How to get a flat stomach?

fluffykins13

I've had a fat stomach for as long as I can remember - I could never wear a bikini it's so large. I've lost a stone and 4 pounds over the past 9 months and am down to a size 10 and a really good weight/BMI for my height. I can see where the weight has come off from other parts of my body but still cannot shift the belly flab despite doing ab exercises every day.
Is there a personal trainer out there that can help me - how can I ever get rid of the belly flab?

poorly_scammo

Is it flab or is it bloating?

Good way to check is to tap your stomach quite hard. I am reliably informed that if it's bloating your stomach will make a hollow sound rather than the usual flat slapping sound.

If you are bloated, keep a food diary of things that affect you. Dairy and yeast are common culprits.

Something to consider...:)

cattkitt

How about trying something like belly dancing? I've always been a flat thin type, but now that I'm trying belly dancing, I really starting to feel my lack of a bottom!

It also involves a lot of isolation exercises, including the stomach muscles. A kind of happy pilates, with lots of good music, smiley people, appreciation of a normal curvy body.

fluffykins13

Poorly scammo - definitely flab! I do suffer from IBS but that's not what's causing the flab, - definitely belly fat.

saubryn

Congratulations on your weight loss!

For many people, belly fat is the last bit to go (for me it's my thighs - I've always been fairly small, but I have disproportionately big / soft thighs compared to the rest of my body). My suggestion is to continue exercising, and eating healthy. If you were dieting at 500 calories under maintenance when you lost all that weight, try just 250 under maintenance for a while, and stay active. Slow, sensible weight loss will work, but it takes a long time.

Ab exercises can help, but a huge percentage of the work that goes into getting a flat stomach happens in the kitchen. If you have a layer of body fat over your abs, then all the crunches in the world won't help if not backed up by a good diet - you'll just end up with a rock solid set of abs hidden by the layer of fat.

Good luck!

starjade

Work on your core muscles, doing the plank helps the abs a lot.

Tigersilly

I recommend buying this: Davina Rowing Action Exerciser - £9.99

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/9240067/Trail/searchtext%3EDAVINA+MCCALL.htm

I'm after a flat stomach and this really works the stomach muscles. I'm doing 200 every morning and it only takes me about 15 miniutes (with a 3 min break in between... I get tired easily!).

Wake up with aching abs in the morning... it definitely works!

Magpye

You can't spot reduce.

You can't spot reduce.

You can't spot reduce!

It is not possible to lose fat specifically from any one part of the body, no matter how hard you try. What you can do is tone up the abdominal muscles which will act as a natural 'girdle' (those much touted and sometimes considered mythical 'core muscles'). This will give you better posture and the appearance of a flatter stomach. But it won't shift any fat on your tummy and if you're predisposed to have a slight pot, you'll probably always have one. That's just how it is.

grey_lady

I've heard (and quizzed a friend with a 6 pack) that it's down to having a low body fat percentage and using weights as part of your exercise routine on the stomach muscles. I think average female body fat is 22-25%? with the minimum you need to be healthy at 12%.

jenniewb

Magpye wrote: »

You can't spot reduce.

You can't spot reduce.

You can't spot reduce!

Spot on!

OP, two words for you:

Transverse Abs.

Nicoll

Lots of cardio is really the only way to burn fat. Unfortunately as someone else posted you just can't spot reduce but cardio will burn fat off all over your body so if you are mainly carrying it on your belly then it will burn off from there too. Lots of ab exercises will build up your ab muscles and make you stronger but remember as your muscles get bigger so they push the fat out more making you look bigger. If you can burn the fat off then you'll have a lovely set of abs to show

I have the same problem of holding weight on my belly and cardio does work but it's always the last place to burn off for me which is annoying but on the plus side I lovely slim legs to show off. :T