I'm shrinking everywhere else besides my belly, it seems. How do I get rid of fat around the mid section? Any particular exercises that will help, or do I just have to wait for my body to naturally do it? It's getting really annoying!

unfortunately there is no such thing as spot reduction, and youmay just be rep-disposed to having the tummy are be the last to go...mine is my lower body. My upper body leans out like nobody's buisness, but my lower body clings to the fat...usually this is a more estrogenic fat distribution, yours is more like mens which means you may have higher levels of testosterone...this is good cause you should build muscle a little easier. Stick to your plan and it will come off, there just is nothin you can do to hurry any one area along any faster.

it's a common issue for women, personally that tiny bit of lower tummy is literally the last to go on me, I only get rid of it when I weigh below 105 lbs.

I have the same problem, I posted recently a number of messages about the issue. Use search and be welcome to give comment. Also my journal contains some info about what I do.

Would be glad to compare notes with others looking for a solution!

I agree that if it's your trouble spot, it may go slower from there, however there are some thing that can help you avoid bloating and water retention, that create a lot of "false fat":
- excessive sodium intake
- dairy intake (especially when there is an undiagnosed sensitivity - very common phenomenon)
- insufficient water intake
- excessive intake of processed/refined foods

Any of these apply?

I know when I drink lots and eat clean (to me that would be lots of veggies and lean protein) my tummy flattens out much faster. Pilates helps, too - it can also be a matter of posture.

I had the same problem and then finally my stomach started to get smaller. It may be the last to go.

I wish there were some way to get belly fat to go away. I'm really tired of people asking when my baby is due.

Barb

Hey Gang,

Just passing by, and I thought I might share this..

You Really Do Change From The Inside Out

Pretty good explaination of where the fat is stored and how it comes off.

Hope it helps. And cheers!

I don´t recognize any specific point right now. I´m concentrating on a calorie deficit. But my waist measurement doesn´t change, still not !

I really enjoyed that link thanks - I liked his mention of a Buddhist approach to food pangs:

"Hello my little sadness. I know you. Breathing in, I know that I feel sad. Breathing out, I know that my sadness needs my attention, not food."

That article was great! Thanks so much!

JK - that is a great article. Thank you - and I'm stealing it to post on the "women" sticky in the exercise forum.

I came across this Hussman info when I was doing BFL. It frustrated me then, and it still frustrates me.

After 5 months without losing fat after obsessively tracking food and working out, I feel victimized by what he says. It's frustrating not losing fat, then to hear some expert say "probably you're eating too many calories that you aren't counting". In other words, there's nothing wrong with the theory. If it doesn't work, it's your fault.

And if his theory is true that a 3500 calorie deficit = 1 lb fat loss, then I should have lost SOMETHING over the last 5 months, even if it was at a slower rate. There's more here than meets the eye. Fat metabolism is too complex to put down to calories in vs. calories out.

Having had my little rant, the rest of the article is still very useful.

Wanda

I didn't pay any attention to the calories part. The thing I found so interesting was the part that dealt with marbled fat and weightlifting fears. I am TOTALLY with you on the calories in calories out oversimplification.

It IS calories in, calories out, but the problem is that you can only measure the calories IN. You have NO idea how your body is dealing with the calories out part, and it keeps CHANGING.

Yeah, Built, that part was very interesting.

Leave it to me to pick up on the calorie part of the article b/c I'm really sensitive to it.

Wanda