What's the best way to get rid of belly fat?
I'm pretty fit and pretty healthy (5'3", 129 lbs, run 10 miles or so a week), and my arms and legs are pretty okay. But from below my breasts to the tops of my thighs my body takes on the fantastic pear shape I've come to know and er, not love all that much. I bought the "Abs Diet" book and was doing that - I've done ab workouts... and nothing seems to do it. I've lost an inch over the last 6 months in my waist and hips... but come on... there's got to be a better way to go about this. Advice? Help? Misery loving company? Anything?
generally overall weight loss works best. There isn't such a thing as spot reduction, so upping your cardio will definitely help.
What do they do? They swing an ax or shovel or use a pitch fork all day. Go buy a 5lb sledge hammer and swing it in the back yard for 15 minutes a day. See what happens in a month.
My SIL is a roofer and has a smaller waist than my DD.
Hi, I wish I could dance fast again. Many years ago I lost an awful lot around my waist and abdomen doing disco. I destroyed my right knee and hip doing the electric slide and since I had a hip replacement and I need a new knee I cannot do it anymore. I have gained all the weight back around the midriff and waist and lower abdomen just like I used to have, maybe even more. Last year I had a heart attack and had 2 stents put in and the doctor told me to lose my belly fat. I said how and he said walk and dance. I said "Good Luck to Me", and it has been a year and I have not lost an inch in that spot. (71 yrs old now)
Good luck to you. Maybe you can dance and do the twisting and cardio that will get it off for you. Beats swinging a sledge hammer and an axe. You sound young to me. Let me know if you do.
Original Post by spoiled_candy:
Take a look at roofers and at guys that use an ax to cut wood. They have the best abs.
What do they do? They swing an ax or shovel or use a pitch fork all day. Go buy a 5lb sledge hammer and swing it in the back yard for 15 minutes a day. See what happens in a month.
My SIL is a roofer and has a smaller waist than my DD.
Thank you Candy, you have inspired me to become a roofer but since I'm afraid of heights, I will be an ax girl 
The only way to shrink that belly fat is to up your cardio. Like a previous poster said, there is no such thing as spot reduction. Genetics play a role in where you carry your weight as well, so losing from the mid-section might be more tough due to your genes.
I think I'd frighten my husband and kids if I suddenly started swinging an axe. :) But I'll go get a 8lb weight and "chop away" and see if that does anything. I'll post an update in about a month...
I thought it was overall cardio, but since I run 30-40 minutes, 4-5 times a week, I figured there wasn't much I could do... other than run longer - and I just can't fit that into my schedule as a working mom.
I was tempted to try those pills that promise to "melt away belly fat" but I haven't, because they can't be good for you.
Thanks everyone!!
Original Post by dianthys:
I think I'd frighten my husband and kids if I suddenly started swinging an axe. :) But I'll go get a 8lb weight and "chop away" and see if that does anything. I'll post an update in about a month...
I thought it was overall cardio, but since I run 30-40 minutes, 4-5 times a week, I figured there wasn't much I could do... other than run longer - and I just can't fit that into my schedule as a working mom.
I was tempted to try those pills that promise to "melt away belly fat" but I haven't, because they can't be good for you.
Thanks everyone!!
I know this is a ridiculous thing to say being that I am problably the one that needs to lose the MOST belly fat in this forum, but honestly, stop running and try something else. I know it sound silly but I lost 35 pounds 2 years ago by running 3 miles a day on my lunch break and only lost 1 pants size!
Now I am trying to lose the weight from my twin pregnancy. I gained 50 plus pounds but only went up 1 dress size!!!
I have lost 1 inch in my belly area in the last month and have only lost 12 pounds! that is a lot less weight and a lot more inches than before when I was running all the time.
I....
Dance around the kitchen with my kids
lift 4 lb weights daily
ride my recumbent bike 2-7 times a week anywhere between 15- 60 minutes
But most of all, the weight has come off just becuase I take 3 days out of my week to eat a 1200 cal a day diet that is limited to protein, fruit, and carb (bread) for breakfast and a silly plan for lunch, and dinner was meat and veggies! AND ICE CREAM!!!!!
lol
-Morgan
I'm not an expert or anything, but I think some strength training might work. I have been doing pilates for a couple months now and have lost 2 inches in my waist. It really focuses on your "core" which is the foundation for everything. I am trying to lose baby weight from last year and I know the stomach is the hardest to lose.
