asrgal Posted May 13, 2010 Share Posted May 13, 2010 I am not overweight, but started working out again to get in better shape. Well, first I gained weight and felt huge, but OK I understand that concept, muscle weights more etc. But I have that little belly pouch it just won't go away. Any good tips or exercise that has worked for you? Link to post Share on other sites
USMCHokie Posted May 13, 2010 Share Posted May 13, 2010 Unfortunately, there is no such thing as spot reduction...so it's a matter of reducing your overall body fat levels...and it'll take some time, but you will get there... As you noted, weight training is the key...but to step it up to really knock the body fat off, you need to start doing high intensity interval training (HIIT)...basically sprint intervals...exercises that will bring your heart rate through the roof in a very short amount of time...this is easily the best strategy to cutting that last bit of body fat and reduce that "pooch" you're talking about... The other key is diet and nutrition...but that's a whole different discussion... Link to post Share on other sites
Lauriebell82 Posted May 13, 2010 Share Posted May 13, 2010 Running is the best way to get rid of stomach fat. I have found the most effective way (for me) is to run incline intervals on the treadmill. I have seen better results doing that then speed intervals. But yeah, running is the way to go to get rid of the tummy. Link to post Share on other sites
JustLooking123 Posted May 13, 2010 Share Posted May 13, 2010 There's no way to spot-reduce fat. All you can do is aerobic exercise to burn calories, and weight training to tone your muscles. There's no magic exercise, unfortunately. Link to post Share on other sites
Lauriebell82 Posted May 13, 2010 Share Posted May 13, 2010 There's no way to spot-reduce fat. All you can do is aerobic exercise to burn calories, and weight training to tone your muscles. There's no magic exercise, unfortunately. I don't think that's what she is asking though... She just wants to know what kinds of exercises TARGET the stomach area. Crunches can do that, running, elyptical machine, ect. You may lose weight in other places also but that's just an added bonus!!! Link to post Share on other sites
Rorschach Posted May 13, 2010 Share Posted May 13, 2010 I don't think that's what she is asking though... She just wants to know what kinds of exercises TARGET the stomach area. Crunches can do that, running, elyptical machine, ect. You may lose weight in other places also but that's just an added bonus!!! Sorry it still doesn't work that way. Crunches will build stomach muscles up, so if you already had no weight there you might begin to develop nice abs, but they won't burn fat from your stomach. Running, eliptical, all those things are just generic exercises that burn calories. When your body needs calories it will burn fat from whatever area it likes. So yeah the answer is to re-evaluate your diet, and exercise frequently, but there is no real answer to 'what are some good exercises to burn stomach fat' Link to post Share on other sites
Lauriebell82 Posted May 13, 2010 Share Posted May 13, 2010 Sorry it still doesn't work that way. Crunches will build stomach muscles up, so if you already had no weight there you might begin to develop nice abs, but they won't burn fat from your stomach. Running, eliptical, all those things are just generic exercises that burn calories. When your body needs calories it will burn fat from whatever area it likes. So yeah the answer is to re-evaluate your diet, and exercise frequently, but there is no real answer to 'what are some good exercises to burn stomach fat' Well, okay but I lost my stomach by running and sit ups. I was just advising her based on my experience. Link to post Share on other sites
JustLooking123 Posted May 13, 2010 Share Posted May 13, 2010 I don't think that's what she is asking though... She just wants to know what kinds of exercises TARGET the stomach area. Crunches can do that, running, elyptical machine, ect. You may lose weight in other places also but that's just an added bonus!!! Actually her question is "how to get rid of that little pouch"...so I do think that's what she's asking. And yes, obviously cardio (on top of a caloric deficit) will burn fat in the stomach area as well as everywhere else. There's still no way to target where the fat is burned, unfortunately. Wish there was, though! Link to post Share on other sites
txsilkysmoothe Posted May 13, 2010 Share Posted May 13, 2010 I have the same problem. My lower tummy is where I have the most fat. So, while you can't spot reduce, is it likely that one will see the greatest change in the part of the body that has the largest deposit of fat? Also is it possible the pouch is not fat but loose muscle? Is there such a thing? Ha, I guess I'm grasping at straws now. Link to post Share on other sites
