belly pooch!

Hi, So I finally have the guts to put my pics up here..., ok, so I'm 5'2, I dont have any before pics...
I used to weight 130 lbs, now I weight 109 lbs, I have been doing crunches and HIIT 5 times a week in the morning... any tips on how to get rid of that pooch on my belly, I hate it... I think it's never gonna go away...
 

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I would aim to get the diet in check first off.
And working your abs 5 days each week will not help you burn off any fat.
read these if you get a second. :)
 
my nutrition is pretty good... I don't eat any fats...
like I said I also do HIIT 5 times a week High Intensity Interval Training... on the treadmill 5 times a week, I sweat a lot...

This is what I do..
5 mins warm up.. at 4mph
30 secs at 8 mph, and 30 secs at 5 mph... that for 15 mins
then 5 min at 4mph

so is this and crunches afterwards
 
so when should I drink water... with the meal, before the meal... my brother told me that it's better to drink water with the meal.. cause it helps you get full faster so you won't eat too much...

the thing is that my belly isn't like a normal belly is pretty hard.. but is that pooch that is killing me
 
fatty_fat said:
my nutrition is pretty good... I don't eat any fats...
..


Okay, so clearly you don't understand the fundamental importance of having fat in your diet. It is unhealthy to avoid fat. It's healthy to eat Polyunsaturated, monounsaturated and Essential Fatty Acid.
 
I'm not an expert, but have you tried doing exercises that will more specifically target the lower part of the abs? Or do your crunches incorporate that, too? I thought that regular crunches mostly target the upper.

Are you saying that the "pooch" is firm (I wasn't clear what you mean about "not like a regular stomach, it's hard"). If it is then the pooch may just be the way you are built. ?
 
I think you belly is nice :). But always strive for what you want. As for losing that last bit of fat up the anti. Try a different form of cardio like swimming or biking (both activities using the core muscles).

Because you have been doing the same thing for a while your progress has been slowing down right? Its called adaptation and the law of diminishing returns. To combat this use the training principle of progressive overload. Increase one of the following. Time, intensity, frequency. Do this with different types of cardio.

As for the diet. Increase protein decrease carbohydrate and fat. Also look into taking some fish oil or flax oil. There are also thermogenic fat burners that are quite affordable.

Good luck.
 
Susie said:
I'm not an expert, but have you tried doing exercises that will more specifically target the lower part of the abs? Or do your crunches incorporate that, too? I thought that regular crunches mostly target the upper.

The Abdominis Rectus is a single sheet of muscle. There is no upper or lower.
 
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and you cannot spot reduce fat. You cannot target the fat that resides on your lower abdomen. What you must do is lower your entire body fat.
 
Hi Cynic,
I am aware that it's one sheet of muscle, but regardless, there are still exercises that work the upper part of that mucle and ones that work the lower, aren't there? For instance crunches for me are really easy, but ab exercises that involve lifting the lower legs are tough. So are you saying I don't have to bother with the ones that lift the lower legs because simple crunches are hitting the entire muscle already?
 
Susie said:
Hi Cynic,
I am aware that it's one sheet of muscle, but regardless, there are still exercises that work the upper part of that mucle and ones that work the lower, aren't there? For instance crunches for me are really easy, but ab exercises that involve lifting the lower legs are tough. So are you saying I don't have to bother with the ones that lift the lower legs because simple crunches are hitting the entire muscle already?

No, I'm not saying that. I'll elaborate:

All ab exercises, such as crunches and reverse crunches, leg raises, etc, are hitting the abs. What you're experiencing is a different CNS pattern activation, one that hasn't been utilized or hardly utilized. So it'll feel harder and feels like it's in a different area. It's not much different than exercising for the first time. You'll first start to prime the CNS for that muscle stress pattern, than as it catches hold, it'll settle in and start really activating the muscle.

That's why most CSCSs recommend sticking to a particular exercise for 2-8 weeks. So tha body adapts and utilizes an exercise to it's fullest. Later the body adapts too much and the movement doesn't stress the CNS enough to stress the muscle.

As Lou Schuler is fond of saying "you can't do the same thing and expect different results."
 
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Don't forget leg raises also heavily involve the hip flexors as well (I think the medical name is Ilias and Psoas?). Not that that is bad, those muscles need exercise too:).

Have you considered a weight program? Most people experience better fat loss when incorporating a whole body weight workout 3 times a week and reducing the HIIT to 2 or 3 times a week.
 
dswithers said:
Don't forget leg raises also heavily involve the hip flexors as well (I think the medical name is Ilias and Psoas?). Not that that is bad, those muscles need exercise too:).

Iliopsoas
Tensor fascia lata (TFL)
Fascia lata, Iliotibialband (ITB)

They also need dynamic stretching and foam rolling if you sit a lot.
 
You sound a lot like me; I am 5'3" and went from 139 to about 108-112.

I still have a little jelly belly - but i've had two pregnancies too...my dr said it might not go away.

Just keep on eating right and working out. Everyone is different! It might take time..it might not happen...and then again, it might!

Do you do your ab exercises with weights? I used to skip them in the videos i do, then when I started using them, within a couple of weeks i saw muscle definition in the sides of my stomach.
 
I read somewhere on the internet that if you hold your stomach in while doing crunches, it helps to flatten the stomach.. is that true?
and thanks for all the responses...
oh, and I forgot to tell you guys... I use the Ab lounge 2, so I think is sit ups
 
LiveFromNY said:
You sound a lot like me; I am 5'3" and went from 139 to about 108-112.

I still have a little jelly belly - but i've had two pregnancies too...my dr said it might not go away.

Well, you are talking about skin that has been stretched. Did you get big, I mean real big while carrying your kids?
 
fatty_fat said:
I read somewhere on the internet that if you hold your stomach in while doing crunches, it helps to flatten the stomach.. is that true?

Sounds like the same thinking that punching yourself in the abs while doing crunches will develop them faster...and yes, I've seen older guys do it.
 
Cynic said:
Sounds like the same thinking that punching yourself in the abs while doing crunches will develop them faster...and yes, I've seen older guys do it.

u should contract ur abdominal muscles , to get the most out of ur ab workouts, u also feel more of a sensation, imo

sucking ur stomach is same as contracting. isnt it? LOLZ roflmaoz
 
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