Lost fat everywhere but my stomach. Help!

cameronporter27
cameronporter27 Posts: 12
in Health and Weight Loss
Hi everyone! I'm a 21 year old student who is looking for any tips on how to lose my belly fat efficiently in order to get lean. I've read a lot online and my minds become a little packed with loads of different information. I started off at around 190lbs and 6ft 1in and now after sticking to a calorie deficit of around 600 per day I'm now at 170lbs. I seem to have lost a lot of weight all over my body especially around my face, arms and legs. However, my belly has shrunk slightly but there is still fat there. I also do 30-45 minutes of cardio 5 times a week and recently started weight training. I also eat completely healthily apart from the odd treat every now and again. Any help as to how to get rid of this stubborn belly fat would be much appreciated. Cheers!

Replies

  • jdhcm2006
    jdhcm2006 Posts: 2,254 Member
    You cannot spot lose. As you lose weight, your body will shed it everywhere pretty evenly.
  • cameronporter27
    cameronporter27 Posts: 12
    I know that but it just doesn't seem to be shifting from my stomach and the rest of my body is beginning to look slightly boney
  • Early_Riser
    Early_Riser Posts: 127 Member
    Keep up with the weight training to look less "bony". Continue at a deficit until it's gone.
  • Slasher09
    Slasher09 Posts: 316 Member
    I'm in the same boat, only the opposite. I have lost a little bit of weight and only seem to be losing from my torso and not my lower body. I am a pear shape. I was told to just keep at it. Your body may seem to lose a little more from one area or another before you really see changes in another area, but keep at it and it will get better.
  • diannethegeek
    diannethegeek Posts: 14,776 Member
    I'll just leave this here: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1391018-so-you-want-a-nice-stomach
  • weightliftingaddict
    weightliftingaddict Posts: 28
    Wait. Did you say your eating only 600 calories per day? That's so bad for you and not sustainable. Aim for a more realistic lifestyle change instead of a quick fix. As for your stomach, ever try heavy lifting? Does wonders for the midsection, entire bod really.
  • cameronporter27
    cameronporter27 Posts: 12
    Ah I see. Would probably rather that than my seriously thin legs/arms. I did read about fat redistribution but I'm unsure if this occurs or not. Lowered my carbs yesterday also, that should help budge some of the fat.
  • Jim_Barteck
    Jim_Barteck Posts: 274 Member
    Wait. Did you say your eating only 600 calories per day? That's so bad for you and not sustainable. Aim for a more realistic lifestyle change instead of a quick fix. As for your stomach, ever try heavy lifting? Does wonders for the midsection, entire bod really.

    No. He said he was eating at a 600 calorie *deficit*.
  • cameronporter27
    cameronporter27 Posts: 12
    Wait. Did you say your eating only 600 calories per day? That's so bad for you and not sustainable. Aim for a more realistic lifestyle change instead of a quick fix. As for your stomach, ever try heavy lifting? Does wonders for the midsection, entire bod really.

    Been on this for around 2 months now and it's worked wonders, eat around 1300 to 1400 a day and I find it really sustainable, have the odd bad craving but I usually feel pretty satisfied (food wise). Nah, haven't done much heavy lifting, started weights only a few days ago.
  • cameronporter27
    cameronporter27 Posts: 12
    Wait. Did you say your eating only 600 calories per day? That's so bad for you and not sustainable. Aim for a more realistic lifestyle change instead of a quick fix. As for your stomach, ever try heavy lifting? Does wonders for the midsection, entire bod really.

    No. He said he was eating at a 600 calorie *deficit*.

    I see the confusion here. 600 calories a day is ridiculous. It's a deficit of 600
  • jengilligan04
    jengilligan04 Posts: 8 Member
    Hi, i am also having the same problem!! Eating very healthy except for very occasional Arizona green tea!! The last time i dieted before finding this awsome site! I had a belly, but was only 220lbs, and got down to 190lbs with a flat stomach by doing 100 crunches a day, 50 in am and 50 before bed!!! But of course, now i have lower back stenosis and can not do sit ups!! This is the only way to lose belky fat that i have known of!! I've heard alot about Garcinia Cambogia with at least 60% HCA, and green coffee bean extract is suppose to melt the fat away!! But you have to make sure it has at least 60% HCA!!! I've tried it for 30 days, lost just a little over 20lbs, and lost 6 inches around my waist!! Take 1 in am 30 min before meal, and one 30min before dinner!!! Thats about all i have for now!! Thanks for listening!!
  • Jim_Barteck
    Jim_Barteck Posts: 274 Member
    Ah I see. Would probably rather that than my seriously thin legs/arms. I did read about fat redistribution but I'm unsure if this occurs or not. Lowered my carbs yesterday also, that should help budge some of the fat.

