[saram]

I am having a huge problem and I hope someone has some tips for me.

I am doing cardio and wt training 5-6 days a week. I have am starting to notice the muscle tone in my legs, arms and booty...but my belly is still as flabby as ever. HELP!!!!

Does anyone have any tricks, tips or ideas that worked for them at toning their belly up? I am getting desperate. I am looking so good, but I can't go down a size in tops because my belly rolls still show very predominantly. I am getting very frustrated.

Please help!!

[nelie]

Just keep working on your exercise and reducing your calories. The only way to get rid of fat is to burn it off.

[FreeSpirit]

Like nelie said, you just have to burn it off!

Coming from someone apple shaped, I can tell you that when I'm retaining water it is most noticeable in my stomach. Also, if you're gassy or constipated ( ) then that can cause belly bloat as well so make sure you're drinking enough water and getting enough fiber in your diet!

[StephanieM]

My best advice is to wait and to take measurements. I felt like my belly was massive because my arms and legs were getting so thin, but it was shrinking too. Just slower than everything else.

I also noticed it seems to be the last part of me to lose weight, or it's always about three steps behind everything else. The smaller I get the more in proportion it gets though.

It doesn't hurt to throw in some extra crunches and do the plank move to help strengthen your ab muscles though. You can make them stronger, then when you lose the fat they'll look amazing.

Best of luck!

[lovemyboy]

Yes, if you keep working at it, it will get smaller.

That said, have you taken measurements to track it's size? I've noticed that I'll loose a few pounds and my thighs will look smaller making my stomach appear bigger. Next maybe I'll loose in my upper body and then my face appears fat. The good thing is that it seems to move around and take from everywhere over time. There are just those odd moments where improvements in one area make another area look bad. That's why I suggest measurements because they are not subjective.

It's frustrating too sometimes when we feel we are working hard and have made progress but then we still see how far we need to go. Keep what you are doing and you WILL get there.

[fitbyforty]

Pilates really helped my belly.

[Lydia227]

Saram: Congratulations on your very successful loss of 45 pounds. From your message you indicate that you are seeing definition in your lower half. It may just be apple shaped bodytype. That is, your body is designed to carry your bodyfat on the upper part, abdomen and chest than your hips, thighs, and calves. This doesn't mean that you will not be able to have the abdomen you wish to see in the mirror. It will just take a little longer.

Unfortunately, there is no way to spot reduce bodyfat in one area of our body. It really comes down to leaning out our overall bodyfat percentage and along the way, the body will decide from which area of fat stores it will release. We have no direct control over this.

While we can't spot reduce I will admit that keeping our diets in check and being properly hydrated can be really effective in reducing the bloat that can also appear in these areas we are trying to minimize.

Continue to work out with dedication and focus.
Maintain your successful food choices.
Step things up a little with interval training if you are not already doing this.
If you have been lifting the same routine:reps/sets/weights and exercises it's time to switch it up. Go a little heavier to build a little more metabolically active muscle. Shorten the time between your sets to benefit from the anaerobic effect of lifting similiar to interval training with cardio.

Interval training has been found to be successful in increasing resting metabolic rate which will also help you in your quest for slimmer waist.

Best of luck.

[dragonwoman64]

you can't spot lose (unfortunately!)

you can build your abdominal muscles, which is good for you in itself.

think core exercises like crunches and bridges, leg lifts. there's usually a resistance machine at the gym that targets abs. if you google and search around, even go to the exercise portion of 3fc, I'm sure you'll find suggestions for working on your abs, lots of variations.

[Goddess Jessica]

Someone said to be recently (when we were talking about if I was going to fit in an outrigger canoe) that I carry my weight "like a man" -- meaning that I didn't get a big butt or large hips or fat thighs but I carry it in my torso. It's super frustrating, isn't it? Don't worry, it will come off but it's going to be slower than the rest of it.

[saram]

Such great advice!! I knew I could count on my fellow 3FCers!!! I will add more planks into my routine, and even though I hate them...I guess crunches are in my future too. LOL

I will keep the faith...even though it is hard sometimes. But who said this was going to be easy?! I knew it would be tough from the minute I started and this time I am up for the challenge!!!

Thanks again!!!!!

[Sherrystanggirl]

Diet is huge in being able to see abs. As the saying goes "abs are made in the kitchen." Yes, exercise is also important but what you eat is also an important factor in the abs showing.

[swtbttrfly23]

Thanks for this thread, I have the same problem myself! It's a real love-hate thing with the abs for me.

[Just Dance Girl]

Have you tried South Beach? Cutting back on bad carbs reduced my belly significantly because that's where I store fat.

Also Tae-Bo strengthened my abs and lower back so I stand up straighter.

Good luck