The hardest part of losing weight...

xneurocentric
xneurocentric Posts: 44 Member
edited September 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
...the gut!

I have a question on getting rid of this monster. I've heard it's one of the hardest parts to get rid of. So, how do I go about doing it with exercise? Just a ton of crunches? I'm also afraid when I lose the weight it'll just become hanging tissue. Is that true? Can I just do crunches and hopefully tighten the muscles so that doesn't happen? I hope I don't sound dumb saying all of that, but I've never really looked into this.

Advice?

Replies

  • Reisse62
    Reisse62 Posts: 71 Member
    Hey girl,
    You cannot spot reduce but you can focus on toning in the area. Continue to do the scrunch and abdominals, but continue the weight loss. You will get faster results in appearance with weight loss.
  • Juliebean_1027
    Juliebean_1027 Posts: 713 Member
    No, unfortunately, you can't just spot reduce and do tons of crunches and expect your stomach area to become firm. In order to lose the weight from that area you have to make sure that you incorporate cardio too. Cardio will help burn the calories, building muscle (ie doing crunches and other abdominal exercises) will help tone and burn the fat. So basically, you need both. As far as your worry about loose skin, as long as you're drinking plenty of water and are losing slowly, and in a safe manner, you should be fine. The concern that you have is more of a reality for people who lose too much weight too fast, so their body doesn't have a chance to adjust. Take it slow and easy and you'll have a flat, toned stomach area in no time!
  • godroxmysox
    godroxmysox Posts: 1,491 Member
    I have heard that the key to cutting the gut is clean eating
  • HoopFire5602
    HoopFire5602 Posts: 423 Member
    Abs are made in the kitchen. Getting abs is 80% diet 20% workout. Then again 95% of all statistics are made up on the spot, lol. But, You can do crunches until you are blue in the face: you HAVE to get rid of that fat covering your abs. I've discovered eating a ton of veggies and doing HIIT helps. I replaced all of my snacks with veggies and fruit...my lunch is veggies and a lean protein. Also, drink enough or more water.
  • ANeWcRe8N
    ANeWcRe8N Posts: 1,180 Member
    No, unfortunately, you can't just spot reduce and do tons of crunches and expect your stomach area to become firm. In order to lose the weight from that area you have to make sure that you incorporate cardio too. Cardio will help burn the calories, building muscle (ie doing crunches and other abdominal exercises) will help tone and burn the fat. So basically, you need both. As far as your worry about loose skin, as long as you're drinking plenty of water and are losing slowly, and in a safe manner, you should be fine. The concern that you have is more of a reality for people who lose too much weight too fast, so their body doesn't have a chance to adjust. Take it slow and easy and you'll have a flat, toned stomach area in no time!

    this ^
  • phenrichs
    phenrichs Posts: 102
    Someone told me in a very frank manner "you have to literally run your *kitten* off" then told me that is good advice for the belly too. The crunches will help to develop the nice toned abs underneath but in order to see them you have to do lots of sweaty cardio to burn off the stuff hiding them.

    Sorry but we all have been told the same sad news that I just shared with you.
  • Kolohe71
    Kolohe71 Posts: 613 Member
    ^^^ What these ladies said ^^^

    A good way to think about it, is to use your bed as a metaphore. The blanket on your bed is like the excess fat on your abdomen. Your muscles are the mattress. No matter how firm the mattress becomes, if it's covered in a thick comforter you will never notice.
  • McghanK
    McghanK Posts: 120
    Cardio will help the belly and then core excecises will tone it. I hate crunces so I usually do standing up cruches and obliques by turbo Jam and do cardio sometimes 20 min runs or 45 mins. video tapes. Good luck!
  • BabyDuchess
    BabyDuchess Posts: 353 Member
    As everyone has said, you can't spot reduce. I lift weights and do a lot of core exercises and I've lost 60 lbs so far and don't have ANY loose skin and I'm almost 52 yrs old! Weight lifting is the key.....building muscle underneath your skin so when the fat melts off.....POOF, you look marvelous! :flowerforyou:
  • TeaBea
    TeaBea Posts: 14,517 Member
    Hanging skin - "snapping back" This depends on several factors: Age (young skin is more elastic), how long your skin was stretched, and how much your skin was stretched?

    Exercise is great for "what's underneath the skin." Toned muscle goes along way to making you appear slimmer. Muscle has shape (or form) - fat is kinda loose.

    When you get older (like me) - you will lose muscle tone ....(unless you work to stop it) ... trust me it's not pretty.
  • kld4239
    kld4239 Posts: 186 Member
    If you lose weight gradually it will give your skin time to adjust better. It also depends on how long you were big and how much your skin was stretched out. My stomach is my trouble spot and I find cardio and ab exercises to be the best. They also say that doctors won't consider you for a tummy tuck until approx 2 years AFTER you have lost all of the weight. This gives you an idea of how long it takes your skin to adjust.
  • TeaBea
    TeaBea Posts: 14,517 Member
    ^^^ What these ladies said ^^^

    A good way to think about it, is to use your bed as a metaphore. The blanket on your bed is like the excess fat on your abdomen. Your muscles are the mattress. No matter how firm the mattress becomes, if it's covered in a thick comforter you will never notice.

    This is cool - I like this!
  • princess_in_power
    princess_in_power Posts: 234 Member
    A good way to think about it, is to use your bed as a metaphore. The blanket on your bed is like the excess fat on your abdomen. Your muscles are the mattress. No matter how firm the mattress becomes, if it's covered in a thick comforter you will never notice.
    +1!!

    And a perfect illustration why both cardio AND strength training are so important!

    Cardio alone can "strip" the comforter, Strength-training gives you the shape!! (a firm mattress doesn't jiggle!) =D
  • xneurocentric
    xneurocentric Posts: 44 Member
    Thanks so much for your advice ladies!!

    I should confirm, I would never simply use crunches as a way of losing weight alone. I'm definitely changing how I eat, and trying to do it as healthy as possible! I would never want to lose weight too fast; that's just not good.

    To give more info, I'm in my 20s, and have been overweight since the age of 12, but only in the past year has it gotten really bad. I've yo-yo'ed for quite a few years, and now I've been extremely serious about losing weight. I'm also leaving on Thursday for Russia, so I hope all the exercise I get there will help a bunch!
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