I really like the pilates though. It really feels good after you do it and it almost makes you feel like your losing inches throughout the work out. Just keep measuring yourself. Another thing that I do, is when I do any excercise at all I always hold in my stomach. "Belly button to spine" is the saying.
Hopefully something will work for you and don't get too discouraged!
Good luck!
Personally Id keep up the cardio, but maybe putting a lil weights into the perspective too. And as what u usually do is cardio monday wednesday and friday. Then tuesday i do pilates and then thursday i do weights and that concentrate on the stomach. and if not weights do sits ups ( depending on each part of your stomach is where u want to aim is depending on each kind of sit ups.) Crunches for abs, leg up cruches for lower tummy and side crunches for your love handles.
Seems alot but its started working for me and iv been doing it for 2 months and lost 2 inces off my waist and tummy, legs and bum.
My weight hasnt changed much, but they say its not about weight its the inches
Hey, you should try interval training, for example if you run for 30 min...every 4th min increase your speed to an uncomfortable pace, and then return to your regular jog pace, also you could throw a small incline on there (if on treadmill), you'll really blast some fat - some of which should come from the tummy :))
You are right, Pilates works wonders, it targets the tummy so well. If I do my video a few days a week, I notice my little gut is pulled in a bit! haha
I do Core Secrets with a huge exercise ball. One of the exercises in the workout is to hold the ball above your head and to the right side, then you swing it down to your left foot. It's hard to explain, but it is basically a chopping motion that would be similar to swinging an axe. You can buy the Core workout dvd and ball for about $20.00 on ebay.
Long-distance running can actually lead to a higher percentage of body fat than you might achieve pursuing other forms of exercise or mixing weight training into your regime. The body seeks to streamline itself by shedding the weight, and this includes muscle. You aren't running a ton, but I'd still recommend adding some weight training to maintain the muscle that you have.
That being said, though, you won't actually see the benefits of weight training until you shed the fat that is covering your muscle. But it will happen, especially if you work more on changing your body composition than losing weight. Eat maintenance calories since you are a normal weight, but add weight training to your regime so that you can more easily work on your muscle tone as you lose the fat.
Don't overwork your abs as you could end up with your stomach just looking larger until the fat is gone. But do work your core, and your body in general, and I think you'll be pleased with the changes in your appearance over time.
I agree 100% with petite_powerhouse. Cardio is NOT the answer! Cardio is no better at shedding fat than dieting alone. Not saying there aren't other benefits, but weights are where it's at for getting rid of fat.
Your body is going to store fat where you body wants to store fat. Period. End of story. Your best bet to burn it off is a combination of your diet (most important) and weights.
Original Post by dianthys:
I'm pretty fit and pretty healthy (5'3", 129 lbs, run 10 miles or so a week), and my arms and legs are pretty okay. But from below my breasts to the tops of my thighs my body takes on the fantastic pear shape I've come to know and er, not love all that much. I bought the "Abs Diet" book and was doing that - I've done ab workouts... and nothing seems to do it. I've lost an inch over the last 6 months in my waist and hips... but come on... there's got to be a better way to go about this. Advice? Help? Misery loving company? Anything?
twisting from side to side with some type of bar on your shoulders, then adding weight to that bar as you get used to it. doing a half crunch with a medicine ball in both hands and moving it from side to side as you twist your waist. plain ol crunches, use a yoga ball less strain on ur back and neck. plain ol running will help with belly reduction. yoga and pilates will strengthen core and reduce the inches in the middle.
spot reduction is tricky but not impossible. overall weight reduction will happen but you can make extra efforts to reduce the middle parts.
Original Post by justinagrado:
spot reduction is tricky but not impossible. overall weight reduction will happen but you can make extra efforts to reduce the middle parts.
Spot reduction is not possible: the body loses fat wherever it chooses to. Toning so that you look better when the fat is gone, however, is very possible.
