i know you can't spot reduce but how to minimize a certain a

lin7604
lin7604 Posts: 2,951 Member
edited December 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
I have been on mfp since nov and i have lost 9 lbs, goal of 15..... I am very happy to see that 9 lbs off even though it's been a huge struggle getting it off and i am very excited that i am able to wear jeans that i put away 3 years ago!!!! When i looked in the mirror yesterday i was pretty happy with the way i look BUT my lower tummy area. I still see excess fat in that area, everything else is looking god and a lot better then it did. I just can't get over how everything else is looking better but that area. I am doing JM's Ripped in 30 right now, i did 30 ds twice. My eating habits have improved hugely from what they were( but yes i admit, still not perfect) , just not sure what else i can do to help minimize it? should i be adding more cardio? or more tummy exercises? why is that area so hard to get a difference in?
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Replies

  • daffodilsoup
    daffodilsoup Posts: 1,972 Member
    I know I can't spot reduce, but how can I spot reduce?
  • JesterMFP
    JesterMFP Posts: 3,596 Member
    Yeah, you can't spot reduce. :) All you can do is reduce your body fat percentage and hope that it starts to come off in that area.
  • lin7604
    lin7604 Posts: 2,951 Member
    I know I can't spot reduce, but how can I spot reduce?

    how can i minimize the area... what do i need to do? what more do i need to do in general... didn't know if it's more cardio, more eating habits.. or what... I just can't get any results in that area..... how does one reduce their body fat %??? I am so new to this losing weight thing, i have never had to loose wight in my life, so i don't understand it fully....
  • JDMPWR
    JDMPWR Posts: 1,863 Member
    I know I can't spot reduce, but how can I spot reduce?

    riiiiight. So how can I spot reduce even though i know you can't spot reduce?
  • mariobadr
    mariobadr Posts: 58 Member
    You can't minimize a certain area is what they're trying to say. Just keep on going with your better eating habits and cardio. Eventually, your body will target that area on its own.
  • taso42
    taso42 Posts: 8,980 Member
    Just keep on eating at a deficit and working out. Any attempt to shrink the belly area specifically is a fool's errand.

    Imagine a growing youngster asking how he can grow his left leg faster than his right leg.
  • Acg67
    Acg67 Posts: 12,142 Member
    Just keep on eating at a deficit and working out. Any attempt to shrink the belly area specifically is a fool's errand.

    Imagine a growing youngster asking how he can grow his left leg faster than his right leg.

    Dr Oz told me Safflower oil and raspberry ketones will melt my belly fat, are you calling him a liar?
  • kateroot
    kateroot Posts: 435
    Spot reduce and minimize are the same thing.
  • liftingheavy
    liftingheavy Posts: 551 Member
    I hated the way my lower abs looked too... it was the last area to get toned up. I did lots of cardio and bicycles... They are supposed to be the best for abs because you are stabalizing, and working upper and lower abs at the same time.

    Don't do them too fast, very methodical and a lot of them every day. When I am at the gym I do captain chair lifts too.

    Your tummy can go away, but for me, it was dead last, and I still want them tighter.
  • Nopedotjpeg
    Nopedotjpeg Posts: 1,805 Member
    I know I can't spot reduce, but how can I spot reduce?

    This is the gist of most questions on here. Herpaderp.
  • lickmybaconcakes
    lickmybaconcakes Posts: 1,063 Member
    Most of the posts cover the answer, One cannot.
  • lin7604
    lin7604 Posts: 2,951 Member
    You can't minimize a certain area is what they're trying to say. Just keep on going with your better eating habits and cardio. Eventually, your body will target that area on its own.

    thank you , i really didn't need sarcasm from others, i am so new to this and am so confused with a whole lot.. i just need simple answers to question..... i didn't know if extra cardio was needed to help burn more fat or if it would eventually come off with what i am doing currently.
  • honestlysweet
    honestlysweet Posts: 221 Member
    If you have lost nine pounds so far, then you are doing everything right. You need to keep doing what you are doing and be patient. It will come off. But for me, strength training was the best for toning and reducing body fat percentage. Go on youtube and look for videos on Les Mills Bodypump class. He also has lots of other classes that are great. You can watch them on youtube and do them at home, or find a gym in your area that has them. My gym, Gold's Gym, has all his classes and I take them in the mornings.
  • anubis609
    anubis609 Posts: 3,966 Member
    Just keep on eating at a deficit and working out. Any attempt to shrink the belly area specifically is a fool's errand.

    Imagine a growing youngster asking how he can grow his left leg faster than his right leg.

