Muffin Top

Who here has a muffin top? For those of you who don't know, a muffin top occurs when you have a bigger upper-stomach. Sometimes looks like a tire.

 How in the world do you JUST get rid of that? I don't want to lose my curves, I just want my tummy flatter! Help!!!

I was pretty sure that a muffin top was when you wore pants that were a bit too small, so your belly fat spilled over... like a muffin top puffing out of the paper.

I heard it was both. Who knows. lol. I don't wear my pants tight though. I see this "muffin top" whether I am wearing pants or not. It's weird.

Perhaps getting more toned in that general region might help with the self esteem?

Exactly.. you don't get a muffin top unless you are wearing low cut pants that are too small.

There is no way to spot reduce however. You can't keep certain curves and get rid of others unless you are already genetically inclined to hold fat a certain way.

Original Post by tyrdrop:

I was pretty sure that a muffin top was when you wore pants that were a bit too small, so your belly fat spilled over... like a muffin top puffing out of the paper.

I was thinking the same thing. To fix that, I'd suggest buying better fitting pants and perhaps wearing shirts that aren't too tight.

As for getting a flatter tummy, there is no such thing as spot reduction. But chances are your tummy will get flatter as you lose more weight. Try checking the fitness forums for some exercise tips too, maybe?

Yeah I have a bit of one when I wear jeans that I never used to get a muffin top with :S 

 I always wear baggy tops now so that it's not noticeable.

Well maybe it's not a muffin top then. Because I know I don't wear anything too tight. I don't understand how some bigger women still have flat stomachs, while I have this upper tire. I don't know how else to describe it. lol. It seems I keep gaining weight in just this area.

Original Post by sarahann04:

Well maybe it's not a muffin top then. Because I know I don't wear anything too tight. I don't understand how some bigger women still have flat stomachs, while I have this upper tire. I don't know how else to describe it. lol. It seems I keep gaining weight in just this area.

 It's mainly genetic.. the only way that is going to go away is to keep your body fat % down.

Hi there, I just checked out a book from the library called Shrink Your Female Fat Zones by Denise Austin.  I'm an aerobics instructor and am constantly asked "How can I lose weight from one particular area?"  This book has a really good answer.  Here's the idea.  Each woman has a specific fat zone:  Upper Body, Midsection, Lower Body.  Determine your specific fat zone, then look up the meal/exercise plan that is suggested for your Female Fat Zone.  The program combines healthy eating with a detailed training regimen for your Zone.  Every exercise program includes cardio for immediate calorie burn and toning exercises targeting your Female Fat Zone.  So, it sounds like your Zone is the midsection.  I would check out the book and stick to the 6 week plan to see if it helps you.   The concept makes sense on paper, so I'd love to hear your feedback if you put it to the test.  Good luck!

i cultivated a muffin top after years of squeezing into pants that were too tight around the waist, now that top's there no matter what i'm wearing. it's pretty gross.

that's the bad news. the good news is, it's getting smaller. just keep up with your cardio, and do everything to can to strengthen your core (ab, obliques, lower ab work). if yours is now naturally occuring like mine, you'll definitely still have it while you're losing weight until you get closer to your goal weight. i'm not there yet, but i have seen women who had them and got rid of them.

start with cardio. lots of cardio.

As you feel stronger/ and like your not seeing results add weight training.

You need to get your body fat % down- although if you want that to go away chances are fat will leave other places (aka maybe your curves)

my body decides that it's a good idea to store all of my fat in my love handle region, so i'm all-too familiar with the infamous muffin top. on the plus side, i have a completely flat stomach, so i look good from the front, not-so-good from behind. i hate it though because there's not many exercises that really target the love handle region all that well.

I believe those are your obliques.

And I think the only real thing that makes them smaller is losing weight. Muscle built just adds and firms, but it doesn't diminish the fat on top. While adding muscle does raise your BMR, which in turn helps you lose weight by burning more calories a day doing-well- anything, cardio is the only "fat-targeting" exercise so to say.

I know exactly what you're talking about. I hate it. I'm so self conscious about it. I have them whether I'm clothed or not. It's my main area that I'm trying to fix up, but I've just got to be patient. It'll go away slowly. Although where you have the most fat, is the last place that's going to go. I lost 50+ pounds and I lost around 10 inches around my waist. 

muffin tops are the fat that pops out over the waistband of pants.  any pants, low rise or not.  if your pants are too small, it happens.

this is what happens when adults try to appropriate teen dialect; it gets all mushy and indeterminate.

i have them sometimes.  depends on the day, depends on the pants.  if i'm having a fat day, i'll go back to my size ten jeans, because i'd rather have a baggy ass and baggy legs than muffin tops.  and those days when i can wear my size eights and a snuggish shirt and have none...those are good days.  but only in terms of muffin tops. 

Are you talking about having a "beer belly" like a guy? I got one of those. I'm entirely boy shaped, lol. I think my fiancé is more womanly shaped than I am. Hehe. Like guys can wear the same size jeans even if they gain 20lbs, because they were their jeans on the hips, under their stomach, and their stomach just gets bigger. That's me, except I still go up in size in women's jeans since they are more fitted and I have big thighs.

Example workout with exercises targetting the area at the side of you waist and above your hip:

Lie on your side in a completely straight line toes in line with knees in line with hips, tummy, shoulders and head on your arm straight up too. Bend your knees bringing your feet behind you so that your hips and knees are still in alignment. If you're on your right side slide your right arm across the floor and your left arm in the opposite direction to open out your chest. Now leave your right arm where it is and put your left by your left temple then crunch up so that you're facing the same direction as the rest of your body (don't twist your neck) and so that you're elbow is going up and forward towards your knees. They don't need to go too high. Small neat cruches. (maybe 20) Make sure you don't roll forwards or back but keep alignment by engaging your abs. You can vary this by bringing your top (left) knee into your chest when you do it (16), by lifting the left leg up straight up off the right leg just few inches(19), straightening the right leg out and keeping the left leg bent over the top(20).

Then you can do leg lifts. Go back to the straight line position but prop your head up on your right arm so your elbow is at a right angle. Lift your left leg a little up and down in a straight line (20). You should feel it in your waist. Then lift both legs together but keep a gap of a couple of inches between the feet(16).

Also, with a weight - biggish because you're not going to be lifting it as such. Hold the weight in your right hand. Stand up tall and straight then move your right hand down to about knee level making sure you're not leaning forward and getting out of line but just to the side. (3x10)

 Then do it all on the other side!

the top of the muffin is the most delicious...

Original Post by zinniah:

the top of the muffin is the most delicious...

LOL

zinniah, is your profile photo dorothy of the gg's, when she was in that play with the man-whore who bedded every chick in the play?