on track with eating healthy!!!

I have the EXACT same problem! I'm a thin person (5'5", 125 pounds, 27 years old) but I have a gut. When I wear a bikini I look fine from the front but then turn to the side and my lower belly pokes out. Sooo annoying...please reply back here if you find anything that works!

Im not sure. But you do have a very apple shaped body. Maybe it's just our shape, we tend to carry most of our fat in the stomach/waist area.

I had a similar issue. Eating more and lifting weights is what helped.

I have started doing pilates ab exercises several times a week. Should I stick with this? I'm worried this will only make me grow muscle underneath the fat. Is lifting weights necessary? I don't have the time/money for the gym, but i do have dumbbells at home.

Lifting is important and will be important for you. Find a program that you like and work on body building. Be patient and you will begin to see the changes that you want.

I, too, have the same problem. I'm 5 foot (153cm), and weigh 43.2 kg (95 pounds) and have this belly. I know that I have 29.5% body fat, and it's all in my belly, hips and bottom. I figure that if I lose some more weight (I've lost 1.5kg in a fortnight - I was 45kg), I'll lose some of the body fat and then I can work on the toning and muscle gain. It seems totally irrational wanting to lose the weight, but I don't know of/see any other way of getting rid of the body fat and toning up. I'm glad you started this post, Sarahlove43, as I'm sure there's more of us wanting to do the 'right' thing by ourselves, without sabotaging our health (both physical and mental).
Lee x

First world problems. I wish my gut looked like that. Fortunately though I am grateful that I don't have a boyfriend like yours.
So thinking about it, I'll keep my stomach. I know it will diminish in time.

You look AMAZING!
Sadly, I never appreciated how fabulous my stomach looked in my 20s until I'd had 3 children.
Keep striving for fitness, but try to enjoy how awesome you look!

Good for you! I do see a difference!

I was unhappy with my body and felt I had a lot of flabbiness at 100 pounds and 5'4" and eating 1000 calories a day or so. Then I educated myself about the importance of strength training and eating!! I gained 12 pounds over the last 3 years and my body has never been better at 36 years old...I have ab definition even after having 2 kids, and I feel fantastic in a bikini.

I thought the answer was being "skinnier" - but I found out the hard way it isn't. I don't think you look bad, but you're undermuscled, and that's only going to change if you eat more and lift heavier. You can definitely do a lot with 25 pound dumbbells...walking lunges, squats, deadlifts, shoulder press, rows, etc..