probably been asked a million times,but there HAS to be a way to get rid of belly fat

[Rockchick26]

I've kinda had it with this,and i thought i'd ask in here to see what you guys thought. I know there is no specific belly fat cure,but maybe there are 20 things you can do combined that will get rid of it. I am 5'1",and 110 pounds,so i'm pretty scrawny,yet i have rolls upon rolls on my stomach. I work at a pretty physical job,on my feet all day,bending down,lifting heavy boxes,moving very quickly,i also jump on a trampoline pretty frequently,and i try to eat healthy as much as I can. But i'm 35 and ever since i was a teenager i've had belly fat. I dont like when people say "but that's normal,every woman has it!" Well i find that hard to beleive. I find it hard to beleive that it can be normal when a persons body is so skinny their bones stick out,yet their gut hangs over their pants. Something is wrong with that. A lot of it seems to be bloating too,but that gets better if i'm dehydrated (lol talk about a lesser of two evils!). I seriously look pregnant,even though with baggy clothes on all i get is "dont you ever eat?!" or "i can wrap my fingers around your wrists and ankles!" So does anyone else have this problem or have any secrets to fixing it?

[Akashic_Librarian]

AS someone who had belly fat, lost it then got it back again I would say the trick is a good diet, low fat vegetarian was my choice and regular exercise 3-4 hours of Karate a week for me, but i Suppose a gym is just as good.

The reason I got it back? Apathy and meat haha.

[PianoManGidley]

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.

[Parthon]

It sounds like you already do a heap of exercise and are skinny enough already.

Have you tried toning exercises through doing low resistance, high rep weight training and yoga/pilates?

[silicon toad2000]

Apart from diet and general exercise you need to focus on training your core. Work on exercises that will strengthen your abs, obliques and back.
Once those muscles are toned it will hold your midesection much firmer and the increased muscle tone will burn more fat in those areas.
Sounds like in your work your arms and legs get plenty of exercise, when you hit the gym focus on the core of your body. If you want a good cardio workout, hit the pool. swimming gives everything a good workout.
As always, consult your doctor before making any major changes to your diet or begin any new strenuous training.

[Trezker]

Start doing freestyle football.
Works out the right parts.
Works on muscles you didn't know you had.
Lots of fun.
Party trick.
Can be done almost anywhere.

YouTube - freestyle-football

[Angela]

Learn to love vegetables!

[Rockchick26]

Originally Posted by PianoManGidley

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.

Yeah i learned that long ago,so i dont do crunches. I have always had a flat middle section above my stomach,and actually a 6 pack under a thin layer of fat

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.

Never heard of the word "endomorph"...i am not sure how fit i am,how can you measure that? I dont know what my body fat percentage is but it has to be damn low since i have NO fat anywhere except my lower stomach.

[Rockchick26]

Originally Posted by Parthon

It sounds like you already do a heap of exercise and are skinny enough already.

Have you tried toning exercises through doing low resistance, high rep weight training and yoga/pilates?

Yes ive done some yoga and pilates,did a little weight lifting a few years ago (thats just arms though) but never noticed a difference so i quit the weights,it was mostly boring to me. Did the Stairmaster for about a year,never noticed any difference from that either. I still do yoga and stretching pretty often,besides my trampoline and walking.

[Rockchick26]

Originally Posted by silicon toad2000

Apart from diet and general exercise you need to focus on training your core. Work on exercises that will strengthen your abs, obliques and back.
Once those muscles are toned it will hold your midesection much firmer and the increased muscle tone will burn more fat in those areas.
Sounds like in your work your arms and legs get plenty of exercise, when you hit the gym focus on the core of your body. If you want a good cardio workout, hit the pool. swimming gives everything a good workout.
As always, consult your doctor before making any major changes to your diet or begin any new strenuous training.

Well i dont belong to a gym,cant afford one Thats why i bought a trampoline so i can at least do something in my apartment when it's raining or cold and i can't go for walks. Yeah i probably do neglect my abs a little,but i already have a six pack under there,i can feel it. That area above my stomach is toned very good,then,apparently. That's why i think my problem is more bloating than anything cuz its mostly in the area under my belly button. It mostly goes away when i lay down flat on my back,and it goes away too on rare days when i am hungover,cuz i'm dehydrated. So i think its a buildup of water in there. But isnt it good to have water in your colon? I mean thats what fiber does,it holds on to water. I never understood that,eating fiber makes you bloated. Well in my case,anything i eat makes me bloated,since i'm ALWAYS bloated

[Rockchick26]

Originally Posted by Trezker

Start doing freestyle football.
Works out the right parts.
Works on muscles you didn't know you had.
Lots of fun.
Party trick.
Can be done almost anywhere.

YouTube - freestyle-football

Ohhh wow,that was interesting! Never thought i'd see "My Humps" in a video with boys bouncing a ball around! I could try that,although i don't think i'd be able to catch the ball on my back!

[Rockchick26]

Originally Posted by Angela

Learn to love vegetables!

LOL well,i still eat vegetables,like yesterday i went to a resteraunt and ordered chicken and brocolli,but i admit i left a few chunks on my plate. Do vegetables really help with bloating though,cuz i always felt it was the opposite. Cruniferous (did i spell that right?) vegetables are known for causing gas. And how long does it take to really notice a difference,do you have to eat like 80% vegetables each day for 2 weeks to notice a change?

