How long before my stomach flattens?

OneBryteSmile
OneBryteSmile Posts: 808 Member
edited October 1 in Fitness and Exercise
Hello, maybe I'm just being impatient. I've been eating well and consistently losing an average of 1.3lbs a week. I work my butt off and have made tremendous progress. My waist is definitely getting smaller and smaller but not flatter. I can still grab my stomach and that makes me really insecure about it. I've been running and doing insanity now and hoping that all that cardio will eventually help but how long do I have to wait? I don't think situps work that well - they seem to just build muscles underneath the fat.

Is there something that I am not doing right? How can I make my stomach get flatter while getting smaller?

Thanks for your advice.

Replies

  • chevy88grl
    chevy88grl Posts: 3,937 Member
    Unfortunately, you can't spot lose fat. Your body will burn the fat from the areas IT chooses first - and usually the stomach area isn't one of the first areas on women. I still have a little bit of a belly. I wish it were flat, but I'm starting to accept that after having a couple kids, stretching the skin there with my weight gain, etc I may never have a perfectly flat belly. Keep working at it though - it WILL go down. :)
  • OneBryteSmile
    OneBryteSmile Posts: 808 Member
    Unfortunately, you can't spot lose fat. Your body will burn the fat from the areas IT chooses first - and usually the stomach area isn't one of the first areas on women. I still have a little bit of a belly. I wish it were flat, but I'm starting to accept that after having a couple kids, stretching the skin there with my weight gain, etc I may never have a perfectly flat belly. Keep working at it though - it WILL go down. :)

    Thanks for the encouragement Chevy. I feel a little better about hearing that. I'm so self-conscious about it and it has been really bothering me and making me feel like I'm not doing something right.
  • Amo_Angelus
    Amo_Angelus Posts: 604 Member
    You loose the flab by gaining muscle, simple as that really. Sure your muscle develops under the fat, but then the mucle "eats" the fat covering it just takes time, there is no instant fix. You're bet bet is doing strength training like crunches. I don't recommend situps for women as I hear they're more suited to men, But they've always given me a flat tomach before.
  • MrBrown72
    MrBrown72 Posts: 407 Member
    Well someone else has covered the "spot remove myth" so I've only got two things to say.

    Almost everyone looses weight from the top down and the bottom up. It seems the last pound you loose will be the belly fat. Part of the reason is only a percentage of the belly fat is visible.

    secondly while you can't spot remove fat you can build up the muscle so they stretch the area and make it flatter that way. I've been doing massive ab workouts every other day and it is helping. Granted I only have a six pack for about 17 minutes after I finish working out but I'm hoping to bring that up to an hour in the next couple of months. Work the obliques and they will provide a better looking stomach.
  • emilysebastian
    emilysebastian Posts: 245 Member
    Yeah--I don't think there is any magic solution... I know I've looked and tried! :D Since you lose fat doing cardio (in your happy "fat burn" zone), perhaps you could up that? Other than that, it's probably just going to take T-I-M-E :tongue: And even if your abs are under a cute layer of belly (that's how I like to think of mine), that is muscle that is helping your body burn slowly--so keep it up!
  • editara13
    editara13 Posts: 384 Member
    Actually the best exercise to help you with flattening your stomach it would be the same that I'm using which is :
    3 Sets of LEG RAISE LOWER ABS
    Has been working so far for me and I hope it helps you too :-)

    3574379.png
    Created by MyFitnessPal.com - Free Weight Loss Tools
  • thebunnies
    thebunnies Posts: 168
    i'm in the same boat. i've lost and toned up every other part of my body, but my gut is still there - smaller than before, but still grabable and annoying. i've started doing a lot of core excercises.. variations of sit-ups, as well as leg-lifts, twists, etc. i've noticed a difference in the past two weeks. it takes way longer than we'd like, but keep at it and you'll see results!

