Trying to get a flat stomach!

ndoyle1995
ndoyle1995 Posts: 1
in Introduce Yourself
My name is Noelle. I'm 5'9", 134 pounds. I'm not overweight by any means, but I would love to lose the little pouch on my stomach! I sure do love my food though :)

Replies

  • khannickwechanged
    khannickwechanged Posts: 77 Member
    We are very similar. :) I'm 5'9" and usually stay between 125-130. I had a baby 6 months ago and have been focusing on my stomach as well. I want some abs! I've been doing weighted sit ups and various standing ab exercises found on Pinterest.
  • RGv2
    RGv2 Posts: 5,789 Member
    You can't spot reduce. You can do "ab" exercises all day long, but it won't isolate the fat in the midsection. It will build core strength, but as you burn fat the body will take it from where ever it wants to, with the midsection usually being the last place.

    In order to uncover your abs you need to lower your overall BF%, this can be done with:

    Caloric Deficit (abs are really made in the kitchen), Work (cardio with compound movements -- squats, etc..), and patience.

    You'll notice that 95% of the individuals on here that have pictures of their own 6-packs don't actually do "ab" routines.
  • bumblebums
    bumblebums Posts: 2,181 Member
    I am 5'9", weigh 148, and my stomach is flat.

    Lift some weights.
  • bumblebums
    bumblebums Posts: 2,181 Member
    You can't spot reduce. You can do "ab" exercises all day long, but it won't isolate the fat in the midsection. It will build core strength, but as you burn fat the body will take it from where ever it wants to, with the midsection usually being the last place.

    In order to uncover your abs you need to lower your overall BF%, this can be done with:

    Caloric Deficit (abs are really made in the kitchen), Work (cardio with compound movements -- squats, etc..), and patience.

    You'll notice that 95% of the individuals on here that have pictures of their own 6-packs don't actually do "ab" routines.

    Yeah, this is all true. Especially the last bit. I cannot remember the last time I did any crunches or "ab" exercises.
  • dedication6
    dedication6 Posts: 184 Member
    You can't spot reduce. You can do "ab" exercises all day long, but it won't isolate the fat in the midsection. It will build core strength, but as you burn fat the body will take it from where ever it wants to, with the midsection usually being the last place.

    In order to uncover your abs you need to lower your overall BF%, this can be done with:

    Caloric Deficit (abs are really made in the kitchen), Work (cardio with compound movements -- squats, etc..), and patience.

    You'll notice that 95% of the individuals on here that have pictures of their own 6-packs don't actually do "ab" routines.

    ~THIS
  • khannickwechanged
    khannickwechanged Posts: 77 Member
    You can't spot reduce. You can do "ab" exercises all day long, but it won't isolate the fat in the midsection. It will build core strength, but as you burn fat the body will take it from where ever it wants to, with the midsection usually being the last place.

    In order to uncover your abs you need to lower your overall BF%, this can be done with:

    Caloric Deficit (abs are really made in the kitchen), Work (cardio with compound movements -- squats, etc..), and patience.

    You'll notice that 95% of the individuals on here that have pictures of their own 6-packs don't actually do "ab" routines.

    Ab exercises work for me. I run as well, and do light strength training, but my core has gotten much more solid and defined. Definitely don't have actual abs yet, but I'm seeing progress.
  • ExcelWithMel
    ExcelWithMel Posts: 192 Member
    I am 5'9", weigh 148, and my stomach is flat.

    Lift some weights.

    I agree. Squats especially. I didn't believe it at first, but it's working for me and I'm in my 40s and never had a flat stomach.
  • trogalicious
    trogalicious Posts: 4,584 Member
    You can't spot reduce. You can do "ab" exercises all day long, but it won't isolate the fat in the midsection. It will build core strength, but as you burn fat the body will take it from where ever it wants to, with the midsection usually being the last place.

    In order to uncover your abs you need to lower your overall BF%, this can be done with:

    Caloric Deficit (abs are really made in the kitchen), Work (cardio with compound movements -- squats, etc..), and patience.

    You'll notice that 95% of the individuals on here that have pictures of their own 6-packs don't actually do "ab" routines.

    another vote for this.

