Tummy fat
benn8895
Posts: 29 Member
Hey everyone, so I have a question. Let me preface by saying I KNOW that everyone loses weight in different places. I know that you cannot spot reduce fat. I know that no two peoples journey is the same and I know that you cannot predict where the fat will come off. BUT. I was hoping to hear from people who seemed to lose stomach last and when they started to notice it come off.
I have lost 27 pounds since March. The first three months I lost weight by diet only but for the past six weeks I have been working out as well as keeping a deficit thru food. I have noticed my legs becoming more defined as well as my arms. I can see a lot of changes and fat loss in those two areas but not my stomach. 27 pounds down and my stomach has only lost 3 inches. I am only 4 pounds away from a healthy weight (about 33 from goal weight) and I still have a big belly. It is very frustrating and defeating to see SO MUCH change in the rest of my body but not this area.
I know that eating low sugar and low carb helps with swelling so that would give a slimmer appearance but I'm anxious to have actual fat loss in my stomach area. I know I can't be the only one with this problem and no I'm not giving up and yes I know it takes time but I would love to hear from others to help keep me motivated in my journey. Thanks guys! Also, photos are definitely welcome! : )
I have lost 27 pounds since March. The first three months I lost weight by diet only but for the past six weeks I have been working out as well as keeping a deficit thru food. I have noticed my legs becoming more defined as well as my arms. I can see a lot of changes and fat loss in those two areas but not my stomach. 27 pounds down and my stomach has only lost 3 inches. I am only 4 pounds away from a healthy weight (about 33 from goal weight) and I still have a big belly. It is very frustrating and defeating to see SO MUCH change in the rest of my body but not this area.
I know that eating low sugar and low carb helps with swelling so that would give a slimmer appearance but I'm anxious to have actual fat loss in my stomach area. I know I can't be the only one with this problem and no I'm not giving up and yes I know it takes time but I would love to hear from others to help keep me motivated in my journey. Thanks guys! Also, photos are definitely welcome! : )
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Replies
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I was literally just about to post something like this. =P
I've lost 33 pounds, and aside from having knees and elbows again (I'd lost them for a while), I look the same. Even my pants still fit. Very disheartening to be honest.
If I just go by clothing, I'd say it mostly all came off my ribs and back. My bras do not remotely fit anymore.
Just gotta trust the process, even though it's hard sometimes, we'll definitely get there.16 -
I think you have to do stuff like sit ups. I don’t really know, I walk the dogs everyday and swim twice a week. Vacuumed my car today. Just looked at the daily workout thread and couldn’t believe what I read there. I have no idea how people do so much. Made me feel really disheartened. I was going to get a personal trainer but if you have to spend 2 hours a day doing extreme sport I honestly think I’d sooner be fat.31
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I know this is probably not what you want to hear, but I am right in the middle of the healthy weight range for my height, and people often call me "thin", and I still have a belly. It's smaller than it used to be, but it's still there.
The fact is that many women do naturally carry a little belly fat. I would probably have to get to the low end of the range, and possibly to an uncomfortably low BF% to have a "flat belly". I'm working on recomp to see if it will help.
I don't want to discourage you! But I'm a firm believer in realistic expectations, and for some of us, this is real life. I might try to lose another 5-10 lbs at some point and see what happens, but I just don't care enough right now.
These threads might help too:
https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1161603/so-you-want-a-nice-stomach/p1
https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10689837/does-this-uterus-make-my-stomach-look-fat/p124 -
I have been doing crunches about 30-40 each morning (working up to sit-ups) I have noticed that I have to cinch my belt a little tighter. I think you should try some resistance training. Push-ups, Goblet squat, plank, crunches they all should strengthen the core. At least that's what I'm going to try.
Sandra - I agree with you about the crazy amount some people do daily I mark cleaning the house as exercise. I try to stay active by biking but when I see other people biking for 40miles a day my 5-10miles looks inconsequential.
benn & terytha - Congrats on the 27# & 33# loss that is great!10 -
sandramarshall200 wrote: »I think you have to do stuff like sit ups. I don’t really know, I walk the dogs everyday and swim twice a week. Vacuumed my car today. Just looked at the daily workout thread and couldn’t believe what I read there. I have no idea how people do so much. Made me feel really disheartened. I was going to get a personal trainer but if you have to spend 2 hours a day doing extreme sport I honestly think I’d sooner be fat.
