All my fat is in the middle.

asunnysnowman
asunnysnowman Posts: 56 Member
edited November 19 in Health and Weight Loss
I look so weird. My legs don't look bad, my arms aren't horrible, but it seems like all the fat is in the middle. I've been working on going to the gym 3x/week + other stuff (like biking around town/kayaking on the weekends) but I think I'm going to bump that up to 4-5x. Despite all this activity I'm still gaining and I'm up to 204.
I know I need to be more strict on my diet (I'm at a 1500 calorie goal) and not have any cheat days until I get kick started on my weight loss.

Any suggestions on macronutrients or workouts to help work the middle? I know overall fat loss will help, but there's a reason my legs aren't so bad, right? (Kayaking + racquetball/tennis)

<IMG>https://plus.google.com/101269535073446026818/posts/JXgZuUNcr2t?pid=6158016624572142914&oid=101269535073446026818</IMG&gt;

Replies

  • strong_curves
    strong_curves Posts: 2,229 Member
    You can't out-exercise a bad "diet". Are you weighing all your food & drink with a food scale? You could be eating more than you realize.
  • asunnysnowman
    asunnysnowman Posts: 56 Member
    No, my food is usually straight forward.
    ..ooh, except dinners.. do you think one meal can be the culpret? It's the only meal that I can't scan/log exacts.
  • ElizabethKalmbach
    ElizabethKalmbach Posts: 1,415 Member
    Having hard to lose fat on your stomach is pretty normal, for women especially. I find my stomach area is the first to gain and the last to lose. Totally a bummer, but normal. Just maintain your deficit and it'll come off... last... :P
  • chelsy0587
    chelsy0587 Posts: 441 Member
    As you already stated know you need to be more honest with your diet and log everything. Personally I've not taken cheat days just made sure to fit whatever treat I want into my calories... (working out or saving up calories throughout the week)

    That said, you can't chose where the weight comes off so just keep it up and be patient.
  • TeaBea
    TeaBea Posts: 14,517 Member
    You can't spot reduce. Where you carry your extra weight, and where weight loss will come from is largely genetic. I carry most of my extra weight in my hips & thighs (pear shaped) and unfortunately that's the last place I lose it.

    Just do the best you can. Pick exercise that you enjoy so you can be consistent for many years to come.
  • usmcmp
    usmcmp Posts: 21,219 Member
    1. Log absolutely everything you eat accurately. EVERYTHING.
    2. Get adequate protein. A general suggested intake is about .8g/lb lean mass.
    3. Resistance training.
    4. Patience.
  • strong_curves
    strong_curves Posts: 2,229 Member
    asunnysnowman wrote: »
    No, my food is usually straight forward.
    ..ooh, except dinners.. do you think one meal can be the culpret? It's the only meal that I can't scan/log exacts.

    No. Even scanning food products can be off. You may need to tighten up your logging. This video explains what I mean by having a food scale, weighing everything yourself and tightening up your logging:

    http://youtube.com/watch?v=JVjWPclrWVY

  • Holly_Roman_Empire
    Holly_Roman_Empire Posts: 4,440 Member
    asunnysnowman wrote: »
    No, my food is usually straight forward.
    ..ooh, except dinners.. do you think one meal can be the culpret? It's the only meal that I can't scan/log exacts.

    Weigh your foods, and be as exact/accurate as possible.

    The reason your "legs aren't so bad" is likely due to genetics, not necessarily all the tennis you're playing.
  • bigblondewolf
    bigblondewolf Posts: 268 Member
    asunnysnowman wrote: »
    No, my food is usually straight forward.
    ..ooh, except dinners.. do you think one meal can be the culpret? It's the only meal that I can't scan/log exacts.

    I used to think that too, until I bought a food scale. What you eyeball as the portion size on the label isn't even close. You should get a food scale and start weighing all of your food. If you're still gaining weight, you're likely eating more than you realize.
  • asunnysnowman
    asunnysnowman Posts: 56 Member
    how much protein would that equal My current goal is 76
  • xcalygrl
    xcalygrl Posts: 1,897 Member
    If you aren't weighing everything, you could be overeating. Your meals may be straight forward, but eating healthy doesn't mean you aren't overeating. I've included some videos about why weighing food is important.

    Also, if you aren't sticking to your deficit, you won't lose weight. All you need to lose is a calorie deficit. You can workout until you're blue in the face, but if your diet is out of control you'll see very little/if any progress.

