Help Regarding Normal BMI But Still Having Tummy

Pretty much everyone is going to tell you that you cannot spot reduce I know, it sucks. But you might try strength training. It should really help. I'm in the same boat so that's what I've started doing. My stomach annoys me so bad. I have to really get down to a pretty low body percentage for my abs to show through, and I'm almost at goal. So weight lifting is going to be what's up next for me:)

Welcome to MFP! You'll most likely need to eat at a small deficit or at maintenance and do strength training. Definitely can't get rid of fat from a particular place. I wish we could, though. I need to lose some serious belly fat. But weight lifting has started to take the inches off. Give it a try!

I'm your height and was a bit heavier than you when I started (150-155). I used to be obsessed with getting rid of that little pooch of fat under my belly button. I ran, and ran, and ran, and ran (fell in love with running along the way, fortunately), did some Jillian Michaels DVDs, and got down to 127. I was leaner all over, but that f%&*ing pooch was still there!

I started researching heavy lifting earlier this year, and jumped in with both feet. I currently hover between 135-140, and look WAY better than I did at 127. I even fit into a smaller pants size! I still have a smooth curve where that pooch used to be, but I like how my stomach looks now. I don't think I could sustain the level of effort it would take for me to have a visible 6-pack, though. It really does just come down to reducing body fat percentage, which is achieved by eating at a small deficit (no more than TDEE-20% or 'lose .5 lbs/ week' setting on MFP) and lifting weights to retain muscle mass. I suspect that once your body fat percentage starts to drop, your face will get thinner as well. Mine definitely did.

I really wish I'd started lifting weights when I first decided to get in shape instead of spending an hour every day on cardio. Cardio will create a deficit so you can eat more or lose faster, but isn't entirely necessary. As long as you're not eating as much as you're burning and lifting to preserve muscle, fat will gradually come off. I started off with New Rules of Lifting for Women and can't recommend it enough. Stronglifts 5x5 is simpler, so you may want to start with that. If you don't have access to a gym or barbell/ weight bench/ squat rack, you can check out Convict Conditioning and You Are Your Own Gym for bodyweight strength training.

Best of luck!