Can't get rid of belly fat (with picture)
molnardrea
Posts: 78 Member
Hello everyone!
I've been lifting for half a year now, my body composition changed well. I've been close to my goal look once during the summer, but my body just doesn't feel good at any lower body fat level than this. Right now I keep lifting, I eat 200-300 kcals below maintenance and I don't know which route to go down on. Keep eating on maintenance or cut. Cutting is a struggle for me. Do you know any tips for me?
I feel really good about my legs, butt, back, hips, arms. It's only my belly bothering me.
And yes, I measure everything down to the gram, I'm sure I'm on 200-300 deficit, but I also have to mention I love to eat. I'm also in my first year of college and I don't want to put even more stress on my body than going around all day (huge city, walking 15000-20000 steps a day, I have a fitbit) and stressing about exams. I'd still like to look better...
I've been lifting for half a year now, my body composition changed well. I've been close to my goal look once during the summer, but my body just doesn't feel good at any lower body fat level than this. Right now I keep lifting, I eat 200-300 kcals below maintenance and I don't know which route to go down on. Keep eating on maintenance or cut. Cutting is a struggle for me. Do you know any tips for me?
I feel really good about my legs, butt, back, hips, arms. It's only my belly bothering me.
And yes, I measure everything down to the gram, I'm sure I'm on 200-300 deficit, but I also have to mention I love to eat. I'm also in my first year of college and I don't want to put even more stress on my body than going around all day (huge city, walking 15000-20000 steps a day, I have a fitbit) and stressing about exams. I'd still like to look better...
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Replies
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Keep on keeping on ..are you losing about 0.5lb per week?
http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1161603/so-you-want-a-nice-stomach/p1
Is it always like that or worse sometimes and better others? Is it bloat?0 -
Keep doing what you're doing and be patient!0
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You look beautiful. Some girls never get the flat stomach, its just the way we are wired. Just keep up what you are doing it may flatten over time if you lose more body fat. But if you feel bad at a lower level this maybe your body's makeup. I had a similar makeup at your age and hated the way I looked. I wish I could go back and tell myself to love my body. (Much worse now. Now I am over 100lbs overweight.) But you can't spot reduce, just remember you are beautiful.0
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Keep on keeping on ..are you losing about 0.5lb per week?
http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1161603/so-you-want-a-nice-stomach/p1
Is it always like that or worse sometimes and better others? Is it bloat?
This is right after waking up in the morning. I went to the bathroom, put some undies on and that's how I look. I don't loose on the scale too much, in fact I gained through the 6 months of lifting. Started from 59 kgs, but flat bum and no muscles. I'm at 62-63 at the moment, but look a lot tighter. I'm just stalling at this look.0 -
fattgrlneeds2bthin wrote: »You look beautiful. Some girls never get the flat stomach, its just the way we are wired. Just keep up what you are doing it may flatten over time if you lose more body fat. But if you feel bad at a lower level this maybe your body's makeup. I had a similar makeup at your age and hated the way I looked. I wish I could go back and tell myself to love my body. (Much worse now. Now I am over 100lbs overweight.) But you can't spot reduce, just remember you are beautiful.
Thank you for the first and the last sentences. I think this is what matters most.
I do know I could be a lot worse and miserable, I do love my body at the moment as well. I just cannot accept that I keep working and I don't get results. Though I don't push myself to the limits, cause I've done that and I realised my body needs caring and love, not stress and strenous work. 0 -
molnardrea wrote: »Keep on keeping on ..are you losing about 0.5lb per week?
http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1161603/so-you-want-a-nice-stomach/p1
Is it always like that or worse sometimes and better others? Is it bloat?
This is right after waking up in the morning. I went to the bathroom, put some undies on and that's how I look. I don't loose on the scale too much, in fact I gained through the 6 months of lifting. Started from 59 kgs, but flat bum and no muscles. I'm at 62-63 at the moment, but look a lot tighter. I'm just stalling at this look.
Then you're not eating at a defecit are you?
You need to cut your calories until you are
You don't gain lifting in a defecit...well not enough to offset fat loss0 -
molnardrea wrote: »Keep on keeping on ..are you losing about 0.5lb per week?
http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1161603/so-you-want-a-nice-stomach/p1
Is it always like that or worse sometimes and better others? Is it bloat?
This is right after waking up in the morning. I went to the bathroom, put some undies on and that's how I look. I don't loose on the scale too much, in fact I gained through the 6 months of lifting. Started from 59 kgs, but flat bum and no muscles. I'm at 62-63 at the moment, but look a lot tighter. I'm just stalling at this look.
Then you're not eating at a defecit are you?
You need to cut your calories until you are
You don't gain lifting in a defecit...well not enough to offset fat loss
Right now I'm in deficit since 3 weeks again, but before that I had a month when I couldn't track calories and ate quite well... I was working as a tour guide, horse riding all day and got hungry...probably ate too much around dinners.0 -
But anyway the point is, that even with a deficit I keep stalling at this look or else I feel tired, hungry, miserable.0
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But you're not at a defecit so I don't understand why you keep saying at a defecit
You can't increase exercise and not be aware of your calories and assume you are
You have a lovely body but clearly have some fat still to drop...which you can do by recomping if you choose
But you need to actually do it, not pay it lip service
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So in the last 3 weeks how much scale weight have you dropped?0
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So in the last 3 weeks how much scale weight have you dropped?
