20lbs only on tummy - possible?

Is it possible that the last 20 pounds I have to lose are all in my tummy?? It's bad, very bad...any good tummy fat burning suggestions? I was doing crunches religiously for a month or so, but I got bored...Anything new that seems to work for anybody?? Is it possible that my tummy grew accustomed to the exercises I was doing so that they dont work anymore??

Ahh tummy fat...I'm still working on that one! I say run, and up the number of reps you do of the crunchs. FEEL THE (fat) BURN!
Good luck!

I like to run, but alas, it just doesnt work out well for me. (Two kids + neck problems aggravated by high impact exercise). I did have fun today dancing around the living room crazily for about 20 minutes with my girls...

As for the reps, I was up to 100-120...but they didnt hurt anymore afterward...what is the most anybody does in a day?

muscle burns fat, and it doesn't have to be in your belly to burn the belly fat. for muscle to burn fat you have to do cardio, but if you're not fit, you won't burn fat as well. have you tried an eliptical rider?

I think that is what I used when I used to belong to a gym...I am more into things I can do at home without equipment besides dumbells or something equally cheap and small. :-)

I did enjoy that thing, though...

I have been working on push-ups, I can do 15 now (started at ten)...I can see a difference in the tone of my upper arms...I am getting my push-ups in every other day...(like I used to with my crunches...)

(as a reply to #2) I don't really do situps/crunches right now, but I do recall back in Britney Spears "I'm A Slave for You" stage, she was on MTV and said she would do 500-1000 a day, and man did she have the stomach to show for it :) lol

take care

I wonder if she did them all in a row, or over the course of a day??

Hmmm you know what, I don't know. She gave the impression it was in a row, but I could very well be wrong, I'll have to look into that though :)

take care

Maybe I could up it to 100 twice a day...that may be more challenging...I am starting to get motivated to do some crunches here...

Hey, I found this, this may be helpful:

"Having a tone stomach has more to do with bodyfat then how many crunches you do. Forget Britney Spears. First of all, what the media says she does may be misleading. Second, she doesn't have any talent anyway. Hehe.
You can do 1,000 crunches a day if you really want to. There's a famous Tae Kwon Do master named Jhoon Rhee who does 1000 situps and 1000 pushups a day and he looks phenomenol even at his age. But why do you want to do that when you can achieve the same (or better) results with less reps? Try doing 3-4 sets for abs, 3 sets for obliques, and 3 sets for your lower back, three days a week, 10-20 reps per set, and see how that does for you. If you contract the muscle with a good hard effort I guarantee you couldn't get 1,000 reps. People who get 1,000 reps are just going through the motions and aren't really focusing on contracting the muscle. Good luck."

So I guess don't really pay attention to the number but more of how you're doing it and how you feel :)
take care

Maybe that's the problem...I dont "feel" it anymore...I was doing a lot of lifting and twisting at work and tried to focus on letting my abs do the work and I did actually feel sore for the first time in a Loooooooong time.

Crunches and ab exercises will certainly help define your abs, but you need to burn the fat covering them before you can see them!  The way to burn that fat is cardio.  You said running doesn't work for you for several reasons, which is fine, but what most people forget is that walking is great cardio too!  You still burn approximately the same amount of calories over the same distance as you would if you were running, but without the stress on your joints.  Your aerobic capacity won't be as awesome, but you still get fantastic health benefits.... one of which is burning fat.

  I'm working on the same problem.  I've been doing core exercises and pilates daily to work my abs, and I walk over 5 miles daily.  I've seen a huge decrease in my belly fat (which is the place where I store ALL my fat, it seems, so I know what you mean about having all your weight in your stomach!) and the definition of my abs is slowly starting to show.  That's just me though, and that routine really works for me and fits in great with my day.  You could probably get away with doing much less; try ab work every other day and walk a few miles every day if you can. 

As has been said,  you really just have to get that last bit of fat burned before you'll see those abs pop out.  It sounds like you have a bit of the android (apple-type) fat distribution, meaning the stomach area will probably be the last place you lose.  Just keep up the cardio to burn those calories, and pretty soon your body won't have any choice but to burn the tummy fat.

But you should still do ab exercises, as once you ARE down to a fat level where you can see them, the extra size you build will translate into better definition.  Crunches are great, especially if you add some weight to them.  Hold the weight on your chest or behind your head, squeeze the abs, and hold a bit at the top.  Believe me you'll feel it.

Don't forget to work the obliques and transverse abdominus.  For obliques, try twisting crunches or side bends.  For the TA, pull in your belly and hold.  Exrx.net, as usual, has a long list of exercises for abs.

