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Skinny but I still have a fat stomach???
Replies
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I've had two kids, so no matter how much I lose my stomach will always look different, but I'm still going to rock a bikini, loose skin, stretch marks and all. You are BEAUTIFUL, and I'd LOVE to have your body shape! But I do understand how you feel, trust me, with every pound I lose my stomach skin looks worse, so I know how frustrating it is to not be able to be exactly what you want. Just trust me, you look amazing.
good luck! 5 -
Actually I don’t have unrealistic expectations. I have gained nearly 10lbs in the last 2 years and most of it in my belly area. I’ve never been this heavy as I’ve always been naturally thinner. But as I’ve gotten older I’ve gained weight which for someone who’s never had any issues is hard to deal with. I see nothing wrong with wanting a toned midsection. I know exactly where OP is coming from. She isn’t fat- not even a little bit!
The problem is the vast majority of women are either not physically capable of, or would have to dedicate years of hard work in order to get, what you are calling a "toned" midsection. If you used to have it, then that's great, but it's not realistic for most.
As with the OP, you are already a lowish weight for your height. Your best bet is doing a recomp while lifting heavy. And I'd bet that if you were photographed at the correct angle while sucking in your gut, tensing your abs, and standing up straight, you would look completely different immediately!14 -
I feel like you and I have the same issue. I’m 5.5 weigh about 120 and I hate my belly area. I do have excess fat around my middle and have love handles (more like don’t touch me handles) I apologize for the bra and panties pic. But really it’s no worse than a bikini.
Fixing your posture would do wonders.7 -
Actually I don’t have unrealistic expectations. I have gained nearly 10lbs in the last 2 years and most of it in my belly area. I’ve never been this heavy as I’ve always been naturally thinner. But as I’ve gotten older I’ve gained weight which for someone who’s never had any issues is hard to deal with. I see nothing wrong with wanting a toned midsection. I know exactly where OP is coming from. She isn’t fat- not even a little bit!
Your weight gain took you from underweight to a healthy weight. The fact that it bothers you is a sign of a problem. Could be body dysmorphia, could just be unrealistic expectations. Who knows. But the bottom line is that you don't have a fat stomach. Even if you think you do, you don't.15 -
I was never underweight. I ate what i wanted when i wanted and stayed at about 112lbs my whole adult life. To assume i have body image issues is hurtful. I turned 40. My body is changing whether it be hormonal or something else I don’t know. I’ve gained weight in my belly area in the last couple of years. I don’t like it (like millions of other women) I’m not fat. I’m soft. Simple.11
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therosalea wrote: »My BMI is about 20, my body fat percentage is about 19-20%. I eat VERY healthy and am vegan and do strength training a few times a week as well as quite a bit of cardio (I'm training for a marathon). BUT. No matter what, and no matter how much fat I've lost, I still have this weird abnormal fat stomach and it makes me SO mad and upset. People have said to build more ab muscles, which I'm doing. I've thought about getting lipo but it's so expensive. I don't know what to do cos I just wanna be able to wear a bikini to the beach in the summer but I can't if I look like this. Should I restrict my calories again and try to keep losing fat? Is it my posture? Do I have flared ribs? I really hope someone can help me, I'm getting desperate!
how old are you? seriously. if you're my daughter's age (24) - i might have to come over there and give you a talking to. i had a body like yours until i was 53 and was very proud of it.. my health deteriorated shortly after that to a huge degree. you have NOTHING to worry about. don't ever compare yourself to anyone. i'm 56 and have been in bathingsuit fashion shows for the past two years. you are whatever the age you are only ONCE. revel in your beauty and perfection. don't go attempting unrealistic media based hype, lovely girl... PM me if you need a friend... xo5 -
I was never underweight. I ate what i wanted when i wanted and stayed at about 112lbs my whole adult life. To assume i have body image issues is hurtful. I turned 40. My body is changing whether it be hormonal or something else I don’t know. I’ve gained weight in my belly area in the last couple of years. I don’t like it (like millions of other women) I’m not fat. I’m soft. Simple.
And the reason millions of women don't like their midsections is because they are comparing themselves to photo-shopped, posed pictures of women whose job it is to look that way but still need the perfect setup. All chasing an ideal that requires an intense amount of time and effort and often isn't possible. I mean, work toward it if you'd like, everyone needs goals, but feeling bad about how you look because you don't have a fictionally ideal body is such a waste.
