women and belly fat

Mariposa187
Mariposa187 Posts: 344 Member
edited September 24 in Fitness and Exercise
I have noticed that it is taking me much longer to lose weight than men who are also trying to lose weight. The scale hasnt budged but my clothes are fitting different and i can no button a size 14 jeans with me in them :) I usually do ea sports which consists of walking, running, kickups, various lunges, and arm exercises and I also use a stationary bike and do dance videos.

I am not seeing the difference in my belly fat. I wanted to know if there are any particular exercises you ladies do to lose your belly fat and your back fat. I feel like the things I am doing are not targeting those areas and i dont knw of anythin other than situps...

Thanks in advance for all your help! God bless!
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Replies

  • dancinblonde0099
    dancinblonde0099 Posts: 118 Member
    That would be great to know!
  • udallmom101
    udallmom101 Posts: 564 Member
    I realized this too today. A friend of mine suggested too much gluten products ( wheat, rye, barley). My other friend suggested too much salt. I have been controlling my salt intake for about a week now. I am going to look into starting a gluten free diet and see if that helps.
  • Naomi91
    Naomi91 Posts: 892 Member
    Sad fact is you cant spot reduce D: Belly fat is usually one of the last places to go... so just keep up the hard work and you will see results!
  • KickassYas
    KickassYas Posts: 397 Member
    i asked my roommie and he's a fitness nut/guru/trainer/nut :p

    he says that just so you're aware situps and crunches are temporary solutions and will nto really shed the fat, only build temp muscles. he says the only legit way of losing it, *brace yourself* is running. hit the streets, hit the treadmill, hit the eliptical. Whatever it takes to make you go the distance.

    :)

    hope that helps
  • nvshu2
    nvshu2 Posts: 1 Member
    I have found that by cutting my sugar intake it made a significant difference in my waist. This is such a troublesome spot for women and it seems that by cutting the sugar it really helps.

    :)
  • 4lafz
    4lafz Posts: 1,078 Member
    Keep it up - cardio is king for belly fat - or fat period. I have never targeted and have lost over 10 inches off my waist. You have only just begun - give it some time and keep up the good work! Love EA Sports - try the Zumba for Wii too :-)

    Oh - and previous responder says running - running is just another cardio exercise - do what feels great for you! Swimming is also great.
  • shelbyj72
    shelbyj72 Posts: 184 Member
    I have been doing spinning classes at the gym and I have notice that my back fat is almost gone & my muffin top is slimming down alot. You have to do a lot of cardio to get rid of belly fat. You can do jumping jacks and planks. At home I usually do 30 day Shred with Jillian.
  • I have started paying close attention to my salt/sodium intake. Its only been 5 days, but I am in hopes that it will work for the troublesome belly fat area.
  • hippiechel
    hippiechel Posts: 170 Member
    bump. i am a pumpkin. i store most of my weight around my middle.. i have skinny limbs so i "wear my weight" well (i am just good at hiding my fats). if i wore something unflattering, i look pregnant.

    i have been trying to cut down on sugar (failing this past week). i heard something about gluten too, but i am not too sure which foods contain gluten and which do not.
  • lbewley3
    lbewley3 Posts: 96 Member
    I have been doing spinning classes at the gym and I have notice that my back fat is almost gone & my muffin top is slimming down alot. You have to do a lot of cardio to get rid of belly fat. You can do jumping jacks and planks. At home I usually do 30 day Shred with Jillian.

    Isn't spinning the greatest? I love it. Been spinning since Oct 2010 and have lost 57 lbs since then. Of course, I am eating within my calorie allowance, but the spinning is such a great cardio workout and burns loads of calories. I hate running and elliptical - so glad I gave spinning a try.
  • Jess116
    Jess116 Posts: 57 Member
    Make sure you're getting enough Vitamin D, in addition to cardio. :)
  • twooliver
    twooliver Posts: 450 Member
    Kettlebell swing for 20 minutes 3x a week....that's my goal anyway. Right now I'm good to get 20 swings without stopping. But it's a full body workout and demands you hold your gluts, quads, back, etc while you swing - otherwise you hurt yourself.

    No matter what exercise you do, hold in that gut with all you got!
  • Serenifly
    Serenifly Posts: 669 Member
    i asked my roommie and he's a fitness nut/guru/trainer/nut :p

    he says that just so you're aware situps and crunches are temporary solutions and will nto really shed the fat, only build temp muscles. he says the only legit way of losing it, *brace yourself* is running. hit the streets, hit the treadmill, hit the eliptical. Whatever it takes to make you go the distance.

    :)

    hope that helps

    This made me feel REALLY good! thank you!
  • danniwhit
    danniwhit Posts: 63 Member
    I have been doing cardio kickboxing and zumba for xbox kinect and have noticed results in my belly.
  • Inpjs66
    Inpjs66 Posts: 109 Member
    I've lost 8 lbs so far. did notice a slight difference in belly fat, but not as much as I thought losing 8 lbs. It takes time, I guess.
  • Inpjs66
    Inpjs66 Posts: 109 Member
    I guess the 22 lbs I gained over the last 3 years seems to be all in the belly but it really isn't. It's the last place to lose so if you notice any little difference at all, you're on the right track!~
  • How very funny. I was thinking the very same question about the mommy pouch earlier during my spin class! There I was spinning away wondering what I need to do to make it go away. I am really small everywhere else, but I have this stupid little pooch that is just being stubborn! I love my 3 little monsters, but I could have done without what they left behind!
  • SunLovin1
    SunLovin1 Posts: 682 Member
    I hate to bring this up because I love my cocktails, but alcohol does terrible things to my tummy! :embarassed: I've noticed a HUGE difference since I slacked off on the beer!
  • daybyday
    daybyday Posts: 537 Member
    *bump* I hate my belly fat!!
  • I have found that by cutting my sugar intake it made a significant difference in my waist. This is such a troublesome spot for women and it seems that by cutting the sugar it really helps.