    Dr Oz told me Safflower oil and raspberry ketones will melt my belly fat, are you calling him a liar?

    Never. Dr. Oz is right up there with the Easter Bunny, Santa, and Ms. Cleo.
  • lin7604
    lin7604 Posts: 2,951 Member
    I hated the way my lower abs looked too... it was the last area to get toned up. I did lots of cardio and bicycles... They are supposed to be the best for abs because you are stabalizing, and working upper and lower abs at the same time.

    Don't do them too fast, very methodical and a lot of them every day. When I am at the gym I do captain chair lifts too.

    Your tummy can go away, but for me, it was dead last, and I still want them tighter.

    what are captain chair lifts?
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 49,042 Member
    I know I can't spot reduce, but how can I spot reduce?
    Lol, use some Woolite on the area. Or if you're Greek, then some Windex!


    A.C.E. Certified Personal & Group FitnessTrainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
  • JenAiMarres
    JenAiMarres Posts: 743 Member
    i vote more cardio.....Jill videos are great but you may need more than 2 min intervals of cardio....
  • kateroot
    kateroot Posts: 435
    You can't minimize a certain area is what they're trying to say. Just keep on going with your better eating habits and cardio. Eventually, your body will target that area on its own.

    thank you , i really didn't need sarcasm from others, i am so new to this and am so confused with a whole lot.. i just need simple answers to question..... i didn't know if extra cardio was needed to help burn more fat or if it would eventually come off with what i am doing currently.

    I don't think anyone meant it to be mean or rude, but you must realize you said you know you can't spot reduce, then asked how to spot reduce. So you already know the answer to your question.

    But seriously.. eat well, do cardio, strength train, and have patience. We all have areas of our bodies where excess fat hangs on as long as it possibly can. It will come off with diligence and time. :)
  • lin7604
    lin7604 Posts: 2,951 Member
    If you have lost nine pounds so far, then you are doing everything right. You need to keep doing what you are doing and be patient. It will come off. But for me, strength training was the best for toning and reducing body fat percentage. Go on youtube and look for videos on Les Mills Bodypump class. He also has lots of other classes that are great. You can watch them on youtube and do them at home, or find a gym in your area that has them. My gym, Gold's Gym, has all his classes and I take them in the mornings.

    thanks. it has taken 5 month to loose those 9 lbs so i get discouraged and think i am doing something wrong or not enough of something, etc.... i don't have a gym near me as i live out of town, i only have 1 hr a day to work out and 30 min of that is doing my Jm's dvd ripped in 30.... so i didn't know if i should use the other 30 min doing something specifically to help that area get where it needs to be?
  • xosmsox
    xosmsox Posts: 119
    You can't minimize a certain area is what they're trying to say. Just keep on going with your better eating habits and cardio. Eventually, your body will target that area on its own.

    thank you , i really didn't need sarcasm from others, i am so new to this and am so confused with a whole lot.. i just need simple answers to question..... i didn't know if extra cardio was needed to help burn more fat or if it would eventually come off with what i am doing currently.
    Use the search bar before posting a question. Its frustrating to those that I have been here a long time when noobies post the same topics over. And over. And over. There are hundreds of answers to hundreds of questions just a search term away.
  • lin7604
    lin7604 Posts: 2,951 Member
    You can't minimize a certain area is what they're trying to say. Just keep on going with your better eating habits and cardio. Eventually, your body will target that area on its own.

    thank you , i really didn't need sarcasm from others, i am so new to this and am so confused with a whole lot.. i just need simple answers to question..... i didn't know if extra cardio was needed to help burn more fat or if it would eventually come off with what i am doing currently.

    I don't think anyone meant it to be mean or rude, but you must realize you said you know you can't spot reduce, then asked how to spot reduce. So you already know the answer to your question.

    But seriously.. eat well, do cardio, strength train, and have patience. We all have areas of our bodies where excess fat hangs on as long as it possibly can. It will come off with diligence and time. :)

    i guess i didn't word things properly... i wanted to know if there was something else i needed to do or do more of to help it along...
  • kalynn06
    kalynn06 Posts: 368 Member
    It's a problem area for me too, and I wish you could spot reduce. I have found that adding Pilates into my regular cardio and weight training helps my posture and helps me focus on keeping my core tight. This gives me better form in my other workouts and carries over to my regular posture so I slump less, helping my appearance even though the fat is still there.
  • lin7604
    lin7604 Posts: 2,951 Member
    You can't minimize a certain area is what they're trying to say. Just keep on going with your better eating habits and cardio. Eventually, your body will target that area on its own.

