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Lost 6.5 stone but still no it a big belly

39 replies

YourAmberHam · 23/01/2025 11:52

I know you can’t target weight loss, but I’ve lost 6.5 stone using mounjaro since April started at 18 stone 12lb and now 12 stone 6lb my arms face and legs look amazing and I’m so happy but my stomach is still 51inches my legs are like a size 12/14 but stomach is 16/18 what can I do? Why is this happening?
I walk for around 1 hour a day week days and I’m a childminder so always on my feet and at weekend I go hiking for around 2.5 hours sometimes longer I eat around 1000 calories a day mainly protein avoid carbs. I do have PCOS could this be why?

OP posts:
Dietingfool · 23/01/2025 11:53

You need to start incorporating core exercises in and start properly exercising, walking is great but it doesn’t do much, you need to build muscle. If you can join a gym do so, if not buy some weights and do workouts at home.

JoanCollinsDiva · 23/01/2025 12:03

It could be worth seeing your GP about that. How tall are you? I'm 5"8" and at 12 stone I'd be a size 12-14 all over. I've had 4 dc's and my stomach muscles are absolutely shot to pieces and il never have a flat tummy without surgery or loads of exercise but that does sound like a big disparity.

Girlintheframe · 23/01/2025 12:09

If you want a smaller stomach you will need to continue loosing body fat. Some people struggle to shift fat from their hips/legs etc and some their stomach. A lot is down to genetics and where we store our fat. Exercise will help keep you in a calories deficit but won't help specifically with moving the body fat. Core exercises whilst great will not create a smaller stomach.
If you've had pregnancies it's possibly down to muscle separate and body fat as the diastasis recti can give the appearance of a bigger stomach.

Girlintheframe · 23/01/2025 12:11

Should have said..keep doing what you're doing and in time your waist measurements will reduce. It may be that that's the last area you will loose body fat from.

olympicsrock · 23/01/2025 12:15

Most people lose weight from the tummy last. Even if you lose the weight , you will have a heavy apron of loose skin there.
I lost 3.75 stone in the same period as you. I’ve still got a big tummy and wear size 16. Keep going.
I’m trying to exercise my core and glutes to improve this area and my posture

Dietingfool · 23/01/2025 12:16

JoanCollinsDiva · 23/01/2025 12:03

It could be worth seeing your GP about that. How tall are you? I'm 5"8" and at 12 stone I'd be a size 12-14 all over. I've had 4 dc's and my stomach muscles are absolutely shot to pieces and il never have a flat tummy without surgery or loads of exercise but that does sound like a big disparity.

I actually agree with you, it is a concerning disparity and id wonder if anything else is going on, so worth a doctors visit.

in the meantime op, start to work your core muscles, as said, walking won’t do it for you unfortunately, and see if that starts to make a difference.

Dietingfool · 23/01/2025 12:22

Op are you in the uk or the USA? A size 18 in the uk is about 38inches waist, 51 inches would be a size 22, so maybe you’re in the USA? How tall are you?

or maybe you’ve measured wrong?

YourAmberHam · 23/01/2025 12:23

Thank you for the replies I have had one pregnancy so maybe could be muscle thing that was mentioned. I’m going to start doing home workouts to help tone and see if it makes a difference. My Gp is crap unfortunately and wouldn’t offer any advice if I saw her

OP posts:
YourAmberHam · 23/01/2025 12:24

Dietingfool · 23/01/2025 12:22

Op are you in the uk or the USA? A size 18 in the uk is about 38inches waist, 51 inches would be a size 22, so maybe you’re in the USA? How tall are you?

or maybe you’ve measured wrong?

