Skinny everywhere but belly - advice?

[Anonymous]

So I am verysuper close to being back to my pre-preggo body after having my son 16 months ago, but still have stubborn belly flab. The fat seems to have melted off everywhere else. Advise to get rid of belly junk? Are there specific exercises I can do for my core that might help? I do a lot of cardio and weights. I haven't focused on my core bc I was waiting for the fat to go away there.

Any help would be appreciated.

[Anonymous]

Try a bar(re) class. My tummy has always been my problem area, but now after doing it for a few months, and 16 months after having my baby, my abs are as flat as they were in college.

If you don't have access to a barre class, try pilates, since it targets your core. Bottom line: You need to do core strengthening exercises.

[Anonymous]

Tummy? Belly?

Core exercises won't make you drop any fat lingering in your midsection, you need to just keep going with the cardio. But if it's just flabby because of low tone, core exercises will help draw everything back in.

[Anonymous]

OP: 1) Did you have a flat belly before giving birth? 2) Do you eat meat?

[Anonymous]

If you are like me (skinny all over but with a lingering, resistant pooch), it is not weight that is your problem, but instead stretched out transverse abdominal muscles (the inner muscles). Cruelly, most conventional core exercises actually can make abdominal separation worse not better (which I wish I had known before doing tons of situps). Google exercises for transverse abs--you need to essentially tone your inner corset. Have fun.

[Anonymous]

Did you have a C section? If so, IMO (and I am not a doctor) it may take longer. For me even after I lost a lot of weight it seemed like my belly would never be the same.

Now I can tell you, it just took longer. It seemed like sit-ups and other stuff wouldn't do the trick. Now I am finally seeing it slowly move in the right direction. Besides the usual stomach stuff, I try to hold in my stomach now and then to keep working those muscles even when I can't be formally exercising.

Also, once I could get more sleep on a regular basis and found better ways to deal with stress and limit stress when possible, that helped. Cortisol (a hormone we produce when stressed and I think sleep deprived) makes you more likely to retain and produce belly far...I think. Please anyone correct me if I am wrong.

[Anonymous]

Stop eating breads and pasta. Brutal, I know but those flour foods go straight to the belly on some women -- like me.

[Anonymous]

Or just get lipo. It's a safe albeit expensive procedure. You can do it on a Friday and be back to work on Monday. All done!

[Anonymous]

OP here. I guess I did always have a bit of a belly pre-pregnancy but smaller. I do eat meat but have cut down significantly and have also cut down on carbs so don't eat a lot of bread or pasta.

Guess I'll continue with the cardio maybe throw in some core exercises and suck it up that it may be here for good.

Thank you.

[Anonymous]

Running was what worked for me. GL!

[Anonymous]

The belly flab can partly go away with exercise and weight loss, but honestly if its stretched out skin it'll still be there in some form :/. When I'm done having kids - lipo definitely.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The belly flab can partly go away with exercise and weight loss, but honestly if its stretched out skin it'll still be there in some form :/. When I'm done having kids - lipo definitely.

Lipo won't do anything for stretched-out skin. If that's your problem as well, you'll need a tummy tuck in addition to the lipo.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Or just get lipo. It's a safe albeit expensive procedure. You can do it on a Friday and be back to work on Monday. All done!

Oh, and lipo is extremely painful. I seriously doubt you could go back to work within 3 days.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Or just get lipo. It's a safe albeit expensive procedure. You can do it on a Friday and be back to work on Monday. All done!

Oh, and lipo is extremely painful. I seriously doubt you could go back to work within 3 days.

You'll be moving around a bit slowly but it's perfectly fine to go back to work. Especially if you only do abs. Most people only need Tylenol after day 2. I agree about the lose skin. However, if there is any fat in that lose skin it'll make it hang further. If you want a bikini body then you do need a tummy tuck. However, if you just want your pants to fit properly again without a muffin top then lipo will help tremendously.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Or just get lipo. It's a safe albeit expensive procedure. You can do it on a Friday and be back to work on Monday. All done!

Oh, and lipo is extremely painful. I seriously doubt you could go back to work within 3 days.

You'll be moving around a bit slowly but it's perfectly fine to go back to work. Especially if you only do abs. Most people only need Tylenol after day 2. I agree about the lose skin. However, if there is any fat in that lose skin it'll make it hang further. If you want a bikini body then you do need a tummy tuck. However, if you just want your pants to fit properly again without a muffin top then lipo will help tremendously.

Or you could just embrace and appreciate your body. Sheesh. If you have a healthy lifestyle, who cares?