Toned legs and arms and the fat is going to my belly- help!

[Ripeberry]

Hi, been on mumsnet a while and only just started looking at this section.
I've been going to the gym regularly 2-3times a week for up to 1 and half hours at a time and i've been doing cardio work and toning up with weights.
My legs and arms are looking great and muscly BUT since going to the gym my belly is just getting flabbier and flabbier and today i got upset about it as my DD4 said to me.. Mummy you are FAT!.
OK i may have been trying to lean over a sofa to get a toy my DD2 had thrown down the back but it just annoyed me.
I can do lots of sit-ups and other floor work and the muscles are there but the fat is just migrating to the middle of my body.
Is running the only answer?
Thanks for listening.
AB

I suspect it's not migrating but you are just noiticing it more because everywhere else looks more toned (good for you on going to the gym by the way). I bet if you keep at it you will notice the belly flab disappearing as well. Lifting weights is great for increasing your metabolism and helping you burn fat.

What cardio and resistance are you doing?

Have you measured your inches and body fat percentage?

Have you been losing weight or just inches?

Hi, thanks for your questions.
I've been going to the gym for over 1yr and i usually do 30 mins of cardio and 30 mins of weights, then 15 mins of floor work and stretching.
I've not actually lost that much weight still around 69-70kg and i'm 1.70m suppose muscle is making up the weight.
I've just noticed the flab that folds over the top of the waistband on my jeans and it just seems to be getting bigger.
I am a bit naughty on the food front as up until having children i was one of those lucky people who could eat anything and all through teenage years, 20s and early 30s i was only 55kg and you could see my ribs.
Whilst pregnant with DD1 my weight went up to 80kg but i lost most of it with breastfeeding for 8 months.
Second DD2 i only put on an xtra 5kg
I'm thinking of upping up the cardio and maybe doing some regular jogging and yes i've got to cut out some cakes/chocolate but my DH is as skinny as a rake and loves his sweet tooth and it makes it difficult to resist!!
AB

Running is by far the best thing for weight loss round the middle.

Works for me.

Your gym combination sounds good. Are you working out at the right intensity? Have you tried a spinning class? They burn off about 700 calories a session.

Why don't you post your diet so we can take a look?

It does sound as if you're putting on muscle which is why the scales aren't moving, but you might also just be eating too much. In theory though the extra muscle should be raising your metabolism. Are you drinking enough water?

The only way to banish the ab fat is to diet and do intensive cardio exercise for a minimum of 20 minutes (preferably 30 min) non stop. I find running/jogging is the best cardio exercise for this. You can do all the tummy exercises you like but unless you reduce the fat, you will not see the toned muscles.

If you run about 3 times a week plus do other cardio and weight training exercises in addition to diet, you will see a huge difference in your midsection within a month. I speak from experience.

Also, don't focus too much on weight loss either. If you are not losing weight, chances are you are losing inches. Muscle occupies less volume than fat so you will look much slimmer through having toned muscles. In addition, muscles expends more calories than fat so even when you are not exercising, you will burn more calories when you are resting.

Keep up the good work and if you wish, join us on the exercise buddy thread where you will receive oodles of tips and motivation.

70 kgs for 1m70? Your BMI is perfect. What's all the fuss?

You are looking for a perfectly flat tummy, I guess.

def agree with kama re cutting out/down on wheat and sugar
i am a size 8/10 with toned legs/arms but def do not have anything remotely like a flat tummy. The only way for me is not to eat any bread and very little (pref no) wheat - but i can't... it is too hard and i am not motivated enough! but it does work...

have you tried alternating your workouts so one day you do 45-60 mins cardio, then less weights, and another day a 20min blast cardio and weights? i may not be right, but i think you need to really workout for more than 45mins to get into the fat burning zone.

Thanks for all your suggestions. At the moment i'm not on a diet but sometimes i can get up in the morning and only have a cup of tea and not eat again until late afternoon.
Of course then i eat the wrong foods and get low blood sugar which makes me moody with my DDs.
I'm trying to get up earlier in the morning so that i can have 15 mins to myself and have a proper breakfast either mueseli or porridge.
Decided i'm going to give running a go, can't do too much harm even if i end up walking most of it (have lots of hills).
Thanks again
AB