2 pounds. I gained 6 pounds wince spring, when I started lifting and got bolder and stronger. I lost these two pounds now, after getting back on track, staying at 200-300 kcal daily deficit. I can do it now without problems, cause I moved out from my parents and I cook for myself. I'm more accurate than before.0 -
molnardrea wrote: »So in the last 3 weeks how much scale weight have you dropped?
2 pounds. I gained 6 pounds wince spring, when I started lifting and got bolder and stronger. I lost these two pounds now, after getting back on track, staying at 200-300 kcal daily deficit. I can do it now without problems, cause I moved out from my parents and I cook for myself. I'm more accurate than before.
OK, if your cut is 250 on average there will be a proportion of water weight loss in that
I think you just have to keep going ...it will go eventually ...read the link I posted out hard...at least the OP..usmcmp says something about you not being able to writing out one part of a sponge...that's spot on...stomachs are often he last to go ...but it will eventually
Sounds like you're doing the right thing
Patience0 -
I've read that post several times, still a good reminder.molnardrea wrote: »So in the last 3 weeks how much scale weight have you dropped?
2 pounds. I gained 6 pounds wince spring, when I started lifting and got bolder and stronger. I lost these two pounds now, after getting back on track, staying at 200-300 kcal daily deficit. I can do it now without problems, cause I moved out from my parents and I cook for myself. I'm more accurate than before.
OK, if your cut is 250 on average there will be a proportion of water weight loss in that
I think you just have to keep going ...it will go eventually ...read the link I posted out hard...at least the OP..usmcmp says something about you not being able to writing out one part of a sponge...that's spot on...stomachs are often he last to go ...but it will eventually
Sounds like you're doing the right thing
Patience
Thank you! Will try. And will come back with updates if I can keep to my new lifestyle, away from my home and in a new environment. 0 -
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rabbit gave you excellent advice.
Something else to be aware of is whether certain things cause you to bloat.
For me, it seems like drinking too much soda over the course of several days will leave my stomach pushing out more than usual. It's pretty flat when I'm upright, and there's definitely still some fat there, but the soda can make me look "fatter."
It may be worth adjusting your diet for a bit (for me, that's lower carbs, less sodium and soda) to see if your appearance changes. Then you at least have that info as a point of reference.
It's fooling with water weight more than anything else, but as long as you keep that in mind, it could be worth considering.
~Lyssa0 -
Can't remember where I read it but the way ur stomach is has to do with the shape n angle of ur hips. P.s u look great0
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you look great! have you ever heard of intermittent fasting...? maybe that could help out it has a lot of benefits (video below). It's a bit of a different approach from traditional diets. I would like to ask how many times during a week do you exercise? because this plays a huge role when you're cutting or on a deficit.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=4UkZAwKoCP8&feature=youtu.be0 -
new_obsession wrote: »Can't remember where I read it but the way ur stomach is has to do with the shape n angle of ur hips. P.s u look great
Actually I think that, for once, we have a young woman standing up with pretty good posture. OP, you look great. If I ever get to the point of having a belly like yours I'll be overjoyed. Good for you for continuing to work hard. Rabbit's given you good advice. Good luck!0 -
Do you hold your stomach muscles tight when standing? It's not "sucking in" it's really just good posture. There's a big difference in my stomach when I "let go" and when I stand up straight.0
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Deficit sounds good. Just be patient. You have some fat to lose before the tummy will lean out.
What lifting program are you using?0 -
@usmcmp
belly post is great. She also has a recomposition post on here. You could also try one of the groups like Eat, Train, Progress which is run by @SideSteel and @Sarauk2sf 0 -
As some have already said here, targeted fat loss is a myth and especially for women the belly (and hip) fat is always first on and last off for (ahem) biological reasons. As others have already said here, some of us never will lose it completely for genetic reasons. I'm one of those people: I'm trying to get mine back down to around where you are now! Good posture (which you have, OP!) minimizes the appearance of it. Just keep on keepin' on, keep eating healthy and be patient. 0
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Lou_Hernandez wrote: »you look great! have you ever heard of intermittent fasting...? maybe that could help out it has a lot of benefits (video below). It's a bit of a different approach from traditional diets. I would like to ask how many times during a week do you exercise? because this plays a huge role when you're cutting or on a deficit.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=4UkZAwKoCP8&feature=youtu.be
I train 3-4 times a week, I'd do even 5 if my college schedule would let me. At the moment I'm only lifting and walking a ton to uni and on the campus.
Thank you for the compliment, means a lot 0 -
BusyRaeNOTBusty wrote: »Do you hold your stomach muscles tight when standing? It's not "sucking in" it's really just good posture. There's a big difference in my stomach when I "let go" and when I stand up straight.
They do always feel tense when I stand up, even sometimes when I sit. That and my good posture must be due to riding a lot. I can ride 4-5 hours with straight back on long trail rides. We do take a 30 mins rest halfway though 0 -
arditarose wrote: »Deficit sounds good. Just be patient. You have some fat to lose before the tummy will lean out.
