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The weights room

Want to tone my stomach / without losing weight

43 replies

Mrstumbletap · 21/06/2017 14:03

Hi all, any ideas how to tone just my stomach? When I lose weight it comes off everywhere but there. So I'm skinny with a wobbly mum tum.

I do sit ups and crunches and plank but there is never any tone it's like there is a layer of horrible fat I can't shift.

So I try to cut calories to lose the belly fat and it comes off everywhere else.

I'm a 34 year old female, 9st 10lbs, 5ft 6, had a c section 4 years ago. So look skinny with clothes on but look horrible without clothes!

Do I just need to do loads and loads of crunches and sit ups and longer planks?? Or is there something I'm missing?

OP posts:
Mrstumbletap · 21/06/2017 19:25

Anyone?

OP posts:
DangerMouse17 · 21/06/2017 19:41

What sort of exercise do you do now? I think you can't avoid losing weight aLloyd over as the tummy is the last to go, but you might benefit best from weight training...so you put on muscle weight and lose the remaining "fat".

DangerMouse17 · 21/06/2017 19:41

all over*

junebirthdaygirl · 21/06/2017 19:44

I found one of those exercise balls did wonders for my tummy..and planks

Mrstumbletap · 21/06/2017 23:15

Ah so can you do weight training on your stomach? What would that entail?

I think that's what I need is more muscle as then it would appear firmer.

So today I did
50 crunches
40 sit ups
60 second plank

But do I just double or triple that?

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NotJanine · 23/06/2017 11:36

If you work on your abs too much you may end up with your stomach looking bigger. You will increase the muscles, not necessarily reduce the fat.

I have the same problem as you with carrying fat on my stomach - it's really frustrating!

Mrstumbletap · 23/06/2017 19:37

Oh no, Doing lots of stomach exercise will make if bigger?! Ffs

What are you supposed to do then? How do all these bikini CPD women in magazines everywhere I look have flat stomachs? I despair!

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DangerMouse17 · 24/06/2017 18:53

It's largely diet, they would be having very little carb to reduce water retention in the muscles. Weight training you can do an all over plan to help and potentially some weighted crunches/Russian twists, in tandem with hanging leg raises and the like to help with giving you a lean look. Ultimately you will need to lose fat, but the weight training will help as well.

gamerchick · 24/06/2017 18:56

Are you sure it's fat and not just stretched skin from pregnancy? There's not much you can do about that.

Sarahsea1 · 24/06/2017 19:07

Hanging leg raises and plank are your best bet. Sit ups won't do much and in some cases can train the muscles out.

Mrstumbletap · 25/06/2017 17:59

Well the skin is a bit stretched but definitely lots of fat on too. I have attached a picture.
But when I lose weight more comes off my already small boobs and off my arms and face.

So maybe just longer and longer planks and and leg raises? (not sure what a hanging leg raise is)

Want to tone my stomach / without losing weight
OP posts:
AvonBarksdale99 · 25/06/2017 18:14

You can't spot reduce fat unfortunately, e.g. If you lose body fat, it will come off where it wants, you can't force it to come from your stomach (although some people claim that a lack or surplus of certain hormones can add or reduce fat in places like the stomach or thighs, but that hasn't been proven)

Basically your body thinks the belly is a good place to store fat, so it will keep it there longest.

Doing stomach exercises is a good idea in general but it will just build the muscle underneath the fat, it won't give you a 'flat' stomach.

People in magazines don't look like that every day, a lot of it is fasting, posing, posture, photoshopping etc. But if you do want a flat stomach then lose weight all over until it goes off your stomach as well, and do lots of weights so your legs and arms retain muscle to stop looking too skinny.

C4Envelope · 25/06/2017 18:17

I think you have a lovely body! I have terrible disgusting stomach now after huge pregnancy bump and c section overhang. Dimpled, stretchmarked, sagging and fat all in a oner.

Mrstumbletap · 28/06/2017 09:48

Thanks C4 but it isn't great in real life I assure you. I have been doing more sit ups, crunches, leg raises and planks in the last week, but not really a noticeable difference yet.

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Strongbeatsskinny · 28/06/2017 22:59

No amount of exercise will reduce body fat that's achieved by diet. Now looking at the photo your stomach looks slightly bloated from that angle.

Mrstumbletap · 01/07/2017 19:14

Oh it definitely is, there's a whole loaf of fat on there it's horrible.
But when I lose weight everything else gets thinner and scrawnier. I got down to 9st 4lbs about 6 months ago and my face and boobs shrunk massively.
I think I probably just need to go back down again. Currently 9st 10lbs.

Any tips on losing the bloat? Cut carbs or just generally lose weight?

OP posts:
Mrstumbletap · 01/07/2017 19:14

Load not loaf Blush

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Justhadmyhaircut · 01/07/2017 19:15

Fitness hoola hoop!!

Strongbeatsskinny · 02/07/2017 16:00

try a low carb diet to reduce the bloat. What's it like first thing in the morning? It could be a number of reasons to why It's bloated number one suspect is food in intolerance which means you react by bloating. Another reason could be poor gut health. Either way unless you loose body fat (boobs) are fat sadly we can't choose where it comes off from no excercise will help remove fat from any one area.
However weight training can sculpt you nice curves and no you won't look like a man.

namechange20050 · 02/07/2017 16:11

I have the same problem as you OP. What did help me is not drinking (this isn't sustainable for me though... I like my wine) and Pilates.

Jaimx86 · 02/07/2017 16:17

Do you drink alcohol, Op? Looks like you have some water retention.

Mrstumbletap · 02/07/2017 21:28

No don't really drink alcohol, maybe 1 glass of wine a month? Like carbs though

Yes I need weight training that can help sculpt me! What will that consist of? I have started doing the Pilate type thing on my side, side plank? And adding that in every day. Can't seem to increase my plank time though, i dont seem to have the strength to do longer. Sit ups are becoming easier though.

OP posts:

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Strongbeatsskinny · 03/07/2017 17:32

Carbs could be the cause of the bloated stomach you need to reduce them to see if there's any improvement. If your still bloating you need to find out if your intolerant to foods and household substances. Once that's been addressed and if your still bloating it might well be a gut issue.
The above needs looking into first and foremost. Now onto weight training this is done in a gym using heavy weights you'd need a coach to show you how to do this safely and with correct form. This will help sculpt you a nice body However diet will also be the forefront of your. Transformation. Which incidentally will take time results won't be overnight.

ShowOfHands · 03/07/2017 19:17

Have you checked for diastasis recti (abdominal separation)? I had this after both caesareans and if you do too, sit ups and crunches will make your stomach bigger. In fact, sit ups and crunches do little for your core compared to other exercise.

If you fancy a challenge, the Jillian Michaels DVD Six Week Six Pack is brilliant but check for abdominal separation first.

Mrstumbletap · 03/07/2017 23:21

I have checked for abdominal separation and I think it may have separated slightly at the top but not a massive amount.

Do i definitely need to get a trainer at the gym show my how to do free weights it can't be achieved at home?

Ok so I'm currently going to shift 6-9lbs, cutting the carbs too, I usually do the 5:2 as I find it the easiest, is it just processed carbs, is a jacket potato ok?

So do I stop with the crunches and sit ups? I usually do a second set before bed (no idea if that is a good idea or not)

OP posts:
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