how do I maintain?

Ok I lost 13 pounds since Jan and weight wise I am where I would like to be.  Now I want to work on my middle where I am still carrying a pot belly.  Since January, I have kept a spreadsheet of my daily calorie intake and my daily calorie expenditure to equal 500 calories less and have done walking or cardio everyday.  this seems to have worked but now i want to maintain that weight and work on my middle so for the last few weeks I have done pilates instead of the cardio and not kept track of my calories burned, but still have kept my intake under the 1500 that I am supposed to.  I weighed myself yesterday and have gained 3 pounds so I must be doing something wrong, so I am wondering, how do you maintain?  I thought it was different than when you are trying to lose weight

KJ-

Your body decides where it wants to put on fat, and it is not a decision that one can influence by deciding to work on a certain area.  Unfortunately, many folks in the exercise industry would gladly have you believe that this is possible when it is not.  The way your body stores energy, a.k.a. fat, is based purely on your genetic makeup (note- pear shaped people or other body types) and so the only way to really lose a pot belly is to simply burn enough calories to where your body then uses the fat stored in your midsection.  Simply put:  The order and areas your body adds fat to first will work in reverse when losing it.  So hopefully your belly fat is the next area to go when exercising.

HOWEVER- It is always a good idea to work on your abdominal and core muscles when wanting to get a better midsection.  Having a nice looking tummy is two parts: low amounts of fat in the region, and good muscle tone.  Keep in mind that you can't see the muscle without losing the fat on top of it first, so keep up the good work and go after your cardio.  Also, you should be more concerned about the inches game of your stomach area than the weight, since you may be gaining muscle if you have changed exercise regimes. 

Good luck and keep up the exercising!

Jared

Katjane,

jtgraham01 makes really good points.  You should listen to them. 

I can only add one thing:  sometimes, pot bellies as well as pooches that stick out are caused by excess waste material in the intestines.  Make sure you are taking in enough fiber!  The better your digestive system works, the flatter your middle will naturally look.

Jared:  Thanks so much for your insights.  For the past three months I've primarily focused on eating healthy and losing weight, so my body is now svelt and I'm pleased to have returned to my healthy weight and clothing size.  I've lost 20 pounds in three months, and I love the way I look and feel.  However, I need to incorporate more exercise into my lifestyle.  My concern is that I do not bulk-up, and my intention is to develop muscle tone.  Your advise is helpful in my developing exercise routine.  Thanks!