Dang muffin top!

my boyfriend is an exercise science major and is now coaching and I asked him the same thing because it seems like however much I lose I've got that lower pouch on my belly. He said that the way muscle and fat works is that even though muscle burns more calories than fat, it doesn't take from the nearest area when it does (like your abs wont burn tummy fat and arms burn arm fat) they just eat up more energy which gets metabolized from everywhere. He said unfortunately there is no way to burn fat in specific areas and people who do a million crunches to lose belly fat are misguided. he said the phrase "first to go on, last to come off" applies there.

however if you do ab work and lower ab exercises itll still help burn more fat and your stomach will look better than if you didn't do muscle exercises because of the way you'll carry your weight there. Muscle training is a big thing because it will eat up calories even when you arent doing anything!

good info Kristens2009 thanks

Calmel: the exercise that you described with a dumbbell in each hand and bending side to side needs a correction. I worked with a college weight room trainer and he said that having weight in each hand is exactly the same as having no weight at all, because each side is still balanced. It is better to bend to one side at a time, say to the right, while having a dumbbell in only that hand. Then when bending to the left, hold a dumbbell in the left hand. This way your obliques have to work harder to counteract the weight.

I didn't lose my muffin top until I got close to my goal weight, AND started doing circuit training w/weights. I agree -- targeted exercises don't really work, but overall body work with weights (and I do cardio as well), and trimming down your overall body fat will eventually get rid off that thing. :flowerforyou: If you wanna see an UUUUUGGGLY muffiin top, check out some of my profile photos. I'm hoping it stays gone forever, but it is the first thing to creep back, I have to say.

Good luck!

my boyfriend is an exercise science major and is now coaching and I asked him the same thing because it seems like however much I lose I've got that lower pouch on my belly. He said that the way muscle and fat works is that even though muscle burns more calories than fat, it doesn't take from the nearest area when it does (like your abs wont burn tummy fat and arms burn arm fat) they just eat up more energy which gets metabolized from everywhere. He said unfortunately there is no way to burn fat in specific areas and people who do a million crunches to lose belly fat are misguided. he said the phrase "first to go on, last to come off" applies there.

however if you do ab work and lower ab exercises itll still help burn more fat and your stomach will look better than if you didn't do muscle exercises because of the way you'll carry your weight there. Muscle training is a big thing because it will eat up calories even when you arent doing anything!

Quit being so smart! I want to lose the muffin top. Ignorance can be bliss (not so effective but bliss just the same).

I didn't lose my muffin top until I got close to my goal weight, AND started doing circuit training w/weights. I agree -- targeted exercises don't really work, but overall body work with weights (and I do cardio as well), and trimming down your overall body fat will eventually get rid off that thing.

Yep...This is what worked for me as well. Stick with it and you will get results. Good luck!

All great suggestions....but you could lose your muffin top TODAY by wearing pants that fit.