stubborn belly fat

[fruitsalad]

I have lost over 2 stone and at 5ft 7 really dont need to lose anymore weight, I keep being told not to lose anymore as I'm thin enough, but what people dont realise is my stomach is still quite flabby how can I tighten it up? I do cardio 3 or 4 times a week what else should I be doing?

[boxtops]

Swimming is good for the stomach, it stretches out your body whilst exercising.

[fruitsalad]

box if only I liked swimming, but I hate it, even on holiday I only go in the pool to cool off then get straight back out again.

[tiggerblue10]

Well done losing the weight :o)

I think cardio helps with the weight loss, but you need to maybe do stomach crunches or other abdominal exercises to strenghthen the stomach muscles.

[flobadob]

Sit ups? Hold the sit up position every 10.

[boxtops]

I don't like swimming either, but I make myself go, just for a bit of exercise.

[fruitsalad]

i do quite a bit of exercise at the gym, but they do say swimming is a good all round exercise so maybe I should force myself and give it a go

[daffy654]

You need to strengthen your 'core muscles'. Swimming is a very good way to do this but there are many other ways it can be done. Have you tried yoga?

[annie0000]

Rowing is a good all round exercise, but also is very good for the tummy, might be worth a try.

[SizzleSquid]

definately pilates it strengthens the core, u should be able ti find a local class near u or at a college better value for money. ur gym might offer it if u go to one

[craft1948]

Pelvic floor exercises are very good for your belly (not your midriff) and you can do them whilst sitting at your desk.

[ummmm]

And they really help with other aspects of your life :-))))

[Sqad]

No exercises will help......you need too see a Plastic Surgeon.

If the flabbiness is due to excess fat,then you will need liposuction and if it is due to spare lax abdominal skin, then you will need this removing and "tightening up"

[yogasun]

Agree 100% with sqad. My Yoga students are always asking this. I'm always telling them not to confuse abdominal fat with abdominal muscles. Under the flab are often toned ab. muscles, only liposuction, etc. will remove the fat.

[sandyRoe]

I don't know much about dieting, and less about exercising, but wouldn't fat vanish if people were on a strict enough diet?

[yogasun]

Sandy, yes if you were on a really really starvation type diet, you are right, the body would have to 'burn' it up eventually, but it seems to be the 'last' to go as it were and I think we are talking generally about achievable fat loss without extremes.

[Sqad]

sandy...yes....but as Eric Morecambe would say......·"but not necessarily in the right order"

You may well end up with a thin face, thin legs, thin arms, but still a fat gut.....the worst of both worlds perhaps. Then perhaps if one starved oneself then the gut may also go.............along with you;-)

[sandyRoe]

I think I'll just stick with the method that works for me...buy wider shirts

[SHANKER]

Hi,

You've not indicated your age. Generally, to my information, two things are to be considered in body shaping. One is age and the other is right combination of food and exercises. If a person is beyond 40, it's very difficult to get to shape, let alone maintaining it. Worse is that getting belly to shape is the hardest. It's like working against body. This is because, our body's preferred spot for fat deposit is the belly. It expends it, only as last resort.
Sorry, I'm not able to help you. I know, this is a universal problem and a fellow sufferer!