I’m in the UK it’s like I can squish it so it fits 🤣 but when measured it’s 51inches

OP posts:
thesugarbumfairy · 23/01/2025 12:24

You aren't saying how tall you are which is significant. Some people are just all torso with skinny legs and arms - what I'd call lollipop shape. I'm the same weight as you and 5ft4" having lost 4st so far on MJ, and I am now a size 14-16 - but I'm a barrel (or a cylinder LOL) with fat arms. The weight sits more evenly on my body but I don't have a defined waist. Your natural body shape becomes less obvious the less weight you carry - I've noticed (on other people) that this is the case is if you get down to quite a small size (10 or lower)

So if you are my height, and naturally carry it on your torso, then a size 16-18 doesn't sound unreasonable, however 16-18 isn't a 51" waist. 16-18 is no more than a 38" waist (and that's being generous - its probably more like 34") So I'd be slightly concerned about that and possibly just check with the GP. But also what others have said, try to work on core muscles and keep going with the weight loss. You are doing so well.

YourAmberHam · 23/01/2025 12:24

Dietingfool · 23/01/2025 12:22

Op are you in the uk or the USA? A size 18 in the uk is about 38inches waist, 51 inches would be a size 22, so maybe you’re in the USA? How tall are you?

or maybe you’ve measured wrong?

I’m 5”5 x

OP posts:
OvaHere · 23/01/2025 12:29

I've gone from 14.6 to 11.2 and I still have quite a bit of stomach fat as that is where I was carrying it the most. It's a lot better than it was but it still seems like the most stubborn area to shift.

Despite what I've lost in pounds I've only really dropped one clothing size in trousers due to my stomach. I could probably fit into some 14's now but anything tight around the stomach is uncomfortable. Tops and dresses I could maybe wear some size 12's.

Dietingfool · 23/01/2025 12:36

YourAmberHam · 23/01/2025 12:24

I’m in the UK it’s like I can squish it so it fits 🤣 but when measured it’s 51inches

Ah ok then I’d strongly suspect it is lack of muscle. Start exercising to build core strength and see how you go.

it is really important to have core muscle as it is required for stability as we age. You’ve got it nailed on the legs, so start to focus on your mid section, use weights, and google core exercises, doing a variety of exercises, inc differing sit ups, and see how you go.

I exercise a lot and also find limbs easier, but force myself to do my core, even though I utterly hate it, but I know how important it is. I’d say my tummy has shrunk the most.

google core exercises, you can do at home, and start having a crack and building up.

Offleyhoo · 23/01/2025 12:38

Girlintheframe · 23/01/2025 12:09

If you want a smaller stomach you will need to continue loosing body fat. Some people struggle to shift fat from their hips/legs etc and some their stomach. A lot is down to genetics and where we store our fat. Exercise will help keep you in a calories deficit but won't help specifically with moving the body fat. Core exercises whilst great will not create a smaller stomach.
If you've had pregnancies it's possibly down to muscle separate and body fat as the diastasis recti can give the appearance of a bigger stomach.

^^ exactly this. Very well done so far 💪😊

Dietingfool · 23/01/2025 12:51

Offleyhoo · 23/01/2025 12:38

^^ exactly this. Very well done so far 💪😊

Hmm, see I disagree with that, as I absolutely know for sure that having strong stomach muscles will tighten your stomach and thus make it smaller. It pulls it in. It’s like wearing an invisible inner corset.

The op is clear her stomach is squishy, she can squeeze what is a size 22 into a size 16/18, so her stomach is loose and flabby, so focusing her exercises on this area has every chance of tightening it up and altering the size.

YourAmberHam · 23/01/2025 13:05

So glad I posted I feel like you’ve all given me some great advice! I’m definitely going to search some exercises that might help :)

OP posts:
YourAmberHam · 23/01/2025 13:08

Well this is the most outrageous photo I’ve ever put online left is before right is now, but I just feel like there’s barely any difference I know it has changed but it’s sooo flabby

Sensitive content
Lost 6.5 stone but still no it a big belly
OP posts:
Dietingfool · 23/01/2025 13:12

Side on you can see the huge difference op, you can also see it front on, see how your sides slope in now rather than out?

