How to de-jelly my belly?

[Miss Swan]

I've been religiously working out at the gym 5 times a week and I do see my arms getting toner, legs slimmer.

What confounds me is the fat around my stomach/tummy refuses to budge!!!


My workout schedule: 3 times cross trainer, 2 times bicycle, all for 45 mins. Oh don't get started on situps because they only tone the inner muscles, but the outer layer of fat must be burnt off. But anyway I've been doing my situps too, so religiously that my muscles are a firm wall of toned cells. Just that miserable glob of fat above the muscles that are oh-so-stubborn to move.

Well definitely if I have a personal trainer I can see better results but the fact is I don't, and currently relying on myself.

Diet-wise, a cereal drink for breakfast, a big tuna sandwich for lunch, and a wholesome salad for dinner.

So you see, i'm cutting back on calories, and yes i'm seeing results but I don't understand why I'im still having a clump of fats at my tummy.

Oh by the way my stomach got this way when I went overseas for a short stinct and had very oily and salty meals.

How?? Help!

[Prairiegirl]

I too have the same problem. I am toning down but can't seem to target the fat zone on the tummy. If you hear of some interesting way to help target the belly, I would be interested in hearing it.

Keep up the good work and Good Luck!

[chixchix]

lol very good question or posts should I say.. after having 2 kids, i have a pouch too..doesnt want to go away..no matter how much i hit the gym .. but i think the malay way of using Jamu and tummy wrap may help to tone and slimmer the tummy down a bit .

[Miss Swan]

Chixchix: I have a friend in her early 20's who gave birth and despite being a sportswoman herself, she's been unable to loose her jelly-belly from childbirth. She's so desperate she went to Bottomslim.

Looks like the only sure-fire way is slimming salons?

[chixchix]

Nope I advise you not to spend your money. oK i will share with you my story. Before giving birth to my 2 boys, i was only 56kg.Now only maintaining at 68kg.. tell you what I did.

I usually take Herballife, however, since I hardly take water ,the slimming process was quite slow, and lets face .i cheated .. and still kept bunging on cakes n chocs. So last december, i pleaded with my hubby to sign me up at Marie France,which he paid $1600 for i think 12 appts.I went about 3 times a week. Everytime i go, they did this ok:

1) Take my weight.Bring me to a room. Apply some Greenish Guam hot mask on my thighs n tummy.At that time my tumy was a bit wrinkly like orange peels ehhee..

2) AFter that I bathed and again got a massage, where they massaged my thighs and tummy.Trust me I felt like roti prata, as they were beating me haha.

3) Then put some really really cold bandages ,wrapped on my tummy,thighs and arms.. Miss Swan ,this was a 20 min torture.They put me on some machine that was shaking like a vibrator.

4) Then after that I go home. Thats it.

1st n 2nd lesson was liek that.3rd onwards, they took away the No 1 treatment from me cos they said its a expensive treatment. I felt that the treatments were quite torturous, and deep down I regretted not listening to my hubby and wasting his hard earned money.

Also, all throughout the sessions, my weight dropped may 0.5kg,,and its so hurting.

SO i went to the consultation who told me that not to worry about my weight and make sure the toxins were out of my body.


Oh no ...i felt little little inches off me,, yes my tummy got more toned ( I Tell u becos of the Guam wrap ).

After that ,TRUST ME, i just sticked to my Herbalife, the best.I just disciplined myself to drink more water and go to the gym regularly.

I do see results. Frankly speaking I love my herbalife.

MORAL OF THE STORY : DONT TRUST OR WASTE YOUR MONEY ON SLIMMING CENTRES!

[chixchix]

oh yeah before I forget, I still think that you should try some good malay auntie doing the wrapping, using Jamu. Thats really better.

[MK]

chixchix is right.
I too have spend thousand of dollars in all those so called wrapping, hot blanket and sauna packages and just targeted my belly area but no reuslts at all... very dissappointed.

I still think there is no shortcut to this... main thing is still watch your diet and do exercise at least 3 times a week.

[OPT]

chixchix is right.
I too have spend thousand of dollars in all those so called wrapping, hot blanket and sauna packages and just targeted my belly area but no reuslts at all... very dissappointed.

I still think there is no shortcut to this... main thing is still watch your diet and do exercise at least 3 times a week.

Couldn't agree more... please don't waste you money - all you need is the right information.

First stop the 45min cardio sessions.... that's one of the reasons that your progress has stopped.

First, try doing weight training. Not the type you usually see in the gym on all the machines. You want to perform the major movements and you want to pair exercises (more work less time).

Ideally you should have an assessment before starting and this should include a functional movement screen.

