Flattenting your stomach

Okay Ladies and Gentlemen, I need help!

I've been dieting since April and am happy with my results over-all. 

My problem is my stomach.  It's not leaving me! Or at least not leaving fast enough.  I've seen the difference in my arms, face, butt, legs, and even my, um, boobs  ... just not my stomach.

I walk every day and do crunches regularly (daily).  I just don't know that I'm willing to buy anything else that's "guaranteed" to work.

What am I doing wrong?!  Any other suggestions?

Crunches won't do much, especially if you aren't doing them correctly.

I have had much more success doing ab exercises on a ball, or on an incline at the gym.  I like the ball the best because you can not only do crunches, but other core strengthening exercises as well (I'm sure someone around here has a good reference for ball exercises).

Other than that, your tummy may be the last place you lose weight.  You could be carrying water weight, and that is most likely where you store a lot of your carbs.  I've never done a low-carb diet, but I think they are meant to reduce stomach fat in particular?

Search the forums for posts on "spot reducing".

First off, you shouldn't be doing crunches daily.  Give your abs a break!!  They need some time off just like all the other muscles do (you wouldn't work your biceps every single day, would you?).

Secondly, the best way to make you belly smaller is to lower your body fat %.  Please understand though that not every body type is made to have a washboard stomach.  I know mine's not.  Partly because I have a sway back, which makes my stomach stick out a little (although it makes my behind look great!).  Please don't get down to an unhealthy weight just because you think your stomach needs to be flatter.

Thirdly, make sure you are working out ALL of your ab muscles.  Make sure you are doing regular crunches, reverse crunches, and side crunches.

Original Post by amymarieky:

First off, you shouldn't be doing crunches daily period. 

People spend all day hunched over, why hunch over more when exercising? 

Original Post by amseek:

 

My problem is my stomach.  It's not leaving me! Or at least not leaving fast enough.  I've seen the difference in my arms, face, butt, legs, and even my, um, boobs  ... just not my stomach.

 

 

I feel like you just read my mind! I have the same exact problem! I wish I could give you some advice but so far I have not found the solution. If I do find something that works I will let you know.

you're not going to want to hear this but, there is no such thing as spot reducing.  you can't lose weight from just your tummy alone and doing crunches is sure as hell not going to help.

sounds to me like ur an apple shape (you can google it). it means you hold most of your weight around your tummy.  unfortunately, there's no real guaranteed way to lose it.  its going to be particularly tough for you.

somethings i can recommend tho are doign cardio - HIIT is supposed to help with the tummy area.  you can search it online and have an HIIT plan made specially for you. 

you should also remove all heavily processed foods from your diet, i.e. eat whole grain bread. 

also search for low GI diets, they may help too.

good luck :)

What are you eating? Loosing fat is more about what you are eating. You can do crunches  until you are blue in the face and can build muscle under layers of fat but if you diet is not healthy you wont have flat abs. And I agree with the other posters who said that some people are not meant to have flat tight stomachs. All bodies are different. You should focus on health and being fit. Not being skinny. If you are eating a lot of diet foods, fat and sugar free foods, processed foods, simple carbs, fried and fast foods, drinking pop and that sort of thing that is the problem. You need clean/balanced eating. Complex carbs, healthy fats and protein, fresh fruits and vegetables, lowfat dairy. Plenty of water. Heart pumping cardio and three days a week of heavy lifting. "Diets" don't work. People who go on diets gain all or more weight back. If it is not something you can stick to for the rest of your life why bother. You will just go up and down all the time. Changing your diet is key. Not "dieting".

Original Post by littleshellys:

What are you eating? Loosing fat is more about what you are eating. You can do crunches  until you are blue in the face and can build muscle under layers of fat but if you diet is not healthy you wont have flat abs. And I agree with the other posters who said that some people are not meant to have flat tight stomachs. All bodies are different. You should focus on health and being fit. Not being skinny. If you are eating a lot of diet foods, fat and sugar free foods, processed foods, simple carbs, fried and fast foods, drinking pop and that sort of thing that is the problem. You need clean/balanced eating. Complex carbs, healthy fats and protein, fresh fruits and vegetables, lowfat dairy. Plenty of water. Heart pumping cardio and three days a week of heavy lifting. "Diets" don't work. People who go on diets gain all or more weight back. If it is not something you can stick to for the rest of your life why bother. You will just go up and down all the time. Changing your diet is key. Not "dieting".

 amen

Hrm?  I get the impression that I may have misled some people by mistake.   

