Fat Belly

[gingersnap]

I am 41 years old and a mother of 2. 5'5'', 120lbs, I lift weights alternating upper and lower body with 20-30 min of cardio on the off days. I have always had a fat belly even when I was very very skinny.....Ugh! Ok, what is the best thing I can do? I personally feel that cardio has helped me the most with this.... but then I hear too much cardio interferes with muscle growth? Ugh! I am about ready for Lipo but I hear mesotherapy will be coming soon to my city? Will too much ab work make it stick out more? or is this just a myth? Any advice is welcome, Thanks!

 

[NWinters]

I always thought Lipo looked painful, the way they jam that rod in ya. What does your diet look like? You may need to cut the carbs, at 41 your metabolism wasnt as good as it was when you were 21.

 

[gingersnap]

Yeah, the thing is my belly stuck out when I was 21 and 100lbs....age and having babies has added insult to injury. I was anorexic in my twenties and about 80lbs (gross, I know) and an excercise maniac, and my belly still stuck out! My friends that have had lipo have little marks where the cannula went in, I don't like that....I would do Mesotherapy if they had it in my city...I'm sure it will be here soon.....anyway, my personal trainer says it is impossible to overwork your abs, yet others have said it could make them stick out more?

 

[Mike_Rojas]

Build up all the muscles of the body. Don't be afraid to work the big moves like squats. More muscle leads to a higher metabolism.

Modify your diet. There's different approaches - find one that works for you. Check out the diet board. Be sure to eat often though - 5 small meals are much better than 3 big ones.

Work your ab muscles like any other - don't over do it. Don't pound away on them forever - that doesn't do anything. You can't burn fat off your stomach by doing crunches.

Cardio's good in moderation. 3-4 times a week for 20 minutes should be enough. Most fat loss is a result of changes in your diet.

You might look into HIIT. That is basically alternating sprinting and jogging. Do a search on that. It burns fat and builds muscle.

Good luck!

 

[JOKER47]

I would avoid lipo at all costs.

I saw a documentary on it, and it was horrible . Even the guy they followed who had it done, said he wouldn't do it if given the chance again to re-think it.

They are not gentle when they do it, and permanent damage can, and has, been done.

Not worth it for $6k or better. IMO.

Mike is right on, IMO as well.


Joker

 

[gingersnap]

Thanks for all the great advice everyone. I'll look into HIIT. It seems I had the flatest abs when I was a runner, that was a LOT of cardio. I also have ordered the "South Beach Diet" book, supposedly this diet removes abdominal fat first...we'll see.

 

[Exodus]

well you admitted to being anorexic......... and i hate to break it too you, but there is no way you have a fat belly at 5'5 and 80 lbs.

i would like to see a picture of what your so called "fat belly" looks like first. i have a feeling its not near as bad as you say.

just speaking from experience of a guy who watched 2 of his friends have to go to the doctor for anorexia.

X

 

[from zero]

I also have ordered the "South Beach Diet" book, supposedly this diet removes abdominal fat first...we'll see.

No diet will spot reduce. It just is not possible. I think Mike gave some excellent advice. I suggest you follow it explicitly.

Diet. (Perhaps spatts' cutting diet?)
Lift hard. Seriously. Hard. Heavy. Intense.
Cardio. In moderation. You don't need to run 4235252 miles a day.

In that order.

 

[FitFossil]

The good news is belly fat is typically easier to loose than thigh fat for females. When I was anorexic and 80 pounds, my thighs were still soft and fat. But now at 5'5" 125lbs, they're not. I'm a great believer in HIIT cardio - it's an awesome fat burner, no matter where that fat is. It's hard, but it works Takes less time too.

One thing with belly fat - it can result from elevated cortisol (a stress hormone). Day to day stress, skipping meals, eating a lot of highly processed foods, esp. simple (white and/or sweet) carbohydrates can all contribute to this.

