Has anyone who is at goal or close seen their "trouble areas" finally tone up/lose fat ?
brendacs21
Posts: 180 Member
I've never been at a healthy weight for my height (I am 5'2) . I notice when I lose weight it always goes from my waist down. But my stomach and arms/ upper back still have a lot of fat. I know you cannot spot reduce , but I was wondering if anyone who did make it to their healthy weight/goal weight or is close to it, if you finally saw changes in those trouble hard to lose areas? thank you!
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Replies
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"Trouble areas" are typically primary fat stores...they are typically first on, last off. As you continue to lose weight, primary fat stores are ultimately going to be burned off...
ETA: I personally don't know anyone who is 100% happy with their bodies...even some of the fittest and leanest people I know find something they don't like which is why I'm always going to be working in the gym and riding my bike.10 -
Chances are, that when you get to that healthy weight your body will even itself out, or you might always been larger on top - that's genetics.
I was ALWAYS bottom heavy. Butt, hips and thighs for days. I started at 193 and 5'11 and a size 16 pants. This was at 32. Now, at 38, I'm 160ish, and my weight has shifted to more my belly and chest, wearing an 6-8 on the bottom and still M/L tops. I tend to not have an issue with my lower body any more and tend to wear smaller sizes on the bottom than the top. It really just depends on where you lose it.
But you could do more strength building on your bottom half to add bulk that way to balance out your top and bottom if that unbalance bothers you. But honestly, I think the closer you get to that healthy weight you'll see everything catches up.1 -
Nope, unfortunately I haven't.. (yet). While my stubborn areas got a bit better, they really didn't go away. I will see after this bulk/cut cycle if I come close, but something tells me unless I get stage lean, it will never happen.1
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Just hit my first goal weight and unfortunately I still have a decent spare tire. Making me re-evaluate my next goal weight.1
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Interesting, thank you so much for your responses! I have lost a very decent amount already in my breasts, butt and legs. I do not want to lose any more there! I don't even think there is anything left to lose TBH. But I have a great amount of fat in my stomach, arms and upper back. I wish we could tell our body where the fat needs to go from! This is the first time in my life that along with changing my eating habits I have started working out. I am hoping it helps with the changes I would like to see in my body!0
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I have always always always had love handles. I'm about 12lbs away from my goal weight and for the first time in my life my love handles are completely gone.8
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Yes, to me it seems like it comes off proportionally. But it does come off everywhere that there is fat. However, I am eating a keto diet that is a fat burning diet and I attribute fat disappear to that diet. I also weight lift and swing a heavy kettle bell which has allowed me to maintain muscle mass.
I took measurements every four weeks and these are my results.
Successful weight loss 1/17 - 5/20/17
Measurements January 1, 2017
Neck- 13 inches
Above chest 36 inches
Below chest 33 inches
Left bicep 11 inches
Right bicep 11 inches
Waist 31.5 inches
Hips 39.5 inches
Left thigh 23.5 inches
Right thigh 23.5 inches
Left calf 14.25 inches
Right calf 13.75 inches
Measurements January 28, 2017
Neck -13 inches
Above chest- 33 inches
Below chest -32.5 inches
Left bicep - 10.5 inches
Right bicep-10.5 inches
Waist -30.25 inches
Hips -38.75 inches
Left thigh- 22.5 inches
Right thigh – 22.5 inches
Left calf 14 inches
Right calf 13.75 inches
Total inches lost over all – 9 inches
Measurements February 26th
Neck-13 inches
Above chest-33 inches
Below chest-32.5 inches
Left bicep -10.25 inches
Right bicep-2.5 inches
Waist -28.5 inches
Hips-38 inches
Left thigh-22 inches
Right thigh-22 inches
Left calf-13.5 inches
Right calf-13.25 inches
Total inches lost = 5 inches
Measurements March 24th
Neck-13 inches
Above chest-32.5inches