No. Sit ups do exactly what every other exercise does: burn calories. They have no impact on your stomach fat, and are kind of bad for your back.
You also don't have to exercise at all to lose weight. Exercise is not mandatory, nor is it the most efficient way to lose weight.19 -
sandramarshall200 wrote: »I think you have to do stuff like sit ups. I don’t really know, I walk the dogs everyday and swim twice a week. Vacuumed my car today. Just looked at the daily workout thread and couldn’t believe what I read there. I have no idea how people do so much. Made me feel really disheartened. I was going to get a personal trainer but if you have to spend 2 hours a day doing extreme sport I honestly think I’d sooner be fat.
No. Sit ups do exactly what every other exercise does: burn calories. They have no impact on your stomach fat, and are kind of bad for your back.
You also don't have to exercise at all to lose weight. Exercise is not mandatory, nor is it the most efficient way to lose weight.
How are situps bad for your back? Are you saying if you have prominent spine and they rub the floor? Or if you have overactive hip flexors they can cause low back pain? Outside of those two things not sure what would be the problem?
If you're doing situps properly they shouldn't be bad for your back5 -
I don't know if you have children, but I have have given birth twice and had a c-section once. So some of those muscles just don't bounce back the way they should. I had all 3 of them by the time I was 25 and still have a little bit of a stomach. I will be 40 this year and I am 145 now (goal weight 138). My waist is at about 29 inches, but my stomach is at 33". I am about 7 pounds from my vanity goal weight (which is taking me forever to reach), but realistically I am looking at maybe losing another 1/2 inch, maybe and full inch and that's it.6
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Hey everyone, so I have a question. Let me preface by saying I KNOW that everyone loses weight in different places. I know that you cannot spot reduce fat. I know that no two peoples journey is the same and I know that you cannot predict where the fat will come off. BUT. I was hoping to hear from people who seemed to lose stomach last and when they started to notice it come off.
I have lost 27 pounds since March. The first three months I lost weight by diet only but for the past six weeks I have been working out as well as keeping a deficit thru food. I have noticed my legs becoming more defined as well as my arms. I can see a lot of changes and fat loss in those two areas but not my stomach. 27 pounds down and my stomach has only lost 3 inches. I am only 4 pounds away from a healthy weight (about 33 from goal weight) and I still have a big belly. It is very frustrating and defeating to see SO MUCH change in the rest of my body but not this area.
I know that eating low sugar and low carb helps with swelling so that would give a slimmer appearance but I'm anxious to have actual fat loss in my stomach area. I know I can't be the only one with this problem and no I'm not giving up and yes I know it takes time but I would love to hear from others to help keep me motivated in my journey. Thanks guys! Also, photos are definitely welcome! : )
Generally people will lose weight in their torso from the top to the bottom. The last being the lower back and lower abdominals.
Both men and women store more fat in their abdomen. Generally men hold more body fat in their abdomen and lower back and women carry more fat in their legs and butt.
This is mostly due to hormones and receptors in your body. If you are in a decent weight category and generally are in good shape and still have large amounts of fat in certain areas of your body, its likely due to low hormone levels which may be worth checking out.
Most healthy women would, as most would call, a flat stomach in the 22-24% bf range.5 -
sandramarshall200 wrote: »I think you have to do stuff like sit ups. I don’t really know, I walk the dogs everyday and swim twice a week. Vacuumed my car today. Just looked at the daily workout thread and couldn’t believe what I read there. I have no idea how people do so much. Made me feel really disheartened. I was going to get a personal trainer but if you have to spend 2 hours a day doing extreme sport I honestly think I’d sooner be fat.
No. Sit ups do exactly what every other exercise does: burn calories. They have no impact on your stomach fat, and are kind of bad for your back.
You also don't have to exercise at all to lose weight. Exercise is not mandatory, nor is it the most efficient way to lose weight.
How are situps bad for your back? Are you saying if you have prominent spine and they rub the floor? Or if you have overactive hip flexors they can cause low back pain? Outside of those two things not sure what would be the problem?