Also stressful is overtraining, especially in the case of too much and too long cardio sessions. I see this in the gym a lot - people spending lots of time on cardio and very little (if any) time weight training. They think they're burning fat, but too much cardio will also burn muscle, making it even harder to lose or maintain their weight.

Here's a good article on the effects of too much cardio:
http://home.eol.ca/~philla/bodyessence/Pages/Articles/aerobicvstrength/chunkysyndrome.html

 

[Generic MALE]

I agree with Exodus. I wish you would post a pic. Being anorexic you are prone to not seeing what you look like accurately - you are prone to seeing yourself ALWAYS as fat - no matter how thin you are. I too find it hard to believe you were 5'5" 80 LBS and had a gut. I do believe you THINK you had a huge gut.

Also if you have very tight hamstrings you might stand swaybacked (increased lordotic curve, rounding of the lowback) and that will make your abdomen protrude although it is not fat. So if you are swaybacked and sticking your ass out your abdomen might be them ost prominent thing.

Again post a pic - and show us your tits...j/k (sort of)

 

[Mike_Rojas]

Don't get lipo! I know a woman that had it, but no one can tell because she gained weight right away. I guess she thought she could eat anything she wanted after her gut was gone. Duh.

 

[Smurfy]

maybe it's just your hip bones protruding, and not a fat belly

 

[gingersnap]

You guys are a big help, thanks. FYI, when I was an 80lb anorexic my exercise instructor came up to me and in front of the whole class said "skinny, skinny, skinny, skinny, WITH A BELLY!" So I know it is not just in my head. I looked at HIIT, I am doing a version of that on the treadmill already on my cardio days. I understand that too much cardio can burn muscle but will it really burn muscle when there is plenty of fat still available? So frustrating. I guess the only thing I can really significantly change would be my diet...I am tempted to increase my cardio though. Well, My "South Beach Diet" came in the mail, gotta go open it! Thanks!

 

[FitFossil]

... I understand that too much cardio can burn muscle but will it really burn muscle when there is plenty of fat still available?

Most definitely! When trying to lose fat, we're fighting millions of years of evolution. It's only been in the last few hundred years that humans have had a relatively steady food supply. Before that it was feast or famine.

Our bodies equate fat with survival and will do anything to hold on to it. When the body gets a message of impending starvation, which can come from skipping meals or too few calories, it sets off alarm bells. This can include burning off muscle (because muscle requires calories just to exist whereas fat does not) and earmarking more incoming calories to store as fat.

The trick with losing fat is to stay under your body's radar by making only slight adjustments to calories and exercise. The little changes will add up, and there is much less chance of fat rebound. Even though the process will take longer, you won't get those sluggish feelings and intense cravings that come with more restrictive diets. And by giving your body more calories, you can exercise at a higher intensity and become more fit, which helps your body become more adept at burning fat.

I consider Clarence Bass to be the master of leanness. You can read his words of wisdom here:
http://www.cbass.com/MOTHERNA.HTM
http://www.cbass.com/FatGainTrig.htm

 

[gingersnap]

Great information Fit Fossil, especially regarding nutrition. I am always anemic or borderline anemic, maybe that's contributing to that starvation belly look. As a matter of fact when I was thinner my sister told me countless times, "You look like a starving child in Africa"...(skinny with a belly). At 120 I know I should lose aboout 10lbs, I do agree with the lose it slowly.

I have read conflicting info on the cardio though. I have read less intense longer cardio sessions burn more fat and I was leaner when I excercised like that (although I was younger).

I'm definitely going to work on improving my diet....maybe try to do the HIIT verbatim....Thanks so much!

