Belly Fat....help!!!
karmaheart
Posts: 75 Member
I'm at 115 pounds and I can't seem to get rid of the fat on my mid section. I don't have a lot, but I can't stand what I do have. I do JM workout videos, yoga, pilates and 30 mins on the elliptical 6 days a week. I do not wish to do any weights at all. Any advice?
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Replies
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Unfortunately it's impossible to spot reduce
You have fat on your mid section because that's where your genetics have decided you will have extra fat. Try trimming down the fat and carbs in your diet and see if that helps :] 0 -
Unfortunately it's impossible to spot reduce You have fat on your mid section because that's where your genetics have decided you will have extra fat. Try trimming down the fat and carbs in your diet and see if that helps :]
No. Fat and carbs have a place in pretty much every person's diet.
Sounds like you need to look into body recomp. Eat at a slight deficit, and lift heavy, heavy weights. Check out programs like Starting Strength or Stronglifts.
ETA: I misread your OP. Why do you not want to do weights?0 -
I never thought I'd like weights either, I thought it would be boring. So I opted to start doing a Kettlebell workout, because it's weights/cardio .... I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT! Perhaps that would be something you might want to look into?0
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Unfortunately it's impossible to spot reduce You have fat on your mid section because that's where your genetics have decided you will have extra fat. Try trimming down the fat and carbs in your diet and see if that helps :]
No. Fat and carbs have a place in pretty much every person's diet.
Sounds like you need to look into body recomp. Eat at a slight deficit, and lift heavy, heavy weights. Check out programs like Starting Strength or Stronglifts.
ETA: I misread your OP. Why do you not want to do weights?
I'm not trying to say cut out fats and carbs completely. I apologize if you thought that's what I meant. I mean just (slightly) lower the amounts of fat and carbs that she's eating.0 -
Unfortunately it's impossible to spot reduce You have fat on your mid section because that's where your genetics have decided you will have extra fat. Try trimming down the fat and carbs in your diet and see if that helps :]
No. Fat and carbs have a place in pretty much every person's diet.
Sounds like you need to look into body recomp. Eat at a slight deficit, and lift heavy, heavy weights. Check out programs like Starting Strength or Stronglifts.
ETA: I misread your OP. Why do you not want to do weights?
I'm not trying to say cut out fats and carbs completely. I apologize if you thought that's what I meant. I mean just (slightly) lower the amounts of fat and carbs that she's eating.
But that's not going to help either. The important thing is the overall intake of calories. Your fats, carbs, and protein should fall with a certain percentage of that overall calorie goal. Just lowering fats/carbs won't do anything, unless it increases your deficit without messing up your percentages. It's better to look at it from the angle of have a slight deficit, and lift weights for optimum body recomp.0 -
Bump0
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diet. diet. diet.
you will not magically lose fat unless you are eating at a deficit.
if you are working out a LOT - (and crunches do not burn stomach fat) - it helps, but you still need to eat at a deficit in accordance to your fitness regimen0 -
Unfortunately it's impossible to spot reduce You have fat on your mid section because that's where your genetics have decided you will have extra fat. Try trimming down the fat and carbs in your diet and see if that helps :]
No. Fat and carbs have a place in pretty much every person's diet.
Sounds like you need to look into body recomp. Eat at a slight deficit, and lift heavy, heavy weights. Check out programs like Starting Strength or Stronglifts.
ETA: I misread your OP. Why do you not want to do weights?
I'm not trying to say cut out fats and carbs completely. I apologize if you thought that's what I meant. I mean just (slightly) lower the amounts of fat and carbs that she's eating.
But that's not going to help either. The important thing is the overall intake of calories. Your fats, carbs, and protein should fall with a certain percentage of that overall calorie goal. Just lowering fats/carbs won't do anything, unless it increases your deficit without messing up your percentages. It's better to look at it from the angle of have a slight deficit, and lift weights for optimum body recomp.
