Any tips for tummy fat despite being at good weight/BMI.

[AmythestBangle]

I have made it down to a BMI of 21 and everything else is looking good, but I can't get rid of the fat roll on the front of my tummy. I don't want to lose much more weight (my arms and legs are already noticeably really thin, I have a big thigh gap and I have quite a lot of loose skin) but I am still left with the tummy bulge which means that I still have to wear tops that come down over the tummy area. In trousers that fit well everywhere else (in fact are a bit baggy in legs and bum) I still look fat in the front and the waistband is digging in. I can still grab a large handful of fat over the tummy. Any tips for getting rid of that?

I have the same issue after losing 4 stone, but I have now realised that this is probably excess skin (with some fat under it!) and it’s something I just have to live with!

I don't think you can target areas of fat specifically, however excess cortisol can cause fat to accumulate round the tummy I think, so I take a good quality L Theanine in the hope that it will help, otherwise it's spanx I'm afraid, I'm 4. 5 stone down, and that's the only bit of fat left that's annoying me.

Thanks. I think it must be age-related in a way as the last time I weighed what I weigh now was about 25 years ago and I had a completely flat tummy then, not a bit of fat on it! I am happy and grateful about my weight loss but wish my arms and legs were a bit fatter and my tummy less fat! I did wear Spanx-type underwear under a dress for a special occasion not long ago and I looked great, but it's not something I want to do every day!

@AmythestBangle yes,unfortunately at 58 I have to concede that I don't look the same at this weight as I did at 25, as I say will powders supplements l Theanine that is good quality and highly bioavailable, could help, as cortisol increases with the menopause and contributes to the stubbornness of belly fat to shift.

I am going to get some of that! Reading about it I see some people find it helps with anxiety, which I suffer from, so very interested to try it.

Ah yes, menopause! Now I think of it, the last time I remember having the flat tummy was about 12 years ago, which is just about exactly when I was starting menopause! The MJ has been true magic but I guess it cannot do absolutely everything including turn back time!

It’s expensive but CoolSculpting?

I had it about 10 years ago! It worked then, with the little pouch of fat I had then. It is now an elongated dimple in the lower part of the fat roll, making it into a doughnut shape!

I do have a lot of stress in my job as a manager in nhs and always had insulin resistance from a young age, with apple shaped body and lots of belly fat from 18, my mum told me I looked 3 months pregnant!
Before MJ I was prediabetic and looked like the Michelin man!
I'm now bmi 23.6 and in your shoes as the rest of me is fine, I've always had slim legs but have a big belly, it has gone down though with my weight loss.
I'm looking into cryolipolysis to target belly fat. It actually kills the fat cells, rather than shrinking them which happens during dieting, so as you eat more, they expand. I've seen great results online and a salon nearby has an offer for 3 sessions for £150 rather than 100 each.

You can’t target belly fat, but if you are physically able, introduce weight training! It’s the best thing for toning and moving to fat loss rather than weight loss.

My BMI is now 22 and I have a six pack appearing I’m 51). The only way to get rid of stomach fat is to lose more bodyfat, so if you want to stay the same weight you need to built more muscle.

Well done, that's fantastic work and inspires hope! My BMI is just over 26, and I'm doing weights and resistance work, lots of core stuff too, so I am hoping my belly shrinks. It's not that big now in fairness, but there is a bit of wobble and would like that to go. How much weight did you lose?

I went from 11 stone (70kg) to 9 stone (almost! Have 2 lbs to go, currently 58kg want to be 57kg). I’m 5 4 (163cm). I have lost from all over but stomach flat only once I got under around 61kg. I lift weights so have above average muscle mass. I’d say at this point to try and do a body “recomp” ie increase muscle mass and very slowly reduce fat to keep weight the same. Takes ages to build muscle, eg if you manage 2kg a year you will be doing well.

@MysticMaiden as I said upthread, I had that done some years ago. It worked at the time to remove a small pouch of fat on my lower tummy, but now the fat patch is much bigger and wider, with a dimple in the middle where the cells were killed! (It worked really well on a double chin though, and that effect has lasted literally through thick and thin!).

I have this, and I continue the have it even when dress size 8/10. It's been there since I was a child. I would have to get painfully thin to get rid of it, I think. Realistically I would imagine lipo is the only real way it's going to be resolved at a sensible weight...but knowing a few people who have done this and the agony of recovery, there's no way I am doing that!

I have this problem. Even when I was 17 and a size 8 (5ft 8) and probably did look a little to thin I could still grab much more than an inch on my tummy. I would have to be severely underweight to have a flat stomach. Sigh

My very large heavily pregnant looking tummy has shrunk back completely and actually for the first time ever is completely flat. I had a signficant cortisol issue, following weight gain and menopause, I’m mid 50s and it started as I entered peri; mounjaro along with diet and exercise has helped me eliminate the tummy fat.

whats worked for me is exercise, resistance and weight training, running, and core exercises, as well as massaging the area daily my moisturising , even at this weight in my 20s my tummy was rounded, now I have a circle of muscle and it’s flat.

ive been maintaining on mounjaro for about 6 months now, my body fat has been reducing in maintenance whilst muscle increases. My bmi is 20 , has been for the last 6 or 7 months, and my body fat is now 23%, which is perfect.

id get some smart scales if you’ve not got some already, as much as they aren’t absolute, they give a very good indication of your composition and are good for tracking progress,

I’ve added an image below of body fat percentage recommendations, could take a couple of mins to come up due to the review thingy.

When I stopped the Jab almost 8 months ago and I had the same problem, I was looking into cryolipolysis as I was saving on not buying the jabs but decided to continue with my weight training just to see how it goes and I can tell you now there has been a massive improvement . I do resistance and weight training 5 days a weeks with core exercises incorporated. I know we cannot target weight loss but I tell you know without a doubt that the 8lbs I’ve lost since I’ve stopped MJ has come off my belly. I still have some loose skin (3 pregnancies will cause that ) so I’m not bothered about it, it’ll improve with time but resistance and weight training with core exercises does work for body recomp especially now that you don’t want to lose anymore weight.

I just wear great underwear with tummy control, it pulls it in. Plus weights and crunches have reduced mine greatly.

You could try body toning, when I was off work I was doing some pilates and toning classes following 2 women from YouTube and just 4 sessions made a difference to pulling in my waist and on the glutes.

This woman on insta has good ab routines - you need to strengthen your core. Do you do pilates?

https://www.instagram.com/diaryofafitmommyofficial?igsh=cWtwaTE1bDAwcXd6

Thanks for the replies, sorry was off for a while. I have never done Pilates, no. I will look at that and at the Insta one, thanks.

Pilates in general will sort out your core.

I have a very flat stomach. I always have done so I think in part genetics. I do work out a lot (yoga, run abd lift heavy weights) and have a very strong core. I notice my stomach is flattest when I ditch alcohol and sugar it looks less bloated. I’d say tweak diet and work on core strength.

Another one chiming in for weight and resistance training.
I’ve lost a lot of weight also on MJ and have a bmi of 21.3 but still have a little tummy, I suspect it’s more loose skin than a lot of excess fat (although there must be a bit of that too!). I’ve found reformer Pilates to be excellent at toning up and defining muscle.
I’ll never have a 6 pack but that’s fine with me; I’d just like to not have a little belly hanging over my bikini anymore 😂