The movements you want to perform are:

Squat
Deadlift
Lunge
Horizontal Push
Horizontal Pull
Vertical Push
Vertical Pull

Now after the weight training program (about 20-30 min) perform interval training - start with 1:3 work to rest ration... that is 20 second sprint followed by 60 second rest for a starting total of 5 cycles. Ideally you should use a heart rate monitor. This needs to be approached slowly - and looking at your recovery between sprints.

Forget about this so called 220-age for your max heart rate... does not exist.... and forget about the fat burning zone - it's a load of crap.

Now as far as abdominal exercises.... I'll let you in on a secret.... sit-ups are not only a waste of time but also perform the opposite function of the rectus abdominus - the function of the rectus is eccentric deceleration of the trunk in extension... in other words stops you from bending backwards.

The actual primary function of the abdominal wall is actually prevent movement not create movement. All these rotation movements for the core are the worst thing you could be doing. Segmental rotation of the lumbar spine is only 2 degrees with a total of 13 degrees (5 degrees from L5-S1).

Now nutrition…. Go to my web site (www.optimumperformance.com.sg) and read the article on nutrition. But what I would say is, don’t cut back on calories too much – one this I would recommend is remove grains from your diet. Replace them with more vegetables and make sure you get some protein in every meal.

Hope this helps and opens your eyes to some of the crap information that is going around out there.

[HunBunny]

Hi all,

I used to have a flat tummy without doing much exercise. Now after moving to London, I have a big gut. This is down to change of diet (red meat) and the quality of food (fatty and disgusting) here.

I recently joined LA Fitness which is a big gym. I tried treadmill, cycling, stepper, situps etc but no results. I then signed up with a personal trainer who showed me some stretching exercises and also using free weighs (no machines at all!). I started eating more salad and seafood rather than meat and I am seeing results.

I feel there is no need to go to slimming centre but to find a good personal trainer who understands and listen to you. He told me that I only need to see him for 4 sessions and do as I am told. After that, I would not need him. THis is fanatastic because he is not milking me for the money but genuinely wants me to get results (afterall, I will be his marketing).

[sQ-StEwaRd-ShazNi]

How about trying to go for a run in the park??

Liposuction??But it is painful and expensive..

But most imporantly watch what you eat because there's a chance that you might grow some fat again..

[earthfriendly]

In my case, carbohydrates is the culprit. I notice belly is smaller if I cut down on it. That plus religious use of Uzap can be helpful. Really, the main issue for me is the carbohydrates. Doesn't matter what else I do. If I do not decrease the carbo intake, I see very pronounce effect on my belly.

[kosuiko]

The short answer to your problem is that you don't have enough muscle.

Bottom line is to burn more calories than you consume, to the point that your body is desperate and has NO CHOICE but to use your belly fat as a source of calories.

Pure cardio workouts (running, cycling) are not as effective as combining strength training with cardio workouts. This is because if you build muscle, the muscle burns fat while you are doing nothing on your rest days. Muscle also consumes 3 times more energy than fat.

Also, the body only begins to burn fat AFTER 35 min of cardio. So try to go for longer cardio sessions up to 60 min. And... is your heart rate fast enough? I see many people on the treadmills walking for 45 min. I don't think that does much.

Most important is don't neglect the strength training. Concentrate on the big muscles like legs, back, butt and chest. Don't worry, you won't build any bulging muscles. It's not that easy.

[OPT]

The short answer to your problem is that you don't have enough muscle.

Bottom line is to burn more calories than you consume, to the point that your body is desperate and has NO CHOICE but to use your belly fat as a source of calories.

Pure cardio workouts (running, cycling) are not as effective as combining strength training with cardio workouts. This is because if you build muscle, the muscle burns fat while you are doing nothing on your rest days. Muscle also consumes 3 times more energy than fat.

Also, the body only begins to burn fat AFTER 35 min of cardio. So try to go for longer cardio sessions up to 60 min. And... is your heart rate fast enough? I see many people on the treadmills walking for 45 min. I don't think that does much.

Most important is don't neglect the strength training. Concentrate on the big muscles like legs, back, butt and chest. Don't worry, you won't build any bulging muscles. It's not that easy.

No you don't only start burining fat after 35 min of cardio. In fact you are buring fat stitting at you computer. What have been proven to be more importand is EPOC (Ecess Post-Exercise Oxygen Consumption).

No muscle does not consume 3 times more energy than fat. Really, how much energy do you think it takes to maintain fat stores.

You are right about one thing - most people don't have enough lean muscle mass...... and they are way too weak.

[chixchix]

so how many calories must you burn each time u go to the gym

[OPT]

Don't be too concerned about the total amount of calories burnt – besides impossible to measure in the gym.

What you need to be thinking about is creating the optimal environment for “fat loss”