Flat Stomach...Maybe She's Born With It?
MountainMaggie
Posts: 104 Member
Everyone wants a flat stomach. Well, amost everyone. I'd like a flatter stomach, but sometimes I think it's all genetic. I really haven't tried to get one, and I don't obsess about not having one, but it sure looks and sounds nice. I've had a flat stomach a couple of times, but I was really underweight then and unhealthy. I am pretty petite and fit, and occasionally I wake up with a flat stomach...which is gone as soon as I eat something. Some people's stomachs, I know, stick out after they eat, some people's don't, and it seems mine sticks out even more if I'm skinnier, and I'm not alone.
I work out A LOT. I run about 30 miles a week, and I work 60 hours a week in a manual labor job that works all of my body, and have great muscle tone. I have fantastic abs (although some are obscured by the belly. Lol). I am slightly pear shaped, which I'm told is way healthier than top heavy. I have a low center of gravity. I eat very well. I do all the things you should do to get a flat belly, but don't have it.
Is this like a thigh gap? Is this an achievable thing for all, or is it a generally unrealistic standard of beauty? Many girls have a thigh gap naturally, and that's fine. I personally wouldn't trade my muscular legs in order to have one. Is it the same with the flat stomach?
Curious on your thoughts, as I sip my wine and eat cheese, which surely isn't helping my case, gloriously unconcerned about my belly pooch.
I work out A LOT. I run about 30 miles a week, and I work 60 hours a week in a manual labor job that works all of my body, and have great muscle tone. I have fantastic abs (although some are obscured by the belly. Lol). I am slightly pear shaped, which I'm told is way healthier than top heavy. I have a low center of gravity. I eat very well. I do all the things you should do to get a flat belly, but don't have it.
Is this like a thigh gap? Is this an achievable thing for all, or is it a generally unrealistic standard of beauty? Many girls have a thigh gap naturally, and that's fine. I personally wouldn't trade my muscular legs in order to have one. Is it the same with the flat stomach?
Curious on your thoughts, as I sip my wine and eat cheese, which surely isn't helping my case, gloriously unconcerned about my belly pooch.
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this post is awesome and yes I agree some of it is genetics. I generally will not have a flat stomach no matter how slim I get it will remain relatively soft. However, I do not focus on doing ab exercises but just accept that my stomach will always swell when i put any food in my body. I had some friends that had incredibly flat stomachs, I think part of it has to do with where are bodies naturally store fat, for some its hips, butt and legs. But for me it`s in the stomach area! Oh well I guess I`ll just never be able to wear crop tops and stretchy pants are def a must!0
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Oh, I totally agree. I will always have a bit of a belly. I have a crazy short torso and really long legs.
And I don't have a thigh gap, but I am beginning to see daylight sometimes between my legs (I am working hard on this!). That is pure genetics too - I have extra wide hips, so my legs are further apart than someone with slender hips.0 -
She might have been born with it but I guarantee if she still has it, she is working hard at it.0
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⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️ This.
But I definitely think it is "easier" for some body types. I have come to the conclusion that my Bodyfat percentage will have to be crazy low for me to have visible abs because now that I am older, the fat just sits on my middle. I have a healthy bodyfat percentage--about 25%--but every bit of it is on my abs! My legs are slim and muscular. My arms are tiny and getting more muscular. But the fat on my abs doesn't budge. And I really don't have a belly--just an even blanket of fat between my bust and hips. My waist is just thick! And as a young woman I had the ideal 36-24-36. Age has changed it! Also, being short waisted doesn't help! So maybe I've given up on having a slim mid section.
I'm interested in others' opinions on this. . . . . ,0 -
I'm endomorphic, pear shaped lady and will never ever have (never had) slim thighs or small bum, but I can easily ''work out'' my way through flat stomach. Body shape all the way...0
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Never had a flat stomach and I so want one! I used to teach Jazzercise and even then I was VERY toned (taught 2 classes, 5 days a week) but still had a belly. I am short waisted, chest barreled and sway backed (me thinks I was badly put together LOL). So, I think it surely is genetics. Also, couldn't I get the fat from by belly to my boobs? Huh? Please?0
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snarlingcoyote wrote: »Oh, I totally agree. I will always have a bit of a belly. I have a crazy short torso and really long legs.
Oh my gosh this is me.
All I've been doing is running. I know for a fact if I want to improve my tummy it's going to take lots of work. I plan on getting to that this winter when I can't run outside.
