Need help with a fitness goal

Agreed, those are not muscles resting on your thighs. Stay in a calorie deficit and do whatever exercise you enjoy. A combination of cardio and strength is usually preferred...

There is no way to target a specific area. Fat is going to come off wherever it comes off based on your genetics, but generally, if you are eating right and exercising, you will lose it all over. I lost 42 lbs, and not only did I lose my belly flab, I lost flab in my butt, thighs, back, boobs (unfortunately), and even my feet shrunk at least a 1/2 size. Before I started a healthy lifestyle, my stomach used to touch my thighs when I sat down. It definitely doesn't do that anymore.

More important than exercise, is eating right. For me, I only accomplished that by tracking my calories and staying in my limits. I thought I was eating healthy before I started tracking, but when I actually added up my caloric intake, it was obvious why I had gained weight over the years. You can lose weight with diet alone, but you cannot lose weight with exercise alone. You can do whatever exercise you want, whether it's walking, aerobic workout videos, dance, zumba, etc... If you have cable TV, Amazon Prime or Netflix, they may have workout videos. There are videos on YouTube. Depending on how much you need to lose, I would recommend setting a goal to lose it slowly...maybe 1 lb a week. You may want it to come off faster, but if it does, you'll probably have excess skin and it can take a while to tighten up. You can use MFP to figure out what your calorie intake needs to be in order to lose your goal weight. Then, stick to it.

zyxst wrote: »

Thought I avoided the whole "you can't spot reduce" BS, but I guess core strengthening is just fancy language for spot reduction. Oh well, I learned something new today.

Oh no, spot strengthening is possible. You can absolutely choose to work specific muscles in order to strengthen and/or build those muscles (proper nutrition required blahblahblah.) Spot reduction would be thinking that core exercises would actually burn off that fat.

@zyxst , I didn't take your post to mean spot reduction of fat at all. When you talked about lifting your belly I thought you literally meant making the folded over skin shorter. I have a sizable skin roll myself. If I just had a regular fat stomach rather than the double layer of folded over skin, it wouldn't be nearly the size it is now. That's what *I* was thinking you meant (whether you actually did or not), not that you were looking at spot fat reduction. I mean, if I could shrink my skin up somehow without losing an ounce of fat in that area, I would be thrilled. Flat or defined abs are not even on my radar.

Well there's a similar thread on here somewhere and the consensus was that it's definitely worthwhile doing core exercises even if you still want to lose weight from that area.
Maybe doing some pilates workouts on YouTube would help? There are lots of standing exercises if you don't like to do the floor ones. It's great for your posture and standing tall makes you look slimmer.

Improving your core and good posture will definitely improve the look of your tummy even if it can't get rid of the skin flap- time may help with that.

Second @Sued0nim with the vacuum. I was taught it 43 y ago after giving birth- then forgot about it for 33.

Once you get the hang of it you can practice it anywhere. I do it while driving long distance to visit my GS. Chech for engagement at stop lights.

If you can find one, a belly dancing class would be excellent. Really puts you in touch with all the different muscles in the abdomen. If a class is out try YouTube. Make sure it is an instructor that really does explain what muscles you are supposed to be engaging. Yup I do these exercises in the car too.

Apart from starting to lift the above, and time, are what have made the biggest impact on my abdomen. (never had a flap but lots and lots of jiggle)

Oh and as soon as you feel yourself slouching, sitting or standing, correct your posture.

Cheers, h.

Sorry that was a bit long and chatty. Here are useful links-

http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/ms-fit5.htm

http://sortyourpostureout.com/what-is-my-core-abdominal-bracing-vs-tva/

@zyxst, just done the unusual for me and checked your profile.
All I can say is

Even though losing weight with cardio and diet are good ideas, I think muscle development in the area would help. The muscles will, in theory, use up the fat closest to it in an effort to recover from exercise. It can also be a refreshing change from the usual cardio routine. You can do leg lifts, crunches, and muay thai knee strikes to attack that stubborn belly fat.

I find good, old-fashioned, plain old push ups to be super effective for everything core, including the belly, back, arms and legs. If you don't want to touch the floor with your hands, try doing them from a bench with your legs fully extended (not on knees).

Not sure what OP meant by "doesn't have me on the floor", but if hands a feet are okay touching the ground, by all means, do push-ups with hands and toes on the floor!