How to lose inches in the waist

[kingb123]

Argh! I've lost 50 pounds low carbing but only 4 inches in my waist. Is there any good exercise to help get those inches flying off? I already do crunches, sit-ups and other ab exercises and run three times a week. Any suggestions?

[mrschmelz]

There is no way to spot reduce your waist. Do you still have fat there? IF so the only way to lose that fat is to reduce your overall body fat percentage. However, maybe you should consider building the rest of your body up with lean muscle mass to make your waist "look" smaller.

[alison38]

Hi There,

I have found that most ab work makes my waist bigger. The only thing I do now for waist and stomach is ten minutes a day on the rowing machine. This has given me a better waist/stomach shape overall and doesn't widen the waist. It's also good for hips.

Best
Alison

[BlitzedAng]

I miss the rowing machine, but found out that is what bothered my back...I need to find a new thing to do that I will enjoy.

[RoseTattoo]

So many of us are having the problem with not losing in the waistline! The trainer I work with says it took her over a year to have the weight loss show up there. I agree that ab exercises can make it worse. I'm trying Pilates now, on top of cardio and weight lifting, and will let you know if that makes a difference.

If you find an answer, please post it! Good luck. :)

[missaec]

I'm completely opposite. I've lost 4.5 inches in my waist in two weeks. I do a lot of cardio right now, so I'm losing all over.

[FrecklFluf]

I'm completely opposite. I've lost 4.5 inches in my waist in two weeks. I do a lot of cardio right now, so I'm losing all over.I think that's pretty key to losing fat anyplace. Up that cardio! Yes, muscle burns fat, but it is possible to gain muscle faster than you burn fat, which ends up increasing your measurements (for the short term, anyway).

[rice_boi]

i'm also having trouble with my waist... i guess we just have to lose more fat! :D more cardio, more cardio... and some HIIT

btw, here's a tip, to make your waist look smaller, work out your upper-upper body (your chest, back, shoulders, arms)... it helps to make your waist look smaller (when when you're done losing the fat, you'll look great!)

look at my sig... waist still at 31 or 32 inches (aiming for 28inches) but it's smaller than my chest making it look more proportionate... but uggggh i gotta lose the fat off my face :p

[rice_boi]

hey i started lowcarbing in august 2003 too! and we have similar stats... but i'm shorter (sniff... now i wonder if there's a diet to make me taller than the 5'7" i stand today lol)

try to lay off the ab exercises first (reduce them)... focus on your other muscle groups

and do HIIT... does wonders on your endurance and burns fat fast!

[RoseTattoo]

Rice_boi, you're cute the way you are, LOL!

But if you really want to get taller, try Pilates. The instructor told me if I was faithful about doing it, I could grow by at least 1/2 inch. :D

[AFwife]

I've been LC since Nov 2003, I do my stepper 3 days a week as well as crunches, push ups, etc....I've lost 12 inches off my waist, 3 from chest, and 7 from hips.

Lily

[bfritz_pa]

I'm wondering when I get down to my ideal weight 165 whether I'll have the 32-34 Waist I had when I use to weigh this? Im 5'11 and started at 245 with a 44 waist. My thought is even if I lose FAT I'll still have excess skin that bulges forming a bigger waistline.

Am I correct?

[kmarie1351]

My trainer says (I've read this in fitness magazines as well) that the only way to lose inches in the waist and fat from the tummy is to exhaust the largest muscle groups in the body... in the legs! So the more squats/lunges/lower body work you do, the smaller your waist will get.

[kingb123]

Thanks guys. TO start off I think I'm gonna try to do the rower. I'm not gonna lay off the abs cause I still need to work on this spare tire.

Rice-Boy or anyone else: what is HIIT?

[Chipperoo]

HIIT, High Intensity Interval Training, pretty much a new term for *are you ready?*, sprints. Actually it's doing cardio in a way where you cycle between higher and lower intensities. It doesn't burn fat like low intensity cardio does while you do it, but makes your body burn MUCH more fat for hours and hours AFTER you do it! Here is a place with very good info: http://www.musclemedia.com/training/hiit.asp

As everyone has said, you cannot spot reduce, I have lost almost all fat on the rest of my body and STILL am working very hard at losing my lower gut. For men in general the most "stubborn" fat is the stomach and lower back,i.e. "the spare tire". And if you do ab exercises, that builds up the muscles under the fat and will make your stomach look bigger. That said, I am STILL working very hard on my abs, so that when the fat is gone, I'M GONNA HAVE MY 6 PACK! Beside's nothing wrong with being stronger all over.

I do know of a site where the lady shows ab exercises that are supposed to strengthen your middle, but make it look slimmer. I think it is pilates exercises, though I could be wrong. You can check it out here: http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/meriam/