Also has anyone noticed that when you eat, the food like shows sort of in your upper stomach? And when you don't eat, that area is like not bulge-y ish.. Just wondering.
*Please no comments on me supposedly having an ED I don't need to be constantly told that
I think everyone somewhat bloats in their stomach after a meal; I think that's pretty normal. As for the stomach fat, you can always try and tone by mixing it up with cardio and strength training. I also want to tone after I'm approved exercising privileges (recovering from an ED), and you might gain weight from it, but DON'T WORRY; it will be muscle gained, not fat. One can actually look a lot slimmer ten pounds heavier because it will be muscle gain and you'll lose fat.
Again, if you just try and run on the treadmill alone, you won't see much results in your stomach, but if you work on toning and eat a balanced diet, you don't have to lose weight like others always think, and you will probably feel better. Hope this helps.
I have the same issues. Unless I work really hard at ab exercises, my stomach can get flabby. I'm at a loss at how anyone can have a truly flat stomach; I'm sure a person can do strength training in this area, which I haven't done before but should try.
I remember my science teacher saying how a person's stomach is closer to the heart and lunges rather than in the torso. Basically your abs are a natural muscle cage to keep your intestines and other organs put. Because of this layout, a big meal could make you feel cramped in the intestines for a few hours (I know, I've felt in at times). Luckily, you could do an easy ab workout to help with digestion 3 to 4 hours after eating your last meal. If you are recovering from surgery, you could do some stomach contraction exercises until your doctor approves of a more rigorous regimen.
I think the key is to eat slowly and not stuff your gut (think of Thanksgiving or Christmas dinners, those are probably exemptions to the rule, yet people eat like this everyday). Your brain should know when your body's full after about 20 minutes. Hopefully, caloric intake should be lower with more mindful eating and if you need a snack in between meals, I always go for a piece of fruit or a handful of nuts (they might be high in calories, but wonderful in nutrients and good fats).
Oh my god, I have the SAME EXACT problem! I have this big soft pouch right underneath my belly button, and if I eat a lot, my upper stomach looks big too and I look like I'm pregnant. I do intense cardio and I eat very healthily. The only time I ever had a flat stomach was when I was anorexic and became underweight. But even still, it didn't look good because of all the loose skin that was left!
However, one thing that has helped firm my stomach up a bit is crunches. I know crunches have been given a bad rap, how they can injure your back and how planks are so much better(but I have to plank for a LONG time before I feel any burn...), but if you do them correctly, crunches really do help build abs. My stomach is still very unflat, but at least it's strong and with a little muscle tone now.
Original Post by kittycats502:
Oh my god, I have the SAME EXACT problem! I have this big soft pouch right underneath my belly button, and if I eat a lot, my upper stomach looks big too and I look like I'm pregnant. I do intense cardio and I eat very healthily. The only time I ever had a flat stomach was when I was anorexic and became underweight. But even still, it didn't look good because of all the loose skin that was left!
However, one thing that has helped firm my stomach up a bit is crunches. I know crunches have been given a bad rap, how they can injure your back and how planks are so much better(but I have to plank for a LONG time before I feel any burn...), but if you do them correctly, crunches really do help build abs. My stomach is still very unflat, but at least it's strong and with a little muscle tone now.
Instead of holding a plank for a "long time", try this: hold a plank for 10 secs, then relax. Then repeat for a total of 3 minutes of plank-holding (i.e. 18 10-sec intervals.) I was told by a personal trainer to never hold a plank for longer than 10 secs, because then your body will start using other muscles besides your abs for stabilization (your shoulders, your hip flexors, etc.) I was skeptical, but I was sick of holding planks for 12+ minutes to make myself feel like I worked my abs... so I switched to those 10 sec intervals, and WHAT A DIFFERENCE! It kills my abs and I was so sore! But it doesn't hurt my shoulders or neck (which always ached horribly after my marathon plank-holding episodes.)
You're 5' 4" and 118lbs. Keep fit and healthy, and ditch the idea of getting to 100lbs, as to do this you would need to LOSE muscle, and that actually makes your stomach area look less tight. hard to believe I know, but for a slim young girl, losing would make it worse.
Also, if your friends can't see any fat, how do you know it is there? For most of us, it is other people who can see us as we really are, while we obsess over an almost non-existent/imaginary flaw.
I have the same problem as well - I get a little "pouch" of fat under my belly button and I bloat under my ribcage when I eat - at first I thought I might be a coeliac as bloating after eating wheat and gluten can be a sign of this but I've had my tests done and unfortunately that's just the way my stomache goes...
I've started crunches and I've found swimming regularly has helped tone my body more, as well as eating healthy...
Good luck :)