Check out this thread, if you aren't a "lift weights" person, there are some body weight routines recommended as well https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10332083/which-lifting-program-is-the-best-for-you/p1
And check out the recomp thread that was linked on the 1st page of this thread.8 -
therosalea wrote: »My BMI is about 20, my body fat percentage is about 19-20%. I eat VERY healthy and am vegan and do strength training a few times a week as well as quite a bit of cardio (I'm training for a marathon). BUT. No matter what, and no matter how much fat I've lost, I still have this weird abnormal fat stomach and it makes me SO mad and upset. People have said to build more ab muscles, which I'm doing. I've thought about getting lipo but it's so expensive. I don't know what to do cos I just wanna be able to wear a bikini to the beach in the summer but I can't if I look like this. Should I restrict my calories again and try to keep losing fat? Is it my posture? Do I have flared ribs? I really hope someone can help me, I'm getting desperate!
Okay. You have a great stomach. That tiny stomach seen in pictures is done one of two ways: 1. Photoshop. Yep, models are heavily Photoshopped, all of them, including fitness models!!!! 2. A vacuum pose, basically work on strength training core muscles as per previous replys then for pictures suck in and flex.
I am attending university and am friends with a lovely young lady who's a spinter (National competitive level sprinter). Does she have a tiny belly, yes....when doing a pose to show off her 6-pack, basically sucking in and flexing. Her relaxed stomach isn't the tiny muscular thing that's seen in magazines....and she's an athlete that trains for a good 3-5 hours a day (one AM session, a midday session, and an evening session), 6 days a week, with 2 different trainers, both of which have doctorates!!! Guess what, she eats above maintenance for months before competition, she does gain some fat, which is lost throughout the competition season. That's why near the end of the competition season sprinters look even more amazing than at the beginning. But that's some insane level of training, and a lot of genetics (for speed).11 -
therosalea wrote: »My BMI is about 20, my body fat percentage is about 19-20%. I eat VERY healthy and am vegan and do strength training a few times a week as well as quite a bit of cardio (I'm training for a marathon). BUT. No matter what, and no matter how much fat I've lost, I still have this weird abnormal fat stomach and it makes me SO mad and upset. People have said to build more ab muscles, which I'm doing. I've thought about getting lipo but it's so expensive. I don't know what to do cos I just wanna be able to wear a bikini to the beach in the summer but I can't if I look like this. Should I restrict my calories again and try to keep losing fat? Is it my posture? Do I have flared ribs? I really hope someone can help me, I'm getting desperate!
You're a woman with internal organs. You look great.5 -
livingleanlivingclean wrote: »I feel like you and I have the same issue. I’m 5.5 weigh about 120 and I hate my belly area. I do have excess fat around my middle and have love handles (more like don’t touch me handles) I apologize for the bra and panties pic. But really it’s no worse than a bikini.
Fixing your posture would do wonders.
Yes, some of that. Look up "lordotic posture" or "lordosis".I was never underweight. I ate what i wanted when i wanted and stayed at about 112lbs my whole adult life. To assume i have body image issues is hurtful. I turned 40. My body is changing whether it be hormonal or something else I don’t know. I’ve gained weight in my belly area in the last couple of years. I don’t like it (like millions of other women) I’m not fat. I’m soft. Simple.
It may be, in part, a phrase "more like don’t touch me handles" that led some of us to that conclusion. If that was an incorrect inference, I'm relieved to hear it.2 -
There's a model who posted pics showing herself posed and unposed, and of course it demonstrated what everyone is saying. In the posed pic, she appears to be 100% lean and sculpted. In the relaxed pic, her belly poofs out and even has a roll b/c she's bent over a bit. I'm sorry I can't remember her name--but just know those pics are out there to help combat the body image issues modern photography has helped create.4
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There's a model who posted pics showing herself posed and unposed, and of course it demonstrated what everyone is saying. In the posed pic, she appears to be 100% lean and sculpted. In the relaxed pic, her belly poofs out and even has a roll b/c she's bent over a bit. I'm sorry I can't remember her name--but just know those pics are out there to help combat the body image issues modern photography has helped create.
This gave me an idea. I don't recall her name either.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-3820711/Fitness-models-share-progress-photos-taken-just-THREE-SECONDS-apart.html5 -
L1zardQueen wrote: »There's a model who posted pics showing herself posed and unposed, and of course it demonstrated what everyone is saying. In the posed pic, she appears to be 100% lean and sculpted. In the relaxed pic, her belly poofs out and even has a roll b/c she's bent over a bit. I'm sorry I can't remember her name--but just know those pics are out there to help combat the body image issues modern photography has helped create.
This gave me an idea. I don't recall her name either.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-3820711/Fitness-models-share-progress-photos-taken-just-THREE-SECONDS-apart.html
Wow, hard to believe this and others are 3 sec apart.
@therosalea and @sara_zimm can you post pictures from a similar angle, holding your stomach in?
