Anyone achieved a flatter tummy and can share tips?

[blueblizz]

I'm certainly not overweight and I have a low-fat diet with reasonable amount exercise. I lost baby weight quickly (dc now 4) but I struggle with a chunky tummy. I've never had a flat tummy but it has never been this obvious. Anyone got any advice on what I could do? I'm sure there are some lovely flat washboards out there!!

Jillian Michaels dvds.

You really need to work all the core muscles, sides, upper and lower, abdominals and back. Jillian tends to work the whole lot.

I did the 30 Day Shred, then moved on to Banish Fat Boost Metabolism then a combination of both. I found the core circuit in BFBM really worked on my core.

Unfortunately, due to ill health and lots of stress I haven't exercised for just over two months now and my diet has been far from exemplary, so I need to get back to it asap.

Also, a low fat diet is necessarily going to get you a flat stomach. You need to eat a healthy, well balanced diet, including healthy fats. Google clean eating, people swear by it for getting killer abs.

Yes I have lovely flat stomach. With lovely definition! Ahree with what moosemama said, and will add:

1. Need to shred body fat. If you have a chunkier stomach and weight the same as before you have lost muscle mass and gained fat....Aim to increase muscle mass (all over - agree Jillian Michaels, and use 4kg weights) and lose more fat - need to get fat % down to around 18%-20% to see ab definition.

1. Clean eating and moderate carbs - ditch low fat diet, eat healthy fats (coconut oil, olive oil, avocado, nuts, seeds etc in moderation) and totally ditch the empty carbs - cut out all wheat and ideally cut right down on other grains (rice, oats, barley, rye etc etc) aim to get carbs from moderate portions of fruit (1 a day) stacks of veg, dairy etc.

1. Jillian Michaels every day plus extra core exercises whenever you have spare minute.

Just reread my post. It should read 'a low fat diet isn't necessarily going to get you a flat stomach'. Sorry!

I most definately havent! I am working on exercise shredding the fat but exercise alone will not flatten your stomach. These muscles need to be worked on by core techniques. Look on you-tube you can see the exercises you can do - loveyourbutt, lululemon etc. Pressups, full core workout - there are plenty of great sites on google. There are many fit people who suffer from spots of fat particularly around the belly. If you can spare an hour a day to exercise and strengthen your core then it wont take long.

I hate to say it, but cardio/fat burning is the key. You could do 200 sit ups a day, but if you still have a thick layer of fat on your stomach, it won't do much good.

I feel your pain, I have a lower belly pooch that ive been trying to get rid of, seems to be going down with cardio and reducing carbs (gets much worse when im bloated) and generally trying to eat clean.

There's a 10 minute solutions DVD called 'Blast Off Belly Fat' which is bloody brilliant. I got it off Amazon for about a fiver. It's 5 x 10 minute workouts, so you can do as many as you have time for in one go. It's tough and I still can't do all of the exercises, but I noticed a difference after about a week. I certainly don't have a flat stomach but I feel much more toned and I find I naturally hold in my ab muscles without thinking about it. I have cut down on carbs too but I'm not prepared to ditch them totally!

I noticed a big difference to my tummy when I started swimming, backstroke in particular . In fact I noticed a difference after about 6 sessions. Swimming isn't just cardio, it's also good for the core.
I now do lots of crunches and things like that. Even things like squats help if you do them properly as you need to use your core muscles to exercise properly.
I have had 3 children and used to carry a lot of weight on my abdomen. It is still a long way from perfect[and I'm sure it never will be, lol] but is much much better than it was

I've tried JM but prefer Tracy Anderson. Her 30 day bootcamp thing is hardcore!

Wow folks. Just checked thread and great response. Thanks. I love swimming and I've gone from 3 lane swims pw to only 1 and I've noticed the Firmness is really going. DH often not home when lane swimming sessions are on. I'll look up the dvd's always done floor exercises but need to pinpoint core more. I have found I am prob eating more carbs aswell as I'm tired due to reduced sleep/ doing all childcare. I'm veggie so happy to up the veg to replace a bit. I'm aiming to powerwalk every night too. I've read a lot about good fats recently, got olives at the ready. Cheers folks. Keep the ideas coming....

There's a saying that "abs are made in the kitchen, not in the gym" and it is very true...as rightsaidfreud says, it doesn't matter how much swimming, how many crunches/core strengthening sessions you do, while these are important, you won't see the results properly without losing the fat lying on top of the muscles (you should feel more toned tho of course).

Sugar is apparently the biggest food evil, playing havoc with insulin levels and causing your body to retain belly fat in particular.

I've always loved natural food but I agree with the hidden sugar problem. Bread is packed with sugars and also processed food. Anyone a veggie (like me) and can you list your proteins for me? PS.. my legs and arms are really slim and toned for my age. no cellulite just this chunkier 'than few years back' tum. If you saw me you would probably wonder what I'm talking about (people generally comment that I am slim) but I don't like it at all. IT HAS TO GO!!!

Eggs and egg whites are packed full of protein. We buy the '2chicks' eggs whites from the supermarket, usually found in the chilled bit by the yoghurt/cream/milk section. Life saver in the morning as all you have to is pour them into a bowl/frying pan.

Thanks rightsaidfreud (great name) I'll have a look out. I eat tofu, eggs and sometimes quorn (althpugh I find it too processed and gives me terrible wind!! nice I hear you cry). I need to up the lentils and different beans.

lotta, can I ask how the blast off belly is going?