Flat stomach and low bf% but i have a fat roll?!
pipsqueak12
Posts: 31 Member
Hi,
I'm 169cm, 5"6.5' and currently weigh 123lbs or 56kg down from around 62kg. My original goal weight was 55kg initially; to get my body fat % down, then build back up from there. Now I'm nearly there I can see the difference and my stomach is pretty flat when I'm standing, but there's no definition when I tense though I can feel my abs and i can't really pinch much of anything when relaxed. Only problem is when I sit down I have a bit of a roll. Is that fat or skin? My body fat is estimated at 17.9% using the fat2fittools calculator.
Although I have a small frame and I've always been on the skinny side, I'd say I was pretty lean, I am quite athletic.
Is this a case of just unfortunately carrying more fat around my stomach, or should I try to lose a bit more weight (no more than 3kg/6lbs) and see how I get on?
I know it's not a massive issue but it makes me self-conscious and I'm a but puzzled.
Also does anyone else has a similar issue?
I'm 169cm, 5"6.5' and currently weigh 123lbs or 56kg down from around 62kg. My original goal weight was 55kg initially; to get my body fat % down, then build back up from there. Now I'm nearly there I can see the difference and my stomach is pretty flat when I'm standing, but there's no definition when I tense though I can feel my abs and i can't really pinch much of anything when relaxed. Only problem is when I sit down I have a bit of a roll. Is that fat or skin? My body fat is estimated at 17.9% using the fat2fittools calculator.
Although I have a small frame and I've always been on the skinny side, I'd say I was pretty lean, I am quite athletic.
Is this a case of just unfortunately carrying more fat around my stomach, or should I try to lose a bit more weight (no more than 3kg/6lbs) and see how I get on?
I know it's not a massive issue but it makes me self-conscious and I'm a but puzzled.
Also does anyone else has a similar issue?
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Replies
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I think you're seem bit obsessed and you need to relax about this. When human beings bend over their skin folds over -- you're not made of plastic like a manikin.
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It's just you're body getting scrunched up from the position of sitting. Nothing to worry about. It happens to pretty much everyone.0
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No one looks good sitting. It does sound a bit obsessive. I can pretty much bet even bikini models have that when they sit. It's gravity0
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BombshellPhoenix wrote: »No one looks good sitting. It does sound a bit obsessive. I can pretty much bet even bikini models have that when they sit. It's gravity
Exactly. Which is why those pictures are photo-shopped. Unrealistic expectations.0 -
BombshellPhoenix wrote: »No one looks good sitting. It does sound a bit obsessive. I can pretty much bet even bikini models have that when they sit. It's gravity
+2. Probably the only way to not see some "bunching up" when you are sitting is never to sit. When you stand the skin pulls flat, when you bend it bunches up.0 -
Don't obsess about what your body looks like when you're in a seated position. Everything in the midsection is going to bunch up anyway. It's probably just the skin on your stomach and subcutaneous fat that covers that area, absolutely nothing to worry about. Now if you want to start to see definition in that area, you have to build up the muscles in the abdominal section and lower your body fat even further but it sounds like your doing just fine already unless that's the look you're going for.0
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either 1) skin, 2) your BF is higher than you think, 3) you hold fat in your stomach.0
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Okay first I'm not sure why the sitting thing is making people think I'm obsessive tbh. Maybe it's the title? I dunno? Though now more than a few people have called me such, I'm curious what makes you say that?
I was asking more in terms of whether I should reduce body fat while building the muscle underneath. And whether to do this before starting proper strength training or just start where I am now?
The whole sitting really was more just curiosity, I'm more than happy with how I look atm but, as always, there's room to improve.
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You can't reduce body fat while building muscle. If you have actual squishy fat over your stomach, then you either are a higher body fat or you carry most of your fat in your stomach, and either way will need to lose more body fat overall in hopes it comes off from this area. Then you can go ahead and eat at a surplus to help build muscle.
This is assuming you are already strength training, in which case you'd just switch to hypertrophy and/or incorporate both lifting styles to help get your desired aesthetic goals.0 -
It's because your body is like an accordion. When you stand, it's like having it pulled out and the ends parallel. When you sit, you stretch one side (your back) and compress the other side (your stomach), hence creating the appearance of rolls (since you are not capable of scrunching down like an accordion can when you close it). If you were very (and I mean VERY) flexible and could bend backwards to the same extent you can bend forwards, you would get rolls on your back instead and your abs would be super stretched out.