[Angela]

Well, if you suddenly start or increase your cruciferous vegetables, you'll probably be a little uncomfortable until your system gets used to it. They wouldn't bloat you enough to make a significant difference in your body shape, though.

If you were retaining water (bloated), you'd notice puffiness under your skin, but you wouldn't have "rolls and rolls" on your midsection. Do you add salt to your food? That might cause you to retain water, which as I understand it, is kind of an "emergency stash" of water, as opposed to a health, free flow of water that keeps your body clean and easy and vital (as when your urine is nearly colorless).

Although it might take some time for your appearance to change after you start eating veggies, you'll probably feel much better right away, and your appetite for more fattifying foods will probably decrease. Meanwhile, if you keep doing your exercises (start working your abs!), then you'll look a lot more toned and svelte as the fat burns off - plus don't forget that the more muscle you have, the faster you'll burn fat.

[Pegasus]

I have some similarities to the OP. I haven't gained that much weight since high school, so I figure that muscle has turned into fat. I am vegetarian and could pass for pregnant if I were wearing a bikini. My exercise consists of walking and playing hacky sack, so I guess I'd better step it up! How do you work the abs if you don't belong to a gym?

[Angela]

I haven't gained that much weight since high school, so I figure that muscle has turned into fat.

Muscle doesn't turn into fat, Pegasus. You may have lost muscle tissue and gained fat, but one didn't transmogrify into the other. Two separate functions, and a woman is smart to address both! Burn fat, build muscle. You don't need to belong to a gym to do either, thank goodness.

[Rockchick26]

Originally Posted by Angela

If you were retaining water (bloated), you'd notice puffiness under your skin, but you wouldn't have "rolls and rolls" on your midsection. Do you add salt to your food? That might cause you to retain water, which as I understand it, is kind of an "emergency stash" of water, as opposed to a health, free flow of water that keeps your body clean and easy and vital (as when your urine is nearly colorless).

I dont even own salt! I have never added it to my food. In fact i think most salty foods are TOO salty. I try to avoid processed food. One thing i dont understand though,about the urine being colorless...i only drink water (and occasionally natural fruit juice),and i always have a bottle of it with me at work,and i always have a glass of it by me when i sit on the computer or watch tv,and when i work out i especially drink more water,but my urine is usually a pretty deep orange. I dont know how i can even possibly drink more water than i do,so why isnt my urine clear?

Although it might take some time for your appearance to change after you start eating veggies, you'll probably feel much better right away, and your appetite for more fattifying foods will probably decrease. Meanwhile, if you keep doing your exercises (start working your abs!), then you'll look a lot more toned and svelte as the fat burns off - plus don't forget that the more muscle you have, the faster you'll burn fat.

I will definately eat more veggies then,i guess i never ate them enough and for long enough to get my body used to them. And i think i know the reason why i have more fat on me than i did a few months ago...i used to walk to work every day but i moved in December so i havent been able to walk to work,that was an extra 20 minutes a day,5 days a week...that sure made a difference! I've already noticed my legs arent as toned as they were.

[Rockchick26]

Originally Posted by Pegasus

How do you work the abs if you don't belong to a gym?

Well I have never done crunches yet i have very defined muscles there. I can even feel strong muscle down lower,UNDER my pot belly. I'm guessing its gotta be from my job,because i've had this job for 17 years and i'm constantly moving,on my feet,bending down,picking up heavy boxes,etc. I do yoga a little bit but i'm sure that isnt enough to give me abs.

[Keith]

Originally Posted by Rockchick26

One thing i dont understand though,about the urine being colorless...i only drink water (and occasionally natural fruit juice),and i always have a bottle of it with me at work,and i always have a glass of it by me when i sit on the computer or watch tv,and when i work out i especially drink more water,but my urine is usually a pretty deep orange. I dont know how i can even possibly drink more water than i do,so why isnt my urine clear?

A bright yellow can be a side effect of ingesting a lot of B vitamins (eg. Berocca or carrots) but I'm not familar with orange.

Apparently, orange urine can be caused by eating certain foods such as beets and blackberries. However, it can also be a sign of blood or bile in the urine, which is something you should get checked out.

[silicon toad2000]

google "core strength exercises" and have a peek through the pages that come up.
Get a list of 7-10 exercises and pick three of them to try that you feel most suit you.
Please ease into them and only do as much as is easy for you. As you're just getting into it make sure you warm up and stretch and cool down afterwards. The first week is kinda just waking the muscles up, not working them out.
From personal experience, you don't want to overdo core muscles when getting back into, or, starting out on the workouts. you start to fear a sneeze or a cough.

[goldtoe360]

The golden rule of losing weight: Expend more calories than you consume.

That's all there is to it.

If you're generally skinny, but have belly fat that's probably due to genetics. Your body wants to store fat in that area. In order to limit your body's storing of fat you must 'expend more calories than you consume.'

This article talks about how having more muscle burns more calories.

Muscle is called "active tissue" because it requires a lot of energy to maintain itself. In fact, every pound of new muscle you add to your body will burn about 60 calories per day. -The Best Way To Get Lean And Stay Lean