I am happy about the weight coming off and I think I'm going about it the intelligent way, this time.  I used the word "diet" but really I've drastically changed the way I eat.  I don't eat processed food at all (well, okay, I do eat Kashi Go Lean cereal mixed with yogurt in the mornings).  But I love to cook and spend alot of time in the produce department.  I don't really eat alot of carbs, and when I do, I try to make smart choices about what goes in my mouth. I'm focusing on eating lots of veggies and fresh fruit, lean protein and low or non-fat dairy.  I love beans!  Any kind really! So, I'm trying to incorporate them into my "diet" more and my snack of c,hoice is steamed edamame in the pod. And I could float away on the amount of water I drink (it's a good thing the potty's close to my desk at work).  I limit my soda intake to one a day and I only use non-fat milk in my coffee.

As for exercise, I try to walk everyday for at least 40 mins.  I usually do a mid-sfternoon walk while at work because I work two jobs 3 days a week.

Haha!  It's just frustrating!  I can see a difference EVERYWHERE, except my tummy.  In reality, I'm sure there is a difference, but not enough for me.

I will say this .. losing weight when you're pushing 50 is SO not the same as when you're pushing 30!!!

Thank you for the advice and the encouraging words!  I'll keep plugging away.  I'm sure I'll get eventually!

Oh! Any hey guys, when I said I limit my soda intake to one a day, I only drink coke zero.

Sounds like you are doing many good things...I agree with of the advice you received!  First, the core training is good...had a trainer and he was getting me to work on a ball and doing front boards and side boards, bicycles and all that...doing leg work that burns more calories daily as legs recover on off days. 

I too want tight washboard abs...I just have to remember to keep working my eating plan..whole grains, fruits, veggies, protein and eating every 3-4 hours and stay with my range for the day.  I think making better choices is helping me to cut my weight now...my daily serving of chips even though it was 1-1.5 servings with a lunch was still keeping me not losing.  Since cutting these out my weight has begun to fall again.  

I think my deal is that I have to get back in the gym and do the work to burn daily calories in a workout!  

Remember slow and steady wins the race in the end...or at least gets you where you want to be...maybe not as fast as we would like, but we'll get there if we stick to it.  

I have the same problem. I just started the Slim in 6 program, and one of the discs is called Slim & 6 Pack. I did it for the first time yesterday, and could honestly feel a difference right away. I didn't buy the program, but downloaded it. I really do reccommend it. If I can feel an immediate difference after just having two babies in less than two years, I'm sure you will too!

Original Post by floggingsully:

Original Post by amymarieky:

First off, you shouldn't be doing crunches daily period. 

People spend all day hunched over, why hunch over more when exercising? 

 Crunches really do work quite well if you do them properly.

Original Post by catherinewall:

Original Post by floggingsully:

Original Post by amymarieky:

First off, you shouldn't be doing crunches daily period. 

People spend all day hunched over, why hunch over more when exercising? 

 Crunches really do work quite well if you do them properly.

 And of course by "properly" you mean in combination with a clean, healthy balanced diet right? Because otherwise they are useless no matter how you do them.

Original Post by catherinewall:

 Crunches really do work quite well if you do them properly.

 Work well for what?

If the goal is to build muscle in the abdominal area, crunches can technically help but they will do NOTHING to get rid of fat. [Personally, I am completely against crunches. More often than not, they are done wrong and many people end up with a 'pooch' from pushing instead of pulling the navel in. I do like doing standing ab and hanging ab work, though as well as planks and push ups...which engage the core very nicely.  Along with the number one - diet -Cardio and weight lifting can help you reduce your fat and give you a defined abdominal. Compound exercises like squats and deadlifts are excellent for the core.  First and foremost, your nutrition....

Catherinewall,

Where did you find it to just download it?  I've heard good things about it.  I'm just not into dropping more money into things that I'm going to get with.  I really like the idea of HIIT regimen as well.  Regrettably, I can't do anything that is any kind of high impact.  I had knee surgery in April and am wondering if I just wasted my money.  I'm still in pain.  I still have swelling.  I'm over PT and been given the all clear from my Ortho Surgeon.  Ha!  If the operation was such a damn success, why am I still in pain?  Walking and floor exercise is about all I can handle right now. (Sorry, went of on a tangent there for a moment.  I'm better now!).

Try taking in more mufa's to your diet.. like fish, avocados, olive oil, almonds, etc.

Even though these are kind of high calorie they're really good for you! Do some research online and you'll see what I mean. I think this is also an essential part of the abs diet or something like that

The gut goes last, it being the main fat deposit and all. The fat should be mostly gone by the time you hit a BMI of 20-21, however, depending on the starting weight, there might be some excess skin sagging on the lower abdomen for a while longer.

crunches can b good. u should find some other abb excersises that work ur stomach more though. ur muscles r probobly use 2 crunches by now 2. try going into plank position and holding it 4 a minute. or leg raises.