If your cutting back carbs and overall sugar intake then you need to up the fat in your diet to "survive" lol lower carbs does work in losing weight. I've seen a lot of ppl lose a lot of weight on a no sugar no carb diet. "Abs are made in the kitchen" they say. To really lose that little but left on your stomach you will have to really watch what you eat. I'm at that stage too and on a really strict diet to lose the little fat I have left.0 -
At 115 lbs, you would have to be something like 4'9" to even make it out of the healthy weight range, which means you should not need to lose weight. It is true there is no such thing as spot reduction, if you are an apple shape, you will be a small apple even if you lost more fat. With that said, switching to a 40% carb, 30% protein, 30% fat intake plan can reduce to bloated abdomen that can come with eating larger amounts of carbs. That may help you feel smaller around the belly area. Also, if abdominal muscles are long, they can't hold all your internal organs in as well - which produces a pot belly appearance. This isn't fat, it's just a need to tighten up the core to hold everything in place - some of this may be posture related, standing with a sway back rather than a straight spine. Being conscious of having the spine straight while sitting, standing and walking will naturally tighten the abs in time if you don't want to do any weight training.0
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Bump
You didn't answer the question....Why do you not want to do weights?0 -
Weights will do amazing things for your body. Lift heavy and look like a goddess! I promise! ;-)0
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Yes. Whatever you're doing ISN'T working. Try the weights.I'm at 115 pounds and I can't seem to get rid of the fat on my mid section. I don't have a lot, but I can't stand what I do have. I do JM workout videos, yoga, pilates and 30 mins on the elliptical 6 days a week. I do not wish to do any weights at all. Any advice?
A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
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Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition0 -
Bump
You didn't answer the question....Why do you not want to do weights?
Never tried and I don't have any. I'm scared I will hurt myself0 -
Never tried and I don't have any. I'm scared I will hurt myself
Do you have injuries or something? If not, it's no different than learning how to drive, bicycle, ski, etc. With the proper knowledge, the risk of injury is minimal. Start with a good program, like NROL4W.0 -
You could hurt yourself walking out your door.
Do some research, give weights a try, start easy till you know what you're doing.0 -
do the weights... here's a 5 mnth progression photo of me and the weights have done wonders for my waist...
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1247368-5-mnths-of-progress-w-comparison-photo0 -
I know you said no weights, but lifting had done so much for my body!!0
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OP, take a few minutes and read this link:
http://www.nerdfitness.com/blog/2011/07/21/meet-staci-your-new-powerlifting-super-hero/
lifting can help change your body for the better... for what you're wanting. If you don't have weights, that's fine.. bodyweight workouts are options, too.0 -
I seriously think people need to stop pandering to this sort of post. You "can't stand" 1/10th of an inch of fat on your stomach? That screams of psychological issues, not physical ones. You are female... you are biologically programmed to lay down fat so that when you get pregnant your body has some stored fuel for the baby. Part of the problem is that we have unrealistic ideas of what the female body CAN look like - mostly from women who can spend all their time working out, eat in a ridiculous manner, or are photo-shopped halfway to hell. But popular images of women are not the only issue ... telling people that they can change their diet or change their exercise regime and achieve the "body of their dreams" is problematic as well! How about we focus a bit on being a fully functional human being, not obsessing over minute details that don't matter and drag us down, and accepting our biological predisposition (including - and I hate this one as much as the next woman - having enough body fat that we maintain consistent menstruation)!!!0
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I'm at 115 pounds and I can't seem to get rid of the fat on my mid section. I don't have a lot, but I can't stand what I do have. I do JM workout videos, yoga, pilates and 30 mins on the elliptical 6 days a week. I do not wish to do any weights at all. Any advice?
Keep up the pilates. this is great for toning your core. Be patience.0 -
Best way to lose belly fat ... a reasonable calorie deficit. That fat will eventually go .. but depending on how much fat you have elsewhere it may take time .. sometimes a long time. And yes .. you cannot spot tone.. by doing endless ab exercises.
I personally have lost 8.5 inches of abdominal fat in the last 8 months and about 2 inches to go. So .. it can be done.
But .. really just eat at a reasonable deficit to burn the fat .. and do lots of leg exercises (best way to burn that ab fat). Doing crunches bla bla bla .. will get you maybe more abdominal muscle but you really need to burn off that fat on top to be able to see the muscle below.
Good luck.0 -
I seriously think people need to stop pandering to this sort of post. You "can't stand" 1/10th of an inch of fat on your stomach? That screams of psychological issues, not physical ones. You are female... you are biologically programmed to lay down fat so that when you get pregnant your body has some stored fuel for the baby. Part of the problem is that we have unrealistic ideas of what the female body CAN look like - mostly from women who can spend all their time working out, eat in a ridiculous manner, or are photo-shopped halfway to hell. But popular images of women are not the only issue ... telling people that they can change their diet or change their exercise regime and achieve the "body of their dreams" is problematic as well! How about we focus a bit on being a fully functional human being, not obsessing over minute details that don't matter and drag us down, and accepting our biological predisposition (including - and I hate this one as much as the next woman - having enough body fat that we maintain consistent menstruation)!!!
