When I gain weight, it's ALWAYS around my mid-section.
I have been losing weight for the last year (the healthy way, which means VERY SLOWLY) and I can definitely see changes in my body. My arms and legs are thinner and more toned, my bootie is definitely more toned...BUT my stomach has NOT gone anywhere and my waist is STILL at 34in even though im losing inches everywhere else.
Whats with this? An old trainer friend told me that I shouldnt begin doing ab strengthening exercises until I lose more belly fat because that will just add more muscle UNDERNEATH the belly and it wont go anywhere, so ive been concentrating on losing weight before gaining muscle there...but the belly is not going ANYWHERE?!?!?
You can't target weight loss. It will come off how it wants to. I suggest you avoid any process food and actually take up weight training. If you're worried about the muscles make your belly bigger just avoid ab workouts and focus on your arms, shoulder, back, buns, and legs. more muscle will make you look skinnier even at a higher weight.
Uncontentgirl - I'm right there with ya! I gain the majority of my weight in my mid-section...I hate it! From what I've read (like niafabo said) you can't spot reduce fat or believe me I'd be doing 1,000 crunches a day. In order to lose fat you have to do more cardiovascular exercise.
I found a WL article that states "During the first 10 minutes of aerobic activity, glycogen (stored carbohydrates) is the primary fuel source. If you stop after 20 minutes, you’re only getting half of your workout done! You get the cardiovascular health benefits, but you don’t get much fat loss. Because you don't burn significant amounts of fat until glycogen stores are depleted, the key to maximum fat loss is to work out aerobically for 30-60 minutes continuously per session."
Basically, you need to do cardio to lose the fat, but I think lifting weights can help you to tone while you're losing the fat. I would incorporate both. I would love to hear more takes on this because I'm nearing my 30 pound mark and have went from a 12 to a 6 but my mid-section still bothers me. I don't expect I'll even really have a 6-pack but I don't want to be self-conscious of my tummy anymore! I'm going to start an Insanity/P90X hybrid workout and hopefully that will melt that fat of the mid-section!
Last edited by LindseyLou; 02-15-2011 at 05:16 PM.
I have the same issue. I can lose weight/fat every else on my body besides the tummy. I really liked what lindseylou had to say. And I must agree, I walk, hike, bike, do yoga, and stuff on my wii fit, but maybe I am not seeing the tummy fat go away because it isnt aerobic activity.
Totally disagree that you need to increase cardio in order to lose belly fat. The single most important factor in losing weight is what goes in your mouth. Exercise will help, but the right kind will speed it up. Fact is, as we age, our pancrease response less well to all the sugar (carb) intake that we consume. Insulin is not released readily and we tend to gain weight around our midsection. Try to eat less carb and crank up your works outs to short but high intesity.
A good example comes from research published in the International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism.
For the study, researchers compared the effectiveness of two exercise and diet programs. Subjects taking part in the study were assigned to one of two groups.
Group one followed a diet based on the traditional food guide pyramid (50-55% carbohydrate; 15-20% protein; less than 30% fat). They also did cardiovascular exercise 4-6 days per week at 50-75% of their maximal heart rate. Each workout lasted 30-60 minutes.
Group two followed a diet that was higher in protein and lower in carbohydrate and fat. Their exercise program consisted of alternating days of resistance and cardiovascular interval training six days per week.
Body composition was assessed by dual x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) before and after the 12-week training program. DEXA is an extremely accurate way to measure changes in body fat. It’s far more reliable than the skin fold calipers or body fat scales often used in health clubs.
And the result?
Subjects in group two (remember, these were the people who lifted weights, did more intense cardio, and ate more protein) lost more fat overall (-20.6%) than the normal group (-10.1%). They also gained 2 pounds of muscle (0.9 kilograms) while the cardio-only group, not surprisingly, lost muscle.
More interesting still, abdominal fat dropped by 26% in group two, but by just 13.5% in group one. In other words, subjects in group two lost almost twice as much belly fat as those in group one.
I carry a lot of my weight in my mid section too...kinda like a tire around me. It sucks. As i lose the weight it seems my belly is the last to show results.
Anyone ever try Pilates? I was wondering if that would help.
I attended a wellness seminar a few weeks ago and one of the trainers there was explaining abdominal separation to us. Any woman that has been pregnant runs the risk of having this. Maybe you could ask around at your gym and one of the trainers would know about this and check you out. There are some excersises that you shouldn't be doing if you have separation as it can make it worse.
If you google a picture of Joseph Pilates, you will notice that he has an indent between his abs. That's what separation looks like.
I am not sure of the effects of abdominal separation on the ability to lose fat around the midsection though. Maybe something to look into.
Totally disagree that you need to increase cardio in order to lose belly fat. The single most important factor in losing weight is what goes in your mouth. Exercise will help, but the right kind will speed it up. Fact is, as we age, our pancrease response less well to all the sugar (carb) intake that we consume. Insulin is not released readily and we tend to gain weight around our midsection. Try to eat less carb and crank up your works outs to short but high intesity.
A good example comes from research published in the International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism.
For the study, researchers compared the effectiveness of two exercise and diet programs. Subjects taking part in the study were assigned to one of two groups.
Group one followed a diet based on the traditional food guide pyramid (50-55% carbohydrate; 15-20% protein; less than 30% fat). They also did cardiovascular exercise 4-6 days per week at 50-75% of their maximal heart rate. Each workout lasted 30-60 minutes.
Group two followed a diet that was higher in protein and lower in carbohydrate and fat. Their exercise program consisted of alternating days of resistance and cardiovascular interval training six days per week.
Body composition was assessed by dual x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) before and after the 12-week training program. DEXA is an extremely accurate way to measure changes in body fat. It’s far more reliable than the skin fold calipers or body fat scales often used in health clubs.
And the result?
Subjects in group two (remember, these were the people who lifted weights, did more intense cardio, and ate more protein) lost more fat overall (-20.6%) than the normal group (-10.1%). They also gained 2 pounds of muscle (0.9 kilograms) while the cardio-only group, not surprisingly, lost muscle.
More interesting still, abdominal fat dropped by 26% in group two, but by just 13.5% in group one. In other words, subjects in group two lost almost twice as much belly fat as those in group one.
That is interesting! I didn't know that! There is so much information online talking about one diet or another, it's hard to know what will work. Thanks for sharing!
Definitely keep an eye on the carbs and what's going into your body!
I read a trainer quoted one time: the first place you put on fat is likely to be the last place you lose it. You can't target weight loss. Keep on plan, keep exercising and you'll eventually get there. At least that's what I keep telling myself!
Belly Fat!
In order to lose fat you have to do more cardiovascular exercise. 
