Stomach

[Tal106]

Hey guys

So I have lost a lot of weight, but one thing that concerns me is my belly, its still.. well, kind of fat! It doesn't look that big normally but if I completely relax it it looks like a bit of a beer belly >.<
Quite annoying.

Anyhoo I have noticed weight loss in my arms and my neck/face, also a bit around the legs, but my stomach hasn't changed all that much (Or not as much as I'd have liked it to).

A nice flat stomach is what I would like to achieve. Is there any way I can work on this part of my body in particular? Its kind of getting to me, since my belly was the thing I started a diet for 3 months ago!

Can you help?

 

[dswithers]

First, you can not spot reduce. And for many people the last place they loose fat in on the belly.

Give some more info on your stats (sex, age, height, weight...) and diet and exercise routine and we might be able to giove you some suggestions of things to try.

 

[Tal106]

First, you can not spot reduce. And for many people the last place they loose fat in on the belly.

Give some more info on your stats (sex, age, height, weight...) and diet and exercise routine and we might be able to giove you some suggestions of things to try.

Okay

Sex: Male

Age: 16 (Well pretty much, just a month off)

Weight: Just a bit under 9 stone about 124 pounds I would say

Diet:

About 8:15am
Morning: Bowl of Alpen (Natural cereal with almonds, raisins, wheat, hazelnut) or else a bowl of Bran Flakes with sliced banana. Both very filling

About 1pm-ish
Lunch: Sandwich, no butter normally ham or chicken. But I'm starting to eat tuna instead

4pm
Occasionally I'd have some homemade soup, leek potato and broccoli (Only sometimes though)

6pm
Dinner: Steak sometimes, or else Chicken breast with vege's

And If I get really hungry around 8-9 I'd have a small bowl of cereal. Only if I'm really hungry though.

Excercise: Since I get up early every morning I dont have time till around 5pm I go for around a 3 mile run (I think its around that). Before that some days I would go for a 7-8 mile cycle. Then around 9pm go for another run thats about half a mile or maybe a bit more. Before I go to bed I do crunches and pressups, normally a lot if I can keep myself going about 80 or 90 average, about 100 pressups (Some of them arent proper pressups tho, near the end I get quite tired). Then I'd just go to bed.

To be honest thats all I have time for in a day. I hope this helps

Also if you could all give me tips on what I should be eating for packed lunch (Something convenient please) that would be nice. I think I'm going pretty well, not doing anything wrong.

Thanks guys

 

[Chillen]

Hello, TAL!----->ROCK ON with your GOAL!

Hey guys

So I have lost a lot of weight, but one thing that concerns me is my belly, its still.. well, kind of fat! It doesn't look that big normally but if I completely relax it it looks like a bit of a beer belly >.<
Quite annoying. Anyhoo I have noticed weight loss in my arms and my neck/face, also a bit around the legs, but my stomach hasn't changed all that much (Or not as much as I'd have liked it to).

Age 16, 124lbs (how tall are you? .....this seems mighty thin to me, dependent on your height)


One of the main things to do, is to "train your mind" for the forward task at hand. This comes in two examples: 1. Self education of the task and goal your desire, 2. Preparing your mind for the Self weaknesses and strengths in the task and goals you seek. The mind is "what dooms many people in the goals they seek". The weights and diet are always waiting to be embraced and used.....its the mind the decides if it occurs or not---->bottom line.

Look at the way the body is removing the fat from your body. This should tell you many things about yourself: It is removing fatty tissue from the smaller portions of the body before the larger end (and sometimes a little of both):

Losing fat is like draining a pool: Usually the smaller shallower end drains before the larger deeper end. The body is the Judge and Jury on where it comes off, and as the suspect in watching the decision occur, you have to be aware of your bodily response. The trick is not to get upset with "reality" but to embrace "reality" and effectively deal with it.

You have been dieting 3 months. What was your approach in this diet? What was your weight before you began?

If you want your body to change from what its currently doing, your gonna have to change your routine. A solid weight training program is noticably missing, in conjunction with training:

The transversus abdominus and lumbar multifidus: which are the inner abdominal muscles. Training this with proper diet, can strengthen the inner abdominal muscles and possible assist with the "pot belly" problem you are experiencing so young.

How much fat tissue are we discussing on the torso? It is possible the inner muscles of the torso are week and need some training to strengthen and pull the stomach in as fat tissue is lost.

It is also possible Hal, in my opinion, that since you are so small and VERY YOUNG, that building some lean tissue mass with proper overall training along with proper diet (not necessarily---a deficit) could be a solution to your problem. You will be suprised what an overall weight training and proper diet will do (especially) at your age----you are still growing--and your body hasnt even come close to full maturity yet.

I would like more info, and answer the questions I asked. I am not committed to "specific" advice at the moment, until I have more information.


Best regards,




Chillen

 

[Tal106]

I'm 5ft 4"/5" last time I measured.

I'm not that skinny (people say I am but I dont think I look it). This whole pot belly thing confuses me, I have muscle under my stomach, I can feel them. I think the pot belly look comes off a small bit of flab around the area of my bellybutton, if this where gone I'd like 'skinnier' if you want to put it that way. If I where to grow a bit, this bit would possibly stretch and the weight would look more balanced, meaning I have a better looking tummy area. Although I dont think my gym would let me do weights, and the closest thing I have at home is a pair of dumbells. I do crunches and pressups at night like I said.