Rorschach Posted May 14, 2010 Share Posted May 14, 2010 I have the same problem. My lower tummy is where I have the most fat. So, while you can't spot reduce, is it likely that one will see the greatest change in the part of the body that has the largest deposit of fat? Also is it possible the pouch is not fat but loose muscle? Is there such a thing? Ha, I guess I'm grasping at straws now. haha no the pooch is definitely not loos muscle sorry The body stores fat in certain places FIRST, so if you were to have a very low body fat percentage, then you gained some fat, for most people the stomach would be the first spot to store fat, it all goes in order. When you lose weight it goes backwards, so the stomach is the last fat you lose. Unfortunately it doesn't have anything to do with the size of the deposit, but there are methods to lose that stomach weight, mostly it's diet, if you can't lose those last 10 pounds its all in the diet. Link to post Share on other sites
USMCHokie Posted May 14, 2010 Share Posted May 14, 2010 I have the same problem. My lower tummy is where I have the most fat. So, while you can't spot reduce, is it likely that one will see the greatest change in the part of the body that has the largest deposit of fat? Also is it possible the pouch is not fat but loose muscle? Is there such a thing? Ha, I guess I'm grasping at straws now. First question: it's all about genetics...and where your body tends to store its fat deposits...it also affects where it "burns" fat from as well...so you may very well see fat disappearing from everywhere except where you want to lose it...but logic and reason would dictate that where the body stores the most fat will also be the place where it goes to first to burn fat...but I'd ask a physiologist about that... Second question: more likely loose skin than "loose muscle"...your abdominal muscle is a long, flat, sheet-like muscle that traverses the front of your torso...it won't have loose sections... Link to post Share on other sites
USMCHokie Posted May 14, 2010 Share Posted May 14, 2010 When you lose weight it goes backwards, so the stomach is the last fat you lose. Unfortunately it doesn't have anything to do with the size of the deposit, but there are methods to lose that stomach weight, mostly it's diet, if you can't lose those last 10 pounds its all in the diet. Hmmm, this is interesting...is this a verified statement...? I'm personally not sure, but it's definitely good knowledge to have... Link to post Share on other sites
GrayClouds Posted May 14, 2010 Share Posted May 14, 2010 I know a pet store that buys little pouches if they are house trained. Link to post Share on other sites
Rorschach Posted May 14, 2010 Share Posted May 14, 2010 Hmmm, this is interesting...is this a verified statement...? I'm personally not sure, but it's definitely good knowledge to have... Just based off my own personal experience and the personal experience of those close to me. Link to post Share on other sites
PWSX3 Posted May 15, 2010 Share Posted May 15, 2010 I personally like a woman with a little pouch, so I would just worry about being in shape & if you still have that little pouch, oh well...... Link to post Share on other sites
Lauriebell82 Posted May 15, 2010 Share Posted May 15, 2010 haha no the pooch is definitely not loos muscle sorry The body stores fat in certain places FIRST, so if you were to have a very low body fat percentage, then you gained some fat, for most people the stomach would be the first spot to store fat, it all goes in order. When you lose weight it goes backwards, so the stomach is the last fat you lose. Unfortunately it doesn't have anything to do with the size of the deposit, but there are methods to lose that stomach weight, mostly it's diet, if you can't lose those last 10 pounds its all in the diet. Hmm, that's weird..it DEFINATELY does not work that way for me. When I was overweight and started running again my stomach was the first place I started losing weight. The last place I lost weight is in my legs. I am not fat right now but my thighs/legs STILL look heavy. I don't know why. I guess I would just have to be very skinny for taht to go away completely. I actually think everyone's different in the way they lose weight. It depends a lot of what kinds of exercises you do also. Running makes you lose weight in the stomach area. Areobics generally make you lose more weight in legs/butt area. It just depends. Link to post Share on other sites
FitChick Posted May 19, 2010 Share Posted May 19, 2010 For some women, that is loose skin from pregnancies. Link to post Share on other sites
sally4sara Posted May 19, 2010 Share Posted May 19, 2010 haha no the pooch is definitely not loos muscle sorry The body stores fat in certain places FIRST, so if you were to have a very low body fat percentage, then you gained some fat, for most people the stomach would be the first spot to store fat, it all goes in order. When you lose weight it goes backwards, so the stomach is the last fat you lose. Unfortunately it doesn't have anything to do with the size of the deposit, but there are methods to lose that stomach weight, mostly it's diet, if you can't lose those last 10 pounds its all in the diet. This is actually not true. If a woman goes through pregnancy, the abdominal muscles get stretched to make room for the growing fetus. Those muscles will still be lax after, but can be tightened thru exercise. In some cases they tear in the middle from the bottom, resulting in an upside down "Y" appearance above her pubic area but below the belly button. There is no surgery to fix this either. You can have loose skin removed (a tuck) but all that will result in if the muscles underneath tore during pregnancy, is making the torn area more visible under the skin. To get what I'm saying, you can look into a site called "The Shape of a Mother" if it is still around. I won't post a link because it is NWS material. Link to post Share on other sites