    And like others said, you can't spot reduce. All my weight is carried in my thighs/hips/butt. That's where I lose the slowest from. If you keep your deficit and lose, eventually you'll lose the belly. It may be slower than other places, but it'll go eventually.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5sovhvLAig


    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6QPr5CYi9Lo
  • asunnysnowman
    asunnysnowman Posts: 56 Member
    strong_curves wrote: »
    asunnysnowman wrote: »
    No, my food is usually straight forward.
    ..ooh, except dinners.. do you think one meal can be the culpret? It's the only meal that I can't scan/log exacts.

    No. Even scanning food products can be off. You may need to tighten up your logging. This video explains what I mean by having a food scale, weighing everything yourself and tightening up your logging:

    http://youtube.com/watch?v=JVjWPclrWVY

    Okay, that's wildly helpful.

    Scale suggestions? (preferably on amazon.com)
  • usmcmp
    usmcmp Posts: 21,219 Member
    asunnysnowman wrote: »
    how much protein would that equal My current goal is 76

    It depends on what your lean mass is. Roughly going off your stated weight and the picture you posted I'm going to say you'd be good setting your goal around 95g of protein. The real issue with you not losing weight or the stomach fat is that you are eating more than you think by not logging accurately.
  • usmcmp
    usmcmp Posts: 21,219 Member
    asunnysnowman wrote: »
    strong_curves wrote: »
    asunnysnowman wrote: »
    No, my food is usually straight forward.
    ..ooh, except dinners.. do you think one meal can be the culpret? It's the only meal that I can't scan/log exacts.

    No. Even scanning food products can be off. You may need to tighten up your logging. This video explains what I mean by having a food scale, weighing everything yourself and tightening up your logging:

    http://youtube.com/watch?v=JVjWPclrWVY

    Okay, that's wildly helpful.

    Scale suggestions? (preferably on amazon.com)

    I got mine from Walmart for about $10.
  • asunnysnowman
    asunnysnowman Posts: 56 Member
    usmcmp wrote: »
    asunnysnowman wrote: »
    how much protein would that equal My current goal is 76

    It depends on what your lean mass is. Roughly going off your stated weight and the picture you posted I'm going to say you'd be good setting your goal around 95g of protein. The real issue with you not losing weight or the stomach fat is that you are eating more than you think by not logging accurately.

    As I'm coming to find out. Thanks for your input
  • asunnysnowman
    asunnysnowman Posts: 56 Member
    usmcmp wrote: »
    asunnysnowman wrote: »
    strong_curves wrote: »
    asunnysnowman wrote: »
    No, my food is usually straight forward.
    ..ooh, except dinners.. do you think one meal can be the culpret? It's the only meal that I can't scan/log exacts.

    No. Even scanning food products can be off. You may need to tighten up your logging. This video explains what I mean by having a food scale, weighing everything yourself and tightening up your logging:

    http://youtube.com/watch?v=JVjWPclrWVY

    Okay, that's wildly helpful.

    Scale suggestions? (preferably on amazon.com)

    I got mine from Walmart for about $10.

    Oh, cool. There's a Walmart across the street from the house.
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    You have to use the img tag, not the pic tag, just FYI.

    For the way your fat is distributed... t's genetics. I've always been pretty much the same way.. even now my legs and arms look good but I still have fat on my hips and belly (with loose skin). Just eat a deficit and keep working out and you'll lose it.

    But I'm with the others... you're probably eating way more than you think if you're still gaining weight.
  • roxilegend
    roxilegend Posts: 55 Member
    This is the scale I bought from Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Ozeri-Digital-Multifunction-Kitchen-Elegant/dp/B004164SRA/ref=sr_1_1?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1433776263&sr=1-1&keywords=food+scale&pebp=1433776269048&perid=0T40050HYM431A6BAT41

    I've had it about 3 months and have had zero problems with it.
  • penelopepittstopsmam
    penelopepittstopsmam Posts: 67 Member
    Ive lost 52lbs so far and all my weight is stomach and boobs. My legs fit in jeans two or three sizes smaller by backside isnt particularly big but my stomach is truly awful.

    Sometimes it seems Ive lost weight on everywhere but my stomach. But then i look at pictures and the tape measure and i know its gone down. Indeed gone down by 7 inches!

    Now i still haven't gone under 40 inches but still, its in the right direction.

    It'll work, just give it time ☺
  • Khatastrophic
    Khatastrophic Posts: 81 Member
    roxilegend wrote: »
    This is the scale I bought from Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Ozeri-Digital-Multifunction-Kitchen-Elegant/dp/B004164SRA/ref=sr_1_1?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1433776263&sr=1-1&keywords=food+scale&pebp=1433776269048&perid=0T40050HYM431A6BAT41

    I've had it about 3 months and have had zero problems with it.

    I've had that same scale for 2 years, no issues at all. And it's not expensive, which is always a plus
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