Not losing my belly...
karynimrie
Posts: 13 Member
Ive been dieting and working out faithfully since June 1st. I eat fairly clean and work out five days a week. I have lost 20 lbs and dont want to lose any more weight. My issue is that I still have a huge gut! I know diet plays a huge roll in this but i dont understand why it is not going away...any help is appreciated!
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Replies
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Could you be more specific? Have you taken measurements of your hips and waist?0
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I have and they are not changing......my butt and legs, arms are but not my stomach.....its soooo frustrating!0
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What kind of exercise are you doing? What type (e.g., running, biking, swimming, lifting light weights, lifting heavy weights, etc.) and how much time (or reps/sets if you want to get that specific) do you spend doing it?0
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If you want to lose more fat you will need to continue losing weight. You can't target where the fat comes off, that is more determined by genetics. For many people, belly is the first place it's stored and the last place it comes off.0
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Losing weight is kinda like Shrinky Dinks (if you remember those). My pants were getting super baggy (yeah!) but the next sizes down I already had were not fitting…I lost in my thighs, calves and hips but not my stomach….they started fitting last week).
Keep moving forward, it takes time (especially if you don’t have a ton to lose).0 -
Just keep losing fat. Are you doing any strength training? It can't hurt to strengthen your muscles, including your abs. Then when the fat comes off, you'll have a nice firm-looking middle.
I'm sort of in the same boat. I've lost 11 lbs. in the past couple of months, but I am just now starting to fit into some pants in the next smaller size. (And not all; some are still too snug.) My belly hasn't gone away as much as I'd like, although it's definitely smaller. My upper torso has slimmed considerably, and I've bought smaller bras, but my belly is diminishing more slowly. I have about 12 lbs. to go.0 -
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Sorry - you are going to have to loose more weight. As others pointed out, you can't dictate where your body stores or releases fat from. If you still have visible fat to loose, I don't know why you don't want to loose more weight.
You won't end up with wasted-away stick legs and a normal stomach - your body will burn the fat as long as you exercise and get adequate protein and your stomach will go down - it will just be last if you're naturally more apple-shaped.0 -
Unfortunately, you can't spot reduce fat.
Just keep on losing, your gut will go... just try not to focus on it; just have it as a target.0 -
Ive been dieting and working out faithfully since June 1st. I eat fairly clean and work out five days a week. I have lost 20 lbs and dont want to lose any more weight. My issue is that I still have a huge gut! I know diet plays a huge roll in this but i dont understand why it is not going away...any help is appreciated!
20 lbs in 3 months is an average of 2 lbs a week, which is a pretty rapid pace, especially with a relatively small amount to lose. Did you do any strength training at all? The reason I ask is you might want to look into strength training and doing body recomposition. Your weight won't change much, if at all. You might even put on a lb or two, but your body will burn more fat that way.0 -
I am seriously in the exact same boat. I feel your pain. I am close to my ideal weight, but even when I get there, (because I have been there) i still look like I'm 6 months pregrnant. Even if the rest of me, looks super fit. Do you have children? I've had 2 c-sections, and before i had kids, when I was at this weight, I looked freaking awesome! I don't get it. I eat clean and work hard...I'm soooooo frustrated too!!!0
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I do three 60 min zumba classes, an hour of yoga, a 60 minute high intensity skip box class and two nights i do 40 mins on the treadmill at low speed doing lunges at a 15 incline.
two days a week i also do an additional 40 mins of weights....i just started doing longer sets and higher intensity. I start of with the heaviest weight and lift until i cant any more....then i reduce the weight and keep going until i can any more.