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kshama2001 wrote: »L1zardQueen wrote: »There's a model who posted pics showing herself posed and unposed, and of course it demonstrated what everyone is saying. In the posed pic, she appears to be 100% lean and sculpted. In the relaxed pic, her belly poofs out and even has a roll b/c she's bent over a bit. I'm sorry I can't remember her name--but just know those pics are out there to help combat the body image issues modern photography has helped create.
This gave me an idea. I don't recall her name either.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-3820711/Fitness-models-share-progress-photos-taken-just-THREE-SECONDS-apart.html
Wow, hard to believe this and others are 3 sec apart.
@therosalea and @sara_zimm can you post pictures from a similar angle, holding your stomach in?
And tilting the pelvis towards the back, hands and arms on more curvy parts of legs/hips. Turning knees outwards.2 -
CharlieBeansmomTracey wrote: »if my belly looked like that I would gladly wear a bikini . its not fat at all.
If mine looked like that I would wear a bikini to work.26 -
CharlieBeansmomTracey wrote: »if my belly looked like that I would gladly wear a bikini . its not fat at all.
If mine looked like that I would wear a bikini to work.
heck mine didnt even look like that when I was a teenager. let alone after I had kids lol6 -
Your stomach looks totally normal- many women have that shaped belly! I'm pretty slim and still have that bit of 'fat' there. It won't budge but there's nothing wrong with it. If you want a flatter looking stomach then posture is the best thing- learn to stand like a ballet dancer and it tightens your midsection right up5
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L1zardQueen wrote: »There's a model who posted pics showing herself posed and unposed, and of course it demonstrated what everyone is saying. In the posed pic, she appears to be 100% lean and sculpted. In the relaxed pic, her belly poofs out and even has a roll b/c she's bent over a bit. I'm sorry I can't remember her name--but just know those pics are out there to help combat the body image issues modern photography has helped create.
This gave me an idea. I don't recall her name either.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-3820711/Fitness-models-share-progress-photos-taken-just-THREE-SECONDS-apart.html
The model on the left is Emily Skye @emilyskyefit on Instagram. She is totally real! She posted unedited pics of her pregnancy and each day after. No makeup, no filters, every inch. She’s awesome! And great role model for an incredible work ethic as well as someone who doesn’t care that her body has changed. And her little girls is totes adorable!8 -
Oh my I wasn't expecting this many replies! So many of you are right though, my view of myself is in need of a real revamp. This really did help me a lot, thank you for such comprehensive responses 30
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therosalea wrote: »Oh my I wasn't expecting this many replies! So many of you are right though, my view of myself is in need of a real revamp. This really did help me a lot, thank you for such comprehensive responses
Honest, sweetheart, you look amazing!8 -
CharlieBeansmomTracey wrote: »if my belly looked like that I would gladly wear a bikini . its not fat at all.
If mine looked like that I would wear a bikini to work.
PMSL I love that reply 😂🤣😂🤣3 -
I wore a bikini when I was 75kg. Why not? Everyone can wear what they prefer. Bikinis are not only for people with model shapes. And I bet nobody looks at you and thinks: look at that belly! Nobody looked at me when I was overweight either.3
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I understand. You have a vision in your mind. You are working hard and not seeing results.
Once I understood that our body/fitness is this magic formula: 80% NUTRITION + 20% EXERCISE—my body completely changed. Add protein and nutrient-dense food into your life and watch your body transform.
I’m still on my journey....but I expect to see that bikini body by October.
Me—Feb 12, 2018 and Aug 12, 2018.
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zilahmessica wrote: »I understand. You have a vision in your mind. You are working hard and not seeing results.
Once I understood that our body/fitness is this magic formula: 80% NUTRITION + 20% EXERCISE—my body completely changed. Add protein and nutrient-dense food into your life and watch your body transform.
I’m still on my journey....but I expect to see that bikini body by October.
Me—Feb 12, 2018 and Aug 12, 2018.
Spoiler alert, you had a bikini body 6 months ago, and you have one now :drinker:13 -
zilahmessica wrote: »I’m still on my journey....but I expect to see that bikini body by October.
You might still be on your journey - but you're killing it, lady, and I bet you would look great in a bikini as you are right now!
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One thing I'm sure of: that is not fat. It could be the way your uterus is tilted.0
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I feel like I could have wrote this post myself! You have a very similar body type to me, I always see myself as a 'skinny fat'. I have been trying to get rid of my last little 'bulge' for years now. I think we can all be over critical of ourselves but sometimes you've got to take a step back into reality and look at yourself through other peoples eyes. NO ONE is going to look at you in a bikini and think 'shes too fat to be wearing that', and if they did, I assure you it would be them with the problem not you! You look great! Trust me xx2
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