How do you get rid of belly fat?

[DoctorRobert]

Before I fell pregnant, I weighed 9 stone 3 & had a reasonably flat stomach.

DD is now 2.3; I've been successfully doing the 5:2 diet this year and am down to 8 stone 10. (BMI 21.4) However despite feeling slim everywhere else, I still have a lot of dimply belly fat and although the overhang isn't as bad as it was in the early months PP, it's still there.

What exercise would be best to get rid of it? Can I ever get a flatter stomach again or is this something I just need to accept?

[gaggiagirl]

Jillians Michaels 6 week 6 pack DVD? I'm embarking on it myself this month as I'm in a similar situation.

[Lulabellarama]

You can't spot reduce. You can tone the stomach muscles, but sometimes this makes you look bulkier.
Sorry for the doom and gloom.

[MarthasHarbour]

Running, I have just started the couch to 5k. I am hoping this will shift my belly, post pregnancy fat (4yrs on! )

It worked for me pre pregnancy. Good luck

[HeySoulSister]

there is some evidence to say sprints burn belly fat.....and does seem to be working for me

[Beachcomber]

tracy anderson post pregnancy dvd is good for tummy exercises. you can probably find plenty from it on you tube. her mat dvd is good for all round toning. again im pretty sure it is on you tube.

[Aetae]

Apparently stress hormones lead to abdominal fat - b complex vitamins can help you limit the effects (lack of sleep and dehydration are also big stress exacerbators). And it does seem there is science behind "different types of fat", it's not as straightforward as just losing weight.

And someone in a health shop swore blind to me that fish oil capsules help you break down fat, specifically abdominal fat. Worth a try?

For me, though, I notice a huge difference when I stop eating sugar and stop drinking alcohol - my waist trims right down.

[DoctorRobert]

Thanks for the replies

So basically it's general exercise that's needed, rather than specific stomach exercises? (forgive my ignorance but I have never been "into" fitness)

That's interesting Aetae thank you, I'll look into that

[Beachcomber]

I agree that it is difficult to spot reduce but you can spot tone.

I really recommend the tracy anderson post pregnancy abdominal exercises to help pull the skin and muscle back in. I looked and it is on You tube so you could check it out for free. you have the whole thing or in parts

The abs section of the DVD is hard but it does really work (especially the piking!). The legs section is not bad too but like I said if you want all round toning the Mat DVD is better (there is a killer arms section which really works well).

[decaffwithcream]

Sugar, wheat and alcohol are meant to bethe culprits for stomach fat.

Once I started to low carb my stomach flattened itself fairly fast as it meant cutting out those.

[greencolorpack]

I've found a big difference going to the gym since last October. I was a size 20 in jeans, now I am a size 16 or even 14 and every time I go to the gym for a one hour session I feel amazing afterwards and my legs feel roomy in whatever trousers I have to change back into. I have the problem of trousers embarrassingly falling down. Sorry first world problems

[Sleepwhenidie]

Sugar, as mentioned above and stress/lack of sleep are closely linked to abdominal fat.

As has also been said, you can't spot reduce fat and you can have the most amazing six pack from exercise but won't see it if its covered with fat. Most effective fat burning exercise is high intensity interval training (HIIT), which could be sprints but can be virtually anything that gets your heart rate way up. If you address the sugar/stress/sleep and do HIIT 4-5 times a week with core excises such as planks, side planks etc it should help a lot.

[bigbuttons]

Jillian Michaels, that's all I've got to say!