I know to lose weight i need to do cardio which is why i choose the classes but should i be doing more weights instead? I need to find a balnce.0 -
I dont want to lose any more....Im 5'3 and 120 lbs now....im still eating healthy and maintaining the 1200 calories daily,,,i also eat my burned calories. Ive upped my protein intake but not sure what else to do?0
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We are in the same boat....smaller bras yes and some tops that the arms were too tight are now fitting....smaller pant size yes BUT still a muffin top hanging over everything....its disgusting! im doing zumba and skip box classes and some weight training.....also on the treadmill i walk at the highest incline? Any suggestions?0
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Do you know of a good program or should I just google??? AND Thanks for the advice
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What does your waist actually measure? A lot of our perceptions about ourselves do not jive with reality. Example: A 4ft 300 lb woman stating that she is too thin and bony.I dont want to lose any more....Im 5'3 and 120 lbs now....im still eating healthy and maintaining the 1200 calories daily,,,i also eat my burned calories. Ive upped my protein intake but not sure what else to do?
We often judge ourselves more harshly than others.0 -
Seriously start here^0 -
Make sure that you are including MUFAs at most meals Mono Unsaturated Fatty Acids. Basically, you have to eat healthy dietary fats in order to lose belly fat. I especially like the flat belly diet cookbook for these recipes. It's important to include things like avocado, nuts, coconut oil etc. in moderation. Be careful of added sugar and simple carbohydrates. They can go straight to the middle. Lots of ab exercises will help. It helps release the fat from cardio faster. Hope this helps! The last time I lost my belly for a long period of time I did lots of pilates and walking. 0
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What does your waist actually measure? A lot of our perceptions about ourselves do not jive with reality. Example: A 4ft 300 lb woman stating that she is too thin and bony.I dont want to lose any more....Im 5'3 and 120 lbs now....im still eating healthy and maintaining the 1200 calories daily,,,i also eat my burned calories. Ive upped my protein intake but not sure what else to do?
We often judge ourselves more harshly than others.0 -
Im 5'3 and my waist measures 29 inches.......its the muffin top that i hate!!!0
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Make sure that you are including MUFAs at most meals Mono Unsaturated Fatty Acids. Basically, you have to eat healthy dietary fats in order to lose belly fat. I especially like the flat belly diet cookbook for these recipes. It's important to include things like avocado, nuts, coconut oil etc. in moderation. Be careful of added sugar and simple carbohydrates. They can go straight to the middle. Lots of ab exercises will help. It helps release the fat from cardio faster. Hope this helps! The last time I lost my belly for a long period of time I did lots of pilates and walking.
No. MUFA's are great for the body and metabolism. Simple carbohydrates and added sugars do not go straight anywhere in a defict. They are used for energy just like the rest of the calories you eat. Ab exercises don't do anything except strengthen the muscles under the fat.
Please go back and read the link I posted.0 -
Thank you!0
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I don't know what to tell you. Usually I'd say you have to lose more weight but you're already at 120. I weigh 143 and my waist is smaller. It's probably just genetic and body shape. Weight train so you like the look of it better?0
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I guess its just going to take some time although it is very frustrating and yes.....the females in family gain it in the stomach....its gross!0
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Love all the replies, true and very helpful.
Another tip I've learned: The Gut Buster/Calming breath. Not only will it help your gut, but it is a 'calming - stress reduction' breathing technique. Take in breath through your nose, breathing it into your gut to the count of 9 (your gut should look like a round balloon). Next - Using your mouth in the form of an 'O' such as around a straw, blow the air out starting at the area below your belly button (3 count) then blow it out your mid abdomen - belly button section (3 count) then the upper abdomen - area just below your chest (3 count); your gut should look like an ending parenthesis ) when completed. Do it whenever you can all during the day, from here on out. I do it especially whenever I'm driving, easy. My best to you.0 -
Maybe try this (if you haven't already...).
1) Cutting out all refined sugars, flavourings and sweeteners, processed/packaged food and wheat... I think you'll be suprised with what happens and how fast.Much of it could be bloating too... maybe eliminate some bits from your diet that make you feel puffy and try intro'ing them back in one by one to check if they aggravate your stomach.
