Losing belly inches

agibsonky
agibsonky Posts: 124 Member
edited September 22 in Health and Weight Loss
OK, so I have a question, since all you guys collectively know EVERYTHING about weight loss...I've lost 75 pounds - I'm only 15 pounds from goal - but I've only lost 2 pants sizes (18 to 14)...When I was on my way up, I think I was wearing an 8 at this weight, not a 14. Now I know not to get too wrapped up in sizes, but I also don't like the way I look in the belly area. I would like to blame it on the 2 big babies and the surgical scar, but I gained all this weight well after that, and I know I was smaller before. I am eating 1200 calories a day (usually more if I exercise...I take it on whether I'm hungry or not), I run 3 days a week at least 3 miles, sometimes more, have recently added in elliptical and stationary bike, just to change it up a bit, and do a full cybex weight circuit at the gym plus crunches, reverse crunches, pushups, tricep dips, and several other strength moves. I don't want to think that I'll be at goal (hopefully) in a couple of months and still hate the way I look. My 14's are baggy in the butt and legs, I just can't go down any in size because the belly is still tight.

Any suggestions???

Replies

  • cobygrey
    cobygrey Posts: 270 Member
    I wanna know too
  • redhotsmacker
    redhotsmacker Posts: 227 Member
    Yep I'd like to know too, considering that I am less than 40lbs from goal and it all seems like belly fat and back *kitten*...
  • meggonkgonk
    meggonkgonk Posts: 2,066 Member
    The general consensus is that you can't spot lose fat, and belly fat is the last to go. There will almost assuredly be someone who comes on here later tho and tells you to drop carbs and such- some people swear by it, most I know say it just came off when it was gonna come off. Best advice? Keep working, maybe juggle your workout up a bit, maybe change out some straight crunches for pilates?
  • LovingMe19
    LovingMe19 Posts: 380 Member
    I would like to follow this as weel. Seems like all my weight loss has been in my legs so far, and no belly, my biggest problem area.
  • nubreeze33
    nubreeze33 Posts: 270
    HMMMMM very good question.......do you ever wear those sweat belts? I use mine for my stomach as well as my arms and I notice I sweat alot more in those areas during cardio.....I got mine from avon it's by curves.....the one for the arms as well as the belly. I know you can't really spot lose weight but i'm sure it can't hurt.
  • ladysuperfish
    ladysuperfish Posts: 9 Member
    sound slike you're doing wonderfully! but are you getting enough fiber? i don't have any scientific proof to back up what happened to me, but as soon as i became aware of my fiber inake and made sure i was getting enough everyday my stomach did flatten quite a bit. maybe that was just an individual result that varies, but hey, leave no stone unturned right... GOOD LUCK AND KEEP UP THE FANTASTIC WORK! =)
  • Memah
    Memah Posts: 129
    Me too. I want to know. Love losing pounds and inches, but the tummy is still there. I'm doing core exercises, but when will this tummy go down?
  • melanie92
    melanie92 Posts: 184 Member
    I'm in almost the exact same boat. Lost 60 lb, I have 18 to go. Started at a size 20. Now I'm size 14 beccause of the tummy! I should end up as an 8 at 135. At least, that's what I used to be at that weight. Doesn't sound right to only drop 3 sizes in 60 lb, then drop 3 in only 18! I have theorized that the sizes increase at a larger scale, and conversely shrink at a smaller scale! Maybe there's really not that much difference between a 14 to a 12? Then less between a 12 and 10? Maybe? Ida know~!! :huh:
  • crystallayne
    crystallayne Posts: 109 Member
    I know you can't spot tone body parts, but I do know that training and working your core muscles will help make your stomach and sides tight. I know also one of the best ways to do this during the day is simply standing up straight and keeping your stomach firm. This is hard for me as I am a sloucher. It sounds overly simple but sometimes those are the best solutions. Really if you think about is your abs are a series of muscles not just one. So you need to keep working them all. This probably was not very helpful. Good luck.
  • juberry
    juberry Posts: 28 Member
    The thing that makes my belly blob up is wine. When I cut out the wine, my belly flattens out.
  • agibsonky
    agibsonky Posts: 124 Member
    I have irritable bowel, and the primary treatment is fiber, so I KNOW it if I change my fiber intake. I don't take fiber supplements or eat fiber one bars, and activia...BIG no no...but I eat lots of salad and whole fruits and vegetables. I might try the belly bands...do they restrict you during crunches and stuff...do you only wear them for cardio??? I already sweat like a pig, but not necessarily in the belly area.
  • dlcam61
    dlcam61 Posts: 228 Member
    Here's what I know about this topic (still learning, currently enrolled in anatomy & physiology classes in college). I have 4 kids, 3 of which were 9 1/2 to 9 3/4 lbs. So I can also speak of my personal abdominal experience.