I think people are worried you're obsessed because people don't usually worry about this and would naturally know its not of any concern.
Try to sit up really straight... you'll see them decrease immediately compared to a slouched position.0 -
@pipsqueak12
If you're flat when you're standing up and "you can't really pinch much of anything when relaxed", you're probably OK. If you're REALLY concerned buy a caliper and do a skin-fold test. Although people have been saying it's also not very accurate.
You HAVE SKIN over your stomach. It's like wearing stretchy skinny jeans. They can fit like a glove, but when you bend your knee there WILL be a crease.
And just for reference, people may be calling you obsessive, because generally THIS is considered a fat roll:
And it's quite easy to "pinch" no matter if you're standing, sitting or bending backward.
Now, if you want more DEFINITION in your abs, It's about working out your core, I'm not an expert, I'm still working on my fat roll
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Don't obsess about what your body looks like when you're in a seated position. Everything in the midsection is going to bunch up anyway. It's probably just the skin on your stomach and subcutaneous fat that covers that area, absolutely nothing to worry about. Now if you want to start to see definition in that area, you have to build up the muscles in the abdominal section and lower your body fat even further but it sounds like your doing just fine already unless that's the look you're going for.
That's all I wanted to know, thanks. I'd just like it to be flatter maybe, not really defined just flat. It's potentially having to lose more weight that worries me.either 1) skin, 2) your BF is higher than you think, 3) you hold fat in your stomach.
Both 2 & 3 sound most likely. Any suggestions?0 -
@pipsqueak12
If you're flat when you're standing up and "you can't really pinch much of anything when relaxed", you're probably OK. If you're REALLY concerned buy a caliper and do a skin-fold test. Although people have been saying it's also not very accurate.
You HAVE SKIN over your stomach. It's like wearing stretchy skinny jeans. They can fit like a glove, but when you bend your knee there WILL be a crease.
And just for reference, people may be calling you obsessive, because generally THIS is considered a fat roll:
And it's quite easy to "pinch" no matter if you're standing, sitting or bending backward.
Now, if you want more DEFINITION in your abs, It's about working out your core, I'm not an expert, I'm still working on my fat roll
I'm in the same boat lol
I hold my fat in my stomach... basically seems to be the whole "first in is the first out" for me regarding fat loss! I've had a big stomach my WHOLE life. Kid in kindergarten told me I looked pregnant o.o
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pipsqueak12 wrote: »Don't obsess about what your body looks like when you're in a seated position. Everything in the midsection is going to bunch up anyway. It's probably just the skin on your stomach and subcutaneous fat that covers that area, absolutely nothing to worry about. Now if you want to start to see definition in that area, you have to build up the muscles in the abdominal section and lower your body fat even further but it sounds like your doing just fine already unless that's the look you're going for.
That's all I wanted to know, thanks. I'd just like it to be flatter maybe, not really defined just flat. It's potentially having to lose more weight that worries me.either 1) skin, 2) your BF is higher than you think, 3) you hold fat in your stomach.
Both 2 & 3 sound most likely. Any suggestions?
Minimal calorie deficit, strength train, high protein (1g/lb of lean body mass), weigh and track all food, once you are out of the deficit then you can incorporate some direct ab work because you probably won't benefit much from direct ab work while in a deficit (as the area generally needs higher rep range which is not ideal in a caloric deficit).0 -
I like my roll when I sit. It's cute.0
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You are at a decent body fat. As reference, to flatten out the tummy for guys they say around 10% body fat is good. For the six pack it is around 7%.0
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@pipsqueak12
If you're flat when you're standing up and "you can't really pinch much of anything when relaxed", you're probably OK. If you're REALLY concerned buy a caliper and do a skin-fold test. Although people have been saying it's also not very accurate.
You HAVE SKIN over your stomach. It's like wearing stretchy skinny jeans. They can fit like a glove, but when you bend your knee there WILL be a crease.
And just for reference, people may be calling you obsessive, because generally THIS is considered a fat roll:
And it's quite easy to "pinch" no matter if you're standing, sitting or bending backward.
Now, if you want more DEFINITION in your abs, It's about working out your core, I'm not an expert, I'm still working on my fat roll
Then I guess I have a mini roll
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Thanks for the replies. (Some of you really need to chill though).
I think this body recomposition thing is just a different ball game I'm getting used to. Though the inaccuracy of body fat %, bmi and whatnot, doesn't help. I want rid of it but is dropping more weight the way to go? Or is this where a cut/bulk cycle comes in?
Which would be better?0 -
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