Below chest-31.5 inches
Left bicep -10.125 inches
Right bicep-10.125 inches
Waist -27 inches
Hips-36.75 inches
Left thigh-21.25 inches
Right thigh-21 inches
Left calf-12.5 inches
Right calf-12.5 inches
Total inches lost = 8 inches
Measurements April 22nd
Neck-13 inches
Above chest-31inches
Below chest-31.25inches
Left bicep -9.75 inches
Right bicep-9.5 inches
Waist -27 inches
Hips-35.75 inches
Left thigh-20.5 inches
Right thigh-20.25 inches
Left calf-14.25 inches
Right calf-13.75 inches
Total inches lost = 4 inches with a gain of 3 inches in my calf's?? Maybe water retention or muscle?? Or maybe I wrote the wrong number down last time! I did doublecheck this time! I am even up in my calfs from February
Measurements May 26
Nick-12 inches. -1 inch
Above chest -31 inches. - 5 inches
Below chest-30.75 inches. - 2.25 inches
Left bicep 9.5 inches. - 1.5 inches
Right bicep 9.5 inches. - 1.5 inches
Waist 26 inches. - 5.5 inches
Hips 35 inches. - 4.5 inches
Left thigh 19.5 inches. - 4 inches
Right by 19.5 inches. - 4 inches
Left calf 13.5 inches. - .75 inches
Right calf 13 inches. - .75 inches
Total inches lost = 4.75 inches
Inches gained = 1.25 muscle?
Grand total inches lost = 32 inches
Inches gained = 1.25
SW – 158.6
January – 151.8 loss of 6.8 lbs
February - 142.8 loss of 9 lbs
March 24 137.6 loss of 5.2 lbs
April 22 - 133.2 loss of 4.4 lbs
May 26- 127.6 loss of 5.6 lbs
Total weight loss equals 31 lbs
Not too bad for a 59-year-old with many medical issues!
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brendacs21 wrote: »Interesting, thank you so much for your responses! I have lost a very decent amount already in my breasts, butt and legs. I do not want to lose any more there! I don't even think there is anything left to lose TBH. But I have a great amount of fat in my stomach, arms and upper back. I wish we could tell our body where the fat needs to go from! This is the first time in my life that along with changing my eating habits I have started working out. I am hoping it helps with the changes I would like to see in my body!
Wow you are the complete opposite of me! I have fat in my chest, butt (especially underbutt), legs/thighs. I am super lean on my arms, back, and my abs (well what little abs I have) are starting to come through. I really wish we could yell at that fat and tell it where to go!
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brendacs21 wrote: »I've never been at a healthy weight for my height (I am 5'2) . I notice when I lose weight it always goes from my waist down. But my stomach and arms/ upper back still have a lot of fat.
Your abdomen is above your waist?
I'm pear-shaped and even at a low weight I always have more fat in my butt and hips than I'd like. It's genetics.1 -
I consider myself Apple shaped although measurements I've taken and put into online calculators say I'm banana /straight. Seems like my stomach area keeps Alot of fat . My legs look thin but the 2 large love handles won't go!0
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Eventually, yes. Although sometimes the effort is ridiculously massive and really not worth it!2
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I reached a point where my trouble areas looked really good and I was happy. Unfortunately I found new things to not be happy with. Many of us need to learn to love how we currently look. It doesn't mean giving up, it just means that we likely will never see our bodies as perfect.
You may actually be interested in recomposition: http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10177803/recomposition-maintaining-weight-while-losing-fat#latest5 -
cwolfman13 wrote: »"Trouble areas" are typically primary fat stores...they are typically first on, last off. As you continue to lose weight, primary fat stores are ultimately going to be burned off...
ETA: I personally don't know anyone who is 100% happy with their bodies...even some of the fittest and leanest people I know find something they don't like which is why I'm always going to be working in the gym and riding my bike.
I'm 99% happy with mine. And I only say that because saying I'm 100% happy might sound conceited. Terrible, I know. Nobody's body is perfect, including mine, but for me, my body is pretty awesome. I can't really complain. It's strong, healthy and fairly fit, it has a cool shape to it and is pleasant to look at, and it does what I need it to do. So I'm totally happy with it!