 

[Exodus]

FYI, when I was an 80lb anorexic my exercise instructor came up to me and in front of the whole class said "skinny, skinny, skinny, skinny, WITH A BELLY!" So I know it is not just in my head.

so your basing this off of what you said as a anorexic person, and some exercise instructor said, who was also probably anorexic????

lets see some pics............. i dated a girl when i was in high school. and she didnt workout, just ate a balanced healthy diet. she weighed in at 86 lbs and was 4'11. and belive me there was not "big belly." so i dont see how in the world you can be 5'5 (which is 6 inches taller) and weigh 6 lbs less, and have a big belly, i just dont see how its possible.

lets see a pic.

X

 

[mordy]

Do you have a very curved spine? It may not really be fat? When you tighten your abs does the shape change or can you feel the muscles move under a layer of fat?

 

[gingersnap]

so your basing this off of what you said as a anorexic person, and some exercise instructor said, who was also probably anorexic????

lets see some pics............. i dated a girl when i was in high school. and she didnt workout, just ate a balanced healthy diet. she weighed in at 86 lbs and was 4'11. and belive me there was not "big belly." so i dont see how in the world you can be 5'5 (which is 6 inches taller) and weigh 6 lbs less, and have a big belly, i just dont see how its possible.

lets see a pic.

X

I don't have a digital camera, when we need one my husband just brings the one from the office.....so I haven't the faintest clue how to get a picture to you sorry! I have received many comments on my belly (not just that one), which amazes me that people can be that rude but that's another story.

I don't have a very curvy spine, I do have what they call a "boyish figure" narrow hips and naturally slim....although what I would call "skinny fat", not a natural bodybuilder type, more naturally scrawny, which is why I work out.

I think the narrow hips contributes to the belly it's like the fat can't spead out so it pops out...LOL!

Anyway, I got a new PT (with a perfect body), I'm going to ask her what she thinks, she has trained people for BB competitions so I know she know her stuff.

Thanks guys!

 

[ohashi]

Get your husband to bring the cam, and get some pics up. There is no fat that cannot be removed with proper diet and exercise (lifting and HIIT), but I want to see this "belly". At your stats, it seems like something that's entirely in your head.

 

[Deleted member 33117]

Exodus is right. My ex-girlfriend thought she was fat even after droping down to 100 ibs with abes. Even after catching her sticking her finger down her throat several times and chewing her out about it, and constantly telling her she had a beautiful body, she was still convinced that she needed to loose another 20 ibs. It could very well be in your head. Post a picture if you can.

 

[Paulo]

You guys are a big help, thanks. FYI, when I was an 80lb anorexic my exercise instructor came up to me and in front of the whole class said "skinny, skinny, skinny, skinny, WITH A BELLY!" So I know it is not just in my head.

Exercise instructor was a dick. It is extremely counter-productive and childish to exploit you like that. People say a lot of stupid, rude things, it doesn't mean it is reality. Most of the time it is just because they are trying to cover up their own deficiencies and lack of self-esteem.

I hate to say this but some people just have more belly than others. My dad has always been skinny as a rail, but he had that Ethiopian gut thing going on where the lower abdomen sticks out. Even though he has gained more muscle and, overall, looks a lot better, he still has the belly. I don't know how that relates to you, but it is an example.



Since you won't be posting a pic, you could just post how far in inches it 'sticks out'. Just a thought, if you even want us to know.

G'day


Paulo

 

[obiwan9962]

k first off are u sure it was fat or an extended belly
being anorexic you were malnurished
malnurished people have extended bellies
justa comment
i have been fat all my life
now working at it at 41
but now fucking way will i go through lipo
my ex motherinlaw did it and no amount of drugs eased her pain for 2 days
plus the risk of internal hemmorage and infection
no farging way
i have a bad back but rather do sit ups and crunches

 

[jenscats5]

Can't comment on the anoexia part, don't know that much about it. Know about lipo, & lipo won't give you a flat belly. It'll remove some of the fat but if your ab muscles naturally curve out, then they will still stick out. Make sure you stand up straight. Also, do you have loose skin?? Loose skin in that area can make you look like you have a pooch.