    No. Fat redistribution doesn't occur. Fat comes off pretty much in the order that it went on. First on, last off.

    Honestly, your carbs aren't going to make a difference: maintaining your calorie deficit will.

    You pretty much either need to do one of two things:

    1) Accept that your arms are "bony" until you've reached your desired weight. At that point, you can start eating more so that you can bulk and add muscle. If muscle isn't there right now, you're not going to be able to add significant amounts of it while you're cutting. The best you could hope for would be maintaining your current lean body mass or some small increase which probably wouldn't change their appearance in any major way. Or,

    2) Accept that your belly is going to be carrying fat and wipe out your calorie deficit so that you can begin bulking now to add muscle mass to your shoulders and arms (and likely legs too). The remainder of your belly fat would have to wait then until you enter a cutting cycle.
  • cameronporter27
    cameronporter27 Posts: 12
    Hi, i am also having the same problem!! Eating very healthy except for very occasional Arizona green tea!! The last time i dieted before finding this awsome site! I had a belly, but was only 220lbs, and got down to 190lbs with a flat stomach by doing 100 crunches a day, 50 in am and 50 before bed!!! But of course, now i have lower back stenosis and can not do sit ups!! This is the only way to lose belky fat that i have known of!! I've heard alot about Garcinia Cogia with at least 60% HCA, and green coffee bean extract is suppose to melt the fat away!! But you have to make sure it has at least 60% HCA!!!

    I read that crunches are only good if you have visible abs. But without the fat loss through other methods, crunches won't get rid of fat.
  • weightliftingaddict
    weightliftingaddict Posts: 28
    Sorry for the misunderstanding....I did not initially see your starting point and only saw mention of 600. lol You would be surprised at how some here actually do try to live on 500-700/day. Crazy.
  • Laurenloveswaffles
    Laurenloveswaffles Posts: 535 Member
    Ah I see. Would probably rather that than my seriously thin legs/arms. I did read about fat redistribution but I'm unsure if this occurs or not. Lowered my carbs yesterday also, that should help budge some of the fat.

    No. Fat redistribution doesn't occur. Fat comes off pretty much in the order that it went on. First on, last off.

    Honestly, your carbs aren't going to make a difference: maintaining your calorie deficit will.

    You pretty much either need to do one of two things:

    1) Accept that your arms are "bony" until you've reached your desired weight. At that point, you can start eating more so that you can bulk and add muscle. If muscle isn't there right now, you're not going to be able to add significant amounts of it while you're cutting. The best you could hope for would be maintaining your current lean body mass or some small increase which probably wouldn't change their appearance in any major way. Or,

    2) Accept that your belly is going to be carrying fat and wipe out your calorie deficit so that you can begin bulking now to add muscle mass to your shoulders and arms (and likely legs too). The remainder of your belly fat would have to wait then until you enter a cutting cycle.

    ^this.
  • cameronporter27
    cameronporter27 Posts: 12
    Ah I see. Would probably rather that than my seriously thin legs/arms. I did read about fat redistribution but I'm unsure if this occurs or not. Lowered my carbs yesterday also, that should help budge some of the fat.

    No. Fat redistribution doesn't occur. Fat comes off pretty much in the order that it went on. First on, last off.

    Honestly, your carbs aren't going to make a difference: maintaining your calorie deficit will.

    You pretty much either need to do one of two things:

    1) Accept that your arms are "bony" until you've reached your desired weight. At that point, you can start eating more so that you can bulk and add muscle. If muscle isn't there right now, you're not going to be able to add significant amounts of it while you're cutting. The best you could hope for would be maintaining your current lean body mass or some small increase which probably wouldn't change their appearance in any major way. Or,

    2) Accept that your belly is going to be carrying fat and wipe out your calorie deficit so that you can begin bulking now to add muscle mass to your shoulders and arms (and likely legs too). The remainder of your belly fat would have to wait then until you enter a cutting cycle.

    Thanks for the insight. I think I'll stick to my deficit and then bulk up after I've reached my goal weight and optimum body fat percentage. I suppose it will just take more time, patience and perseverance.
  • cameronporter27
    cameronporter27 Posts: 12
    Sorry for the misunderstanding....I did not initially see your starting point and only saw mention of 600. lol You would be surprised at how some here actually do try to live on 500-700/day. Crazy.

    Haha it's fine. Couldn't live with that measly calorie allowance.
  • ElliottTN
    ElliottTN Posts: 1,614 Member
    You can thank your parents for your genetics. It sucks but it's just the way it is. Your body will just continue to drop weight where it wants until your body fat percentage is low enough to have the midsection you want. For most people the noticeable changes will happen around their limbs. This doesn't mean you are not dropping fat in your midsection, it may just look deceptive as your limbs will just look leaner naturally bc of their structure. You also have to pay attention to not just losing weight but dropping your body body fat percentage. Someone who drops 20 lbs but still stays at the same bf percentage will look drastically different than someone who lost only 10 lbs but reduced their body fat percentage.
  • jengilligan04
    jengilligan04 Posts: 8 Member
    Can I ask what a CUTTING CYCLE is???
  • Laurenloveswaffles
    Laurenloveswaffles Posts: 535 Member
    Can I ask what a CUTTING CYCLE is???
    Cutting is done to lose weight.
    Bulking is done to gain weight.
    Maintaining is done to maintain.