    :)

    I find that as well. As soon as I consume more than I should of sugar, it comes on in my belly.
    Comment about running getting rid of belly fat, I find it does with me - helps around the waist anyways.
  • I do JackKnifes on my bench at home to help tone my abs. Of course, everyone is right about cardio, no alcohol, cut out sugar, and such, but I thought I'd give you a good exercise to help. I notice when I do these my lower pooch can go down by as much as an inch, and is usally more in line with my upper pooch, haha.

    Anyway, lay flat on a flat bench with the knees at the end and your legs bent so your toes are touching the floor. Using your abs (as much as possible) lift your legs all the way until your knees touch your chin. Your butt and your lower back should come up off the bench! Or as close to that as you can get. I usually raise my arms over my head and hold onto the top of the bench (from underneath) with my hands). Lower your legs, tap your toes to the floor, and immediately lift up again. Every toe tap is one. Start with 10. Work up to 3 sets of 35-45 reps, and do this two or three times in a day. Work up SLOWLY or you may not be able to walk the next day. You'll be amazed at the results. It doesn't always feel like you're doing a lot, but only start with 10. On the other hand, some days it feels like someone is trying to gut you with a steel blade.

    I do them 3 days a week, with at least one day off in-between. Do NOT do them every day. Some people say they can do these off a table or couch at home. I've never been able to. I went out and bought a flat bench specifically to do this one exercise. It is THAT important to me. These target my entire ab area, but I see immediate results in my lower pooch.

    I was looking around for a picture, and I found this:
    http://www.askmen.com/top_10/fitness/4_fitness_list.html
    Number 6 the Hip Raise/Leg Raise. Many people recommend this one. I don't find it as effective as the JackKnife.To do my version, do what the guy in the picture is doing, but bend your knees, touch your toes to the floor, and keep your knees bent as you raise them to your chin. I will admit that some days once I get my feet up I sometimes raise my heels to the ceiling for a little extra "oomph," but mostly that just doesn't seem to do much for me.

    The cool thing about his version, though, is that you can do them on the floor at home if you don't have a flat bench. But mine are much more Awesome! I'm just sayin' :bigsmile:
  • Inpjs66
    Inpjs66 Posts: 109 Member
    I think if I gave up my nightly wine, I would see a bigger difference, but I want to enjoy life and the things that I enjoy.

    That's part of life, we have to sacrifice some things for another. I dont go hungry but I enter my wine for dinner before my breakfast! :o)
  • sassylilmama
    sassylilmama Posts: 1,493 Member
    How very funny. I was thinking the very same question about the mommy pouch earlier during my spin class! There I was spinning away wondering what I need to do to make it go away. I am really small everywhere else, but I have this stupid little pooch that is just being stubborn! I love my 3 little monsters, but I could have done without what they left behind!

    Exactly how I feel! Wouldn't change how I got the pouch for anything in this world but I sure hate it.
  • 3LittleMonkeys
    3LittleMonkeys Posts: 373 Member
    Yep. That is what I am finding out. Cardio is the way to get rid of belly fat.
  • taiyola
    taiyola Posts: 964 Member
    I find a lot of my weight goes right on my belly, too! I can kinda get away with my arms and legs, but the podge (belly) is what I'm mainly aware of! If only I could take weight from my belly and move it elsewhere lol
  • jjclem07
    jjclem07 Posts: 127 Member
    I hate that belly fat!! I will slim down everywhere else except...in the belly!
  • hippiechel
    hippiechel Posts: 170 Member
    also, i have heard that the first place that your fat goes to, will be the last place your fat leaves. so if when you put on weight, and it goes to your stomach first, then your arms, then legs, then face, you will lose weight in the reverse order, from your face, legs, arms, then stomach.
  • How very funny. I was thinking the very same question about the mommy pouch earlier during my spin class! There I was spinning away wondering what I need to do to make it go away. I am really small everywhere else, but I have this stupid little pooch that is just being stubborn! I love my 3 little monsters, but I could have done without what they left behind!


    lol so agree with that!!! They sure do leave a path of destruction!!!
    Well it seems i'm just going to have crank up my treadmill and do more cardio....and then try eat even more....argh i just can't win
  • SushiPunk
    SushiPunk Posts: 30 Member
    Lots of cardio and make sure your reaching your target heart rate. A personal trainer gave me this exercise to do for losing love handles.

    5 minutes on the treadmill- start the first minute at a fast walk then raise your speed 1mph each minute for the next three. Then do the 5th minute back at the fast walk. (this can vary depending on what your comfortable with EX: 1st minute- 3mph, 2nd-4mph, 3rd-5mph, 4th-6mph, 5th-3mph)

    100 Jumping Jacks- Jump off the treadmill and do them.

    1 minutes of side jumps- Keep you feet together and jump from side to side in place.

    Do this a total of 3 times. You will be sweating buckets, but will feel so great afterward.
  • Abs are made in the kitchen, not the gym.

    Exercise, but examine your diet. If the pounds are NOT coming off, you are NOT dieting properly to take them off.

    Likely you are not actually measuring portion sizes accurately, or over estimating your calorie burn on exercise.

    As stated above, you cannot spot reduce fat. Fat is burned systemically, and we usually lose fat in the reverse order we gained it. If your belly put it on first, it will be the last place you lose it.

    I suggest a hard look at your diet and measuring of portions, and if you are not losing weight, less calories a day, a bit by bit, until you do.

    Weight loss is really simple, it just requires consistency. Eat less, move fast, and lift heavy objects. Everything beyond that is optimization..
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