Losing a belly!

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ScoutSerra
ScoutSerra Posts: 9
in Fitness and Exercise
I have currently been working off around 1200 calorie allowance a day, i have started walking/jogging 2 miles a day, and i have toyed around with a set of crunch/sit ups, lunges, squats and plank, but none of it makes the right muscles sore. I need an idea for a set that will just work on my belly area/sides, its the only area i still have alot of excess flab in.

march i started at 232, i have since gotten down to 190 as of last week, after dropping 42lbs i still haven't noticed much change in my stomach area and REALLY need someone that targets that area. Can anyone suggest a list of sets and reps of exercises that will work on my stomach?
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Replies

  • mustgetmuscles1
    mustgetmuscles1 Posts: 3,346 Member
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    There is no way to spot reduce an area of the body. And often our biggest areas are the last to go. You have to just keep working your whole body and losing weight. You mention you have been toying around with resistance training. I would suggest you make this a priority and get on a good program. This will make a world of difference as you continue to lose weight.
  • ScoutSerra
    ScoutSerra Posts: 9
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    thats the thing though, i know nothing of fitness, i just had a friend tell me what thats what she does so i tried it, but i dont actually know what im doing. Any suggestion for specific exercises, sets and reps? she suggested i start with like 10 of each squats lunges crunches and sit ups, with a 20 sec plank. I feel like thats really not enough, and with the walking i dont need to target my legs as much, but i dont actually know what any of it is targeting... complete workout noob here.
  • 20yearsyounger
    20yearsyounger Posts: 1,643 Member
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    That's my problem area. Bicycles are some of the best. Here is a nice link http://exercise.about.com/od/abs/ss/abexercises.htm

    Personally, I've seen a difference doing bicycles, reverse crunches, vertical leg crunches, and planks.

    Ultimately though, although you will be making them stronger, you still wont really see them unless you continue working your whole body and losing weight.