If you're doing situps properly they shouldn't be bad for your back
Most people are not doing them properly. When was the last time you heard of someone looking up proper form for situps? They were a requirement in gym class as a kid and nobody ever taught us form. Regardless, here's a link: https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/want-a-stronger-core-skip-the-sit-ups
A quick Google pulls up numerous similar articles.9 -
sandramarshall200 wrote: »I think you have to do stuff like sit ups. I don’t really know, I walk the dogs everyday and swim twice a week. Vacuumed my car today. Just looked at the daily workout thread and couldn’t believe what I read there. I have no idea how people do so much. Made me feel really disheartened. I was going to get a personal trainer but if you have to spend 2 hours a day doing extreme sport I honestly think I’d sooner be fat.
No. Sit ups do exactly what every other exercise does: burn calories. They have no impact on your stomach fat, and are kind of bad for your back.
You also don't have to exercise at all to lose weight. Exercise is not mandatory, nor is it the most efficient way to lose weight.
How are situps bad for your back? Are you saying if you have prominent spine and they rub the floor? Or if you have overactive hip flexors they can cause low back pain? Outside of those two things not sure what would be the problem?
If you're doing situps properly they shouldn't be bad for your back
Most people are not doing them properly. When was the last time you heard of someone looking up proper form for situps? They were a requirement in gym class as a kid and nobody ever taught us form. Regardless, here's a link: https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/want-a-stronger-core-skip-the-sit-ups
A quick Google pulls up numerous similar articles.
lol did you read the article you just mentioned?
It says almost word for word what i asked about....
Tight hip flexors and spine against the floor.... If done properly they are not bad for your back... its like saying bicep curls are bad cause they're an isolation exercise, or that squats are bad because if done improperly it'll hurt your knees.7 -
I found Pilates (either mat Pilates or with the reformer) to be helpful in strengthening abdominal muscles as well as improving posture.7
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I’ve read over & over that to target your core you need to combine a little cardio with, squats, leg lunges, planks, push ups & jumping jacks. Check out ONE & DONE!2
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sandramarshall200 wrote: »I think you have to do stuff like sit ups. I don’t really know, I walk the dogs everyday and swim twice a week. Vacuumed my car today. Just looked at the daily workout thread and couldn’t believe what I read there. I have no idea how people do so much. Made me feel really disheartened. I was going to get a personal trainer but if you have to spend 2 hours a day doing extreme sport I honestly think I’d sooner be fat.
No. Sit ups do exactly what every other exercise does: burn calories. They have no impact on your stomach fat, and are kind of bad for your back.
You also don't have to exercise at all to lose weight. Exercise is not mandatory, nor is it the most efficient way to lose weight.
How are situps bad for your back? Are you saying if you have prominent spine and they rub the floor? Or if you have overactive hip flexors they can cause low back pain? Outside of those two things not sure what would be the problem?
If you're doing situps properly they shouldn't be bad for your back
Most people are not doing them properly. When was the last time you heard of someone looking up proper form for situps? They were a requirement in gym class as a kid and nobody ever taught us form. Regardless, here's a link: https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/want-a-stronger-core-skip-the-sit-ups
A quick Google pulls up numerous similar articles.
lol did you read the article you just mentioned?
It says almost word for word what i asked about....
Tight hip flexors and spine against the floor.... If done properly they are not bad for your back... its like saying bicep curls are bad cause they're an isolation exercise, or that squats are bad because if done improperly it'll hurt your knees.
I didn't say they were bad period. I said they were kind of bad, for your back. Squats are also kind of bad for your knees. Both are exercises that few people bother to learn proper form for, and end up hurting themselves trying to accomplish the impossible.
Sit ups will never target tummy fat. You can do 1000 of them, that fat will stick around until your genetics decides to get rid of it. In the meantime, there are more useful, effective exercises with less odds of injury you could be doing.13 -
sandramarshall200 wrote: »I think you have to do stuff like sit ups. I don’t really know, I walk the dogs everyday and swim twice a week. Vacuumed my car today. Just looked at the daily workout thread and couldn’t believe what I read there. I have no idea how people do so much. Made me feel really disheartened. I was going to get a personal trainer but if you have to spend 2 hours a day doing extreme sport I honestly think I’d sooner be fat.
The exercise you're already doing is awesome.
Don't feel like you have to exercise for hours to see results.
