i know they say stomach fat is last to go but come on!

I am apple shaped, as I suspect you are. I started dieting at about 165 lbs. Though I lost several inches in my waist over the course of my loss, I didn't seem to lose in my stomach as what I saw as proportional to the the rest of my body. When I got below 130, my waist measurement started to go down again. Keep pushing toward your goal weight, exercise hard and that stomach will tighten up. Work on ab definition so that when you finally lose the fat you will know it by seeing the muscles. Good luck!

It's a long shot, but how's your blood sugar? If it's running even a little high, that can encourage the body to store fat in the belly. At least, that's what the metabolic researchers are saying. If that's the case, then a lower-carb diet might help.
But we all have spots that don't cooperate; this may be yours. :-(

are you certain it's all fat? mobile, wobbly, just under the skin?

sometimes a distended abdomen is a symptom of a health issue.

My son gets that when he needs more fiber in his diet and a good BM.

:bigsmile:

We are the same almost. I am 5'6" & I just weighed in at the Dr's office at 126. I'm slim everywhere but have a minor belly pouch & love handles that jiggle when I jump around. I'm trying to tone it up & get abs but no matter what I do, nothing wants to budge. I'm doing insanity right now & I've been told weight lifting will help me get rid of it but the problem is I can't afford a gym & my highest weights right now are only 8. I'm hoping to find higher weights at a garage sale this summer. You might need to up your calories a bit because I see that you are only about 10 lbs from your goal weight & the last 10 are the hardest to go. Feel free to befriend me & maybe we can help each other.

Got a Kitchen aide mixer? I do. It's 27#s I think.
Book bag stuffed with college texts?

Weights don't have to be in the shape of dumbbells or weight plates for a bar.

^ no i don't have any of those things. But I do have smaller weights that I can double up - 8 lb + 5 lb for 13 lbs of weight. i think the next weights i'm going to get will be 15 lbs. then from there hopefully i can find some cheap barbells somewhere or higher dumbbells. a gym is just not in my budget right now which really sucks cuz i'd love to be in the gym lifting.

I don't know about a "good" cleanse. I can't see your diet journal but I'd suggest taking a look at your diet (content & time).

- Are you eating more lean proteins than junk? If we are what we eat, do you need to up the proteins and reduce fat and carbs?
- Are you sleeping 6-8 hours?
- Are you avoiding food intake several hours before bedtime so it can be used as energy rather than fat?

I'm roughly the same stats as you, but I'm about fourteen pounds heavier.

However, my stomach is pretty darn flat. You mention you use kettlebells, but i'm not sure exactly what exercises you're doing with them. I look much lighter because of my concentration on lifting heavy, and that's done loads more for flattening my stomach than being at a low weight ever did.

For the record, I've been as low as 95 lbs at 5'6", and still had something of a belly even as my ribs were poking out around it. My stomach, as a result of cortisol issues, low LBM, etc., had ALWAYS been a problem for me.

I'd also note: you may have an allergy or intolerance without necessarily realizing it. I had a GI doctor take me off dairy for two weeks awhile back--lower abdomen pooch? Gone.

Granted, I've incorporated dairy back into my life because I'm addicted to cottage cheese, and my stomach's still flat (from weight lifting).

Try looking into techniques to help swayback, in case your posture is affecting the look of your stomach (which it really, really can).

Strength training is a hell of a drug.

Got a Kitchen aide mixer? I do. It's 27#s I think.
Book bag stuffed with college texts?

Weights don't have to be in the shape of dumbbells or weight plates for a bar.

^ no i don't have any of those things. But I do have smaller weights that I can double up - 8 lb + 5 lb for 13 lbs of weight. i think the next weights i'm going to get will be 15 lbs. then from there hopefully i can find some cheap barbells somewhere or higher dumbbells. a gym is just not in my budget right now which really sucks cuz i'd love to be in the gym lifting.

You don't have any big books? I have more big books than I can shake a fist at.

Weights can often be found cheap at garage sales and thrift stores. (So can big books)

^ i used to when i was in college but i don't have them anymore. but i just remembered that we have an indoor flear market year round here so i am going to look there tmr - i get paid!. i bet i find something!

Just curious are you doing any ab workouts? The master cleanse was a great boost for me. For the last 10 you need to lose or the first it's great! on day 7 and down -11.2 so far.

Hi,

Have you tried Pilates? Pilates can strengthen your core and posture which really helps to give you flatter tummy.

You may just have to accept you are 'pear' shaped and work as hard as you can to tone and sculp but you won't and can't change your genetic body shape... The more weight you drop you may still find it comes off your upper torso and shoulders but not where you want it too.

You can achieve a lot through diet and exercise but you can't change your genes!!!

Pears do not have big stomachs. Pears have big thighs and big bums, sometimes wide hips, but a proportionally small belly area. You're thinking of Apple-shaped women. Apples carry a lot of weight in their belly area; have big stomachs.