    /thread.
  • Zakiya05
    Zakiya05 Posts: 36 Member
    Yes I want a flat stomach too! I am 5"2 and about 118. My fat gathers around the mid section. I already know it's a hard battle looking at the rest of my immedate family, they all have belly. But hey I am game. I am really trying to watch what I eat, but ocassionally I have to sneak a flat bread in. yummers!
  • RGv2
    RGv2 Posts: 5,789 Member
    You can't spot reduce. You can do "ab" exercises all day long, but it won't isolate the fat in the midsection. It will build core strength, but as you burn fat the body will take it from where ever it wants to, with the midsection usually being the last place.

    In order to uncover your abs you need to lower your overall BF%, this can be done with:

    Caloric Deficit (abs are really made in the kitchen), Work (cardio with compound movements -- squats, etc..), and patience.

    You'll notice that 95% of the individuals on here that have pictures of their own 6-packs don't actually do "ab" routines.

    Ab exercises work for me. I run as well, and do light strength training, but my core has gotten much more solid and defined. Definitely don't have actual abs yet, but I'm seeing progress.

    It's not from your ab exercises...it's the running and strength training, just say'n.....

    You can't spot reduce, and actually, situps don't work your abs, they engage the hip-flexors and momentum does the rest.
  • MissKitty9
    MissKitty9 Posts: 224 Member
    What everyone else said, lower your overall body fat % (resistance training, weights). I'm like you, slim build but a stubborn little pooch right under my belly button :(
  • bumblebums
    bumblebums Posts: 2,181 Member
    Stomach and butt/thigh fat is the last to come off for many women. Even if you are overall fairly lean, you will still have some fat there. And you kind of need it--women are supposed to carry at least twice as much fat as men even when fairly lean. Still, your body fat will come off at different rates from different places. Not much you can do about that. Even super-lean bodybuilders struggle with that.

    About abs: I don't generally recommend the New Rules of Lifting for Women book, but it has a pretty useful discussion of how misguided most "ab routines" are. The usual drill is to flex the torso to train abs. But what abs do most of the time is hold your torso erect. That goes for most of the muscles of the core--they are arranged to brace your trunk while you are moving. One of the most effective ways to train them is to force them to brace the trunk under load, as in a squat or deadlift or pull-up. Do crunches if you like them, but some of the most impressive ab musculature I've seen was on people who hadn't gone anywhere near an Ab Master.
  • christyallgood
    christyallgood Posts: 79 Member
    I too would love to get rid of lower belly pouch! I sticks out 2 or more inches than my belly button area. It sucks and have been trying to get rid of it for a long time. Maybe it's because I have had kids??
    I am 5'7 , 130 lbs and around 20% body fat. WTH?
  • acogg
    acogg Posts: 1,870 Member
    If sit ups don't work the abs, what is that burning sensation I feel in my abs when I do them? When I do weighted squats, I notice the most difference in my obliques. They are definitely helping with the lift.
  • khannickwechanged
    khannickwechanged Posts: 77 Member
    You can't spot reduce. You can do "ab" exercises all day long, but it won't isolate the fat in the midsection. It will build core strength, but as you burn fat the body will take it from where ever it wants to, with the midsection usually being the last place.

    In order to uncover your abs you need to lower your overall BF%, this can be done with:

    Caloric Deficit (abs are really made in the kitchen), Work (cardio with compound movements -- squats, etc..), and patience.

    You'll notice that 95% of the individuals on here that have pictures of their own 6-packs don't actually do "ab" routines.

    Ab exercises work for me. I run as well, and do light strength training, but my core has gotten much more solid and defined. Definitely don't have actual abs yet, but I'm seeing progress.

    It's not from your ab exercises...it's the running and strength training, just say'n.....

    You can't spot reduce, and actually, situps don't work your abs, they engage the hip-flexors and momentum does the rest.

    Well I do have a lot to learn about fitness, so maybe I've just been wrong about building abs. It does make sense that you can't spot reduce, but for some reason the stomach seems different for me. Eh well, I'll take more experienced MFP-ers words for it over my own. :) You certainly look like you know what you're talking about.
  • WannabeStressFree
    WannabeStressFree Posts: 340 Member
    I do too! I've never ever had a flat stomach.
  • RGv2
    RGv2 Posts: 5,789 Member
    If sit ups don't work the abs, what is that burning sensation I feel in my abs when I do them? When I do weighted squats, I notice the most difference in my obliques. They are definitely helping with the lift.

