Belly Fat

shunkawakon
shunkawakon Posts: 37 Member
edited September 24 in Fitness and Exercise
Wondering what exercises reduce belly fat? I've always been a pretty thick girl, a healthy 140 when I was an athlete. I weigh 160 (dropped 9 pounds in the last month) but all my weight is in my mid-section, my legs are fine, arms are fine, etc.

Besides lifting weights 3 days a week, I do 1 hour of cardio 6 days a week. What exercises will reduce this belly fat? I'm not looking for rock hard abs, just ways to shed the fat AROUND my abs. Thanks!

Replies

  • MariSama44
    MariSama44 Posts: 340 Member
    You cant target areas when you're loosing fat. It just goes away where it wants to go away. =(
  • erzille
    erzille Posts: 524 Member
    Bump!..I'd like to know too!
  • daliberti
    daliberti Posts: 15 Member
    I've heard Jillian Michaels and a few other trainers say the only way to get rid of belly fat, specifically the fat right around your belly button level, is to do cardio and drink tons of water. I'm pretty sure the cardio needs to be sustained for a period of time to keep your heart rate up and at a steady pace.
  • spammyanna
    spammyanna Posts: 871 Member
    I am in the same boat, all my weight is in my midsection. I blame my children. :wink:
  • JoyceJoanne
    JoyceJoanne Posts: 760 Member
    Google belly fat and cinnamon
    I have had good results with it.
  • tamiller93
    tamiller93 Posts: 195
    I've always heard you can't "spot reduce". It is unfortunate. I have tried for years. :(
  • zoidys62
    zoidys62 Posts: 1
    you need to do at least 30 sustained cardio to burn fat
  • david081
    david081 Posts: 489 Member
    You can't remove belly-fat by abs-exercises, it's a myth. This will just toughen up the muscles under the belly fat. Weight-loss is not area specific, sadly! And most agree fat goes to the belly first and leaves it last - the way to a great abdominal shape is through eating less, and exercising more...

    rgds, David
  • rthompson81
    rthompson81 Posts: 305 Member
    I am amazed at how much cycling has toned my mid-section. Not only has it cut the a lot of fat away from the area, I can actually feel ab muscles underneath there for the first time ever.

    I agree that you can't really target zones for fat loss, but you might try cycling. Plus, it's fun and social! I don't even realize I'm getting a workout half the time.

    Good luck!
  • Kwilliams75
    Kwilliams75 Posts: 231 Member
    I just bought a book the truth about six pack abs by michael greary. It has some pretty interesting info in it!!
  • unfortunately, you can't lose fat from one particular spot.

    The first step to losing body fat is changing your diet and exersice ( cardio 20+ min in your THR zone + weight training)

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  • madamelaporte
    madamelaporte Posts: 404 Member
    I read in one of my fitness magazines that drinking pomegranate juice does somethign in the stomach - will have to dig out the mag - and helps spread the fat around the body so it isnt all stored in your stomach area. I have a glass a day now :)
  • 3LittleMonkeys
    3LittleMonkeys Posts: 373 Member
    I've heard Jillian Michaels and a few other trainers say the only way to get rid of belly fat, specifically the fat right around your belly button level, is to do cardio and drink tons of water. I'm pretty sure the cardio needs to be sustained for a period of time to keep your heart rate up and at a steady pace.

    That is my understanding as well.

    I asked my OB/GYN about it since I have had 3 c-sections. She said cardio, yoga and Pilate work really well on the mid sectioin.

    I met with a trainer yesterday and she had me do planks. OH.MY.GOSH! Boy did/do I feel it in my mid section.
  • 3LittleMonkeys
    3LittleMonkeys Posts: 373 Member
    I am in the same boat, all my weight is in my midsection. I blame my children. :wink:

    Giggle :laugh:
  • dh_dom
    dh_dom Posts: 8
    I agree with 3littlemonkeys.

    Even when I was slim and technically underweight I still had a lot of belly fat.

    I've been on alot of diet and fitness regimes over the years and even though I have lost weight I haven't noticed and difference in my belly.

    For the last 4 weeks I have been doing alternate days cardio workout and then an hour long pilates dvd targeting specifically the midsection.

    Even though I have only lost 2lb so far I have really noticed a difference to my stomach. Its alot firmer and flatter. Trousers that have not done up around the waist only 4 weeks ago (I was trying on old gym trousers before my first fitness class) now fit beautifully! I've gone down a dress size in the waist with just a 2lb weight loss!

    HIghly recommend pilates in addtion to cardio to really target the midsection muscles. I have been told not to do toning on the same area 2 days in a row - hence the 1 day cardio, 1 day pilates.

    good luck

    Dom
  • dh_dom
    dh_dom Posts: 8
    alternate days cardio/pilates works for me but I haven't had children yet.
  • Rubie81
    Rubie81 Posts: 720 Member
    I need a tummy tuck :sad:
  • Serenifly
    Serenifly Posts: 669 Member
    I've heard time and time again - Running ...

    I've been training for a half marathon 5 weeks now, I've already lost 3 inches in my waist and 1.5 on my hips! it's working

    and I'm eating more now than I ever did before
  • a lot of people think that chillin' on the treadmill or elliptical for an hour constitutes cardio (not you necessarily). you may want to invest in a cheap heart rate monitor w/ chest strap to know if you really are working your body or not.

    while it's true that you cannot specifically spot reduce, you can do a lot of exercises that will certainly help your core. think of your belly fat as going all the way around you, and not just the area in front of you. any exercises that get you out of breath, sweating like a maniac from your scalp (note your scalp and not, say, your underarms) and anything that gets you twisting or using your transverse abs. (serious jogging/running, swimming, skiing, surfing, rollerblading, etc.)

    something else you may want to google or youtube is learning how to properly engage your abs. you may have weak abs or a loose abdominal wall (for a variety of medical reasons). it's easy to fake/coast/cheat your way through ab exercises without even knowing it! learning how to properly engage your muscles will help tremendously.

    good luck to you!
  • pinkgigi
    pinkgigi Posts: 693 Member
    I got close to my goal weight last year and had a funny little podgy hang-over over my trousers. Yes I was doing lots and lots of cardio (mostly cycling and gym work), stomach exercises etc. Also had saggy arms, even with lots of weight work at the gym. I'm nearly 50 and have had two children (one by caesar).

    Depends on how old you are and how long all that skin has been stretched, still would rather be thin and saggy than be fat and firm, and some of us have to come to terms with those choices, sad but true ;-(

    GG
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