Spot reducing while having hormonal issues...is it possible?

laurennreynoldsss
laurennreynoldsss Posts: 3 Member
edited June 2020 in Fitness and Exercise
I have a question. I’m at a healthy weight now. I do want to lose 5 more pounds. But I have A LOT of stomach fat, bloating, and a muffin top. I had it even when I was 102 pounds. Even though I’m thin, I look like I’m 180 pounds.

I NEVER used to have this issue. I had a small waist and curves. Up until the hormonal issues started.

I found out I have hormonal issues going on, too much estrogen, too little DHEA, cortisol imbalance, it’s causing all this belly fat. That’s going to take time to resolve. So my question is, while I’m working on that, if I continuously do ab exercises everyday (sit-ups, alternating toe crunches, rope climbs, etc) will it tone the area and hide the fat? I know you can’t spot reduce. I know someone who is 200 pounds can’t say “I want a thin stomach” and do ab exercises and it happens. They have to lose the weight first. But this is different. I’m already thin. I just have hormonal issues that are causing a ton of belly fat, making me look huge. So in the meantime, will ab exercises tone my stomach and hide all the jiggly fat that’s hanging there?

Replies

  • laurennreynoldsss
    laurennreynoldsss Posts: 3 Member
    edited June 2020
    yirara wrote: »
    First of all: No, you can't spot reduce. Has your gynaecologist recommended anything for your hormones? Other than that, a muffin top is a result of trousers that don't fit properly. Get trousers with a higher or lower waist (whatever works for you) and that are not too tight there.

    Yes, progesterone cream to help increase my progesterone and lower the excess estrogen. It’s not because of pants that don’t fit properly. I have a muffin top if I’m in loosely fitting pants, loosely fitting shorts, panties, or even naked. It’s always there, no matter what I wear.
  • harper16
    harper16 Posts: 2,564 Member
    laurennreynoldsss wrote: »
    yirara wrote: »
    First of all: No, you can't spot reduce. Has your gynaecologist recommended anything for your hormones? Other than that, a muffin top is a result of trousers that don't fit properly. Get trousers with a higher or lower waist (whatever works for you) and that are not too tight there.

    Yes, progesterone cream to help increase my progesterone and lower the excess estrogen. It’s not because of pants that don’t fit properly. I have a muffin top if I’m in loosely fitting pants, loosely fitting shorts, panties, or even naked. It’s always there, no matter what I wear.

    What is your current weight, height, and waist measurement?
  • laurennreynoldsss
    laurennreynoldsss Posts: 3 Member
    harper16 wrote: »
    laurennreynoldsss wrote: »
    yirara wrote: »
    First of all: No, you can't spot reduce. Has your gynaecologist recommended anything for your hormones? Other than that, a muffin top is a result of trousers that don't fit properly. Get trousers with a higher or lower waist (whatever works for you) and that are not too tight there.

    Yes, progesterone cream to help increase my progesterone and lower the excess estrogen. It’s not because of pants that don’t fit properly. I have a muffin top if I’m in loosely fitting pants, loosely fitting shorts, panties, or even naked. It’s always there, no matter what I wear.

    What is your current weight, height, and waist measurement?

    I’m 5’3 and 115 pounds. My waist measurement is 31.
  • claireychn074
    claireychn074 Posts: 1,608 Member
    The short answer is that you can’t spot reduce (as you said), but having tighter tummy muscles MIGHT make you look a bit leaner. Having good tummy muscles is important for lots of reasons, so there would be no harm in trying some good ab exercises whilst you get your hormones sorted!
  • SnifterPug
    SnifterPug Posts: 746 Member
    Doing exercises will undoubtedly be of benefit generally. If the fat is on top of the muscles, though, I don't see how exercises will improve the appearance of the fat. Hope you can get the hormones under control soon.
  • PAPYRUS3
    PAPYRUS3 Posts: 13,259 Member
    Perhaps look into Dr. Natasha Turner's research on hormone health. She's also an advocate for Keto/intermittent fasting and apparently 'solved' her own hormone issues/excess body fat, etc., living this lifestyle.
  • lorrpb
    lorrpb Posts: 11,463 Member
    You weigh approx 110 now and think you look like 180?
  • DancingMoosie
    DancingMoosie Posts: 8,619 Member
    You can't hide fat with muscle. I do agree that building the rest of your body will possibly give you a more balanced look.
  • PAPYRUS3
    PAPYRUS3 Posts: 13,259 Member
    lorrpb wrote: »
    You weigh approx 110 now and think you look like 180?

    She might have just said that as a feeling of looking heavier than 110 pounds (🤷‍♀️). I can also relate very much to the OP with regards to looking a different weight than what is showing up on the scale. I have a very low body weight but one would most likely be surprised if they knew the number.
  • margbarco
    margbarco Posts: 128 Member
    Abdominal fat is anterior to abdominal muscle, meaning that your ab muscles are under/behind the fat. So to answer your question, you cannot logistically “hide” belly fat by “toning” your ab muscles.

    Some people can build definition in their abs and can change the way their abs look from under a thin layer of fat without necessarily losing any of said abdominal fat.

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