[HadEnough]

What is the best way to reduce Belly Fat (and butt). That seems to be where my biggest problem is. Any advice appreciated. Thanks!

[SherryA]

Belly fat is like any other fat. It is reduced by cutting back on fuel input. Fat can be burned by cardio/aerobic exercise. And you can look better by working out and building muscle.

Belly fat is usually the first fat gained, so it is usally also the last fat lost. This means you have to have a really low body fat percentage to see that tummy totally go away.

You cannot "spot reduce". It doesn't happen. Every one of us will have to lose all of our fat before we will shink our tummies to the point where we won't have any belly fat. (Well not ALL of our body fat, women usually need to keep about 20 to 23 percent body fat to remain healthy. Some professionals reduce their body fat to 17% for a fitness show and then gain some back for normal life).

As we lose fat it comes off all over our bodies. Usually the face and back shows it first, then the legs. Hips and stomachs are losing at the same time, but you can't always tell if they are your problem areas, because they always seem to still be too big.

"Great Abs are made in the kitchen, not in the exercise room". This is a quote from some people I know who are rather intense about working out. "You can't spot reduce" is another. Unfortunately for those of us who would like to target those areas these words are true, and we just have to do the whole system of weight loss and exercise.

[JML]

Hi Cheryl,

I'm an old poster on this board who did lose over 100 pounds. Even at my goal weight, I still had a little belly fat. Though I tried losing more than my goal weight, I reached a point where my body felt less healthy at the lower than goal weight. Even at that point, I had some belly fat.

I've reached the conclusion that we are not supposed to be skin and bones, and that the goal is to be as healthy as possible. I think Sherry is right that you cannot spot reduce, that it's losing weight in general that will do the trick, but a little conditioning of those muscles won't hurt either. I had a back injury that still comes back to haunt me now and then. I do physical therapy exercises several times a week to strengthen my abdominal and glute muscles. Besides strengthening my back, I notice that when I do my exercises (sometimes I am lazy or too busy, sigh...)that the muscles in these problem areas tighten and my clothes fit better. I don't know that it affects the fat at all in these areas, but just the muscles tightening and feeling strong in those areas certainly does help.

Jeanne