    If you are just toying around with them, they are not going to get sore. Do enough of them and they will. See if you can do a 1 minute plank.
  • diannethegeek
    diannethegeek Posts: 14,776 Member
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    This post is a really great place to start: http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1161603/so-you-want-a-nice-stomach
  • Astharteea
    Astharteea Posts: 105 Member
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    To be honest I think you will see a change in you're gut area when you get down to 175 lbs. Probably there is a lot of fat there and it takes a little longer to show. I encourage you not to get too upset about it and keep doing what you're doing.
  • ScoutSerra
    ScoutSerra Posts: 9
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    thanks guys! and i can barely do 20 sec plank, i haven't been working out long or consistently except for the walking bit. But i walked 8.3 miles yesterday and i feel fine today so somethings working!
  • iheartinsanity
    iheartinsanity Posts: 205 Member
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    Cardio and diet is the key. I dropped 100lbs. in 13 months between 09-10 time frame and didn't see results. Now 5+ years down the road I worked on HIIT training, lifting heavy, and really have a decent diet (though mine falls along the lines of iifym most of the time) and that's where I seen a big chance. Especially if you have an apple shape and that's where you predominantly carry most of your weight. Patience is the number 1 key though!
  • osorio0203
    osorio0203 Posts: 24 Member
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    Hi.....may I add a comment for you. Here is goes. Some exercises that you can do are, as you are already doing, squats, lunges, sit ups, crunches, planks......also push ups, mountain climbers, scissor kicks and burpees. I would recommend that you pick and choose a few a day.......do 30 seconds on and 15 seconds off. As many rounds as you can. Start at 5 rounds on 5 off and work up to 10 rounds. But switch it up every day, not only to keep the monotony of the same thing setting in, but muscle confusion keeps your body on its toes. If you do the same thing day after day after day your body gets used to it and you will plateau. Keep your body guessing what is next. After you get comfortable with those.....start to add hand weights to the routine. Building and toning muscle will keep your metabolism going strong. To start with.......don't kill yourself. That is not necessary.....go at your own pace and slowly get better. The weight will leave, but it will take some time.
  • osorio0203
    osorio0203 Posts: 24 Member
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    Good luck......If you want to add me as a friend....feel free.
  • keefmac
    keefmac Posts: 313 Member
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    Tummy's the last place to lose from unfortunately, I've had to re - evaluate my goal weight because I'm still not happy with my belly!.
  • ScoutSerra
    ScoutSerra Posts: 9
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    my goal weight is 145 which is what i was at in my picture, that was me when i was 16, currently i am 190 and i set my next big goal point at 170, then i'll work on getting down to 145. at that weight its safe to say id probably have lost alot of stomach but its just depressing knowing the one thing im working for wont change any time soon :(
  • socajam
    socajam Posts: 2,530 Member
    edited October 2014
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    Try kettle bell exercises like the following DVDs from iron core kettle bell or Lauren Brooks - really works the fat off your belly. The kettle bell swing is the best for losing belly fat along with diet of course.
  • kjm3579
    kjm3579 Posts: 3,974 Member
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    Check out StrongLIfts 5x5 or alternately look up New Rules of Lifting -- lifting free weights will work all of your core and help burn off fat/flab at the same time -- you can mix in some cardio to help burn fat as well.
  • streamgirl
    streamgirl Posts: 207 Member
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    I've been in the same boat as you. Look through the forums for "apple shaped women". I don't have time to find it right now, but there are some older threads with lots of photos and those ladies talk about that being the last place they lost fat. After hearing in various places that belly fat is the easiest to lose, I felt discouraged that I seemed to hold on to that the most. It at least made me feel better that it should probably be expected as others had similar experiences. Good luck--you'll get there!
  • Astharteea
    Astharteea Posts: 105 Member
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    I know it's depressing but from my experience diet was the only thing working for my belly. The more I "starved" the more belly I was loosing. I was eating 600 calories a day.... To the point that my abs were showing without having one minute in the gym. But eating 600 a day was horrid. Don't get me wrong, eating 600 made me feel the best I felt ever but I was hungry. Man! So hungry that in my first 3 weeks I was crying of hunger every night and I was dreaming I was having a feast. After a month it got better, I had no cravings whatsoever and I was losing weight like a mofo. I was never able to get there again. I strongly believe that the least we eat the healthier we are but I just can't do it anymore. Anyways. My point is diet is what works for losing stomach fat. Exercise as you usually do and eat right. You will get there, you'll see.
  • Wookinpanub
    Wookinpanub Posts: 635 Member
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    Just need to keep on working at it with exercise and diet. Try HIIT, sauna if available, weights. I am down 60+ (my goal) and still have a gut (especially when bending over) and love handles but much smaller than before. I should lose another 15-20 to get rid of the noticeable belly flab.
  • RGv2
    RGv2 Posts: 5,789 Member
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    iheartinsanity wrote: »
    Cardio and diet is the key. I dropped 100lbs. in 13 months between 09-10 time frame and didn't see results. Now 5+ years down the road I worked on HIIT training, lifting heavy, and really have a decent diet (though mine falls along the lines of iifym most of the time) and that's where I seen a big chance. Especially if you have an apple shape and that's where you predominantly carry most of your weight. Patience is the number 1 key though!

    Diet is the key.... Op can do cardio if they want...they can do cardio if they don't want.
  • RGv2
    RGv2 Posts: 5,789 Member
    edited October 2014
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    diannethegeek wrote: »
    This post is a really great place to start: http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1161603/so-you-want-a-nice-stomach

    Just want to drop this link off again. Seems it was skimmed past.

    OP, you can do all the abdominal exercises you want all day long, but if your body has fat on other areas of the body it wants to use first, it will.

    Moderate Caloric Deficit + Work (cardio and a real full body strength program) + patience and you'll get there. You can get there with just deficit and patience, but would probably be much happier with the aesthetics if you incorporate all 3.

    Core exercise are good for core strength, but pretty inefficient at calorie burn. You'll notice that many on this site with nice midsections do little isolated ab work (if any at all). Drop the sit-ups and crunches....they fire your hip flexors more than your abdominal muscles anyway.
  • ScoutSerra
    ScoutSerra Posts: 9
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    see the only problem with the article is that i have absolutely no clue what it is talking about as i am completely uneducated about working out. i dont understand what you mean by caloric deficit, so i was just asking for a completely basic suggestion of "do 20 jumping jacks and 10 push ups" or something like that because i dont have a clue what i am doing... and suggesting i follow something that says " I suggest the TDEE-20% method." just immediately makes me shy away because i have aboslutely no clue what that means or most of what the post says... treat me like a child. give me "for dummies" advice. Treat me like i am stupid because i need things spelled out. I really just want an idea of what i should be doing, not what i SHOULDNT be doing.
  • bermudamel
    bermudamel Posts: 212
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    Unfort that's the last part to go!

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