[acdub]

Alright so I've lost close to 14 pounds (woohoo!) but it's all coming from my upper abdomen. My waist is currently about 55 inches (yikes!) so even tough I can see a difference in the way my shirts fit, my pants are still snug unless I pull them up high.

Anything I can do to target this area? I imagine that it will come with time but I just want to make sure I'm doing everything I can.

[eliz204to126]

I have a similar issue - I look like a peanut M&M - reasonable legs and arms, but a big belly! I've tried crunching, which is helpful, but it feels like there should be more.

[kariatari]

If I understand you correctly, you're trying to lose more weight from your lower abdomen. What you're trying to do is spot reduction, and much to the disappointment of women all around the world, there is no way to do that. Your body decides where it loses the fat. However, even though you can't target areas to reduce fat, you can target areas to firm up. If your lower abdomen is your problem, you might start by looking for exercises that work your lower ab muscles so they get firmer and tighter.

[InsidetheBeltway]

Like kariatari said -- work your lower ab muscles, it will flatten and tone your stomach. I just started doing Pilates, and that has really helped, though it's been kind of frustrating because I've gained a decent amount of muscle in the past two weeks and it has kind of stalled my weight loss. Still losing inches, but the scale is moving slow.

[zoodoo613]

Like everyone else said, you really can't spot reduce, or target where you lose your weight. When you get close to your goal, having toned problem areas will help, but exercising any particular area won't make the fat leave there more quickly.

The good news is, where you store them most fat is where most of it is going to leave from.

[tuende]

Just give it time . Probably not exactly what you're looking for, but you're body will lose where it's going to lose. I would focus on eating clean (a big factor in belly fat) and burning as many calories as you can during your workouts because that is what's going to make the pounds hit the road! Work on strengthening all your major muscle groups (bonus: the awesome 'afterburn' effect), but don't just go do a million crunches/ab exercises- your time can be much better spent!

[julie99s]

I have this same problem. My boobs have shrunk, so my belly sticks out and I look 7 months pregnant!
Just gotta wait it out and keep going though. It'll come off!

Congrats on your 14 lbs!!

[ilbnej]

Unfortunately this is totally normal. My stomach has been shrinking from the top down. I was actually excited when it started sagging/jiggling because it meant the skin wasn't full up with fat anymore, as when I started.

But it doesn't make it a very pretty sight in the interim. I just have to focus on what it will look like over the long haul. Before/After pics on this site help me do that.

The other side effect (more recently noticeable for me) has been the boob shrinkage that Julie99 mentioned - and related saggage. Oh well!

[acdub]

Thanks, everyone! I'm going to keep working hard on this. I figured that I can't really target that zone (because that would make this whole thing too easy! lol) but hopefully adding some lower ab work should contribute to my overall fitness.

I keep telling myself that in order to lose this weight I have to settle with the fact that this is going to be a total body transformation. If that means losing my curves and proportions as I now know them..so be it, right? =(