^^^THIS. Without knowing your height we can't calculate your BMI - but at 115lbs it sounds like you're skinny-fat, i.e. have a high body fat percentage at a low, overall weight. At this stage the only thing you can do is recomping. By lifting heavy.0 -
For what is is worth, I too have a 'pot belly'. At 5'5/5'6" and 112lbs it is there. When I got ill and lost down to 90lbs it was still there. No amount of calorie deficit would ever shift it. I get asked 'when is the baby due?' depressingly often.
I have a strong core, can do crunches/situps/planks all day, and I regularly lift respectable weights.
I am just stuck with it, and don't like it, but it is the way I am made and just hope that continued lifting will help.
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You "do not wish to do weights"? Mind sharing why? Lifting weights is the easiest ans most effective way to lose excess body fat. That cardio and useless pilates will get you nowhere. Best of luck.0
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Unfortunately it's impossible to spot reduce You have fat on your mid section because that's where your genetics have decided you will have extra fat. Try trimming down the fat and carbs in your diet and see if that helps :]
This is wrong. Dietary fat and carbs have nothing to do with fat loss.0 -
BELLY FAT has almost zero to do with the exercise you're doing...what are you eating?
****abs are made in the KITCHEN****
I didn't believe this for the longest time. I spent hours a week in the gym on the Arc Trainer and lifting heavy weight (squats/DLs) and built muscle, got great arms and legs...with a little fat pooch on my belly to go with it. My problem? FOOD!
If your typical meal looks like this: whole grain pasta, low fat yogurt, apple...you're just asking for the belly fat to stay on and for your blood sugar to be out of control. Cut out grains COMPLETELY and add full-fat yogurt, lots of lean meats, and coconut oil to everything. Yes, I said completely (not saying go low-carb: just get them from fruits and veggies). Sure there are lots of people with flat abs who eat loads of pasta and what-have-you...doesn't mean it's healthy and if it's not genetics keeping them from outwardly showing the effects of a high-grain diet (I'd bet my bottom dollar their insides and blood work show a different story), it's lifting heavy weights (which is necessary for anyone seriously looking to be fit, but the immediate goal of a flat tummy NEEDS to be achieved through food).0 -
Two things: Cut sugar and grains out of your diet and do squats. If you say you don't want to do something that works, then you don't really want what you originally asked for. You know the answer, yet you are dismissing it.0
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At 115 lbs, you would have to be something like 4'9" to even make it out of the healthy weight range, which means you should not need to lose weight. It is true there is no such thing as spot reduction, if you are an apple shape, you will be a small apple even if you lost more fat. With that said, switching to a 40% carb, 30% protein, 30% fat intake plan can reduce to bloated abdomen that can come with eating larger amounts of carbs. That may help you feel smaller around the belly area. Also, if abdominal muscles are long, they can't hold all your internal organs in as well - which produces a pot belly appearance. This isn't fat, it's just a need to tighten up the core to hold everything in place - some of this may be posture related, standing with a sway back rather than a straight spine. Being conscious of having the spine straight while sitting, standing and walking will naturally tighten the abs in time if you don't want to do any weight training.
Sorry but that first part of your comment is incorrect. I am 4 feet 11 and I my weight is 102lbs, much lower than the OP's and my BMI is 20.6. Right in the healthy range, so let's not assume that low weight equals unhealthy BMI.
The OP had two children, so after pregnancies getting a flat stomach, even at a healthy wts is not easy. Probably doable but not something that will happen overnight.0 -
I second everyone else who's recommending weights. Losing more weight won't help you. Staying the same weight and doing more yoga, pilates etc won't help you (no reason to stop these, they're good for flexibility, posture, etc and if you enjoy them then that's reason enough to keep doing them, and they'll burn some extra calories)......... what's going to make a difference is doing weights.
You said you didn't want to do them because you're afraid you'll get hurt.... why? You're just as capable as everyone else. Why do you think that you're not? I understand that if you grew up with people telling you that you can't do something, it takes a while to get your head around the idea of doing it. But it's probably one of the most liberating things you can do. Even if you're not physically very strong, that doesn't matter. Everyone who does weights needs to gear the weight they're using to their current level of strength. No-one should be lifting anything that's too heavy for them. The more you do weight training, the heavier weights you can lift, and you end up being really strong and having a fit, firm, toned body.
Here's a pic of Marylin Monroe doing bench presses:
and I think this one is her too:
fact is that all the movie stars are doing weight training, and a lot of models as well.0 -
lift0
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