Sometimes changing up the type of ab exercises are a great way for making your abs not adjust. Look up different variations of crunches and it might help for you. I've been doing 500 crunches a day and I feel the burn afterwards but I never have that sore feeling because I always switch it up.

Tae Bo really helped my waistline.  You might try that.  When you lift your legs for kicks you have to use your hips and abs.  It really strengthened my obliques, and then the front got stronger.  They all work together. There are also muscles going down your legs and groin that are attached to your belly abs, and if you strengthen those, it helps the abs too.

Also, if you are consuming lots of sugar or refined carbs as part of your calorie intake they will store on your belly.  Same with beer.  It's best to eat whole grains and cut back on sugar (or no sugar is best).

belly dancing is a great option to help tone those abs, really works muscles you didn't even know you had. there are some good video's out by I think Veena and Neena, bellytwins.com

I'm doing anywhere from 500-700 crunches/day right now (depends on how tired I am from the rest of my workout), and I have to say it's making a big difference.  The rest of my workout consists of either 40 min. freeweights/25 min. cardio or 15 min. freeweights/60 min. cardio depending on what day it is.  You really need to add some type of cardio to help that fat burn.  If you can't do high-impact workouts, try swimming or an elliptical machine.

Cardio can be just anything that makes my pulse rate higher right? I mean that in an exercise way ;-)

I will try to slip in some type of exercising that makes me breathe harder or whatever for at least 20-30 minutes. I stay on my feet all day, so I guess I feel like just sitting when I am home - but you are all right and I know it. It will have to be something at home, though...it is just too much hassle with a temper-tantrumed 3 year old and a small baby to get out much. (Yes, dh would help, but we work opposite schedules and he works nights...sooo that makes it difficult as well...no daycare.) I just gotta carve out the time and do something here at home...

I do have some Denise Austin on the DVR....

So sappire, I am curious...do you do 500-700 all together or split it up over the day?

layna...no sugar? Scary. Whole grain I do, but no candy or cookies?? eek! :-) I have heard that before though...

Thanks for the responses and ideas, everybody! I will have to try some of the routines mentioned...

By "cardio" we mean here aerobic exercise; that is, exercise that maintains an increased heart rate (along with proper breathing), during which oxygen is used to burn glucose and fats to produce energy for the muscles.

Being less technical, aerobic exercise means moving large muscle groups (e.g. legs) over an extended period of time.  The longer you go, the more the body has to rely on burning fat to maintain energy.  Note that "extended" time is important here.  A 100-meter dash will get your heart rate up much higher than a long jog, but the jog will do you more good in terms of burning fat.

Aim for 30-45 minutes of good intensity cardio, from 3-6 days per week.  To judge good intensity you can do the talk test: if you can hold a comfortable conversation during your workout, you need to work a bit harder.  If you can say anything at all, then you might want to come down a bit.  Generally I aim for the "Captain Kirk" range: "I... might go to... the... store later and... pick up........ some protein bars."  Also, be sure to include warm-up and cool-down periods.

In terms of ab exercise, I've never been for the 100s-of-reps thing (which smacks of the "toning" myth).  You can get the same or superior effect by including some weights as resistance, and you'll save time.  But whatever you choose, make sure it motivates you!

As far as sugars, I don't think its necessarily true that refined carbs go straight to your gut :)  However, they do cause a more rapid increase in your blood sugar levels, which raises insulin level, which can have all kinds of effects on your body chemistry, especially in the long run.  Keep to more complex carbohydrates (whole grains, etc), which also tend to come along with dietary fiber, which is a good thing.

Okay, I did a 30 minute Denise Austin workout...the lite and fit ones where it has aerobic and pilates...it is on my DVR but I kept moving through the commercials instead of skipping through them...It felt pretty good.

I could still speak (To daughter: "Let go of my leg!" To other, smaller daughter: "You too!" lol) but not long sentences...Coincidentally the workout I randomly chose targeted abs and back muscles...I broke a sweat and everything...

Thanks for getting me motivated, guys!

The pilates section really helped my neck, believe it or not...I always feel better after pilates...I have not done them for awhile...it used to be alot harder to do some of the more complicated moves...I guess it is easier when you are pushing 50 less pounds!

I understand the chemistry behind carbohydrates, I could actually tell you all about thier molecular structure (just finished biology class), but I cant give up the goodies...it is what keeps me sane in a world of restraint. I just try to keep a limit on them.

I have definately got to keep up with this cardio...I will shoot for the lower end...3 days...I like to keep my expectations low so that I can be pleasantly surprised... :-)

I just started my weight loss journey.  But, I purchased a Ab Lounger.  It is a wonder tool, and I am able to engage my abs properly and feel the burn.  I can do 50 at a time and I am completely out of shape....

Good Luck!