I used to do ab work with weights -- sit ups with a 25 lb plate, etc but I stopped doing that. Now I do no weight crunches or with a 5kg ball & also do the plank. Now my abs don't stick out as much. Also I've noticed that what I eat & drink can make me appear "poochy."

Oh and with lipo -- you can't eat whatever you want afterwards. It is possible to gain the weight right back as someone else said. LOL

 

[SubjectiveIllusion]

*DISCLAIMER* Unhealthy idea likely to cause controversy. For entertainment purposes only.

Almost anyone, even if they have a very low body fat percentage, has a belly that extends past there chests (for guys anyways, woman have tits so that doesn't usually happen as much), even Arnold!!! Its the intestinal system and the amount of food in it that is your main concern.. Many people with 'imflamed gut' have big bellies, but it has nothing to do with fat.

I have a big belly too and my BMI is 22.5 (average.) I find my belly goes down considerably when I fast on water. I assume this is because there is less food in it.

How is it that we have had this many posts and nobody has told her that almost everyone with flat bellies just suck their gut in!?! Some call it reverse or paradox breathing, as you breath abit differently then normal. If its not clear by now, sucking your gut in does not pertain to holding your breath, its just breathing high in the chest with your abs held inward (not flexed!!!)

About 7 years ago my buddy and I were at the mall and saw some hot chicks coming our way. He said "Hurry, suck your gut in!" I did, without even thinking about it. I've been doing it ever since. Its the difference between looking like a slight slob, or looking like a very-athletic person. I've done it so often that it has become an unconscious movement and requires non of my attention. Most people are embarrassed to say they suck it in, but it happens with a fair share of people. So now you know why many people have small tummys!

I went out with an anorexic that had a BMI of 17.5, she was 5'3", 95 lbs and just coming out of recovery (previously had a BMI of 14.3!) Even she had a belly. I thought it was sexy, but never told her that,.. as if she would believe me anyways!!! I hope this makes you feel a little better!

Lastly, I would like to point out that research indicates that reverse breathing can put a strain on the heart. It can speed up breathing and heart rate and cause higher amounts of adrenaline and other stress hormones to be produced. Some say this type of breathing causes them to become agitated and angry, possibly a result of the stress hormones. I find it speeds up my resting breath rate about 10-20% (4-6 BPM to 5-7 BPM.) My resting heart rate is usually stable at 38-42 BPM. It is very possible that this type of breathing could expand the lungs and chest as there is more pressure on both when you breath high in the chest, so there may be some good out of it, but this is only a thought of mine..


Good luck to all tummy toners, LOL!!!

 

[Deleted member 33117]

???? SI, my chest exents out farther than my belly, even when I'm bulking. What are you talking about? Try doing vaccums.

 

[SubjectiveIllusion]

???? SI, my chest exents out farther than my belly, even when I'm bulking. What are you talking about? Try doing vaccums.

I didn't say everyone! If your lucky enough to be one of the people who does not have this problem then thats awesome, but as far as what I've seen this happens on a very seldom basis.

Do you do vaccums and find they help? How are they done?

 

[Deleted member 33117]

For vacums I just exhault all of my air, then suck in my diaphram until my somach caves in about 4 or 5 inches below the depth of my rib cage and hold it a few seconds. I do it 5-10 times every day.

 

[SubjectiveIllusion]

For vacums I just exhault all of my air, then suck in my diaphram until my somach caves in about 4 or 5 inches below the depth of my rib cage and hold it a few seconds. I do it 5-10 times every day.

I heard of it being done, and can do it, but don't how it works to achieve the effects its meant to achieve, whatever they are, and that is my second question.

I'm assuming its conducive towards a flatter tummy, am I correct?

 

[Stryc-9]

I think vacuums tighten the transverse abdominals and the inner obliques....Frank Zane was always hitting the vacuum pose (I remember reading that he believe it also helped get rid of hunger). Might sound obvious but make sure you have an empty stomach before doing them.