Belly Concerns...

I have searched the forums, and I know that there's no way to 'target' a specific area to lose fat, and maybe I'm just being impatient...but after gaining a bit of weight over the past few months, I've had this horrible belly. I've always had a bit of a 'belly pooch/pouch,' even at my thinnest, but this is a terrible round gut-- starting way down in like, uterus territory-- and making me look pregnant! Combined with my naturally round tush, my lower half looks HUGE.

I'm happy with my upper body. My thighs don't even really bother me. I'm not asking to be stick thin. I'll even take the 'pouch.' But this rotund pelvis-area thing is just freaking me out...!!!!!!

My mom, who is quite overweight and has never really bothered to work out, definitely has this body shape, and I know this sounds terrible, but I'm terrified that someday I'll wake up and be just as big.

Will my belly disappear with further weight loss? Or has my loss in the genetic lottery doomed me??

I have a HUGE belly too! :(

Yes - your belly will go away eventually.  Doing ab exercises can help strengthen the muscles and, with better abdominal support your stomach will also appear smaller.  But if you have narrow hips you may not have a large enough cavity to allow your uterus to sit fully within the pelvis.  This can mean, that even at your thinnest, you may always have some small bump.  I know I do :)

But keep working towards strengthening your abdominals and losing those few pounds will really help.

About that narrow pelvis scenario - it really is not common so it is nothing to fear.  I happen to have a narrow pelvis (too small to pass an average sized baby it turns out) so it came to mind.  But even so, though I will never have a model flat belly, I do know that with strong abdominals and normal weight no one ever thought I looked pregnant.  That is - until I did get pregnant and gained 50 lbs after!

cardio, planks, crunches and core excercises will help. I have noticed doing yoga helps also, its a slower process if you only do it once or twice a week. Try just searching core work outs to see different routines.

I've been working hard and eating right for a year. My stomach was the last thing to finally reduce in size. Now flat. It just takes time.

Hi there!

I posted the following for someone else a couple of days ago, so I thought I might quote myself just in case you find it useful too. Hope this is not against forum rules, if it is, it'll just get deleted, no big deal...

'You probably can't choose where to lose fat, but you can tone your abdominal muscles quite easily. I found an exercise years ago which worked really well, and with little effort. Give it a try. Nothing to lose! I still do it occasionally, although the toning seems to have stuck...

You need a gym ball. You then rest both elbows and lower arms on it (knees apart on the floor). Basically, you rest on it. You then gently push the ball forwards and backwards with your elbows or lower arms, either continuously, or resting in the forward position for 1 or 2 seconds or more, depending on what you fancy. You will feel your abdominal muscles being gently stretched. You can do it for a few seconds or a few minutes, depending on how quickly you get bored (but it can also be quite relaxing for your back, and also for your mind, so you might find that five minutes are feasible). You can do it once a day or more. At first, I did it two or three times a day. And as you progress, you can increase the stretch. Eventually, as your muscles get stronger, you'll be tempted to go for even more inventive exercises...

The reason this worked for me is that it was relaxing as well as effortless.

Let me know if it works for you (it takes very little time to start noticing results, a week or two only to see the beginnings of an improvement)!

All best wishes

PS: Let me know if I am not describing the exercise clearly and I'll try and do better!'

Thanks you guys! I guess I just need to be patient. It's easy to ignore the weight as it creeps up on you, but once I realized that I had gained, I just wanted the fat to disappear ASAP! lol.

On the bright side, I just got through that time of the month, during which my body image took a serious hit...so it's probably not as bad as I was afraid it was! :)

For most people this is the most difficult thing to loose, but the best thing for it is to lie on your back raise your legs high in the air then lower then to about 6" of the ground and hold for as long as you physically can you will feel you stomach really struggling, do this with regualr exercise and as the fat burns off youll get more and more toned :) hope this helps x

Original Post by nat1968:

Hi there!

I posted the following for someone else a couple of days ago, so I thought I might quote myself just in case you find it useful too. Hope this is not against forum rules, if it is, it'll just get deleted, no big deal...

'You probably can't choose where to lose fat, but you can tone your abdominal muscles quite easily. I found an exercise years ago which worked really well, and with little effort. Give it a try. Nothing to lose! I still do it occasionally, although the toning seems to have stuck...