I guess either I have relaxed standards or high self esteem or maybe a combination of the two. 
Somebody else might look at me and start listing off all the "trouble areas" that I don't even notice.
Trouble areas are in the eye of the beholder. It's hard to say when, if ever, someone's trouble areas will go away. Some people will never be happy with their bodies. Other people are more accepting of imperfection.
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I worked on "trouble areas" by putting in a crap ton of work. I lost weight while lifting to maintain a good muscle base, then ate in a surplus, really focusing on the area I wanted to improve. I gained muscle, and fat along with it. It really is a process. Not done in a month. Barely done in a year (AFTER initial weight loss)3
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livingleanlivingclean wrote: »Eventually, yes. Although sometimes the effort is ridiculously massive and really not worth it!
Not to derail but I see you have added a photo and.. just.. wow.. clearly your massive effort shows!1 -
yay!!!!! I've been curious lol @livingleanlivingclean0
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livingleanlivingclean wrote: »Eventually, yes. Although sometimes the effort is ridiculously massive and really not worth it!
Not to derail but I see you have added a photo and.. just.. wow.. clearly your massive effort shows!yay!!!!! I've been curious lol @livingleanlivingclean
I found some pics going through my phone, and thought I'd stick one up.... That was a couple of years ago, last time I competed 3 -
fanncy0626 wrote: »Yes, to me it seems like it comes off proportionally. But it does come off everywhere that there is fat. However, I am eating a keto diet that is a fat burning diet and I attribute fat disappear to that diet. I also weight lift and swing a heavy kettle bell which has allowed me to maintain muscle mass.
I took measurements every four weeks and these are my results.
Successful weight loss 1/17 - 5/20/17
Measurements January 1, 2017
Neck- 13 inches
Above chest 36 inches
Below chest 33 inches
Left bicep 11 inches
Right bicep 11 inches
Waist 31.5 inches
Hips 39.5 inches
Left thigh 23.5 inches
Right thigh 23.5 inches
Left calf 14.25 inches
Right calf 13.75 inches
Measurements January 28, 2017
Neck -13 inches
Above chest- 33 inches
Below chest -32.5 inches
Left bicep - 10.5 inches
Right bicep-10.5 inches
Waist -30.25 inches
Hips -38.75 inches
Left thigh- 22.5 inches
Right thigh – 22.5 inches
Left calf 14 inches
Right calf 13.75 inches
Total inches lost over all – 9 inches
Measurements February 26th
Neck-13 inches
Above chest-33 inches
Below chest-32.5 inches
Left bicep -10.25 inches
Right bicep-2.5 inches
Waist -28.5 inches
Hips-38 inches
Left thigh-22 inches
Right thigh-22 inches
Left calf-13.5 inches
Right calf-13.25 inches
Total inches lost = 5 inches
Measurements March 24th
Neck-13 inches
Above chest-32.5inches
Below chest-31.5 inches
Left bicep -10.125 inches
Right bicep-10.125 inches
Waist -27 inches
Hips-36.75 inches
Left thigh-21.25 inches
Right thigh-21 inches
Left calf-12.5 inches
Right calf-12.5 inches
Total inches lost = 8 inches
Measurements April 22nd
Neck-13 inches
Above chest-31inches
Below chest-31.25inches
Left bicep -9.75 inches
Right bicep-9.5 inches
Waist -27 inches
Hips-35.75 inches
Left thigh-20.5 inches
Right thigh-20.25 inches
Left calf-14.25 inches
Right calf-13.75 inches
Total inches lost = 4 inches with a gain of 3 inches in my calf's?? Maybe water retention or muscle?? Or maybe I wrote the wrong number down last time! I did doublecheck this time! I am even up in my calfs from February
Measurements May 26
Nick-12 inches. -1 inch
Above chest -31 inches. - 5 inches
Below chest-30.75 inches. - 2.25 inches
Left bicep 9.5 inches. - 1.5 inches
Right bicep 9.5 inches. - 1.5 inches
Waist 26 inches. - 5.5 inches
Hips 35 inches. - 4.5 inches
Left thigh 19.5 inches. - 4 inches
Right by 19.5 inches. - 4 inches
Left calf 13.5 inches. - .75 inches
Right calf 13 inches. - .75 inches
Total inches lost = 4.75 inches
Inches gained = 1.25 muscle?
