Can't shift the belly!

[RedForFilth]

Anyone got any tips? I've lost over 3 stone in total and I'm a healthy weight, 9stone 5 and I'm 5ft 5. But my belly is still just awful I hate it. Can anyone help?

[beela]

No, can't help but I can sympathise. I'm in exactly the same position. I've lost 3 stone and gone from a bmi of 30 to 23. I do ab exercises and drink plenty of water. I still have a belly.

I think I have just got to come round to the fact that my bikini days are over... But at least I look good fully clothed, which was not the case when I was bordering on obese!

[sweetmonkeys]

Oh gawd, I'm in the same position.

I've lost 3.5 stone and now a size 10/12 but I cannot bloody shift my belly.

Two massive babies and two c sections have given me a lovely overhang / shelf to factor in too.

I now run 15k a week which is slowly starting to tone things up a bit, but if I'm honest if I had the money I'd just pay a surgeon to hoover all the fat out.

[sweetmonkeys]

Sorry, that was the least helpful reply ever.

[RedForFilth]

Looks like we're in the same boat then! I do hiit at home in the evenings. I can't go running or anything as I work a lot and I'm a single mum so no one to stay in the house whilst my 3 year olds asleep. I hate my belly so much, I'm losing more and more weight but all I see is belly!

[beela]

Urgh tell me about it!

I don't want to lose much more weight, its mainly just coming off my boobs and face now, not my tummy

I can't imagine the skin ever springing back. I blame my dc

[beela]

I wonder how much it costs to get it all sucked out. Pretty sure the answer is 'too much'!

[lurkingfromhome]

Same problem here. I've lost over a stone, am a healthy BMI, size 12, skinny arms, legs, face, boobs getting smaller by the day, but it WILL NOT BUDGE from my middle. I think every last bit of fat is just clinging on for grim death round there and I'm going to look emaciated everywhere else if I lose much more weight. I just measured round the fattest bit of my stomach and it's 41 inches!

What really annoys me most is of course that that's the unhealthiest place of all to carry weight - all that visceral fat.

[Lifeaback]

Unfortunately, having a 'nice' tummy with defined muscles only comes from having a really low body fat percentage. Women in particular seem to cling onto fat around their belly, I really sympathise with you it's so frustrating after all the hard work! The saying 'abs are made in the kitchen' really stands true and apart from liposuction there doesn't seem to be any other way

[BitOutOfPractice]

Oh god me too. I've seriously thought about the fat hoover option

[NotUmbongoUnchained]

Do you do ab exercises? Toning those muscles definitely helped pull everything in more for me.

[lurkingfromhome]

My muscles are hidden below a vast layer of fat so I don't think it would change that much. I fear it's all down to body shape - I have never had a flat stomach, even when I was a lanky teenager.

Even when I was a tiny child I remember sitting in the bath asking my dad why I had a fat tummy. He said I wasn't to worry about it at all as it would go away when I grew up. HA! WRONG!

[goingonabearhunt1]

I hate my belly too and it has always been quite round, even when the rest of me was thin. I do think certain foods bloat it more (bread and dairy mainly) and drinking lots of water helps but otherwise I've accepted it'll never be quite as I want it.

[goingonabearhunt1]

I think I'm what they call an apple shape but I just try and focus on the parts I do like.

[ItsAllDoomAndGloom]

It's carbs and sugar or C section shelf - not much you can do about that.

But seriously, you need to get low carb if you've not already to get rid of it.

[sweetmonkeys]

@ItsAllDoomAndGloom How does a low carb diet specifically target the belly? Genuine question.

[fishonabicycle]

If that is where you hold fat, the only way is to lose more fat. Mine is held on hips and thighs. Am currently weight training with a view to calorie cutting in a month or so.

[ItsNiceItsDifferentItsUnusual]

God I didn't want to read this! I've started Hiit and my belly just isn't shifting! Never used to be a problem, even after dc1, but dc2 was massive and screwed me right over.

I've seriously looked into the liposuction route. Cost is hideous although I would consider it...but the issue for me is the recovery. You're not able to lift for weeks, you have to wear a corset for weeks. It's just not doable if you're looking after young dc/working, IMO.

[ItsAllDoomAndGloom]

@sweetmonkeys I base that on my experience of doing the Blood Sugar Diet creates for people at risk of diabetes by Dr Michael Moseley.

It doesn't so much "target" the belly, but is developed to help people lose visceral fat around the organs, and seems to also attack the belly area.

[lurkingfromhome]

I do eat low carb and it still won't shift that much, alas. I'm just a natural apple shape and would honestly have to go down to about 6 stone before it did. My waist has gone down from 34.5 inches to 32.5 inches so at least that's something...

[halfwitpicker]

I'm in the same boat. Since 2 DC'S belly just sticks out, it's as if the muscle is bent outwards, rather than in. CBA to do situps though

[yummyeclair]

I hate my belly too but am trying low carbohydrate plus more vegetables - hope to lose a couple if inches as have tiny boobs! Would love to know what sort of HIT to do as well?

[RedForFilth]

Thanks everyone. Will try going lower carb than i am. Maybe I'm gonna have to accept this is how I look :( I'm in size 10 jeans now, fit my tummy but are so baggy around my legs I look awful. I can see people looking at my belly when they talk to me :(

[ItsAllDoomAndGloom]

Nooooo I'm sure the aren't! I think it's probably one of those things you notice a lot and no one else does

[RedForFilth]

I can feel their eyes looking! I just look ridiculous :(

[NSEA]

No one is looking at your tummy.

I hope low carb is the key