2) Be careful of secret sugars/sweeteners hidden carefully on labels, even in diet or fat free foods (supermarkets lie well!) e.g. aspartame (a toxic sweetener), glucose syrup etc. If you eat like our ancestors did (clean, natural, non-packaged, raw (when possible), non-processed/chemically enhanced, and natural sugars only like those found in fruits, organic honey and vegs) and it still doesn't work for you, get a health check to check for other causes as I'd be very suprised if the above didn't help you lose at all ...
3) Also, keep your metabolism revved with plenty of HIIT/other fast paced cardio... try to exceed 30mins with your heart rate raised as much as is safe for you, to start burning fat.
4) Try not to eat too close to bed time (e.g. not after 7:30pm ish)... although you'll still digest food, our digestive system slows down whilst we sleep and you aren't mobile at the time to be using those cals up.
All the best with your journey. 0 -
Maybe try this (if you haven't already...).
1) Cutting out all refined sugars, flavourings and sweeteners, processed/packaged food and wheat... I think you'll be suprised with what happens and how fast.Much of it could be bloating too... maybe eliminate some bits from your diet that make you feel puffy and try intro'ing them back in one by one to check if they aggravate your stomach.
2) Be careful of secret sugars/sweeteners hidden carefully on labels, even in diet or fat free foods (supermarkets lie well!) e.g. aspartame (a toxic sweetener), glucose syrup etc. If you eat like our ancestors did (clean, natural, non-packaged, raw (when possible), non-processed/chemically enhanced, and natural sugars only like those found in fruits, organic honey and vegs) and it still doesn't work for you, get a health check to check for other causes as I'd be very suprised if the above didn't help you lose at all ...
3) Also, keep your metabolism revved with plenty of HIIT/other fast paced cardio... try to exceed 30mins with your heart rate raised as much as is safe for you, to start burning fat.
4) Try not to eat too close to bed time (e.g. not after 7:30pm ish)... although you'll still digest food, our digestive system slows down whilst we sleep and you aren't mobile at the time to be using those cals up.
All the best with your journey.
1. Sure, removing those can help bloating for some people. If she has muffin top as indicated it's fat, not bloating.
2. Calories and macros are far more important than eating clean. You can eat clean and still eat more than your body needs.
3. HIIT and other cardio increase total calories burned through the day, but they don't "rev" your metabolism
4. Our digestive system doesn't slow down when we sleep. Our metabolism doesn't either. If she's in a calorie deficit she'll burn them off instead of storing them.
In reality her issue is that she has lower lean mass than you and me. That means for her weight her body fat is still too high to have a lean stomach. Eating clean is often an easy way to cut down on calories without feeling deprived, but it's not essential to losing fat or maintaining a lean physique. She needs to work on increasing her lean mass and decreasing her body fat.0 -
Agreed in principal... (about ur last sentence... body fat too high etc) but that's not to say we know enough here to know for sure it's fat related and not an underlying health issue. I agree with much of what you wrote... and what works for some, doesn't work for all. What I wrote is what I was taught but I'm not a fat loss expert... just someone in a forum, lending my 2c of advice based on what worked well for me, my family, friends and our clients at work (fitness co).
Also... as far as I'm aware and based on what PTs and Nutrutionists have always drummed in to me... if someone eats clean (i.e. not a diet laden with sugars and cr@p) and burns more than they eat speaking generally, they won't store fat as much as they'll burn it... if it isn't burnt, that's when excess is stored in fat cells around the butt, thighs, tummy etc (which is truer for women than men supposedly due to the way we are designed to retain fat around these areas more to allow for nurturing children etc).
Just what I was taught but please... I by no means think I hold the fat-burning gospel over here but maybe "there's more than one way to skin a cat" as we say here in the UK....Maybe try this (if you haven't already...).