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I read all the posts and i know the feeling. At the moment I am trying to lose just a little, I can feel i have hard abs but theres this annoying layer over it haha. Also the thigh gap... My thighs are weird? My inner thighs seems to be fat and the outer thigh is muscle ... Lately I am running alot ! 6 days a week and bootcamp 3 days a week .. We shall see if i get my abs and if my weird thighs can change!0
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nativemistlg wrote: »She might have been born with it but I guarantee if she still has it, she is working hard at it.
^^^This is great. I will quote you.
Thanks for all you comments! I am really interested on people's perspectives. I also like to think a small belly is a side effect of having other awesome curves, like my backside, a.k.a. my best side. lol. For the record, I DO have nice abs! But like I said, some are obscured by that protective layer. lol.0 -
By the way, as for my profile pic, mid swing while swinging a pick axe is a great angle to create the illusion of having a flat tummy (that pic is an anomale).0
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Hey! I've been thinking about this a lot, as this site is mostly about health and not so much about "fitspo". But if you look at the images of women who have lost a ton of weight and gotten fit, on this site, (which is way more representative than Tumblr fitspo posts, and way more encouraging) you see very few totally flat stomachs. Women naturally carry padding around their uterus, especially with age, and to treat this as "unwanted" fat is not always accurate. But I've seen plenty of women with a bit of tummy flab that look wonderfully athletic and toned; I wouldn't stress it. Furthermore, I've recently noticed that some stores on Madison Ave (near where I live, upper east side) have started displaying mannequins which (while still unattainably skinny and tall) at least have the suggestion of stomach protrusion. Because you know who have totally flat stomachs? Teenagers, low-fat men, and a small percentage of mature women who are genetically predisposed. Just because we had totally flat stomachs in high school, doesn't mean we can always look that way again without becoming unhealthy.
Chances are, you're doing great with your fitness goals; please cut yourself some slack for not looking like a model. Because if you can see the size of your meal through your stomach, you're probably quite svelte.0 -
Same thing with the (stupidly) coveted thigh gap. With my body type (naturally busty and "butty," and even at my lowest adult weight neither of these really reduced), I would have to get to a dangerously low weight to have a thigh gap. I'm pretty sure it's the same with my stomach. I need to work on accepting that latter more.0
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Yep. No matter how thin I get..I still have a little 'pooch'. I find that when I hit my optimum weight and work out a lot, it isn't quite as noticeable.
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vinegar_husbands wrote: »It all depends on genetics. I've always had a small waist, but women on my dad's side tend to have BIG bellies (regardless of their weight). The best you can do is lift weights and use good posture.
I have, and have always had, a tiny waist.0 -
After I lost 110 pounds, I have so much loose skin that the only way I'll have a flat stomach is if I get plastic surgery. Which I'm not going to do.0
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I have not had a flat belly since i had my first child ,,13 years ago lol
I am starting to think some of us cant loose our mummy tummy :-(
My mum has had a tummy since childbirth before that had an amazing size uk6/8 figure
Genetics could play a part0 -
I can just say I gain first thing in my belly. I have a thigh gap and have a less than flat tummy. I have also seen ladies with huge hips and a very flat belly.0
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No. It's not genetics. If your stomach isn't flat, you're either too high in fat or too low in tone to be flat. #2 is more likely with babies.
If your abdominal wall separates (mine has, YAY), usually in pregnancy, you might never get a flat tummy, but it's not genetics--it's due to injury. You might also have excess skin.
A belly might be a different shape depending on how you gain--for example, some people get flabby tummies that don't pooch a ton. But that's a different sort of "flat" than what I mean, at least!!!!
And your uterus when you're not pregnant? That's actually located BELOW your pubic bone. Visceral uterine fat doesn't make your belly stick out!
Most women have to have a very, very low body fat percentage to have a flat and toned stomach. I used to have a truly flat stomach--I wasn't trying for any goals, I just weight-lifted a lot for fun and did a little cardio. I didn't get a thigh gap because my muscles were too big (I have a genetic muscle disorder that means I actually AM the mythical bulking woman), but yeah, my stomach was FLAT. To get to that point, though, where it was REALLY flat, was below levels that sustain regular periods.
BTW, actresses and fashion models don't have flat bellies. Pay attention when they wear tight dresses. They curve in front. It's photoshopped in pictures.
I think people just think that flat bellies are way more normal/common than they are.0 -
OH!!! Forgot! POSTURE!
