I have rib cage fat and don't know how to rid it!

Lifting has tightened up the majority of my body except my arms and rib cage. I have about 10lbs left. I think having children has made my rib cage increase and decrease several times, but there's a layer of fat that just seems to stay put. Like, I put on a sports bra, and it bulges out the top and back. Any recommendations to rectify this? I realize that the more body fat % I lose, it will lessen, but I need to develop those muscles, seemingly. What can I do to progress the state it's in to a more desirable state?

Replies

  • DavPul
    DavPul Posts: 61,406 Member
    i've been lifting for a while now, and while i don't claim to know everything, i am unfamiliar with any exercises for toning the muscles (cartilage?) lining a person's ribcage. so i'm just going to have to recommend you continue eating in a calorie deficit while resistance training so you lose more fat. you know, like all over the place, ribs and arms included.
  • LongIsland27itl
    LongIsland27itl Posts: 365 Member
    Rib cage fat...like under the bewbs to the side?
  • Sarauk2sf
    Sarauk2sf Posts: 28,072 Member
    You have back fat?

    It is often a stubborn area - just keep reducing body fat overall, it will eventually come off.
  • Rib cage fat...like under the bewbs to the side?

    like, to the sides and underneath my armpit.
  • You have back fat?

    It is often a stubborn area - just keep reducing body fat overall, it will eventually come off.

    yeah, I have some back fat, but I know that will come off as I lower body fat, what I'm more concerned about is what covers my sides below my armpits. I have broad shoulders and a larger chest cavity. Any recs on lifts I can do for this? Or should I not isolate and just continue the fat loss?
  • moondawg14
    moondawg14 Posts: 249 Member
    Nothing you can really do about it, except keep losing fat.
  • Sarauk2sf
    Sarauk2sf Posts: 28,072 Member
    You have back fat?

    It is often a stubborn area - just keep reducing body fat overall, it will eventually come off.

    yeah, I have some back fat, but I know that will come off as I lower body fat, what I'm more concerned about is what covers my sides below my armpits. I have broad shoulders and a larger chest cavity. Any recs on lifts I can do for this? Or should I not isolate and just continue the fat loss?

    Any strength training, assuming you will make some newbie gains as you are on a deficit will just make you bigger. Just continue the fat loss.

    I have a relatively splayed rib cage and broad shoulders - the 'squidge' you get from where your bra digs in - that is fat, whether it be on the fat or the sides, and you just need to continue losing. It is a relatively stubborn area for me also. You just have to be patient. I would also recommend compound lifts and not focusing on isolation exercises.

    ETA: not being facetious here, but the fit of your bra may help it/when you get to a stage where you are happy with everything else but just have a little bit of squish there. Sometimes you have to balance getting too lean for your preference in all other areas but still having a bit of extra fat in another. Be patient and see where everything falls out when you get nearer to goal.
  • starlaca
    starlaca Posts: 779 Member
    Rib cage fat...like under the bewbs to the side?

    Bewbs? Lol. Good one. :laugh:
  • mperrott2205
    mperrott2205 Posts: 737 Member
    Take in less calories. Its the only way to lose fat. You can't target fat loss with specific exercises.
  • Apicius
    Apicius Posts: 61 Member
    I have found this area has tightened up and slimmed down a lot since I started running. Sure I have lost a bit overall, but this area seems to benefit from the arm movement of even slow jogging. It did take a couple of months to show, but I don't do any weights so it must be from the running alone.