I just don't get it.

I am a pretty thin person.  I readily admit that.  My BMI is excellent (in fact, if I were to los about 8 more pounds I'd be just at underweight).

So WHY WHY WHY do I still have fat on my stomach?  I am on swim team so I have practice from 3 till about 4:30 Mondays through Thursdays and I run on the ellipse Friday mornings.  My calorie intake is at or around 1500 just about every day (there may be one where I go above, if any).  Is it the types of foods I'm eating?  I just switched out Honey Wheat bread for 12 grain- will that help?  I often eat Lunchables for lunch- is that a problem?

So, please, any insight?

maybe the high sodium in the lunchables is causing you to retain water? it doesn't sound like you have actual fat on your stomach, maybe just bloating. i would lay off the salty foods for a couple days, drink a lot of water and make sure to get plenty of fiber, and see how you look/feel then.

I would try sit ups/crunches.  It does not sound like it is a weight issue, more just a toning.

Good Luck

Jauna

See, I'm pretty much sure it's nothing to do with weight.  But will ab work help?  Because I was under the impression that you only saw the fruit of that labor after you lost the fat.  And I have pretty good abs- you just can't see them xD

The salt is a definite possibility, since I also have Cup Noodles ocasionally, which are loaded with sodium.  It's just the issue that there's not much I can bring to school for lunch and I'm a pescatarian.  I only recently returned to fish 9after an earful from both my mother and grandmother) and try not to eat it too often, although I was planning on having a tuna sandwich tomorrow.  Any other lunch ideas?  I don't have access to a microwave, unfortunately.

Hate to say it--but it might just be the way you are. Genetics are a b*tch sometimes.

It would suck major-

but aren't abs above the stomach?  I should still at least see ab muscle development over the pouchy stomach, right?

I believe your abs run from under your breast bone/ribs down to your pelvic area (I'm not sure how else to describe it and use correct anatomy)

Anyway, the bloating just happens to be in the abdominal region- I think usually around and below your belly button, so, yes, you should probably see your ab muscle above your belly button.  But really, I think trikki might be right...you're not fat, but the fat you do have rests over your lower abdominal region.  If you try to reduce the sodium and drink lots of fluids and then don't see any change, it's probably not the bloating (sorry). 

I agree  - probably just the way you are built, but you do not sound overweight  at all.

I was thin through the age of 30 with a BMI around 24.  Like you, I was always "soft around the middle". 

Women are genetically predisposed to having a reservoir of fat--usually around the belly area--in case we have children and need to breast feed.  To quote trikki, "genetics are a b*tch sometimes."

Some women are more prone to belly fat than others, myself included; when I was still young and tiny at 110 lbs, I always had a problem with it, so much that I refused to wear two-piece bathing suits.  This was when I was in taekwon do for 2 hours three times a week, where crunches and other ab-targeted exercises were incorporated into each class.  I quote trikki again....

You can try ab-specific workouts, especially resistance or medicine ball exercises.  Also, cut any and all alcohol out of your diet.  Alcohol, especially beer, is notorious for putting on belly fat.

As for the bloating, it won't change the appearance of any actual fat, but it can make you look bigger and make you seem heavier, as it increases the size of the abdomen by retaining fluids.  Nevertheless, it's always a good idea to drink plenty of water!

Also, are you trying to lose weight?  If so, then 1,500 calories a day is good.  If not, then your body may actually be in starvation mode and might be trying to retain calories.  If you're looking to maintain weight, especially with your active lifestyle, then you should be eating 2,000 calories each day.

Hope this helps!  Also, here is a resource I found helpful :)

http://ezinearticles.com/?How-To-Lose-Belly-F at-For-Women&id=587538

While it may be a genetic issue, for God's sake don't give in to that yet!!!!!...lol.  My three favourite targets for bloated bellies are salt intake, flour intake and milk allergies.   I find that eating bread or baked products of any kind swells my stomach a bit, or a lot depending on how much I eat so I rarely eat anything but my own wholegrain stuff made at home and that's a rarity.   Lots of salt will cause you to retain water and the more you eat the more you retain as your body struggles to maintain a certain range of salinity.  And, you may have some lactose intolerance but mild, so the symptoms could be gas and bloating.  I get the gas part...I fart up a storm when I drink cows milk...lol.  

What I'd do is try eliminating anything with flour and dairy for a week and cut back on your salt intake.  If that works, add them back in one at a time and see which one or both is the cause.  You might also google a search about your issue as you might find useful things there.