I think you need to just start focusing on this area and tighten it up, and as you lose more fat it will shrink with that,

Dietingfool · 23/01/2025 13:22

Also, I mean this politely, but do your glutes, as your backside is going flat which indicates a lack of muscle. I hope that doesn’t cause offense, simply our glute muscles are key for stability.

for me, I find squats are good. However I also go to the gym, and do the cardio machines at high resistance, I found these worked my thigh muscles more though, so have now built in squats, I can now do low sitting ones with ease, and can see the difference in my backside.

the first time I did them I was in agony for days after, now I need to do about a hundred to feel it the next day, there is also free weight exercises you can do, and you can google these, but for at home, with ease, start with squats.

sadly as we start to lose weight, everything doesn’t just snap back, we also need to build our muscles back up in key areas.

I do alternate muscles each day, so an example will be today core, tomorrow glutes, the next day core, to allow recovery time. Advice differs, some even think once a week is enough, some every day, but this works for me,

plus things like core and squats you can do at home very quickly. You will find your muscle strength comes on quickly. In a couple of months, you will be able to do much more than you can today. And our muscles are like the clothes hangers, they hold our skin and fat up for us.

YourAmberHam · 23/01/2025 13:28

Dietingfool · 23/01/2025 13:22

Also, I mean this politely, but do your glutes, as your backside is going flat which indicates a lack of muscle. I hope that doesn’t cause offense, simply our glute muscles are key for stability.

for me, I find squats are good. However I also go to the gym, and do the cardio machines at high resistance, I found these worked my thigh muscles more though, so have now built in squats, I can now do low sitting ones with ease, and can see the difference in my backside.

the first time I did them I was in agony for days after, now I need to do about a hundred to feel it the next day, there is also free weight exercises you can do, and you can google these, but for at home, with ease, start with squats.

sadly as we start to lose weight, everything doesn’t just snap back, we also need to build our muscles back up in key areas.

I do alternate muscles each day, so an example will be today core, tomorrow glutes, the next day core, to allow recovery time. Advice differs, some even think once a week is enough, some every day, but this works for me,

plus things like core and squats you can do at home very quickly. You will find your muscle strength comes on quickly. In a couple of months, you will be able to do much more than you can today. And our muscles are like the clothes hangers, they hold our skin and fat up for us.

Hahaha no offence taken I’ve noticed this myself it hurts sitting on plastic chairs 🤣

OP posts:
Girlintheframe · 23/01/2025 13:35

I see a big difference in before snd after! Huge well done! What you're seeing is body fat, keep going and it will reduce. If you want to do formal exercises then great but if not (and even if you do) I would focus on upping your step count daily by 2-3000, more the better really. Walking has a huge impact on health and our NEAT which is way more important for loosing body fat than exercise. Keep going, one day at a time and you will get to where you want to be.

Snozzlemaid · 23/01/2025 13:41

I'm pretty much exactly the same. I've lost 5 stone but barely any has gone from my stomach.
I look very similar to your photos too.
It's very annoying as I'd love my stomach to shrink a bit, more than anywhere else.

PrincessofWells · 23/01/2025 14:06

Exercise, specifically bum and tum. I cycle, e bike, but 30 miles a time on very low assist and dropped inches off my stomach. It's nearly flat.

unsync · 23/01/2025 14:23

I can see a big difference too. You've done really well. I would agree with strengthening your core and glutes. It will pull you in and improve your posture. I can recommend Pilates. If you can find yourself a beginners class to learn the basic moves, then you can do it at home. Look for a Stott or Body Control Pilates practitioner.

glittermittens · 23/01/2025 14:24

You may have disastis recti, which is muscle separation from having babies. The muscles separate and then your organs poke through the gap. I have it from my last pregnancy over 10 years ago which was twins. It's really annoying. I've started doing exercises specifically to close the separation, which apparently it's never too late to do.