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

13

Replies

  • ArroganceInStep
    ArroganceInStep Posts: 6,239 Member
    I really appreciate all the comments....

    The 'i've been fighting my tummy fat for 3 years and still nothing' scares me. Also the health issue ones. I may book a doctors appoinment just to get checked out anyway.

    In response to some questions, i do ab exercises but i know this wont make any difference until the fat has gone (which is my problem in the first place)

    I will stick to low carbs over the next month and add in some heavy lifting see where that gets me :)

    I strongly suggest you switch your goals from physique based to performance based. In my experience (anecdotal though it may be), the people who look the absolute best aren't the ones training to look a certain way. The people who look the best are the ones involved in serious physical competitions who train to excel at them. Train for go, and the show will follow suit.
  • Wuffles70
    Wuffles70 Posts: 21 Member
    My stomach fat will not budge, i know they say it's patience and usually the last to go but i'm getting really fed up and worried that i'm going to have it forever (my dad has a large belly too)

    Apologies if this sounds horrendously blunt, I mean no disrespect. Your dad is a man old enough to have an adult daughter - that's probably where his belly comes from! Your mother, aunts etc are a much better reflection of what your body is going to do. Even if you ARE genetically predisposed to tummy fat, there is stuff you can do though! I've found that cutting out fizzy drinks and gum, doing sports that involve a focus on stretching and posture like yoga, eating wholemeal and making sure that I get enough carbs but don't go over all help make me look more toned round the middle. Play around with it a bit and see what works for you. :)
  • Sid1988
    Sid1988 Posts: 170 Member
    My stomach fat will not budge, i know they say it's patience and usually the last to go but i'm getting really fed up and worried that i'm going to have it forever (my dad has a large belly too)

    Apologies if this sounds horrendously blunt, I mean no disrespect. Your dad is a man old enough to have an adult daughter - that's probably where his belly comes from! Your mother, aunts etc are a much better reflection of what your body is going to do. Even if you ARE genetically predisposed to tummy fat, there is stuff you can do though! I've found that cutting out fizzy drinks and gum, doing sports that involve a focus on stretching and posture like yoga, eating wholemeal and making sure that I get enough carbs but don't go over all help make me look more toned round the middle. Play around with it a bit and see what works for you. :)

    no that wasn't blunt at all, i'm just worried i have my dads genes and will have this belly forever! my mum on the other was very slim, i feel like i've got a bit of both of them but unfortunately my dads belly!

    The problem is, i have used fad diets on and off since i can remember and i have never really put 100% in to changing my body, i have been a member of MFP for a year exactly and i have lost 22lbs over that time but that has been on and off a few times, letting myself slip up, a few months of no exercise etc and i know if i tried harder i could already be better but now i am so focused and determined to achieve BIG results and i will put in 120% effort and hope i will start seeing some positive changes in my body and hopefully a year from now be writing to other people with my same problem telling them how i did. so here's to hoping, hard work and changes (and hoping this belly does actually shift!)
  • iiijeniii
    iiijeniii Posts: 82 Member
    I'd say carry on with what you're doing, although you might want to try out the Flat Belly Diet (by Liz Vaccariello). It's super easy to follow and really works.

    no such thing as a "flat belly diet" that will target the stomach area....

    But hey if you want to do this, then I would recommend the "the unicorn and fairy diet"

    the unicorn and fairy diet is fantastic!

    Where do you buy unicorns and fairies ... and how do you cook them?
  • kdiamond
    kdiamond Posts: 3,329 Member
    I get the pregnant belly look as well, and two things really help, apart from losing fat:

    2. Bloating. If I eat too much sodium, don't chew my food properly, drink too little water, or mess with my gut in any way, it goes straight to my waistline and I blow up like a balloon! I don't even get any discomfort from it, it just stretches out my belly. A good day for digestion vs a bad day can be as much as 2 inches difference in my gut. So it might help if you check if anything you're eating is bloating you up?

    ^^^This

    I started taking a probiotic, and I try to limit dairy to 1 cup a day, and it has helped A LOT. I must have a touch of a dairy intolerance. Also artificial sweeteners have the same effect, as to fiberous veggies. I still eat everything, I just make sure I take my probiotic every day, and also if I am gearing to put a bikini on I'll limit all that stuff a week beforehand. It all helps.
  • shakybabe
    shakybabe Posts: 1,578 Member
    I had 'pregnant belly' I cut wheat and went gluten free.. actually cut all carbs at first then slowly re-introduced them but using gluten free bread instead of regular, brown rice instead of white etc and have kept the weight off. I've lost 4st and gone from 12st 7to 9st 7 and have underactive thyroid and mobility problems too so limited exercise wise.
  • kristinhardesty
    kristinhardesty Posts: 17
    I wish I knew the answer because I have the same problem. It's so embarassing to me because I've got athletic looking arms and legs...but I still have a gut. It looks so weird. I worked my butt off to lose all this weight and I STILL can't wear a bikini. It makes me really upset but I'm just going to keep doing what I'm doing and hope that it will all come together eventually.

