Are any of you big in the middle but normal everywhere else?

Hello!

I have a beer belly, but I'm skinny and muscular everywhere else. I've had a ton of belly and side shrinkage since I started MFP. My exercise regimen has changed over the months, so here is a synopsis to the best of my memory:


STAGE 1: THE BEGINNING (Monday through Friday)

CARDIO
Walk on an increasing uphill incline with increasing speed for 35 minutes. I begin at 3.4 miles per hour with a 2% grade. The highest I go is 4.2 miles per hour with a 8% grade.

STRENGTH-TRAINING
Three sets of 30 working the following muscle groups: inner thighs (45 pounds of weight); biceps (35 pounds); triceps (35 pounds); pectoral muscles (25 pounds)

ABS
Three sets of 40 crunches on a slanted sit-up bench (downward angle for fuller range of motion)

STAGE 2: MIXING IT UP (Monday through Friday)

CARDIO
Walk on an increasing uphill incline with increasing speed for 35 minutes. I begin at 3.4 miles per hour with a 2% grade. The highest I go is 4.2 miles per hour with a 8% grade.
Three sets of 30 jump ropes after strength-training and abs. Then, use 5-pound hand weights and do three sets of 50 punches.

STRENGTH-TRAINING
Three sets of 30 working the following muscle groups: inner thighs (45 pounds of weight); biceps (35 pounds); triceps (35 pounds); pectoral muscles (25 pounds)

ABS
3 sets of 30 bicycle crunches.

STAGE 3 (Current Stage): THE SHRED (Monday through Friday)
Jillian Michaels' 30 Day Shred

I've decreased my carbs, increased my protein and fat, and don't eat back my exercise calories unless they put my net calorie intake below 1200. I set my diet profile to "lose 1/2 pound per week" since I'm focusing on inches, not weight. You can check my diary for more food ideas. Also, NO DRINKS EXCEPT WATER and VERY LITTLE CHEATING.

Here is a photo I took 10 weeks into my life change. I took this before I began the Jillian Michaels' 30 Day Shred:



Hope this helps! Best of luck. :drinker:

YES!! I find this so frustrating but I thought when I lost weight I would just lose my middle and be slimmer in middle!

I did go from 48" around abdomen to 34 " (waist from 38" to 30 ") but can't seem to get any lower I was focusing on middle so wasn't expecting to get as much loss on top as my boobs also shrunk from 40 to 34! and my neck and face is thinner which I think it makes me look older :sad: (43 in 10 days!)

My thighs are slimmer than they were originally which I'm pleased about but my tummy area is still a little doughy and soft. I was told a 'doughy abdomen' is common with chronic hypothyroidism (had it since birth) so I don't think at this age and level of mobility (wheelchair user) I will get any lower than a 14 in trousers in now as they need to be comfy as I'm sat all day. I was also told my another wheelchair user part of it could be 'quad belly' as those muscles no longer get used to the same extent as been in chair since 2005, in which case I'd never get rid of it completely either.

I've been losing weight and exercising for a year and around abdomen is still biggest area in comparison with rest of the body (which I wasn't expecting to shrink as well) :ohwell:

I too have the dreaded midsection coupled with no *kitten* syndrome..... giving me perpetual plumber butt.....

Good Luck to all of us!!!

Here too... my problem is that I have NO waist. Even when I was thin. I literally have MAYBE a one inch space between the bottom of my ribs and the top of my hip bones. It's HORRIBLE. then I had a bad c-section on top of it so I have never been able to get my waist at least down to what it was prior to having my daughter. It's so horrible. But I have to live with it.

I'm still trying to figure it out myself so no tips I'm afraid, but you just described me completely!

What are some of your secrets you use to slim down?

My torso was big... I mean, I carried fat everywhere, but my mid section was just BIG. Why? I thought it could be cortisol (a result of major depression/stress/anxiety and chronic pain) ~and/or~ gluten. I stopped eating gluten and my torso shrunk! From a large to a medium in a few weeks. I did not lose any weight, I just shrunk.
I do have a secret way of treating the depression and cortisol issues- it is on my profile page. But to avoid the suspense: I use medical cannabis to treat back pain and depression (doctor prescribed in my state, USA)... and despite the common misconception, cannabis has a long term effect of regulating all natural body systems. The long run effect is that it treats those internal conditions which cause obesity.
I am now able to exercise and lose weight.
I was not able to do this before.

I wish you the best.

I read the "Wheat Belly" book, immediately cut out grains (wheat, bread, pasta, corn, etc) and the stubborn weight fell off my midriff. No exaggeration, starting Day 1. I also feel great for it, best thing I have done nutritionally apart from cutting the sugars.

The book makes a good case for why it happens, metabolically, too.

I think targetting exercises for weight loss are way overrated by the way, just eat right and let your body find it's ideal composition ... 80% nutrition, 20% exercise ...