Belly fat when losing weight

[Teapleasebobb]

So I've been counting calories for the last 8 weeks and lost just over a stone and a half, still got the same amount to go again before I'm happy with my weight loss. The issue I have is that my belly fat just isn't shifting. I can see the loss everywhere else just not there. I had a C-section with my dc but that was over 10 years ago, but always had an 'apron'. Obviously the apron belly got more prominent the more weight I gained, but now it looks awful, especially as I'm losing weight elsewhere, it somehow looks worse. My question is, will my belly go down/become flatter if I do exercise to target that area or will I now always be stuck with an unsightly overhang. My starting weight was 14st 8 and I'm now at 13st. Currently not exercising, but am fairly active day to day, I'm in the process of finding a good local class (Zumba/clubbersise etc) just doesn't seem to be any around where I live that suits my availability.

You can't spot reduce weight loss, if you keep losing weight some will eventually come off your stomach but if there's an existing overhang it will be an emptier looser overhang but still an overhang.

Thanks @Garman
I know I'll still have the overhang, I just thought it might reduce in size the more weight I lose but it doesn't seem to be shifting. Maybe it's just the last place it's going to go from.

Adding in exercise will help you build muscle which will help with appearance

It’s always the last place it comes off me!

I was 4/5 stone heavier than I am now for most of my adult life.

I'm now a size 8, weight 60kg and "train" twice a day (triathlete).

Hate to tell you this but I still have overhang. It's pretty much all loose skin now (I have around 13-15% body fat) and it will be there for life unless I have a tummy tuck.

Yes, I have always had belly fat even when very slim. I have lost a fair bit on a low carb diet, it has reduced but I don’t think I will ever have a flat stomach. I went for a consultation for a tummy tuck, what put me off is that the surgeon said it could come back even with surgery.

I found it especially hard post menopause re belly fat, I had to completely change my diet and go low carb, this does help.

will my belly go down/become flatter if I do exercise to target that area

no. But you will lose fat in the area if you keep losing fat. It might be the last place to go, mine is :(

Some although not all of the problem can be related to posture.

Through a lot of help to build and maintain correct posture, my abdominal muscles now engage when I move around. There is more space between the top of my hips and the bottom of my ribcage. I'm still working on not thrusting my rib cage up.

All in all, less 'apron' and no backache. Win:win.

Thanks everyone, I'm fine with not having a flat stomach, just don't want a massive overhang which isn't proportional to the rest of my body (which is what I feel I currently have). I'm
Hoping it's just that it'll come of my stomach last, still got a stone and a half to go so still hanging on to hope!
@FinallyHere my posture is shockingly bad so that's something I'll look in to, thanks!

What height are you?

I had the same thing, I was even wondering if it would ever reduce.

It did in the end, but was the last thing to go (except for back fat, but that's not so noticeable at all).

There is still loose skin left but that varies depending on genetics and skin type. Some don't get it.

In the end you have to not be put off and keep reassessing - is this the best weight for me or should I try and lose the belly a bit more? Sometimes it might be better not to lose too much, for example. Anyway, it will go in the end, even if it leaves some skin.

Plus, running is good for belly fat, I find. I think it strengthens those muscles around your middle.

When I lost a lot of weight and was also somewhat happy with my belly it came by clean eating (minimal white stuff, protein at every meal) and HIIT for exercise. Wish I could knuckle down to do this again, but I don’t think I could physically do the HIIT right now.

I lost 3 stone a few years ago and was happy with the rest of my body but I still had and apron and what I called a rubber ring about my hips and tummy, I ended up having a tummy tuck as no amount of weight loss was going to fix it. The skin was loose and hanging over my C section scar. BEST THING I EVER DID!

@Loubilou23 how is the scarring from the surgery? Do you still have a flat stomach?