    That weight can consist of fat or muscle (or water).
  • jengilligan04
    jengilligan04 Posts: 8 Member
    How would u go about determing your % of body fat?? Haven't learned that one yet! LOL!!
  • RodHudson1229
    RodHudson1229 Posts: 65 Member
    losing weight is different for everyone but as some have mentioned you really cant truly target specific spots to lose fat in. Keep up the hard work you have been putting in and add weights in to the routine. It will happen!!!
  • sportyredhead01
    sportyredhead01 Posts: 482 Member
    I'll just leave this here: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1391018-so-you-want-a-nice-stomach

    This x100. This saved my sanity! She's right on it.

    Also remember posture is important.:smile:
  • WandaMM1
    WandaMM1 Posts: 132 Member
    First, CONGRATULATIONS on your progress so far! Definitely something worth celebrating!!

    I agree with other posters. Adding more (or more intense) weight training may help. I'm not suggesting it will spot train. Rather, adding muscle to your frame can help in a couple of ways. First, having strong muscles under/around fat stores can change how the fat looks -- tightening or lifting things up. Also, it could help with what I like to call proportion distortion. If you added bulk to your chest or shoulders, it could make your abdominal area appear smaller or at least proportionally equal.

    I'm a pear shaped women. To help "off-set" a proportionally lager lower half, I focus a little extra on back, shoulder and chest work as part of a full body weight training routine. I feel this has helped to create an hour glass shape that hides or distorts other parts of my body. I would think a similar approach could work for men too. If your tummy isn't where you want it to be and you don't necessary want less overall body weight, you may be able to balance how things look visually by accentuating another area.
  • cameronporter27
    cameronporter27 Posts: 12
    You can thank your parents for your genetics. It sucks but it's just the way it is. Your body will just continue to drop weight where it wants until your body fat percentage is low enough to have the midsection you want. For most people the noticeable changes will happen around their limbs. This doesn't mean you are not dropping fat in your midsection, it may just look deceptive as your limbs will just look leaner naturally bc of their structure. You also have to pay attention to not just losing weight but dropping your body body fat percentage. Someone who drops 20 lbs but still stays at the same bf percentage will look drastically different than someone who lost only 10 lbs but reduced their body fat percentage.

    Great information, thanks! I've got the fitness bug right now so it's just as well! Knew it would take a lot of patience. I've also noticed my belly fat has gone from relatively hard to squidgy and it feels like bits of fat has broken up or something, if you get me?
  • cameronporter27
    cameronporter27 Posts: 12
    First, CONGRATULATIONS on your progress so far! Definitely something worth celebrating!!

    I agree with other posters. Adding more (or more intense) weight training may help. I'm not suggesting it will spot train. Rather, adding muscle to your frame can help in a couple of ways. First, having strong muscles under/around fat stores can change how the fat looks -- tightening or lifting things up. Also, it could help with what I like to call proportion distortion. If you added bulk to your chest or shoulders, it could make your abdominal area appear smaller or at least proportionally equal.

    I'm a pear shaped women. To help "off-set" a proportionally lager lower half, I focus a little extra on back, shoulder and chest work as part of a full body weight training routine. I feel this has helped to create an hour glass shape that hides or distorts other parts of my body. I would think a similar approach could work for men too. If your tummy isn't where you want it to be and you don't necessary want less overall body weight, you may be able to balance how things look visually by accentuating another area.

    Thanks! The same to yourself. That's a good tip and I think I will steadily increase my weights. On my first day of lifting my biceps were in agony. No pain no gain and all that haha
  • cameronporter27
    cameronporter27 Posts: 12
    You can thank your parents for your genetics. It sucks but it's just the way it is. Your body will just continue to drop weight where it wants until your body fat percentage is low enough to have the midsection you want. For most people the noticeable changes will happen around their limbs. This doesn't mean you are not dropping fat in your midsection, it may just look deceptive as your limbs will just look leaner naturally bc of their structure. You also have to pay attention to not just losing weight but dropping your body body fat percentage. Someone who drops 20 lbs but still stays at the same bf percentage will look drastically different than someone who lost only 10 lbs but reduced their body fat percentage.

    Yeah I knew genetics would come into play as it's so inevitable. Sucks. I have noticed a difference in my stomach but not as much as I'd have thought/liked at this stage.

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