Please Scroll Down to See Forums Below i have been working out for 8 months; all i wanted was a flat stomach, im making practicallly no progress. over a month ago i started running 1/2 a mile everyday and i've been doing an abdominal exercize tape on top of dieting for about 8 months, i don't eat any junk food and watch the amount of grams of fat i eat a day(in the 40/50s). i don't know what i am doing wrong, im so fucl<ing depressed i fucl<ing hate my body i have no esteem, i figured if i worked hard i could get a flat stomach, i seem to lose weight everywhere but in my lower abs(right under my navel) theres a lump of fat i can't get rid of. not to mention my hips, despite the running im still as pear-shaped. im not really fat either, im about 120 pounds 5'8" tall. what exercizes do i need to do to lose the fat in my lower abs?? everywhere else on my stomach is fine, just the area under my navel is bad. any help would be appreciated, im pretty desperate
i don't know what to do
- Thread starter js4201
- Start date
GenetiKing
New member
Don't get desparate...
But there are a few things you are doing wrong.
Consider these points, they will help you:
1) Weight training is more impotrant than cardiovascular exercise when it comes to lowering bodyfat percentage. I know this is a difficult concept for most people outside the fitness/bodybuliding community to accept but's it's undoubtedly true. The weight training will maintain the valuable muscle tissue in your body that's responsible for higher metabolism and more efficient calorie burning. It will be very hard to lean up without the weights. (Don't worry, you won't get "bulky" or "musclebound"...it's a misconception that women get this way with weights. You simply don't have the testosterone in your system to look like that or even close.)
2) Carbohydrates are more detrimental to your efforts than fats. Lower your carb intake (especially simple sugars, starches, and any processed carb) and your bodyfat will drop. Your carbs should be coming from low-glycemic, slow-burning carbs like oatmeal, grain bread, yams, vegetables, and brown rice.
3) "Getting abs" is a function of low bodyfat, not ab training. You can train them all you want but you will never be able to see them unless you lose bodyfat.
With these points in mind, my recommendation for you would be to:
A) Start some moderate weight training 3 times a week.
B) Keep doing the cardio.
C) Continue to avoid junk food but drastically reduce your daily carb intake and all but eliminate processed starches and bready foods. Increase dietary protein and look for complex carb courses you like.
Best of luck.
But there are a few things you are doing wrong.
Consider these points, they will help you:
1) Weight training is more impotrant than cardiovascular exercise when it comes to lowering bodyfat percentage. I know this is a difficult concept for most people outside the fitness/bodybuliding community to accept but's it's undoubtedly true. The weight training will maintain the valuable muscle tissue in your body that's responsible for higher metabolism and more efficient calorie burning. It will be very hard to lean up without the weights. (Don't worry, you won't get "bulky" or "musclebound"...it's a misconception that women get this way with weights. You simply don't have the testosterone in your system to look like that or even close.)
2) Carbohydrates are more detrimental to your efforts than fats. Lower your carb intake (especially simple sugars, starches, and any processed carb) and your bodyfat will drop. Your carbs should be coming from low-glycemic, slow-burning carbs like oatmeal, grain bread, yams, vegetables, and brown rice.
3) "Getting abs" is a function of low bodyfat, not ab training. You can train them all you want but you will never be able to see them unless you lose bodyfat.
With these points in mind, my recommendation for you would be to:
A) Start some moderate weight training 3 times a week.
B) Keep doing the cardio.
C) Continue to avoid junk food but drastically reduce your daily carb intake and all but eliminate processed starches and bready foods. Increase dietary protein and look for complex carb courses you like.
Best of luck.
Last edited:
GenetiKing said:Don't get desparate...
But there are a few things you are doing wrong.
Consider these points, they will help you:
1) Weight training is more impotrant than cardiovascular exercise when it comes to lowering bodyfat percentage. I know this is a difficult concept for most people outside the fitness/bodybuliding community to accept but's it's undoubtedly true. The weight training will maintain the valuable muscle tissue in your body that's responsible for higher metabolism and more efficient calorie burning. It will be very hard to lean up without the weights. (Don't worry, you won't get "bulky" or "musclebound"...it's a misconception that women get this way with weights. You simply don't have the testosterone in your system to look like that or even close.)
2) Carbohydrates are more detrimental to your efforts than fats. Lower your carb intake (especially simple sugars, straches, and any processed carb) and your bodyfat will drop. Your carbs should be coming from low-glycemic, slow-burning carbs like oatmeal, grain bread, yams, vegetables, and brown rice.
3) "Getting abs" is a function of low bodyfat, not ab training. You can train them all you want but you will never be able to see them unless you lose bodyfat.
With these points in mind, my recommendation for you would be to:
A) Start some moderate weight training 3 times a week.
B) Keep doing the cardio.
C) Continue to avoid junk food but drastically reduce your daily carb intake and all but eliminate processed starches and bready foods. Increase dietary protein and look for complex carb courses you like.
Best of luck.
AMEN BROTHA
js4201 - 5'8" & 120 lbs is definately NOT a bad height/weight ratio so long as that 120 lbs isn't mostly fat, and from what you've said it's not. That specific area you mentioned (below the navel) is a common problem area on a lot of women (e.g. the "pooch") as are the hips. So you're not alone by any means. DON'T GIVE UP! You obviously have the determination after 8 months of working at it, so keep it going.
GenetiKing had some great tips for you. Follow them (especially the weight training, reduction in carbs & increase in protein). I'd also suggest upping your cardio a bit. 1/2 mile/day isn't very much cardio (although we all wish it were!). I'd to at least 30 mins 3 times per week using it to supplement your weight training. Your body won't start burning existing fat with only a 1/2 mile.
Keep up the hard work & determination & you'll reach your goals! Good luck.
GenetiKing had some great tips for you. Follow them (especially the weight training, reduction in carbs & increase in protein). I'd also suggest upping your cardio a bit. 1/2 mile/day isn't very much cardio (although we all wish it were!). I'd to at least 30 mins 3 times per week using it to supplement your weight training. Your body won't start burning existing fat with only a 1/2 mile.
Keep up the hard work & determination & you'll reach your goals! Good luck.
HeavyDutyGuy
New member
I second all the above. Also running half a mile is really nothing, it burns about a whopping 60 calories-about 120 calories per mile. So how much fat is that? About 1/900 th of a lb-not much. Cardio WILL help lean you out, but it takes a lot over time. Weight training will build lean mass -which is metabolically expensive to maintain-in other words, you burn more calories even at rest. Will you get big muscles? Women hav egot to get over this-it's VERy hard for guys who have 10 -100 times your testosterone level to do it- you won't unless you use steroids.
absolute hardgainer
New member
What the G-King said...
hey guys, did you all notice this:
This guy is 5'8" and 120lb and he wants to LOOSE weight?!?
120lb is seriously skinny for a 5'8", you need to put on some meat! I'm 5'6" and about 147lb at about 8% BF, and I am skinny!
hardgainer (hard and gaining)
hey guys, did you all notice this:
This guy is 5'8" and 120lb and he wants to LOOSE weight?!?
120lb is seriously skinny for a 5'8", you need to put on some meat! I'm 5'6" and about 147lb at about 8% BF, and I am skinny!
hardgainer (hard and gaining)
like i said i seem to lose weight everywhere but my gut...it confuses me too. i really don't care about my weight though, just the mass... i could be 25 pounds heavier and i wouldn't care if i had a flat stomach. i wasn't very clear about how much i run, i meant between 1 and 2 miles everyday, a / probably wasn't a good way to put it. thanks for the tips, can anyone recommend carbfighter pills? im considering trying them.
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