Getting a flat tummy

Sorry if you see this everywhere, I'm posting on quite a lot of forums as I'm desperate to get answers. Ahahaha.

So I have quite a fat, pregnant-looking stomach no matter what I eat [even when I just drink water]. When I wake from the morning, my stomach is sort of slimmer, but there's still a bulge - I assume that that's fats.
I rarely exercise, so that's probably the reason why I have a fat stomach, but a surprising normal body.
My question is: Anyone of you here had the same problem as me, and what exercises+diet+changes to your lifestyle did you guys make in your life?

Etc:
- Exercise how long and what type of exercises?
- Diet consisting of what, around how many calories per day?
- What other stuff did you guys do?

Thanks! I'm really trying to lose weight + be slimmer the healthy way. (:

Replies

  • Liftng4Lis
    Liftng4Lis Posts: 15,151 Member
    You can't spot reduce. Try strength training.
  • pander101
    pander101 Posts: 677 Member
    What are your stats? How long have you been at this? A good place to start is to follow what MFP is giving you. Weigh all your food, measuring cups don't cut it, they are not accurate. Unfortunately for exercise you can only strengthen and preserve your lean body mass while losing weight, you cannot choose where you lose weight from just have to be patient. Follow a calorie deficit and you will eventually get there. Doesn't matter what you eat as long as your body is burning more than you are putting in. If you are using MFP to calculate exercise burns eat about 50%-75% back because the site overestimates.
  • Liftng4Lis wrote: »
    You can't spot reduce. Try strength training.
    Okay, thanks for your advice!

  • pander101 wrote: »
    What are your stats? How long have you been at this? A good place to start is to follow what MFP is giving you. Weigh all your food, measuring cups don't cut it, they are not accurate. Unfortunately for exercise you can only strengthen and preserve your lean body mass while losing weight, you cannot choose where you lose weight from just have to be patient. Follow a calorie deficit and you will eventually get there. Doesn't matter what you eat as long as your body is burning more than you are putting in. If you are using MFP to calculate exercise burns eat about 50%-75% back because the site overestimates.
    I'm 45kg, 156cm tall. My motivation just comes and go. Not very long. Just starting. But note that there was a period of time when I had malnutrition as dieted the wrong way.
    Thanks for your advice!
  • Liftng4Lis
    Liftng4Lis Posts: 15,151 Member
    The good news is you don't need to lose any weight, so definitely lifting weights will tighten everything up.
  • Liftng4Lis wrote: »
    The good news is you don't need to lose any weight, so definitely lifting weights will tighten everything up.
    What do you mean by "tighten everything up"? Thanks!
  • dazwan
    dazwan Posts: 81 Member
    edited November 2014
    I find that exercise that relies on building core strength has helped to "tighten everything up" around the middle (not intentional, just a side effect of having rock climbing as a hobby). Basically my gut is held in check by the muscles around my core/stomach area. When I really relax, it still all spills out :o .
  • dazwan wrote: »
    I find that exercise that relies on building core strength has helped to "tighten everything up" around the middle (not intentional, just a side effect of having rock climbing as a hobby). Basically my gut is held in check by the muscles around my core/stomach area. When I really relax, it still all spills out :o .
    I like rock climbing too... But can't find it over here. XD. Okay, thanks! I better to building core strength, heavy lifting and cardio then! XD

  • sardelsa
    sardelsa Posts: 9,812 Member
    As others said, you unfortunately cannot spot reduce.
    To answer your questions:
    1) Heavy lifting, especially compound lifts that engage your core. You can also do other supplementary exercises to help strengthen your core (planks, twists, boats etc.).
    2) There is no set number, as long as you are eating in deficit
    3) Be patient! For many people it is the last place where it comes off.
    Good luck!
  • refuseresist
    refuseresist Posts: 934 Member
    You are at a very low weight, so be careful of trying to lose any more! Those exercises will improve the look of your body without needing to lose any weight.
  • I_Will_End_You
    I_Will_End_You Posts: 4,397 Member
    Lift heavy weights. Look into a program like Stronglifts 5X5, Starting Strength or New Rules of Lifting.