    change up your cardio, too. do things that make your entire body work. i'm a huge fan of Nike Training Club workouts, and i just started incorporating 30 Day Shred into my daily workouts, too!
  • prettygirl2408
    prettygirl2408 Posts: 8
    Keep up with insanity! I am on my 3rd round of it (doing a hybrid version this time around) and I can say that it really did help to tighten up my core. My stomach is NOT FLAT by any means but it is FLATTER from when it started. The key is to really engage your core, I am sure you hear Shaun T screaming it all the time. If you aren't quiet sure how that is suppose to work from time to time check your stomach by placing your hand on it. If you do not feel it flexing then it is not engaged. Make every effort to do every workout including your core. Make sure you go as HARD as possible with Insanity as well. Based on when you start it 8/1/11, you should be on the core cardio yet, this is an ab workout from hell...but you NEVER do a crunch. Lastly, don't be discouraged if you do not see results in the first month, pay attention to the inches instead of the weight. In month two I literally saw about 13lbs fall off and that was without following the meal plan.

    Like the person above me said you may not get the flattest of flat stomach, but a moderately flat stomach is in reach. Oh yeah, are you doing crunches with weights?? Those definitely make a difference.

    Best,

    Victoria
  • OneBryteSmile
    OneBryteSmile Posts: 808 Member
    Thank you all for your advice! Really appreciate it. Good to know I'm not alone in this.
  • smadrigal04
    smadrigal04 Posts: 72
    Yeah, I have a "pooch" from 3 kids. I was in the gym the other day, and a very new young mother was on the treadmill next to me. She said she was trying to lose her baby weight, and her baby was 6 months old. I said me too! She asked how old my baby was, and I told her she was 15 years old! You should have seen the look on her face! LOL...seriously....I've come to accept my baby pooch...granted I would like it to be smaller, but until that day comes, I just keep working out, and hoping to see it disappear one day!
  • Onesnap
    Onesnap Posts: 2,819 Member
    I agree with what others have responded so far.

    Also, a flat belly starts in the kitchen! Eat cleanly (whole foods) and that will help with each passing week. Try to minimize processed foods and foods high in sodium.

    Also, check out a Power Yoga class in your area (the teacher makes all the difference) or check out Jillian Michael's Power Yoga DVD to work into your weekly routine. It's only $8 at Target.
  • OneBryteSmile
    OneBryteSmile Posts: 808 Member
    Also, check out a Power Yoga class in your area (the teacher makes all the difference) or check out Jillian Michael's Power Yoga DVD to work into your weekly routine. It's only $8 at Target.

    Thanks, just checked this out on Youtube and it looks pretty good. Already have 3 of her DVDs so this would make a great addition to the collection, especially if it will help my problem. :) Thanks again
  • OneBryteSmile
    OneBryteSmile Posts: 808 Member
    Actually the best exercise to help you with flattening your stomach it would be the same that I'm using which is :
    3 Sets of LEG RAISE LOWER ABS
    Has been working so far for me and I hope it helps you too :-)

    3574379.png
    Created by MyFitnessPal.com - Free Weight Loss Tools

    Based on your picture, they must really be helping because your stomach looks fantastic!
  • soozy84
    soozy84 Posts: 118
    I attended a Legs, Bums and Tums class recently and it was an absolute killer... in a good way though. Maybe that would help. Lots of different abs exercises. I hate my belly fat so trying to combine lots of cardio and strength training to get rid of it... time will tell. Good luck :)
  • brbetha01
    brbetha01 Posts: 179 Member
    Yeah, I have a "pooch" from 3 kids. I was in the gym the other day, and a very new young mother was on the treadmill next to me. She said she was trying to lose her baby weight, and her baby was 6 months old. I said me too! She asked how old my baby was, and I told her she was 15 years old! You should have seen the look on her face! LOL...seriously....I've come to accept my baby pooch...granted I would like it to be smaller, but until that day comes, I just keep working out, and hoping to see it disappear one day!