    thank you , i really didn't need sarcasm from others, i am so new to this and am so confused with a whole lot.. i just need simple answers to question..... i didn't know if extra cardio was needed to help burn more fat or if it would eventually come off with what i am doing currently.
    Use the search bar before posting a question. Its frustrating to those that I have been here a long time when noobies post the same topics over. And over. And over. There are hundreds of answers to hundreds of questions just a search term away.

    then just don't answer them? why respond, pass over it...
  • liftingheavy
    liftingheavy Posts: 551 Member
    I hated the way my lower abs looked too... it was the last area to get toned up. I did lots of cardio and bicycles... They are supposed to be the best for abs because you are stabalizing, and working upper and lower abs at the same time.

    Don't do them too fast, very methodical and a lot of them every day. When I am at the gym I do captain chair lifts too.

    Your tummy can go away, but for me, it was dead last, and I still want them tighter.

    what are captain chair lifts?

    http://exercise.about.com/od/abs/ss/abexercises_2.htm
  • kateroot
    kateroot Posts: 435
    You can't minimize a certain area is what they're trying to say. Just keep on going with your better eating habits and cardio. Eventually, your body will target that area on its own.

    thank you , i really didn't need sarcasm from others, i am so new to this and am so confused with a whole lot.. i just need simple answers to question..... i didn't know if extra cardio was needed to help burn more fat or if it would eventually come off with what i am doing currently.
    Use the search bar before posting a question. Its frustrating to those that I have been here a long time when noobies post the same topics over. And over. And over. There are hundreds of answers to hundreds of questions just a search term away.

    then just don't answer them? why respond, pass over it...

    I think the point was that you can learn a lot of useful information by searching a topic if you have a question. Searching a topic also prevents you from being the newb everybody jumps on for posting the same topic they've seen a billion times. Of course you're free to post whatever you want, but search before you post is a very good suggestion.

    You got some good answers in this thread... just remember to be patient with your body and have realistic expectations :)
  • liftingheavy
    liftingheavy Posts: 551 Member
    You can't minimize a certain area is what they're trying to say. Just keep on going with your better eating habits and cardio. Eventually, your body will target that area on its own.

    thank you , i really didn't need sarcasm from others, i am so new to this and am so confused with a whole lot.. i just need simple answers to question..... i didn't know if extra cardio was needed to help burn more fat or if it would eventually come off with what i am doing currently.
    Use the search bar before posting a question. Its frustrating to those that I have been here a long time when noobies post the same topics over. And over. And over. There are hundreds of answers to hundreds of questions just a search term away.

    When I was a newbie I had lots of questions too, and maybe I wanted a current answer. Give her a break.
  • lin7604
    lin7604 Posts: 2,951 Member
    ok i have seen those machine before. i bet they do wonders...
  • xosmsox
    xosmsox Posts: 119
    You can't minimize a certain area is what they're trying to say. Just keep on going with your better eating habits and cardio. Eventually, your body will target that area on its own.

    thank you , i really didn't need sarcasm from others, i am so new to this and am so confused with a whole lot.. i just need simple answers to question..... i didn't know if extra cardio was needed to help burn more fat or if it would eventually come off with what i am doing currently.
    Use the search bar before posting a question. Its frustrating to those that I have been here a long time when noobies post the same topics over. And over. And over. There are hundreds of answers to hundreds of questions just a search term away.

    then just don't answer them? why respond, pass over it...

    Just wanted to help for future reference! Some new people are unaware of the search option. I know ive been on MFP fir almost 100 days and have never started a thread because I found all the answers I needs in old threads. Just a suggestion! Post away!
  • xosmsox
    xosmsox Posts: 119
    You can't minimize a certain area is what they're trying to say. Just keep on going with your better eating habits and cardio. Eventually, your body will target that area on its own.

    thank you , i really didn't need sarcasm from others, i am so new to this and am so confused with a whole lot.. i just need simple answers to question..... i didn't know if extra cardio was needed to help burn more fat or if it would eventually come off with what i am doing currently.
    Use the search bar before posting a question. Its frustrating to those that I have been here a long time when noobies post the same topics over. And over. And over. There are hundreds of answers to hundreds of questions just a search term away.

    then just don't answer them? why respond, pass over it...

    Just wanted to help for future reference! Some new people are unaware of the search option. I know ive been on MFP fir almost 100 days and have never started a thread because I found all the answers I needed in old threads. Just a suggestion! Post away!
  • havingitall
    havingitall Posts: 3,728 Member
    Clean eating and lots of ab exercises. Drink lots of water and pray
This discussion has been closed.

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