I was obese for about 25 years, and I resisted trying to lose weight because I believed that to do so I'd have to give up all the foods I loved and spend hours in the gym. I finally lost over 70lbs after the age of 50 by counting my calories... I eat almost everything I used to, and I still haven't set foot inside a gym. I wish I'd known it was that simple (though not always easy!) decades ago.
I do regret not doing any sort of strength training, but that doesn't need a gym or hours of work either - I just need to get my butt in gear and do some at-home exercises to help with that side of things. 8 -
OP, the threads linked earlier might be helpful/insightful for you. I know it's disheartening though!
I've always had a bit of a belly, even when I was young and slim, and I seem to hold more weight there than anywhere else. I've gained back several pounds over the past few months due to some stressful times and emotional eating, and I swear every single one of them has gone onto my belly! I look pregnant, and it sucks.
I do find that if I eat more bread and sodium-laden foods then I get some bloating, so trying to minimise that helps me a little bit. But I love those foods so it's a challenge!
Unfortunately, at the end of the day it's down to each individual's body where and when the fat comes off. Keep at it and you'll see results eventually, even if it's not quite as good as you may have hoped for. *hugs*3 -
I found Pilates (either mat Pilates or with the reformer) to be helpful in strengthening abdominal muscles as well as improving posture.
Posture is a good point: Certainly not true for everyone, but it's fairly common to see anterior pelvic tilt, and a chin-forward/shoulders-forward posture (sometimes from too much screen time). Both of those things will emphasize abdominal fat by sort of pushing any central fullness downward and outward. I feel like the anterior pelvic tilt has become a bit more common in women since it's been trendy to emphasize the booty - not necessarily a conscious thing people do, but a thing anyway. There are exercises to strengthen/lengthen muscle groups, to improve posture, and conscious attention alongside those can also be helpful.4 -
Didn’t read everything here but my insight...
I also carry in my stomach and always have. I have two kids and they’re not to blame, it’s always been an insecurity of mine.
As an adult I got down to 112 pounds about 3 years ago. I am 5’5 female and was 26 at the time. Even my stomach at the very lowest end of normal range for BMI still had a pooch. Everything else was good but my stomach would not be flat. I was still so insecure about it even though I was “skinny”. I know it’s probably not what you wanna hear.... but I think people like us have to get body fat percentage really low and probably lift heavy for a few years before we ever see a flat stomach.
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I gain in my midsection first and lose it there last. There is zip you can do but lose the weight.. lifting weights will make you look better all around..but you have to lose the fat and it just takes time and comes off.3
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I hold it in my stomach too. First thing to get bigger and last thing to get smaller.
I also recommend looking at those threads posted above the does my uterus look big in this one and that other one.
Posture is massive tho. When I remember posture and hike my shoulders back and stand up straight my stomach almost flattens!
Keep at it though, and with time (and a fuckload of patience) it will reduce!
Or get liposuction for a quick fix.3 -
You may not have as much belly fat as you think, sometimes the belly inside is bloated, or there’s poor posture problems like Kyphosis, or problems with abs muscles not fusing properly after pregnancy. These types of things can make everything in the stomach area push forward, making your tummy area look fatter even if there’s not too much fat. I’d suggest taking pre/pro biotics, drinking teas which aid digestion, checking you have no food intolerances (gluten, dairy etc). Also check your posture is aligned correctly, maybe visit chiropractor or physio therapist for assessment, you may also be able to speak to your GP or physiotherapist to assess if your abdominal muscles are ok, maybe you have Diastasis Recti (sometimes it’s left untreated and unnoticed for many years after labour). You could also have internal Visceral Fat to lose, that can often push the tummy area out also. Things like stress can cause Cortisol to rise, which will make you store visceral fat around the tummy, are you stressed or experience anxiety? Focus on relaxation, people forget relaxation can help with weight loss eg adequate sleep (don’t just think diet and exercise are needed, you also need to rest!). Get your hormones tested to ensure there’s no imbalance causing you to store belly fat, hormonal imbalances can greatly contribute to fat stored in this area and you can do as many crunches and cut as many calories as you like (which will help), but if you don’t fix the hormone imbalance you’ll still have the body storing fat in this area. Oestrogen is one hormone to test, if it’s too high it can cause storeage of belly fat. Research “Hormonal Belly” (especially if you’re pre or post menopausal).
