I'm a skinny fat guy.

[j4k3]

Hey guys, I have a simple question for all of you - how do I lose my BIG GUT?

Let me tell you about my body - I'm about 5'7" and change and weigh about 135-140 lbs. Basically, I'm skinny. People know that I'm skinny and I know it too.

However, for the past year or so, I've been doing nothing but eating, sleeping and going to work. No exercise at all for those 12 or so months. The result? This BIG belly that I have. It sucks because it's ruining my confidence. I mean, I have to consciously remind myself every single time to suck my stomach in so I wouldn't look like I'm a supermodel who's pregnant.

Trust me, it's that uncomfortable.

I've been doing some cardiovascular workout (Tae-Bo) and strength training exercises (Total Gym) for the past 3 months or so and alternating them and although I can see notable differences in my body (like in my biceps for example... especially when I flex them), my very visible gut is still there. Also when I do ab crunches, I can feel my ab muscles somewhere beneath those layers of fat (so I know I'm becoming more muscular) but I feel like that is helping my belly to get bigger instead of smaller. What I mean is I know that my abs are getting bigger, right? But at the same time, since I'm not losing any inches around my waist, those ab exercises that I'm doing is helping my gut to get bigger. Bigger abs + big gut = even bigger belly (a disaster, basically).

Does that make sense?

Please tell me whether my current workout will help me lose my belly (I'm beginning to think that it won't because it's been several months now and I'm not losing my gut... even though it's doing wonders for the rest of my body) or not or if you have any suggestions as to how I can quickly lose it or if I should just head to my local plastic surgeon for some liposuction and get this over with.

Thank you and I know you guys'll give me some great advice.

 

[marcerrin]

Try laying off your ab workout for a little while. Squeeze an extra cardio workout in during the week, or lengthen your current cardio program. Your abs get a pretty good workout just by working the rest of your body. Some body builders never do ab exercises just for that reason
Its pretty much impossible to "spot reduce" fat on your body. Just plain old hard work burns fat. Burn the fat first, then firm up.
As far as your diet goes, Im not a nutritionist, but Ill give you an example of a typical day.

- 6:15am (post workout): egg white omlette w/ spinach and mushrooms, whole wheat toast dry, and protien shake with added Glutemine (for recovery). 12oz water
- 10am: fruit (banana, orange , or apple), 6oz lowfat yogurt, and one can of tuna fish right out of the can. 12 oz water.
- 12pm: Half turkey sandwich on whole wheat, no mayo, lettuce, tomato, and a little cranberry sauce for taste. Whole wheat crackers with low-fat cottage cheese. 12oz water
- 3pm: Protien shake and fruit. 12oz water
- 5:30pm chicken breast, rice, vegetables and whole wheat toast dry. Then water until i go to sleep.

Try to steer clear of carbs after 6pm unless you workout later than that. You dont want carbs sitting in your body while you sleep or your body will store it as fat. If my day permitted me to, I would add one smaller meal between 6 and 10 in the morning, but its just not possible for me. I think the ideal is to eat 6 times each day.
Once you start a daily regiment, your body will actually crave food that is better for you.

 

[j4k3]

Try laying off your ab workout for a little while. Squeeze an extra cardio workout in during the week, or lengthen your current cardio program. Your abs get a pretty good workout just by working the rest of your body. Some body builders never do ab exercises just for that reason.

Its pretty much impossible to "spot reduce" fat on your body. Just plain old hard work burns fat. Burn the fat first, then firm up.

Thanks for your reply, man.

I knew somehow that my ab exercises were working against me. I mean, I'm not losing any inches around my waist and yet, I'm causing it to get even bigger by exercising my abs!

So here's what I'm going to do: I'm going to exercise 5 times a week - Monday through Friday. I'll do my cardio workout every M,W,F and strenth training (minus the ab exercises) every T, Th.

Thanks for that tip, man. That could be the difference I'm looking for

Try to steer clear of carbs after 6pm unless you workout later than that. You dont want carbs sitting in your body while you sleep or your body will store it as fat. If my day permitted me to, I would add one smaller meal between 6 and 10 in the morning, but its just not possible for me. I think the ideal is to eat 6 times each day.

OK, here's another concern: after work, when I get home, that's where I start working out. I will workout for about an hour and then eat a full meal (sometimes, even a big, full meal) after about 30 minutes after I've done my workout.

Is 30 minutes enough?

I have a feeling... I shouldn't have quite a big dinner because even though I just workedout 30 minutes prior to that, I'd be going to sleep after a couple of hours and like you said, I don't want carbs sitting in my body while I sleep because that will be stored as fat.

Man, I really gotta do the obvious thing.

Thanks for reiterating this to me.