Abdominal

Hard definition of the abs generally requires a low body fat percentage - depending on your physique it may be a percentage that is too low for you. Also, bloating will happen whatever your body fat percentage. But just because you are toned and in shape does not necessarily mean that your fat percentage is low enough to show off the abs you probably have.

Any pics of what you look like now? And if you want defined abs, you'll likely need to be under 20% bodyfat.

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
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Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

There’s an app ( can’t remember what it’s called) where you put in your measurements and you can see pictures of other women with the same body type. Interestingly research shows that women judge their own bodies much more harshly than they do other women who look just like them.

PAV8888 wrote: »

psychod787 wrote: »

yes ma'am.... I did say this.... didn't say it 5 times.... then again.... saying my name 5 times did make me magically appear......

Mr. D you need to count better: you've been summoned TEN times, not 5! Has Auntie/Granny @AnnPT77 dropped by?

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No. Have that li'l bit of belly fat going myself, have no proposed solution for the OP other than plenty of strength training, patience, and enduring hope (but no despair or self-critique). Me, at this stage, I like my body lots (consider the alternative of not having one!), and I don't worry about the random weird places my body like to stash that necessary bit of stored energy.

This is the classic thread on the subject:

http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1161603/so-you-want-a-nice-stomach/p1

Bloating is another thing. When I was obese, I never noticed having any. Now, sometimes, I do. Bodies do that sometimes. I don't care, not even a little. It comes, it goes, like moods or weather. Meh.

OP, I'm a little taller than you, at 5'5"; a little heavier, at 125-ish; much older, at 65; would never say of myself that I'm "so toned and in shape", but I'm not totally devoid of muscles, either. Probably somewhere in the lower 20s percent body fat, on a guess, but it likes to hang out on my lower body - genetics, I suppose, maybe menopausal status. The muscles distribute themselves as they wish based on my exercise activity, so does the residual fat based on (mostly) genetics.

I'm quite certain that Mr. @ninerbuff is quite correct, and that something under 20% BF would be a necessary precondition for many/most women to have abdominal definition (and even that might not be low enough, because there's genetic variation). That's very lean.

(If you feel like posting photos, I'll bet he'd be more specific with ideas, too. He's nice that way.)

For visible abs, you need three things: Muscle in that area; a low enough body fat in the area in order for the muscle to show in what you'd consider a pleasing way; and favorable genetics that let that happen without being at punitively low weight/body fat.

Me, my upper body is already looking pretty thin and even stringy, but I have only some verticals from a bit of obliques visibility on either side, and the faintest hint of one horizontal, just below my ribcage, under *perfect* conditions (like not bloat-y) and in *perfect* lighting. Six pack isn't gonna happen for me, at any body fat level that doesn't make my upper body look scary, scary thin, and that's healthy for me to be at. Fortunately, like I said, I. Don't. Care. 🤷‍♀️

So, I have nothing useful to suggest, sadly.

Hoping you can find a path to happiness with your midsection, OP. (Don't let fakey IG influencers tell you what's "normal", either: That "uterus" thread up above is a good one.)

Try upping your water intake, or if in some cases you feel like bloating you could limit your sodium intake and water intake for a few days, also carb cycling is a very efficient way to burn body fat ive found

psychod787 wrote: »

What is your diet like? High in protein and fiber? If so, that can bloat some people. If its fat? No way to spot reduce. I would also ask, "why is it important?" There is nothing wrong with vanity, but when it comes at the cost of heath, it is. If you are already pretty lean for a gal, losing more might not be worth it. Just look at what bikini fitness models go through.

This was my thought, as someone who is 2 years older than you and about your same height/weight proportions (5'8 and 133). I have some definition, but there is also quite a bit of loose skin from babies, c-sections and losing weight. I will never have rock-hard abs with some cosmetic intervention, but I am in pretty decent shape with muscle definition.

Also, if you are frequently bloated due to digestive issues, until those get resolved in one way or another, you will often look like you don't have rock-hard abs, even if you actually did. I had a lot of bloating issues, and they've gotten better since I'm on a plan to figure out what causes more issues, but I still don't care so much about rock-hard abs.

Your extremely lean and should be proud of your accomplishments for sure, keep up the hard work consistency is key