Good diet and exercise will always help, even if you have poor posture or hormonal issues, diet and exercise can strengthen the muscles and bones to help your posture, and can help to balance your hormones, so keep doing your healthy lifestyle, but speak to your doctor for hormone testing and to check your core muscles and posture, because you may need extra medical help.4 -
And you also may want to consider doing a parasite cleanse, sometimes parasites cause the belly to protrude and makes it look bigger. Cloves, Wormwood and Papaya Seeds are great for this issue!
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Hey everyone, so I have a question. Let me preface by saying I KNOW that everyone loses weight in different places. I know that you cannot spot reduce fat. I know that no two peoples journey is the same and I know that you cannot predict where the fat will come off. BUT. I was hoping to hear from people who seemed to lose stomach last and when they started to notice it come off.
I have lost 27 pounds since March. The first three months I lost weight by diet only but for the past six weeks I have been working out as well as keeping a deficit thru food. I have noticed my legs becoming more defined as well as my arms. I can see a lot of changes and fat loss in those two areas but not my stomach. 27 pounds down and my stomach has only lost 3 inches. I am only 4 pounds away from a healthy weight (about 33 from goal weight) and I still have a big belly. It is very frustrating and defeating to see SO MUCH change in the rest of my body but not this area.
I know that eating low sugar and low carb helps with swelling so that would give a slimmer appearance but I'm anxious to have actual fat loss in my stomach area. I know I can't be the only one with this problem and no I'm not giving up and yes I know it takes time but I would love to hear from others to help keep me motivated in my journey. Thanks guys! Also, photos are definitely welcome! : )
The midsection is primary fat stores for many, if not most people...it's basically a first on, last off proposition for many people.
I saw the biggest difference in my midsection in my last 10 Lbs going from 190 to 180. Still, at 180, while I don't have a pronounced belly by any means, I do have a small pooch. If you used calipers on me it would be difficult to pinch anything but skin anywhere else on my body except for my mid section.
I'd also say that a lot of people have misconceptions of what their mid-section should look like. Having a flat stomach and visible abs and such is a pretty recent aesthetic goal...from an evolutionary standpoint, it's not particularly practical or natural, which can make it very difficult to achieve.
I know quite a few guys like me who are not fat, but not super lean either...diets tend to be pretty good for the most part and they do a moderate amount of exercise on the regular.
I know a handful of guys who are ripped lean. One of them is a retired professional athlete and now a personal trainer...he basically spend his entire day in the gym either working out or working other people out. The other guys I know spend an exorbitant amount of time in the gym in a given week...they basically live for training. There diets, including my PT friend are also almost robot like and they don't deviate often from their plain chicken, broccoli, and rice...basic bro diet. Not something I'm really inclined to do.4 -
Fat is fat is fat. Unfortunately if you have belly fat like me and that is the last place you lose it you just have to be patient and do what you are doing. Exercise really is the best for this final mile. The more lean muscle mass you have the more fat your body can burn. Be patient and stick to it; it will happen!0
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Hi there, this may seem weird and I know you don't really want to exercise but hoola hooping is really good for belly fat I found in my younger years, I have actually been thinking of getting another, just don't know if they make them big enough for my current size. I'm a bit ( at least have been) a bit of a yoyo girl when it comes to weight but hoola hoop is really good for that stubborn belly fat love handles area 3
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AmatullahMuwahidah wrote: »And you also may want to consider doing a parasite cleanse, sometimes parasites cause the belly to protrude and makes it look bigger. Cloves, Wormwood and Papaya Seeds are great for this issue!
Whoa. If you have parasites, you need a doctor. Not seeds.25 -
They make all sizes hula hoops, and there are even easy instruction to make your own on the net. I have fat, lazy arms. Got a small one to play with on my arms. It helps(when I do it).1
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if you could work your core out and get rid of stomach fat, I'd have a twelve pack. Instead, I still have a negative-six pack. The only thing that is going to get me closer to a flat stomach is losing more weight.
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You look young, I just know I never had fat in my stomach until age 50, I always had big thighs and butt but things changed. My arms are not as firm either. I lost weight in my butt and thighs, I would have never believed this when I was young.1
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LouVee186000 wrote: »
I gain weight in New Mexico.
Have you ever visited the restaurants in Santa Fe ?6
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