Original Post by natalina85:

Also, are you trying to lose weight?  If so, then 1,500 calories a day is good.  If not, then your body may actually be in starvation mode and might be trying to retain calories.  If you're looking to maintain weight, especially with your active lifestyle, then you should be eating 2,000 calories each day.

I was thinking the same thing. I'm not very savvy with this kind of stuff, but I have heard that if you don't eat enough, your body holds onto your belly fat. So you can be small everywhere else, but your body wants to keep that as a "reservoir," so to speak. Good luck!

Ingredients: ROAST WHITE TURKEY - CURED, SMOKE FLAVOR ADDED: WHITE TURKEY, WATER, POTASSIUM LACTATE, MODIFIED CORN STARCH, CONTAINS LESS THAN 2% OF SALT, DEXTROSE, CARRAGEENAN, SODIUM PHOSPHATES, SODIUM DIACETATE, SODIUM ASCORBATE, SMOKE FLAVOR, SODIUM NITRITE, NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR. PASTEURIZED PREPARED CHEDDAR CHEESE PRODUCE: MILK, WHEY, MILK PROTEIN CONCENTRATE, MILKFAT, SODIUM CITRATE, SALT, LACTIC ACID, SORBIC ACID AS A PRESERVATIVE, OLEORESIN PAPRIKA (COLOR), ANNATTO (COLOR), CHEESE CULTURE, ENZYMES, WHEY PROTEIN CONCENTRATE, WITH STARCH ADDED FOR SLICE SEPARATION. CONTAINS: MILK, WHEAT CRACKERS: ENRICHED FLOUR (WHEAT FLOUR, NIACIN, REDUCED IRON, THIAMINE MONONITRATE [VITAMIN B1], RIBOFLAVIN [VITAMIN B2],FOLIC ACID), SOYBEAN OIL, WHOLE WHEAT FLOUR, SUGAR, PARTIALLY HYDROGENATED COTTONSEED OIL, SALT, HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP, LEAVENING (BAKING SODA, CALCIUM PHOSPHATE), WHEY (FROM MILK), SOY LECITHIN (EMULSIFIER). CONTAINS: WHEAT, MILK, SOY.

*Yes, this is your problem... there is trans fat... sugar... starch... nothing nutritional about them - I'd try and take a whole grain (with 3 grams of fiber or more per serving) bread sandwich (filled with turkey breast & lettuce, onion, tomato & mustard) with you instead! And if you can... make it a salad with the turkey, lettuce, onion & tomato because some people bloat when they eat bread...

I can't eat turkey, unfortantely.

but thanks for all the advice.  i'm definitely not going to give up on losing the belly fat but if it is genetics and i never can- oh well, I guess.  I wish I could remember how it was when I was in middle school- I was like a stick!

And alcohol is no worry- I'm underage so I don't drink and I don't like the taste anyway.

But a new problem has risen:

Since I've started to drink a lot of water- my appetite is minute.  Today I am full at about 1200 calories and I had to force myself a bit just to get here (by eating an apple).  Should I make an effort to reach at least 1500 or settle at below?

Original Post by looseymoose:

Since I've started to drink a lot of water- my appetite is minute.  Today I am full at about 1200 calories and I had to force myself a bit just to get here (by eating an apple).  Should I make an effort to reach at least 1500 or settle at below?

Definitely try to eat at least 1500-2000 calories, otherwise you'll start losing weight and enter the underweight category.  And while no one enjoys having "jelly belly," being too skinny isn't attractive either.

It's good that you're drinking a lot of water, but you don't want to overdue it, either, which can be dangerous, leading to water intoxication and hyponatremia.  Make sure you drink a little throughout the whole day, rather than guzzling a lot of water at a time, and don't go over the 8-12 cups a day.

If you want to squeeze some more calories in without making yourself feel too full, and while still eating healthily, eat some mixed nuts.  Almonds, Brazil nuts and walnuts are particularly high in calories.  If you can't eat nuts, then have some cheese.  Dark cheddar, parmesan, and cream cheese are all very high in calories.

Thanks- lately I've been locing cheese so I think I'll do that.

As far as water poisoning- I'm far from that!  I'm pretty sure I was consistently dehydrated (slightly) before.  I live in Florida so I don't really feel thirsty often.  Sure, i've upped the amount of water I drink but I don't think I'm near 8 cups.

People take this 8 cups of water rule as if it's some kind of religion...lol.  You need to drink enough water to ensure you are not constipated.   If you are constipated or don't poo at least once a day, you are dehydrated regardless of how much water you are drinking.  If your bowel movements are soft and regular and frequent, then you are drinking enough water.   Don't forget you get a lot of water from fruit and vegetables too so someone who has a diet high in fruits and vegetables would not need 8 glasses....