I think I'm quite a big build as well, like my ribs and my general body is basically "thicker" (not flabby) than most other peoples.

Its rather confusing >.<

Thanks for all your advice and help so far, I'm still putting an effort into my diet and excercise and I know I'm still growing so thats a g

 

[Chillen]

I'm 5ft 4"/5" last time I measured.

I'm not that skinny (people say I am but I dont think I look it). This whole pot belly thing confuses me, I have muscle under my stomach, I can feel them. I think the pot belly look comes off a small bit of flab around the area of my bellybutton, if this where gone I'd like 'skinnier' if you want to put it that way. If I where to grow a bit, this bit would possibly stretch and the weight would look more balanced, meaning I have a better looking tummy area. Although I dont think my gym would let me do weights, and the closest thing I have at home is a pair of dumbells. I do crunches and pressups at night like I said.

ROCK ON! You responded well, Young man!

124 5'6"-7", age 16

For comparison, I am 5'7" 158 (at the present, and I say at the present since I am in a normal bulk)

Why wont your gym allow you to lift weights? Are there adults around? Do you need to obtain parental consent? (because of your age).

I think you just need to put on some lean tissue mass, allow time for normal "youth" growth. This can be completed by refining the diet and including a overall excercise program (which includes torso work). Currently, I do not think a deficit diet is the way to go with you.

I think I'm quite a big build as well, like my ribs and my general body is basically "thicker" (not flabby) than most other peoples.

What is your upper body (meaning shoulders and chest like?). You still seem small to me. Again, I think with proper diet and an appropriate exercise routine, you will fillout--and eventually balance out.

Its rather confusing >.<

Thanks for all your advice and help so far, I'm still putting an effort into my diet and excercise and I know I'm still growing so thats a g

No problem with the help (I am going to help more too). I enjoy assisting people from my heart.

See if you can get access to a gym and let me know. If not, see if you can get your dad to buy some "reasonable" equipment to get you started at home.

Nothing elaborate.....just some basic starter stuff. You can get a little now, and build on it later as you go along.

Dependent on your answers, we may have to go with dumbell use and other non-weight/body weight exercises to get the young man---POPPEN!



KEEP ROCKEN>............young man!


Best regards,



Chillen

 

[Tal106]

Why wont your gym allow you to lift weights? Are there adults around? Do you need to obtain parental consent? (because of your age).

Yeah I think its a minimum age of 16, but I'm that soon so I might join then. I'll do my best to browse around for a gym that I can join and has decent equipment.

What is your upper body (meaning shoulders and chest like?). You still seem small to me. Again, I think with proper diet and an appropriate exercise routine, you will fillout--and eventually balance out.

According to my Dad (whos quite expereinced at rugby, played a lot in his youth) said I'm the right build for rugby. I'm "stocky" whatever that means. Anyway, I have quite a big rib cage imo, and my shoulders are bigger than anyone else's my height I think. I think my diet is ok at the moment, and I'm doing a lot of cardio. But yeah I also think when I mature at a later stage I will balance out hopefully a bit more.

No problem with the help (I am going to help more too). I enjoy assisting people from my heart.

See if you can get access to a gym and let me know. If not, see if you can get your dad to buy some "reasonable" equipment to get you started at home.

Indeed I will!
I'll have a look at gyms hopefully this month, I've been told by a friend there is a rugby club gym I can join so I'll see
Maybe I could buy a barbell and weights, that sound ok for a start? ^^

KEEP ROCKEN>............young man!

I will of course

Thanks a million for your advice again, your posts make me smile

 

[matts0344]

Tal, I'm in almost the exact same condition as you.

I'm 21 though, I'm 5'3 and 124 lbs, I lost about 35 lbs through diet and cardio, people tell me I'm too skinny, I'm not though, my arms, and face lost a lot of weight but I still have a huge belly especially when I set down. When I stand up you can almost see my ribs though because I have a rather big build as well.

I lost some weight in my belly but its definitely not flat.
I don't know how much more weight I can lose, I mean, isn't < 120 lbs getting into unhealthy territory for a 21 yr old 5'3 male?
Its really frustrating.

Is weight training the answer?

 

[Tal106]

Yep, you sound in the same position as me alright, although for some reason I tend to walk around with my stomach sort of tensened and not relaxed.. dunno why that is, it just comes naturally.. like blinking sort of

I am happy with the weight I've lost, I just think I've still a bit to grow and it'll balance out.. its confusing and if someone could be our saviour and give us an answer it would be great

Until then I'm gonna try to continue on as normal.. hey dont complain, at least you're a healthy weight and not overweight or obese. People tell me I'm getting far to skinny and shouldnt lose anymore weight, but I'd say I'm healthy.
You could try weight lifting which is what I am gonna do. Not sure if it'll work but meh, at least I can try and in the mean time get some more muscle ^^

Just try not to be paranoid about your weight. If people are saying you're very skinny then what is there to worry about? No one expects you to look like a super model anyway