    I have this problem too! I worked my *kitten* off. I lost 20 lbs. I can see my freaking ribs! And then bam! belly! makes me want to freakin cry.
  • zeke1964
    zeke1964 Posts: 18 Member
    Nice post !
  • larsensue
    larsensue Posts: 461 Member
    I wish I knew the answer because I have the same problem. It's so embarassing to me because I've got athletic looking arms and legs...but I still have a gut. It looks so weird. I worked my butt off to lose all this weight and I STILL can't wear a bikini. It makes me really upset but I'm just going to keep doing what I'm doing and hope that it will all come together eventually.

    sounds just like me!! Hate the belly!
  • Meadowscys
    Meadowscys Posts: 1
    When you say low carb.........
    What types of food did you eliminate?
  • whitebalance
    whitebalance Posts: 1,654 Member
    Ladies!
    If you have a preggo belly that won't go away... if losing weight makes it look bigger, not smaller... If when you lie on your back, it bulges up instead of flattening out... It may not be fat. It may be your uterus. Please go see your gyno.
  • BeckyAnne4
    BeckyAnne4 Posts: 143 Member
    i've heard that dr oz endorses the unicorn and fairy diet. should i try it?

    (sorry, couldn't resist :laugh: )
  • kirk_clawson
    kirk_clawson Posts: 36 Member
    the unicorn and fairy diet is fantastic!

    Where do you buy unicorns and fairies ... and how do you cook them?

    Fairy kebabs on a unicorn-horn skewer.
  • Saucy_lil_Minx
    Saucy_lil_Minx Posts: 3,302 Member
    I'd say carry on with what you're doing, although you might want to try out the Flat Belly Diet (by Liz Vaccariello). It's super easy to follow and really works.

    no such thing as a "flat belly diet" that will target the stomach area....

    But hey if you want to do this, then I would recommend the "the unicorn and fairy diet"

    Totally untrue! There are certain foods that promote reduction of bloating, and inflammation in the belly region. For a lot of people who eat these foods, and avoid others lose that last layer of fat that hides the abs. You can crunch all day, but if you don't get rid of that inflammatory response you'll never see the hard work you put in. Mono unsaturated fats in your diet are important for this. MUFAs (healthy fats) are very important in to this issue. Here is a great place to look for more info. http://voices.yahoo.com/mufa-diet-shop-mufa-foods-2425652.html Dr. Andrew Weil is big on anti-inflammatory foods too. Also Dr. Alejandro Junger is about clean eating, and anti-inflammatory foods as well.
  • trixie315
    trixie315 Posts: 95 Member
    bump
  • tmauck4472
    tmauck4472 Posts: 1,785 Member
    Same here..... shoulders, neck, face, arms(only a little bit more to go on them) have little to no fat left. Stomach and legs still need to go away, that's where the last 70 lbs are. But in all honesty the stomach has gone down, almost to the point that I'm actually liking what I see in the mirror, at least with clothes on:laugh:
  • weinbagel
    weinbagel Posts: 337 Member
    I am the same height as you, almost the same age. I have always had a bit of a stomach, even when i was 128lbs.

    Have you tried cutting out gluten?
  • goodtimezzzz
    goodtimezzzz Posts: 640 Member
    patience Grasshoppahh...when it DOES goooo we ganna have a pahhhteeeee! it WILL go!!!!
  • MightyDomo
    MightyDomo Posts: 1,265 Member
    I honestly would suggest dance/zumba that highly engages the core. I have found the best results for losing tummy fat by this method, things that have also worked for me in the past was pilates and planks, they were pretty effective as well.
  • goodtimezzzz
    goodtimezzzz Posts: 640 Member
    post some pics btw...lets see how much fat u got left..it may not be sooooo bad
  • Saucy_lil_Minx
    Saucy_lil_Minx Posts: 3,302 Member
    People can react to foods in a lot of different ways, and you may not even realize there is an issue until you remove it from your diet. Start eliminating things that can be reactive for you one at a time and see if it makes a difference. For example cut out all dairy for two weeks if you notice a change great if not, try peanuts, and other legumes. Move to gluten (keep in mind wheat is not the only place gluten happens, and it is hidden in a lot of products) It might not be gluten it may just be Wheat b/c wheat is so genetically modified your body has trouble digesting it, and this can cause issues. Even some health carbohydrates can cause reactions (sweet potatoes although very yummy can be an issue for some people) You really need to play around with foods, and see what make you happy, and what makes you sluggish, and puffy. If you listen to your body it will tell you what it does not like. Puffiness, sluggishness, bowel issues, grumbling, gas :blushing: , nausea, ect.)
  • psuLemon
    psuLemon Posts: 38,428 MFP Moderator
    Another issue the people face that causes people to not get abs or tight stomach... NOT ENOUGH MUSCLE. Generally, those who are at the lower end of the acceptable weight scale for your height have this issue. If you do not have enough muscle, it will be hard to get abs. In many case people need to add 10-20 lbs of muscle to get that lean and tight body. It sucks but it's reality (as shown below).