Author asrgal Posted May 26, 2010 Author Share Posted May 26, 2010 just an update about my little pouch... I always watched my diet and am eating healthy 85% of the time, tried all ind of excercises. And toned everywhere but my lower tummy. Well, for the last two weeks I tried something new...and YEAH it seems to be working :-) I am so excited. I bought a used boxing stand (bag), the one where you add water or sand in the bottom and you can slide the boxing part up and down. Well I have learned 3 different kind of punches and I am always in a squad stand while I punch. I also learned 3 ways to kick, on of them where I am stand with my back to the stand and kick it but also turn my body while kicking, wow it really is working my whole body, I lost around my waist already and my pouch is slowly getting smaller :-) Thank you for all the posts on here. I guess we all have to find what works for us as individual best and watch that diet. Link to post Share on other sites
Lauriebell82 Posted May 26, 2010 Share Posted May 26, 2010 just an update about my little pouch... I always watched my diet and am eating healthy 85% of the time, tried all ind of excercises. And toned everywhere but my lower tummy. Well, for the last two weeks I tried something new...and YEAH it seems to be working :-) I am so excited. I bought a used boxing stand (bag), the one where you add water or sand in the bottom and you can slide the boxing part up and down. Well I have learned 3 different kind of punches and I am always in a squad stand while I punch. I also learned 3 ways to kick, on of them where I am stand with my back to the stand and kick it but also turn my body while kicking, wow it really is working my whole body, I lost around my waist already and my pouch is slowly getting smaller :-) Thank you for all the posts on here. I guess we all have to find what works for us as individual best and watch that diet. Yay, that's wonderful! Congrats!!! You are right that we have to what works for us as individuals. Some exercises actually make me GAIN weight. It's strange! Link to post Share on other sites
kiss_andmakeup Posted May 26, 2010 Share Posted May 26, 2010 Unfortunately, there is no such thing as spot reduction...so it's a matter of reducing your overall body fat levels. This is very true and something I wish more people knew...I crack up when I see aerobics classes with names such as "tummy busters" or "butt busters"...it's so misleading! When your body loses fat, unfortunately it will just lose fat where it wants/needs to. Good job on your progress. :] Link to post Share on other sites
Lauriebell82 Posted May 26, 2010 Share Posted May 26, 2010 This is very true and something I wish more people knew...I crack up when I see aerobics classes with names such as "tummy busters" or "butt busters"...it's so misleading! When your body loses fat, unfortunately it will just lose fat where it wants/needs to. Good job on your progress. :] I know this personal trainer at my gym, and she said that the areobics classes are named that because they TARGET those areas. There are specific exercises that target areas of the body. Do you lose fat or tone in JUST that area? Nope. Link to post Share on other sites
tman666 Posted May 26, 2010 Share Posted May 26, 2010 I know this personal trainer at my gym, and she said that the areobics classes are named that because they TARGET those areas. There are specific exercises that target areas of the body. Do you lose fat or tone in JUST that area? Nope. You contradict yourself with the above statement and the statement below: It depends a lot of what kinds of exercises you do also. Running makes you lose weight in the stomach area. Areobics generally make you lose more weight in legs/butt area. It just depends. As has been stated ad nauseam on this site any everywhere else in reputable physical fitness circles, spot reduction of fat does not occur in the human body without surgical intervention. Losing "weight" in a certain area can be accomplished by allowing said area's muscles to atrophy. Fat deposits cannot be spot reduced. Another false term that people throw around is the word "tone". What does toning mean? Muscles get bigger or smaller depending on the types of stress that is put upon them, hormonal factors and nutritional factors. Muscle definition (what most people think when they hear the word "tone") increases the lower one's body-fat percentage goes. It simply means that more of the muscle (such as striations) becomes visible the less fat you are. Please read this: http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/issa72.htm Not that BB.com is such a great site, but this article actually sums up some extremely basic concepts fairly well. Link to post Share on other sites
kiss_andmakeup Posted May 26, 2010 Share Posted May 26, 2010 Yep, you can build muscle in targeted areas (such as lifting weights to build muscle in the arms) but fat reduction is a whole 'nother story! Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts