Belly fat or subcutaneus fat

Give it some time. I have found that the longer I maintain (as in the last 15 months), the firmer everything is getting, including a flatter belly.

All of us have fat somewhere until we stop having any fat. And it's not always where we want it.

My husband is a tai chi instructor and has muscles on top of his muscles all over his body. And a big fat gut. On MFP he has not lost any weight but HAS replaced all the fat he had everywhere except his belly into hard muscles. It is really weird because I swear you can see the thin person peeking out through his current body when he moves. In any case, now his belly is shrinking and you can see the muscles under there. It is going to take him time - it's just where his body stores it. Sounds like yours too.

I would also wonder if some of it is gas and if you might be sensitive to some foods. For example, higher fat or wheat/gluten will make many people bloat in a way that looks like fat.

BTW - if that is your picture you look great. You do have subcu fat. But so do all normal people. It will go with time if you lower your BFI enough. It depends how important that is to you.

sorry, i feel like i wasn't very helpful before (as you were looking for ideas).

you said you didn't want to drop anymore weight (you look pretty trim, btw) so would you consider doing a bulk and cut cycle? you would add muscle and fat (and you might get results you are happier with after the cut).

i don't know if you saw the post earlier, where the chap had gained weight but cut his waist measurements by 4" after a bulk.

ETA: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1103843-4-month-bulk-done-w-pics

Lift weights. Not just abs exercises, but whole body. Look into New Rules of Lifting of Starting Strength (is that the right name? :laugh:) or buy a few sessions with a trainer if you've never lifted before. Just make sure the trainer knows you want to lift "heavy" and not rely on machines and tiny dumbbells. As you lift and eat at maintenance (or maybe a slight surplus), you will start to notice a difference everywhere, but eventually it will hit your tummy area. That is often the last place the body will take fat, so you have to be patient

Edit: just reread and realized OP is a man (sorry, it's often women who ask these questions…) The advice is the same, but trainers probably won't be as quick to steer you to the machines, which is good.

Sorry but I never heard BFI referred to before. May I ask what that stands for. I would hope in time as I loose weight I would loose visceral fat as well. I know that is important They have me as have joined Mar. but I joined
August 15. Is there a way to correct that. I am still trying to learn my way around in here. Thanks/

BFI I am assuming they are saying Body Fat Index...usually referred to as BMI or Body Mass Index. Yes?

Just got to lower the BF% some more. You can't do things to loose fat in specific places, it's cumulative and determined by genetics.

I'm cutting right now, and I loose a lot in my face before my gut. I might be in the same boat soon enough. Life huh?

Sorry but I never heard BFI referred to before. May I ask what that stands for. I would hope in time as I loose weight I would loose visceral fat as well. I know that is important They have me as have joined Mar. but I joined
August 15. Is there a way to correct that. I am still trying to learn my way around in here. Thanks/

BFI I am assuming they are saying Body Fat Index...usually referred to as BMI or Body Mass Index. Yes?

No, actually. BMI is a calculation based on height and weight and is a population based measure that's easy to calculate and is used to put people into underweight, healthy weight, overweight, obese categories.

BFI is body fat index and it is the percentage of fat in your body. You probably know that muscle is denser than fat. If I lifted a lot of weights, you can imagine I might have the same measurements but gain weight. My BMI would go up (more weight, same height). My BFI would go down (less fat, more muscle).

BFI is very hard to measure accurately, but you can estimate it with measurements and calipers or water displacement or other measures that give a better estimate of density.

One of the criticisms of the BMI is that it doesn't distinguish between weight from fat and weight from muscle. But it IS easy to calculate.

looking at your picture, id say you are around 20% bodyfat. You will start seeing your abs once you get to around 12%, and better under 10%. So, lose approx 10-15 kgs.

I would suggest doing a cut, mabey a little intermittent fasting.

Yep intermittent fast, and lift. I am doing this for 'mainly health' but also for the very same reason, the annoying last deposits of fat around the mid section

looking at your picture, id say you are around 20% bodyfat. You will start seeing your abs once you get to around 12%, and better under 10%. So, lose approx 10-15 kgs.

Are you sure?
20% is too high. I don't look like that much.
I am 179 cm and 77. I am not going to loose 10 kg. Then I would be no more than skin and bones.

I know you don't want to hear this but you are at least 20% BF still. I am at about 14.5% and the only place I have any fat left is on my stomach and love handles. Just got to keep cutting. You'll start to see your abs around 15% but it will take lower than 12% to have any definition. Keep plugging along, and good luck!

looking at your picture, id say you are around 20% bodyfat. You will start seeing your abs once you get to around 12%, and better under 10%. So, lose approx 10-15 kgs.

Agree. Males abs start to usually appear at around 15% and you're not near that yet.

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness industry for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

What about women?

Just under 20%

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness industry for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

Too true. My eldest son has those kind of cut, J. Crew model abs. But his highest BMI ever was 19 and does situps every day (no other formal exercise darn his little eyes). He's just always been very, very slim and, at 25, still is.