What lifting program are you using?
The first months I went by myself and a guy, a friend who introduced me to the iron paradise as he calls it :P
Now I'm on Jamie Eason's lifting programme, starting the 4th week.0 -
Just thanks generally for everyone! You are all so positive and helping for my mindset! You really really motivate me and thanks for reassuring me that I do have a good posture. I thought I was a little lordotic around the lower back, but I feel no pain, so that's all right.0
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This is my exact trouble spot, too. It's the first on for me and the last to go.
This may sound crazy or non-scientific to folks and I never thought it would happen, but I swear once I had to cut back carbs for blood sugar problems and got on Metformin, the pooch flattened significantly from that. I still eat a good amount of carbs a day, so I'm not super-low carbs or anything.
I'd have no idea if cutting carbs lower would work by itself or in someone without hormonal/IR problems. But I was shocked to see that my belly pooch could look significantly different at the same weight.0 -
cafeaulait7 wrote: »This is my exact trouble spot, too. It's the first on for me and the last to go.
This may sound crazy or non-scientific to folks and I never thought it would happen, but I swear once I had to cut back carbs for blood sugar problems and got on Metformin, the pooch flattened significantly from that. I still eat a good amount of carbs a day, so I'm not super-low carbs or anything.
I'd have no idea if cutting carbs lower would work by itself or in someone without hormonal/IR problems. But I was shocked to see that my belly pooch could look significantly different at the same weight.
What is your height and body weight and exactly how many carbs do you eat atm? How was your intake before reducing?
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molnardrea wrote: »cafeaulait7 wrote: »This is my exact trouble spot, too. It's the first on for me and the last to go.
This may sound crazy or non-scientific to folks and I never thought it would happen, but I swear once I had to cut back carbs for blood sugar problems and got on Metformin, the pooch flattened significantly from that. I still eat a good amount of carbs a day, so I'm not super-low carbs or anything.
I'd have no idea if cutting carbs lower would work by itself or in someone without hormonal/IR problems. But I was shocked to see that my belly pooch could look significantly different at the same weight.
What is your height and body weight and exactly how many carbs do you eat atm? How was your intake before reducing?
5' 6" and 134. I stay under 150 carbs except for really low glycemic ones like beans. Those are good for my blood sugar, so I don't limit them really. I also try to eat lower glycemic carbs anyway to make up my 150, but I do allow a treat of 20-30g carbs of sweets before I run with my dog I still have an enormous sweet tooth. The running drops my BG down quickly (I test it).
I don't really know what I was eating before, but surely over 200. I used to eat a lot of bagels with peanut butter for breakfast or simple carb cereals, etc, along with the carbs I eat now.
I now avoid things like white rice, pasta (I like a big serving size), white bread and potatoes. They are treats now is all. They spike my BG too high for regular eating.0 -
cafeaulait7 wrote: »This is my exact trouble spot, too. It's the first on for me and the last to go.
This may sound crazy or non-scientific to folks and I never thought it would happen, but I swear once I had to cut back carbs for blood sugar problems and got on Metformin, the pooch flattened significantly from that. I still eat a good amount of carbs a day, so I'm not super-low carbs or anything.
I'd have no idea if cutting carbs lower would work by itself or in someone without hormonal/IR problems. But I was shocked to see that my belly pooch could look significantly different at the same weight.
What is your height and body weight and exactly how many carbs do you eat atm? How was your intake before reducing?cafeaulait7 wrote: »molnardrea wrote: »cafeaulait7 wrote: »This is my exact trouble spot, too. It's the first on for me and the last to go.
This may sound crazy or non-scientific to folks and I never thought it would happen, but I swear once I had to cut back carbs for blood sugar problems and got on Metformin, the pooch flattened significantly from that. I still eat a good amount of carbs a day, so I'm not super-low carbs or anything.
I'd have no idea if cutting carbs lower would work by itself or in someone without hormonal/IR problems. But I was shocked to see that my belly pooch could look significantly different at the same weight.
What is your height and body weight and exactly how many carbs do you eat atm? How was your intake before reducing?
5' 6" and 134. I stay under 150 carbs except for really low glycemic ones like beans. Those are good for my blood sugar, so I don't limit them really. I also try to eat lower glycemic carbs anyway to make up my 150, but I do allow a treat of 20-30g carbs of sweets before I run with my dog I still have an enormous sweet tooth. The running drops my BG down quickly (I test it).
I don't really know what I was eating before, but surely over 200. I used to eat a lot of bagels with peanut butter for breakfast or simple carb cereals, etc, along with the carbs I eat now.
I now avoid things like white rice, pasta (I like a big serving size), white bread and potatoes. They are treats now is all. They spike my BG too high for regular eating.
There was a time for me too when I ate around 150 and that was when I looked my best. But that was also because of the high protein and the overall low calories (1500). Now I eat between 220-240 and probably I should also limit them. I eat whole grain of everything, sweet potato. But the amount is large. I can't limit otherwise I get headaches when I'm learning and being in college all day...0
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