1) Cutting out all refined sugars, flavourings and sweeteners, processed/packaged food and wheat... I think you'll be suprised with what happens and how fast.Much of it could be bloating too... maybe eliminate some bits from your diet that make you feel puffy and try intro'ing them back in one by one to check if they aggravate your stomach.
2) Be careful of secret sugars/sweeteners hidden carefully on labels, even in diet or fat free foods (supermarkets lie well!) e.g. aspartame (a toxic sweetener), glucose syrup etc. If you eat like our ancestors did (clean, natural, non-packaged, raw (when possible), non-processed/chemically enhanced, and natural sugars only like those found in fruits, organic honey and vegs) and it still doesn't work for you, get a health check to check for other causes as I'd be very suprised if the above didn't help you lose at all ...
3) Also, keep your metabolism revved with plenty of HIIT/other fast paced cardio... try to exceed 30mins with your heart rate raised as much as is safe for you, to start burning fat.
4) Try not to eat too close to bed time (e.g. not after 7:30pm ish)... although you'll still digest food, our digestive system slows down whilst we sleep and you aren't mobile at the time to be using those cals up.
All the best with your journey.
1. Sure, removing those can help bloating for some people. If she has muffin top as indicated it's fat, not bloating.
2. Calories and macros are far more important than eating clean. You can eat clean and still eat more than your body needs.
3. HIIT and other cardio increase total calories burned through the day, but they don't "rev" your metabolism
4. Our digestive system doesn't slow down when we sleep. Our metabolism doesn't either. If she's in a calorie deficit she'll burn them off instead of storing them.
In reality her issue is that she has lower lean mass than you and me. That means for her weight her body fat is still too high to have a lean stomach. Eating clean is often an easy way to cut down on calories without feeling deprived, but it's not essential to losing fat or maintaining a lean physique. She needs to work on increasing her lean mass and decreasing her body fat.0 -
Seriously, ladies! Have you seen this woman's abs? The link she posted is everything--all of it--you need to know about getting a great stomach. Stop trying to come up with alternatives. This is the way: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1161603-so-you-want-a-nice-stomachMaybe try this (if you haven't already...).
1) Cutting out all refined sugars, flavourings and sweeteners, processed/packaged food and wheat... I think you'll be suprised with what happens and how fast.Much of it could be bloating too... maybe eliminate some bits from your diet that make you feel puffy and try intro'ing them back in one by one to check if they aggravate your stomach.
2) Be careful of secret sugars/sweeteners hidden carefully on labels, even in diet or fat free foods (supermarkets lie well!) e.g. aspartame (a toxic sweetener), glucose syrup etc. If you eat like our ancestors did (clean, natural, non-packaged, raw (when possible), non-processed/chemically enhanced, and natural sugars only like those found in fruits, organic honey and vegs) and it still doesn't work for you, get a health check to check for other causes as I'd be very suprised if the above didn't help you lose at all ...
3) Also, keep your metabolism revved with plenty of HIIT/other fast paced cardio... try to exceed 30mins with your heart rate raised as much as is safe for you, to start burning fat.
4) Try not to eat too close to bed time (e.g. not after 7:30pm ish)... although you'll still digest food, our digestive system slows down whilst we sleep and you aren't mobile at the time to be using those cals up.
All the best with your journey.
1. Sure, removing those can help bloating for some people. If she has muffin top as indicated it's fat, not bloating.
2. Calories and macros are far more important than eating clean. You can eat clean and still eat more than your body needs.
3. HIIT and other cardio increase total calories burned through the day, but they don't "rev" your metabolism
4. Our digestive system doesn't slow down when we sleep. Our metabolism doesn't either. If she's in a calorie deficit she'll burn them off instead of storing them.
In reality her issue is that she has lower lean mass than you and me. That means for her weight her body fat is still too high to have a lean stomach. Eating clean is often an easy way to cut down on calories without feeling deprived, but it's not essential to losing fat or maintaining a lean physique. She needs to work on increasing her lean mass and decreasing her body fat.0
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