    http://www.nerdfitness.com/blog/2011/07/21/meet-staci-your-new-powerlifting-super-hero/
  • giusa
    giusa Posts: 577 Member
    Save for later.
  • rachface1234
    rachface1234 Posts: 227 Member
    Hey friend, I'm very similar:
    5'6",
    SW: 146
    CW: 143
    GW: 130

    I am active (jogging/walking/riding horses/boot camp classes/zumba), have been in the same 10 lb range for a long time, and my stomach is always the WORST issue!! These three things are the only ones that have given me real changes:

    1. Low carb (NOT no carb, just cut processed carbs out, still include small amounts of oatmeal and sweet potatoes and starchy veggies, but no crap carbs).
    2. Zumba with weights: I spent a few months doing the toning video with added weights (first the 1lb, then 2lb, then 3, then 5lb), all of the core moves with added weight challenge + cardio really helped! My stomach was the flattest it has been in years! I also cut down on processed carbs and was doing cardio with interval training (hiking some days, jogging up and down hills, sprints and long walks mixed in).
    3. Consider your diet ratio of protein to carbs to fats, for me, I have the best results when the carb and protein ratio are balanced and my fats come from things like avocados, greek yogurt, nuts, olive oil......

    Anyone else with helpful advice I'd love some too! Stubborn last 10 lbs and belly pooch are SUPER RUDE!
  • psuLemon
    psuLemon Posts: 38,428 MFP Moderator
    Rachface, something that can help you is use zumba for your cardio days and then do real weight training for strength days. With zumba you aren't lifting much more than an average purse. Go do a program like strong lift 5x5 or nrolfw or nerd fitness beginner lift. Also, a small deficit is greatly beneficial so your body has enough energy supply. This will also mitigate muscle loss so all your weight loss is fat.
  • ndj1979
    ndj1979 Posts: 29,136 Member
    If you have ruled out medical reasons then I suggest doing a cleanse. That is what started getting my belly to shrink. I did the master cleanse for 10 days. Very hard to complete (day 1-3 are the worst) but worth it.

    just no ...

    please don't do this...
  • ndj1979
    ndj1979 Posts: 29,136 Member
    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.


    sorry but its all water weight and once the "master cleanse" (whatever the hell that is) is over then the water weight will come back ...

    I look forward to you "i gained back ten pounds, help! " thread...
  • deidrej66
    deidrej66 Posts: 3
    First, congratulations on what you have accomplished so far! You have a lot to be proud of. I too see that the fat on my stomach is taking longer to go away although there has definitely been progress. I think diet has a lot to do with it. Have you tried limiting refined sugar from your diet? I think if you can reduce or eliminate refined sugars and white carbs you will see some improvement in terms of looking less bloated which may give you the encouragement you need to keep at the exercising and eating right.
  • rachface1234
    rachface1234 Posts: 227 Member
    Rachface, something that can help you is use zumba for your cardio days and then do real weight training for strength days. With zumba you aren't lifting much more than an average purse. Go do a program like strong lift 5x5 or nrolfw or nerd fitness beginner lift. Also, a small deficit is greatly beneficial so your body has enough energy supply. This will also mitigate muscle loss so all your weight loss is fat.

    Thanks friend! I've been wondering about heavy weight lifting, my boot camp type classes are more circuit training/cardio intervals, but I'm a little intimidated by heavy weights.... Will research classes in my area. Do you mean only a small calorie deficit? Am overwhelmed with the diff opinions between using mfp's recommendations, TDEE - 20%, or meeting your macros.... the only solid thing I know is that for my body I have to very carefully manage my processed carbs....
  • psuLemon
    psuLemon Posts: 38,428 MFP Moderator
    Rachface, something that can help you is use zumba for your cardio days and then do real weight training for strength days. With zumba you aren't lifting much more than an average purse. Go do a program like strong lift 5x5 or nrolfw or nerd fitness beginner lift. Also, a small deficit is greatly beneficial so your body has enough energy supply. This will also mitigate muscle loss so all your weight loss is fat.

    Thanks friend! I've been wondering about heavy weight lifting, my boot camp type classes are more circuit training/cardio intervals, but I'm a little intimidated by heavy weights.... Will research classes in my area. Do you mean only a small calorie deficit? Am overwhelmed with the diff opinions between using mfp's recommendations, TDEE - 20%, or meeting your macros.... the only solid thing I know is that for my body I have to very carefully manage my processed carbs....

    1 lb or less deficit or 20% less than TDEE. If you do the MFP way, then you should eat back at least 50% of your exercise calories.. Or just PM me and I can set you up.

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