Flabby belly will not go!?

Question

Hi, I'm 5foot3 and 126lb (9stone). I am overall pleased with my body (thighs, calves, arms and bum are fine) but cannot shift my flabby belly! How much cardio do I need to be doing and how many times a week. I am also doing stomach crunches etc. Please help - I want to feel good in a bikini in Summer for first timeever!!!

Answer 1

in order to achieve your flat belly,

you would need to do a minimum of 25 mins of cardio.

If you compound also lifting weights and doing aerobics, than your whole bodie's metabolism will rise.

I learned from experience that if you feel its a diet, than you'll treat it like a diet. What happens than is you starve yourself. thats a no no. Our bodies are wired to make sure we get the sufficient amount of calories to run our engines. Many use the logic that "if I don't eat, than my body will use the fat store"

This is true but your body goes into a survival mode. This survival mode increases the amount of calories stored in your gut. hence, we regain the weight we lost and add another several pounds because your body thinks food is scarce.

The key here is;

-Moderation
-smaller portions
-5-7 small regular & frequent meals (think the hobbits "first breakfast, second breakfast, elevenish, tea time brunch and ect.)
-drinking lots of fluids, prefferably water. Coffee and soft drinks will make you dehydrated faster and store more sugars in your body.
-eating a variety of fruits, vegetable, dairy, meat and cereal products (avoid the processed stuff)
-also, cut down on the alcohol. Thats what makes your tummy grow. Too many alcoholic drinks will give you that beer belly.

If you have more info, msg me and I can help you out with more suggestions and ideas to lose that gut.

cheers

Answer 2

Cardio won't do much, aerobics won't do much. People will swear up and down that they do, but all you've done is depleted your surface fluids, making your body appear more cut and toned than it did before. But it's a very temporary effect; rehydrate and it's gone.

Cut your food portions by 10%. Cut your pastas, rice, and other starchy foods by 80%. And don't binge on snacks or alcohol. Especially alcohol, it kills your metabolism because your body has to detoxify before it can digest.

The best exercise you can do is the barbell squat. It will work, directly or indirectly, your entire body. The best thing is, all you need is a bar across your shoulders; you can mentally give yourself as much resistance as you want as you do the exercise (okay, maybe not 'as much', but enough to add the intensity you need to firm up all your muscles). Switch up between 4-3 and 3-4 weeks (exercise, recovery) so your body doesn't know what to expect.

And start thinking positively. If you think you've never looked good in a bikini, you're really just telling yourself you'll never look good in one. So love yourself a little and strive for progress, not perfection.

Answer 3

cut out salt or foods with a high salt content to reduce water retention and increase the water your drinking.

Dont just do crunches, do a variety of abdominal exercises as crunches often just work on your upper abbs, do leg lifts (lie on back, legs stretched and raise legs then hold about 2 inches from ground) and do bout 10 reps a time.

General exercise shoudl burn off excess fat which your doin by the sounds of it. I have trouble as well, i think my family are just predisposed to having a bulgier tummy!!

Answer 4

If you are younger it may possibly be just baby fat wich is anatural layer of fat that is near imposible to get rid of you can simply grow out of it.

If you are older I would just recomend doing specific exercises for your waist and if all fails it is possible that it is simply just your body style and you should just learn to be happy with the body you were given. I personally find a small tummy to be highly attractive and know many men who beleive a small pouch to be far prettier than rock hard abs.

Answer 5

Just doing crunches will not suffice.

You have to mix up your exercise pattern so that your whole body is getting a work out.

Jogging will also help tighten your stomach muscles.

Answer 6

If you can afford to do a body wrap (at least once a week) then get them. If you want to get rid of it permantly then either mesotherm or liposuction will take it away for a stiffer fee.

Answer 7

ok dont give up
drink 3 litres of water a day
exercise like mad
and cut out caffeine and sweetners

Answer 8

Be on a diet and keep on exercising, when you sleep lie with your stomach and that will help too.

Answer 9

pilates - it's amazing. concentrates on the deep core muscles around your waist, it improves your posture and helps condition the whole body. it really does work - madonna swears by it!

Answer 10

have you tried Aqua Aerobics? it is brilliant for toning up your skin. the trick is to hold your stomach in while exercising in the water, it helps the stomach muscles. good luck.