Grand total inches lost = 32 inches
Inches gained = 1.25
SW – 158.6
January – 151.8 loss of 6.8 lbs
February - 142.8 loss of 9 lbs
March 24 137.6 loss of 5.2 lbs
April 22 - 133.2 loss of 4.4 lbs
May 26- 127.6 loss of 5.6 lbs
Total weight loss equals 31 lbs
Not too bad for a 59-year-old with many medical issues!
Thanks for sharing. Your results are very impressive. I'm going to measure just as you have.
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I am pretty much at goal now and my problem areas have cleared up.
When I initially lost weight it was primarily in my upper body My problem area where I want to lose is the lower.
When I gain weight my hourglass has the weight at the bottom so to speak. Always I have had a tiny upper body and big lower.
Around the time that I was nearing my previous lowest range that my lower body really started to change. When entering healthy BMI I could really see the the difference in my bottom area, though the fat storage was still visible and the difference between upper and lower body was still significant. Still saw visibly where my body preferred to store
It is now that I am in the middle of my BMI that the little fat pockets around my knees are gone, my thighs are becoming defined, but not fat, my legs look normal and my butt is regular sized. Only my calves, muscular as they are are big still (and very strong) There is still a difference in my now somewhat slender upper body and normal lower, but I am fine with it. I am continuing toning through weights and am happy with the way it is going1 -
dutchandkiwi wrote: »I am pretty much at goal now and my problem areas have cleared up.
When I initially lost weight it was primarily in my upper body My problem area where I want to lose is the lower.
When I gain weight my hourglass has the weight at the bottom so to speak. Always I have had a tiny upper body and big lower.
Around the time that I was nearing my previous lowest range that my lower body really started to change. When entering healthy BMI I could really see the the difference in my bottom area, though the fat storage was still visible and the difference between upper and lower body was still significant. Still saw visibly where my body preferred to store
It is now that I am in the middle of my BMI that the little fat pockets around my knees are gone, my thighs are becoming defined, but not fat, my legs look normal and my butt is regular sized. Only my calves, muscular as they are are big still (and very strong) There is still a difference in my now somewhat slender upper body and normal lower, but I am fine with it. I am continuing toning through weights and am happy with the way it is going
It is my lower body that is an issue too - weight always goes to the stubborn fat pockets on the sides of my bum first, and leave there last. I'm lean now, but they are still there (to a much lesser extent, but still annoying to me!)... Very slowly they disappear, but it takes a lot of effort!1 -
I'm at goal and I'm super happy with my body. However it took 2 - 3 years of maintenance for all of the wobbly bits to firm up.
Now my love handles are gone, no more inner thigh touching or jiggles, my stomach is flat and my entire body is tight.
It took lots of work, patience and dedication, but I still work at it everyday to stay here.6 -
My problem areas are my thighs. I have been able to get rid of what I don't like there before, but it took a tremendous amount of effort and the the rest of my body looked way too thin/lean for my taste. So I settle for "close enough" now.3
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I am 6'5, currently 289 lbs. My heaviest weight was nearly 540 pounds. In terms of measurement I am down from a 68" waist to a 42" waist and a 6XL shirt to an XLT or an LT. For the last five months I've been strength training 6-10 hours a week.
There are some areas that no amount of muscle mass or toning will help and it's different for every person. For most it's going to be the ab/chest area and the thighs. There is only so much mass you can put on your abs to help. Same thing with your legs. The best thing to do is mentioned above and that is focus on your body fat percentage. The farther down the scale you go the bigger a reduction each pound makes. When I was nearly 540 a 1% reduction in body fat was not a big deal, but now it's noticeable. Additionally make sure your nutrition is sound. I've learned nutrition is 90% of the battle.1
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