You need a gym ball. You then rest both elbows and lower arms on it (knees apart on the floor). Basically, you rest on it. You then gently push the ball forwards and backwards with your elbows or lower arms, either continuously, or resting in the forward position for 1 or 2 seconds or more, depending on what you fancy. You will feel your abdominal muscles being gently stretched. You can do it for a few seconds or a few minutes, depending on how quickly you get bored (but it can also be quite relaxing for your back, and also for your mind, so you might find that five minutes are feasible). You can do it once a day or more. At first, I did it two or three times a day. And as you progress, you can increase the stretch. Eventually, as your muscles get stronger, you'll be tempted to go for even more inventive exercises...

The reason this worked for me is that it was relaxing as well as effortless.

Let me know if it works for you (it takes very little time to start noticing results, a week or two only to see the beginnings of an improvement)!

All best wishes

PS: Let me know if I am not describing the exercise clearly and I'll try and do better!'

Nat, can you take a picture of that? I am not sure I understand... :-( But I would like to try it!

Original Post by miket53:

I've been working hard and eating right for a year. My stomach was the last thing to finally reduce in size. Now flat. It just takes time.

 I agree with you mike.... why is the stomach the hardest and last thing to finally go.... damn lovehandles... better yet hatehandles

Original Post by miket53:

I've been working hard and eating right for a year. My stomach was the last thing to finally reduce in size. Now flat. It just takes time.

 I completely agree with this.  My tummy isn't the last thing...but it's close.  It's pretty much completely flat now, but there is this little layer of fat I'd love to lose as I know there is a 6-pack in there dying to get out.   My last-stand-fat is always my hips and legs.  It's simply a matter of genes where your body likes to store fat - that's why people are all different shapes at the same weight!!  But keep at it, and eventually, you WILL lose it. 

I have fought my gut most of my adult life. My mother and grandmother both carried their weight in their abs. At 51, I am determined to have a flat tummy. For me, I eat right (low on carbs but not low carb like Adkins), lots of water, and lots of cardio. I use the elliptical, treadmill, and the 30 Day Shred to help me. I, also, log my deficit and exercise every single night to stay on track. It has been a lot of work, but worth it. I still have more to lose, but when I sit down, my stomach no longer sits on my lap with me.

Good luck

J-mom

Original Post by bugsharmony:

Nat, can you take a picture of that? I am not sure I understand... :-( But I would like to try it!

Hi there!

I thought it might be easier to find a picture on Google Images, but it doesn't matter too much because I look exactly like the model on the online catalogue picture!

So technically, if you click on this link you should see the correct position: http://www.getprice.com.au/Gym-Balls-Blue-85c m-Gpnc_438--37466066.htm

Then, all you have to do is gently roll backwards and forwards, and you will feel the stretch.

I have to say this is the only abdominal exercise I have come across which does not hurt my back and neck...

Let me know if the link does not work, and I'll try and find something else.

Have fun!

Drinking plenty of water also helps....and it helps your skin.

Also, depending on your age and family history you may want to have your GYN poke around to see if you have fibroids. They usually cause the lower stomach to protrude and they don't usually cause pain so you don't really know they're there. Not trying to scare you -- sorry if I did. Many people in my family suffer with fibroids and the "grapefruit in the lower belly" look was what tipped them off -- in addition to other symptoms like feeling full and always needing to go to the bathroom.

Original Post by nat1968:

Original Post by bugsharmony:

Nat, can you take a picture of that? I am not sure I understand... :-( But I would like to try it!

Hi there!

I thought it might be easier to find a picture on Google Images, but it doesn't matter too much because I look exactly like the model on the online catalogue picture!

So technically, if you click on this link you should see the correct position: http://www.getprice.com.au/Gym-Balls-Blue-85c m-Gpnc_438--37466066.htm

Then, all you have to do is gently roll backwards and forwards, and you will feel the stretch.

I have to say this is the only abdominal exercise I have come across which does not hurt my back and neck...

Let me know if the link does not work, and I'll try and find something else.

Have fun!

 

 

Hi there Bugsharmony, just wondering if you'd tried the exercise and if it worked for you? I went back to it myself recently as I have not been well enough to go the gym, and I am still amazed at how efficient it is for me... And then I remembered posting about it and wondered how you got on!