Especially to petite girls, belly fat loss?

abigaileffie
abigaileffie Posts: 2
in Health and Weight Loss
So I used to have a MFP early last year, when i weighed 132 pounds, but then stopped using it. I've returned to it just a few weeks ago, at that time 116 pounds. I'm 5'1 and I'm now 112 pounds. But I've barely even noticed my 20 pound weight loss in terms of appearance. There are some pieces of clothing that seem to have loosened up, but those pieces are the only indication of my weight loss. In December, I found out about the loss of my first 10 pounds after being weighed at the dentist. I was quite surprised! I just nodded at the sweet lady weighing me and mused about, lead through the hall like tourist, though I had been there many times before.

Anyway... HERE'S THE POINT:
Is it just because I'm focusing my attention on the belly and thighs, the worst areas? If I lose another 10 pounds from my currently 112-pound-body, do you think the belly fat will take a hike and get lost in the mountains, never to return? I believe the lowest weight they say a person of my height should be is 95 pounds. So according to them, whoever they may truly be, I can certainly lose more weight but not too much more.

Should I incorporate some strength training? Should I avoid certain foods? Is there something I'm missing in light of the amount of fat I want to lose? I've heard from some little birds Pilates helps...

I watch carb intake and calorie intake, but often let myself have an off day out of the weekends to unguiltily (is this a word?) snack on things I usually would avoid. But I'm taking a lovely vacation at the end of March, and desperately want to look my best in this rosy swimsuit I've attained.

So thank you lovelies for reading through my post, any help would come as a gift to me!
+++ Abigail

Replies

  • Makoce
    Makoce Posts: 938 Member
    Posting for answers. I was 168 and now Im actually down to 104...and Im 5'2.
    Almost under weight but a huge pot belly. Starting strength training at maintenance hoping itll help

    Lets hope we get some help!
  • tayloryay
    tayloryay Posts: 378 Member
    I think your best bet would be to focus on trying to lose body fat and gain muscle (to have something to show through!) and hope that your body shifts the way you want! Unfortunately you can't spot reduce, but working out and focusing on building some abs may give you the results you want.
  • BurnBabyyyBurn
    BurnBabyyyBurn Posts: 79
    Since we're petite, our hip to rib ratio is shorter than the taller girls. Sometimes we can look a little stockier in that region because of that. I'm still working on my belly fat loss and I weigh more than you haha. I think you should keep working on your diet. Like they say...abs are made in the kitchen. :)
  • giggitygoo
    giggitygoo Posts: 1,978 Member
    I'm 5'1 and 110. I started somewhere in the 150s (not really sure since I refused to weigh.)

    Strength training ABSOLUTELY made a difference in my stomach definition. It was flat but soft before, and with strength training I'm starting to see some definition. No weight lost either.


    Edit: strength training will make much more of a difference than any more weight loss.
  • j6o4
    j6o4 Posts: 871 Member
    Strength train and get enough protein. If you want stomach fat gone you need to concentrate on your bodyfat percentage, not weight. A person that is 5'8" 180 lbs can be fat with a belly or ripped with a sixpack depending on their bodyfat percentage.
  • abigaileffie
    abigaileffie Posts: 2
    Thanks all of you for the advice! You all are the best!

    I do try to get enough protein daily, and often use whey protein as a supplement to my fruit smoothies. I also eat a lot of fish and other seafood, since I love it so.
    And I realize BFP is more important of a focus here than overall weight, but through losing fat I will in turn lose weight. So weight loss has been a way for me to gauge how much fat I've been losing, though I do realize weight gain in muscle must be taken into consideration. I recently used an online calculator to find my BFP based on body measurements, and it said about 25%. I'm not very muscular at all.

    So, in order to lose more fat, should I focus only on strength training and getting my full intake of protein? Should I still avoid carbs like I've been doing?
  • Joebob8
    Joebob8 Posts: 69 Member
    Gain some muscle! Strength train, eat at maintenance for a couple months, let the scale go up, then cut back your calories and lose a bit of fat. Repeat. I had the same problem, now I'm starting to see ab muscles for the first time in my life.
  • ndj1979
    ndj1979 Posts: 29,136 Member
    heavy lifting + moderate calorie deficit…

    starting strength and new rules of lifting for woman are great resources…

    I would say figure your your maintenance calories and then cut about 250 calories off that so you are at about .5 pound per week loss and then incorporate a program of heavy lifting with compound movements (squats, deadlfts, bench press, rows, overhead press, pullups/chin ups)

    oh and set your macro percentages to 40 protein/30 fat/30 carbs...
  • jmortel1
    jmortel1 Posts: 8
    I seem to be having the same problem, except I'm even more petite. I'm 4.10 and probably weigh about 98-100lbs, I really don't use the number on a scale to judge anything since I know I'm not overweight and my overall goal is to gain muscle which will make me weigh more. The problem I seem to be having is reducing my BFP-- I've been following the Insanity program and am on week 7 of 8 and while I feel stronger overall and have some definition in my upper body I've seen almost no changes in my stomach/thighs which really are a bit chubbier than I'd like..

    I'm eating around 1100-1300 cals a day to stay in line with my 500cal deficit and have been eating really healthy for the past 2 months (i.e. eliminated processed foods, white starches, sugar, etc). I do try and follow a 40/40/20 but tend to always go a little bit over on my carbs.

    Am I just being impatient or should I try switching up what I'm eating? I'm not interested in dieting so much as changing the way I eat from here on out.. I'm only 22 and want to start forming good habits now that will stay with me in years to come.

    Thanks for whoever helps :)

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