    The abs are multiple layers of muscle that alternate in directions. Muscles, like skin, are fibrous, and can only stretch so far before they tear, weaken and both do not fully repair 100% good as new (there is also collagen fiber connective tissues called aponeurosis that connect the ab muscles to each other that if torn don't heal as well, much the same as skin). Think of stretch marks. Muscles of the stomach when over stretched can become looser than pre-pregnancy. I remember seeing a plastic surgery show that a woman had gone in for surgery after a very large baby, and she was very tiny. They had to stitch her back together, much like pulling a girdle tighter.

    That being said, these muscles can be conditioned and encouraged to strengthen, become denser and tighter. What I found that worked better than run of the mill crunches and sit ups is yoga & Pilates. Last year, same weight, my stomach was tighter, flatter, and my pants hung on me. Today, after not going to these classes since then I am not as lean looking. My suggestion is to add Pilates, it lengthens and strengthens the ab & back muscles. The more you tone those muscles the stronger your natural girdle will be & it will pull that belly back in towards where you want it to be. Keep in mind though that this will not guarantee belly fat burning, the muscles of your body do not own the fat around them.

    I've seen skinny girls who are not chubby at all who have poochie bellies because they do not work their abs, therefore the muscles weaken and the abdomen extends. Same theory with those of us not blessed with skinny genes. I hope this kind of helps. Oh ya, don't forget, after having kids, and thanks to being female, our hips/pelvis get wider and don't get narrower ;) that will contribute to being wider :flowerforyou:
  • roxanea
    roxanea Posts: 59
    I have found that drinking milk or eating milk products three times a day helps in losing belly fat. Also knee lifts have helped me lose 4 pounds of belly fat in one month.
  • agibsonky
    agibsonky Posts: 124 Member
    My gym offers Pilates classes, but they are not at a time that I can consistently go. I can make it a couple times a week at the most. I might try them...any help is better than no help. After the 2 10 pound babies, I don't ever expect to be a size 4 again, but a 6-8 would be nice...
  • lordofultima
    lordofultima Posts: 293
    Just proper nutrition and cardiovascular exercise, it'll remove fat over time from all parts of your body, if you have a lot of fat in the midsection, it's going to take until you're completely lean for it to be gone. Just the facts of life. Core exercises will actually make your belly stick out further, but it's good do do them nonetheless.
  • Dencrossgirl
    Dencrossgirl Posts: 501 Member
    Sorry, I don't have a solution, but I have the same problem. I have no @ss left anymore, my boobs have decreased a little, I have lost a little off my midsection but not enough to be in a healthy range. Bellyfat is stubborn, just don't give up, it has to budge eventually right?
  • iampam654
    iampam654 Posts: 28
    I have found that drinking milk or eating milk products three times a day helps in losing belly fat. Also knee lifts have helped me lose 4 pounds of belly fat in one month.

    yes, I have recently read that eating 2 or 3 servings of yogurt a day attributes to fat loss in the stomach area. it has something to do with the probiotics i believe. its definitely worth a shot and if you are not a fan of dairy you can try taking probiotic tablets. even if it doesn't work for you, probiotics do wonders for your body
  • meggonkgonk
    meggonkgonk Posts: 2,066 Member
    Just look up pilates on YouTube, rent a DVD from Netflix or buy a DVD if u are comfortable with that. Pilates are like yoga- eventually you learn the moves and the tempo and dont really need an instructor.
  • classyleo77
    classyleo77 Posts: 98 Member
    Just continue to be consistent, it will happen. For me my belly fat has been the last to go. I started at a size 20 in 2/10 and just bought a pair of size 10 jeans this weekend. Now that most of my body is really toned I have gone down 3 pant sizes in just the last month. I am still doing the same work outs and eating the same way that I have since I joined MFP.
  • sarahwright01
    sarahwright01 Posts: 229 Member
    I don't actually think you should drop carbs, i think you need to make sure they are balanced. As a woman, most carbs really are our enemy, except for first thing in our day. (Morning and Lunch). Eating the right carbs (clean and unrefined) can actually help you boost weight loss. Avoid eating too many carbs in the evening. (As i say this i am cooking organic rice medley made with wild, brown and red rice, and I only plan on eating 1/4 cup of it cooked). Also, up your calories!!!!! The belly fat is alwasy the last to go and hold on for dear life if it thinks it is being starved. So, up those cals.
  • sarahwright01
    sarahwright01 Posts: 229 Member
    I don't actually think you should drop carbs, i think you need to make sure they are balanced. As a woman, most carbs really are our enemy, except for first thing in our day. (Morning and Lunch). Eating the right carbs (clean and unrefined) can actually help you boost weight loss. Avoid eating too many carbs in the evening. (As i say this i am cooking organic rice medley made with wild, brown and red rice, and I only plan on eating 1/4 cup of it cooked). Also, up your calories!!!!! The belly fat is alwasy the last to go and hold on for dear life if it thinks it is being starved. So, up those cals.
  • morganadk2_deleted
    morganadk2_deleted Posts: 1,696 Member
    As Sarahwright01 said "Also, up your calories!!!!! The belly fat is alwasy the last to go and hold on for dear life if it thinks it is being starved. So, up those cals"

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/61706-guide-to-calorie-deficits


    please read this!

    good luck
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