Diet is certainly key, as well as exercise. You could do crunches until the cows come home, but as the saying goes, "abs are built in the kitchen"--so you have to make sure you eat right, too.
But part of this is also genetics. If you're an endomorph (or endo-mix of some sort), it's easier for your body to store more fat--especially around the stomach area (or at least have the illusion of such). But let me ask you this: Are you fit? What's your actual measured body fat percentage? It sounds like you're regularly active and at least attempt to eat healthily. Remember that what shows on the outside is not always a gauge of how well everything is operating on the inside. If you're fit, you're fit, and the way it shows on the outside can only be changed so far because of your own personal genetics. So my advice would be not to get too wrapped up in the aesthetics, since that's something we're programmed to worry about through socialization more than sound science. |