    LOL - I love it!
  • OneBryteSmile
    OneBryteSmile Posts: 808 Member
    Yeah, I have a "pooch" from 3 kids. I was in the gym the other day, and a very new young mother was on the treadmill next to me. She said she was trying to lose her baby weight, and her baby was 6 months old. I said me too! She asked how old my baby was, and I told her she was 15 years old! You should have seen the look on her face! LOL...seriously....I've come to accept my baby pooch...granted I would like it to be smaller, but until that day comes, I just keep working out, and hoping to see it disappear one day!

    This was pretty funny. I can just imagine the look on her face. Thanks for sharing.
  • skinnylove00
    skinnylove00 Posts: 662 Member
    do crunches off the edge of your bed! at least it tones up the tops of your abs...running also helps too! <3
  • MaggieMay131
    MaggieMay131 Posts: 211 Member
    I agree with everything everyone else here has said... there's no spot treatment, instant fix, etc. However, I really feel like a lot of stomach bloat/pooch comes from the types of food you eat, too! While I realize my diet choices aren't for everyone, I have taken out most grains, sugar, and dairy out of my diet and my stomach has flattened - a lot. If you can cut out most of the processed and grain-heavy foods from your diet, you might start to see a change!

    Keep up what you're doing - great losses! :)
  • OneBryteSmile
    OneBryteSmile Posts: 808 Member
    Thank you for all the additional comments and tips. Will certainly give these things a try and continue to be patient with my body.
  • porffor
    porffor Posts: 1,210 Member
    Hi, I'm another tummy disliker (hate is too strong a word but you get my drift). I found in the past that measuring helps rather than the scales or as well as. I have today measured myself and my tummy comes into my 'hips' measurements so that'll help me see my width lesson. :)

    Good luck and well done with your Weight loss!

    Chevvy always inspires me though I won't go back that tight as I left school the year she was born! lol
  • rml_16
    rml_16 Posts: 16,414 Member
    You loose the flab by gaining muscle, simple as that really. Sure your muscle develops under the fat, but then the mucle "eats" the fat covering it just takes time, there is no instant fix. You're bet bet is doing strength training like crunches. I don't recommend situps for women as I hear they're more suited to men, But they've always given me a flat tomach before.
    No, the muscle doesn't eat the fat. However, toning those muscles now will ensure that when you do lose the fat (through diet and exercise), you won't be flabby skinny and will have a nice, toned tummy and not have to work on that after you reach goal -- just maintain it.

    You'll get there! Just keep up what you're doing. :-)
  • hbunting86
    hbunting86 Posts: 952 Member
    I do crunches with a medicine ball and find this works. Lay on the floor with you legs up at 45 degree angle, so that your shins are flat and together in the air. Start with a 2kg/3kg medicine ball with your arms behind your head. Crunch up, then place the ball on your shins - let go and let it balance there and then return to the floor. Then crunch up again to lift the ball off your shins and back behind to the start position, behind your head.

    I find this works really well... it's a killer after a while though!

    H
  • welloiledmachine
    welloiledmachine Posts: 1,147 Member
    Speaking from experience. Having 2 children in my 30's and within a 2 year period stretched my belly and separated the muscles slightly which left me with a pooch belly. It didn't matter how much weight I lost or what I ate. I got down to 108 and still had it. You can't get rid of stretched skin unless you get a mini tummy tuck.
    If you are extremely overweight and the older you get, chances are that skin will not go back to its original state.
  • OneBryteSmile
    OneBryteSmile Posts: 808 Member
    I would think I would still have some elasticity in my skin that I should be able to bounce back with proper diet and exercise. I was overweight (obviously as you can see in my before pics) but I haven't had any kids (yet) and I don't think my stomach was humongous. It definitely wasn't small at 40 something inches (down to 34 now) but I would hope that I can get back to a semi-normal state without needing a tummy tuck. I think I definitely need more tummy exercises and possibly some additional adjustments in my diet.

    Thanks again for the additional comments.
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