You will never, ever look like you have a flat stomach if you don't have good posture. It can also make you look like your stomach is flatter than it is. 0 -
Planks and core work. Helps you stand up taller and stronger mid-section0
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MamaBirdBoss wrote: »No. It's not genetics. If your stomach isn't flat, you're either too high in fat or too low in tone to be flat.
This. They aren't kidding when they say abs are built in the kitchen. It's why you see strong [wo]men that still have plenty of visible body fat. You have to eat a lean diet and lean down to have it. You may also stay bloated due to food sensitivities and allergies. Most people don't even realize they have them because they've been dealing with them their whole life. If you've never tried an allergen elimination diet, you have no idea how good you can feel. You may not have any serious allergies, but you may find that the ones you do have are enough to keep you puffy, increase headaches, cause water retention, cause widespread joint pain, etc.
Regardless, if you aren't unhappy about it, I wouldn't worry about it too much.0 -
Forgot to add: when you reduce body fat, you can't choose where it comes from. You will lose from your breasts and butt as well, so you have to find the balance that is right for you. You can increase your butt with squats, deadlifts, etc, but it's harder to increase breasts. Exercising the pecs can increase the perkiness and volume, but it won't make your actual breasts larger (though they will appear larger).0
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I do believe most people can achieve the flat stomach, but you can't deny genetics & body type play a HUGE role in how easy that is for certain people. I was just on the Recomp thread and few people were compliaining about how they lose fat from their stomachs first but can't get it to budge from their butt & thighs. For me, it's the absolutely LAST place it comes off. My friend and I are the same weight/bf % and she has the most perfectly flat stomach. I'd have to lose another 20 pounds to even have a shot of having that stomach. But like the OP, I have wonderful muscular legs that I wouldn't trade for a slightly flatter stomach. We're not all built the same and we won't all lose the same. I say embrace what you've got all while working to become the best possible YOU.
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Literally my very skinny fit 11 year old doesn't have a thigh gap. She has thunder thighs made of muscle and a butt. Poor kid took after her mom. My tummy can get pretty flat, but at my best there is a little loose skin that is worse since birthing 3 kids. I have accepted that a totally flat tummy means surgery. I'll reinflate my boobs first. Lol.0
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MountainMaggie wrote: »Everyone wants a flat stomach. Well, amost everyone. I'd like a flatter stomach, but sometimes I think it's all genetic. I really haven't tried to get one, and I don't obsess about not having one, but it sure looks and sounds nice. I've had a flat stomach a couple of times, but I was really underweight then and unhealthy. I am pretty petite and fit, and occasionally I wake up with a flat stomach...which is gone as soon as I eat something. Some people's stomachs, I know, stick out after they eat, some people's don't, and it seems mine sticks out even more if I'm skinnier, and I'm not alone.
I work out A LOT. I run about 30 miles a week, and I work 60 hours a week in a manual labor job that works all of my body, and have great muscle tone. I have fantastic abs (although some are obscured by the belly. Lol). I am slightly pear shaped, which I'm told is way healthier than top heavy. I have a low center of gravity. I eat very well. I do all the things you should do to get a flat belly, but don't have it.
Is this like a thigh gap? Is this an achievable thing for all, or is it a generally unrealistic standard of beauty? Many girls have a thigh gap naturally, and that's fine. I personally wouldn't trade my muscular legs in order to have one. Is it the same with the flat stomach?
Curious on your thoughts, as I sip my wine and eat cheese, which surely isn't helping my case, gloriously unconcerned about my belly pooch.
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I'd love a flat stomach but dont know how to get it as a kid i was tiny the drs always saying shes underweight she needs to eat more (even tho i ate like a pig!!!) even then i never had a thigh gap or flat stomach!!! Im now normal bmi but have a podgy stomach which bloats everytime i eat (i look like im 7months pregnant after a meal!) ive learned to accept it wont be toned or flat but if amyone has any tips about the bloating id love to hear from u!!! Lx0
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I currently look 4-5 months pregnant for me. Very irritating.0
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Foursthemagicnumber wrote: »I have not had a flat belly since i had my first child ,,13 years ago lol
I am starting to think some of us cant loose our mummy tummy :-(
My mum has had a tummy since childbirth before that had an amazing size uk6/8 figure
Genetics could play a part
I also feel after having two kids that my extra skin and fat layer will just sag down for the beloved pooch tummy. Sigh. My mom has the same body type as I do, but we are both fit and active women. What more can we ask for besides good health and good strength?0
This discussion has been closed.