LARGE/Wide Rib Cage. Can I ever get a flat core/torso?

I totally understand. I have the same thing. Always wondered if it meant we had big lungs, lol.

not quite sure what you can do, and hate to bear bad news, but I don't think it's going to work. My ribs aren't that big, but they flare out noticeably at the bottom. Even when I was lifting, swimming, and doing A LOT of other things, and was in great shape.... it never evened out. It's always great to look like the pics, with sculpted bodies that have curves in all the right places and nice flat lines elsewhere. The reality is, it's not for everyone. I've had to come to terms with this (and trust me, it took years), but now, I just go more for being happy as me....flaws and all, because as my husband says, "it makes a great place to rest my hands when I touch you!" :-)

First of all- you are super duper pretty! I wasted a long portion of my life hating on my body because my rib cage stuck out far. Go look in the mirror and high five yourself for looking fab just the way you are!!

With that said- I am more of a lurker on these boards and don't usually pop in to say much- but wanted to chime in because I struggled with this exact issue. My husband used to poke fun at me and grab my ribs and say "Nice boobs"...yeah, I admit- they stuck out farther than my boobs! It certainly didn't help with the fact that I was already my worst critic! Ha

I am shorter (5'4'') and along with my larger rib cage, I had what I always defined as a "short torso". Double whammy! Longer legs, long arms, and a stumpy little midsection that looked even sillier with my big ole rib cage. I am now almost a year into TDEE -10%, running, yoga & weight training and my body has changed SO much. I don't have any pictures to show you (sorry!) but my body has now "evened out" awesomely. I have only lost 13 lbs this year but went from a size 14 (probably a 16 but I stopped buying clothes after I hit 14) to a size 2-4 depending on the brand. I always thought I would like dumb under size 8 because of my rib cage. Negative!

I was a chronic yo-yo dieter for years. I have done yoga on and off for a long time but wasn't as dedicated to it as I am now, otherwise- I hadn't worked out, like, EVER prior to this year. Anytime I lost weight simply by dieting and a little yoga- my large rib cage and short little waist remained. I may have lost scale weight but I didn't look much different. I really think weight training is what changed everything for me. I APPEAR longer in the midsection. Like, Victorias Secret obnoxiously long torso- Longer! I sure didn't grow any taller, despite the lies on my drivers license! And my darn big ole rib cage hasn't gone down in inches either- can't shrink a bone! But it's not drastically out of proportion compared to my waist and hips anymore- even though I've gotten much smaller. I can't really come up with another way to describe it other than my body composition is totally different.

I wish I would have taken pictures that I could share, but I didn't! So, you can only go by my words. I hope I explained that in a way to give you some kind of visual! lol! Just know it's possible!!

PS- I like to think that my extra large rib cage is a super power of mine. Cause, you know...This ex couch potato can now run for two whole hours on my weekend long runs because my BIG OLE SET OF LUNGS! At least that's what I tell myself... HOLLA!

Have the same problem. I have a triple whammy im 4'11, short legs, short torso. I have to live with it. A few years ago when i was going through my breakup with my ex i lost so much weight i was down to 98 pounds and my ribs were sticking out. It looked like i had 2 sets of breasts. I know exactly what your talking about. Good to know im not the only one!

Whenever people mention their big rib cages I just think about Bettie Page.

http://newsmanone.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/bettie-page1.jpg

(it's too big to actually post, but I promise you she's wearing a swimsuit and this picture is only intended to point out the size of her rib cage.)

I think she's gorgeous, for the record.

My ankles are fat . . .

I have a very wide rib cage (thanks to having boys who lived inside of my ribs the last few months of pregnancy). It's possible to have a nice core and part of presentation is just how you bend/lean/stand. Even judges at competitions comment on my rib cage being big.

Mine do the same thing! My circumference isn't large, but I have narrower hips by comparison, and so my ribs sort of protrude at the bottom of my cage (my sister, who is a tiny little thing, also has the same issue) and I even notice that if I bend a certain way, my bottom ribs touch my pelvis bones (ouch lol). I have learned to embrace it- I think you look great in your pictures, and being slightly more statuesque, rather than scrawny, is a helluva lot more desirable! Larger lung capacity may be the cause, or perhaps it's just your overall anatomy (there is no such thing as "big boned" or "small boned", but everyone's build is different)- either way, don't get hung up on it- you are an attractive, healthy woman!

You can get a pretty flat stomach but your rib cage will still always be the same. Mine always has stuck out a lot, and I really couldn't stand it. A few years ago I was super self conscious about it. My cousin had told me it was just upper stomach/under boob fat fat, and I listened to her, so I went crazy trying to lose weight to get rid of this fat that was seriously just my rib cage. I lost enough weight that my BMI was about 18 which is underweight, yet my darn ribcage was still sticking out just the same. There's no way to change your anatomy. :ohwell: I'm a dancer and am always wearing tight fitting leotards and my large rib cage is so obvious; nonetheless people can still tell I have a flat belly and that it's just the way I'm built that my rib cage area sticks out a lot. So I've learned to live with it and love myself for how I am. :glasses:

don't mind me, i'm just stopping by again to check out those pics. the second girl, did she use all of the baby oil or ALL of the baby oil? and do you think she needs a spotter? i'd be happy lend a hand.

I have a very wide rib cage (thanks to having boys who lived inside of my ribs the last few months of pregnancy). It's possible to have a nice core and part of presentation is just how you bend/lean/stand. Even judges at competitions comment on my rib cage being big.

This is bringing nitpicking to a new level. I'm sorry, but I just don't see it. I get that people are here to look better but finding fault with one's most basic and unalterable attributes is a line that is better not crossed.

Put another way, you looking ****ing amazing, the judges must be blind.

Thank you! I don't mind my big rib cage. I get accused of sucking in my gut all the time (it's not sucking it in if I'm flexing).

I have a wide ribcage, but it's only unusually wide in one direction (across the front/back). My main abs kind of fit inside it, lol. It just makes me look like I'm sucking in when I'm not.

It does make it hard to have a very small waist, though. My hips are wide enough across and close enough to my ribs that there isn't room to get down to a teeny number at the waist.

I dont have much to add sorry ... I feel your pain though
I have been told for a long time that I have a large ribcage ... great for swimming not so great for weightloss!

LOVE WHAT YOU HAVE!!!

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