    Hip flexors are under the abdominals, which can give the sensation of the abs doing the work...from what I understand.
  • rassha01
    rassha01 Posts: 534 Member
    Ab exercises will "work" your abs but you are not going to make them big enough for the definition to be shown through the fat. Compound lifts also work the abs as well as the stabalization muscles through out the body. All of this is for not though if you do not eat right and get your body fat% down. As much as it sucks the abdomin is usually the last place for fat to be removed from naturally! I have never had a 6 pack but I am getting a lot closer since I incorporated more free weights in to my work out routine.
  • khannickwechanged
    khannickwechanged Posts: 77 Member
    I'm learning a lot from this thread!
  • RGv2
    RGv2 Posts: 5,789 Member
    You can't spot reduce. You can do "ab" exercises all day long, but it won't isolate the fat in the midsection. It will build core strength, but as you burn fat the body will take it from where ever it wants to, with the midsection usually being the last place.

    In order to uncover your abs you need to lower your overall BF%, this can be done with:

    Caloric Deficit (abs are really made in the kitchen), Work (cardio with compound movements -- squats, etc..), and patience.

    You'll notice that 95% of the individuals on here that have pictures of their own 6-packs don't actually do "ab" routines.

    Ab exercises work for me. I run as well, and do light strength training, but my core has gotten much more solid and defined. Definitely don't have actual abs yet, but I'm seeing progress.

    It's not from your ab exercises...it's the running and strength training, just say'n.....

    You can't spot reduce, and actually, situps don't work your abs, they engage the hip-flexors and momentum does the rest.

    Well I do have a lot to learn about fitness, so maybe I've just been wrong about building abs. It does make sense that you can't spot reduce, but for some reason the stomach seems different for me. Eh well, I'll take more experienced MFP-ers words for it over my own. :) You certainly look like you know what you're talking about.

    Your stomach probably seems different from the BF% you're losing as you exercise. I'm not saying ab/core exercises are bad, core strength is very important. Many derive that strength from other exercises that engage the core, but the midsection is a journey and it takes patience for you work to pay off.
  • bumblebums
    bumblebums Posts: 2,181 Member
    You can't spot reduce. You can do "ab" exercises all day long, but it won't isolate the fat in the midsection. It will build core strength, but as you burn fat the body will take it from where ever it wants to, with the midsection usually being the last place.

    In order to uncover your abs you need to lower your overall BF%, this can be done with:

    Caloric Deficit (abs are really made in the kitchen), Work (cardio with compound movements -- squats, etc..), and patience.

    You'll notice that 95% of the individuals on here that have pictures of their own 6-packs don't actually do "ab" routines.

    Ab exercises work for me. I run as well, and do light strength training, but my core has gotten much more solid and defined. Definitely don't have actual abs yet, but I'm seeing progress.

    It's not from your ab exercises...it's the running and strength training, just say'n.....

    You can't spot reduce, and actually, situps don't work your abs, they engage the hip-flexors and momentum does the rest.

    Well I do have a lot to learn about fitness, so maybe I've just been wrong about building abs. It does make sense that you can't spot reduce, but for some reason the stomach seems different for me. Eh well, I'll take more experienced MFP-ers words for it over my own. :) You certainly look like you know what you're talking about.

    Your stomach probably seems different from the BF% you're losing as you exercise. I'm not saying ab/core exercises are bad, core strength is very important. Many derive that strength from other exercises that engage the core, but the midsection is a journey and it takes patience for you work to pay off.

    There's a bit of a fixation in our culture on abs. Must be all those Axe body spray ads. You probably have fat in other areas, but for some reason abs is where most people want to have definition.

    Anyway, your propensity to carry weight around the mid-section is determined by your genes, sex, and age. As women get older and enter/leave menopause, they gain more visceral fat, for example. And women differ in whether they carry fat somewhat evenly all over their bodies, or around the trunk ("apple"), or below the waist ("pear"). You cannot do much about your genetics.

    This does not apply to 98% people reading this thread, but if you are lean and muscular but struggling with "stubborn fat", there is a book about it that discusses the physiology of fat distribution and mobilization.

    http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/the-stubborn-fat-solution

    Like I said, though, for 98% of the people reading this, the solution is to lose fat overall and gain some strength and muscle tone overall, rather than worry about stubborn fat. Big problems need to be addressed before little details.
  • FatOldBat
    FatOldBat Posts: 3,307 Member
    You've provided excellent information in a very accessible manner. Thank you.

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