Fat tummy area

[WorthEveryPenny]

Trying to get back into shape ie loose Weight and be more toned . I am size 12-14, but high bmi due to 5’6 height.
I look slim upper body, arms etc but my tummy and hips are pretty jellish - ie more of a soft tissue fat.
I am usually good with diet but Also wanted to tone up my belly area - is it possible without diet just by exercise? Would any of you have tips what type of excercise is best for that?

No.... you need to change your diet. It sounds like you are an apple-shape, so your excess fat is around your middle.

However, exercise will help. It will obviously burn off calories but also tone you. Your aim is to add a little muscle mass and lose lots of fat. It is actually possible to stay the same weight but end up with a much smaller waist (and smaller dress size) because you have burned off fat and gained muscle.

The reason you cannot rely on exercise alone is because even if you go on a 10-mile run, you'll only burn something like 800 calories. It is soooo easy to consume an extra 1000 calories..... it is quite possible to exercise more and put on weight because you are eating more calories.

A lot of my friends have lost lots of weight and got fitter following Joe Wicks (on YouTube I think). His recipes are good.

You need to diet the fat away.

It's all very well having toned stomach muscles, but when covered in a layer of fat you wouldn't see them anyway.

I carry fat mostly around my middle too. As I approach BMI 25 (healthy) it's becoming clear that I'll still have fat around my middle at the top end of healthy. So I know I will need to diet further to get rid of it - maybe BMI 21-22.

Exercise is good for the fat burning and to tone muscles for when the fat is gone. But the thing that will get rid of the fat is maintaining a daily calorie deficit to lose weight.

Are you sure it's all fat? A lot of people look extra fat because their stomach muscles aren't toned.

And I meant to say if you are eating 500 calories a day too much and start doing a workout (eg a spin class), that burns 350ish calories you will still keeping putting weight on, just more slowly than you used to.

Try a few simple swaps in your diet that you won't really mind. Eg swap from a large latte to a small one, or change to a lower sugar breakfast cereal..... or whatever. Saving 50 calories her and there can make a big difference.

Good luck!

Watching your calories intake and doing some exercises like plank and crunches will definitely help get rid of those excess tummy fats.

Thank you all! That makes so much sense now.. I was doing Joe Wicks last year and my tummy area looked great, I have just slipped few months ago. I will get back to it post hols, get some weight off first and do moderate exercise (spinning). Once that done, possibly more core / strength excercise