flat tummies

[Iamqueenofeverything]

i am in good shape but i am alittle pudgy around the stomach. if i don't watch it, sometimes i am not holding my stomach in, i look pregnant. does anyone else have this problem. what are some ways to get rid of a big tummy so it can look flat?

 

[rotandroll]

Yes, yes, yes, I have always had this problem. I haven't found any fix-all, I have great abdominal muscles (coughing) and even at my very lowest weight I had a belly. And yes, I was once asked by a stranger when I was due. I don't know who was more mortified, me when he asked or him when I said, "Omigod, NO, I AM NOT PREGNANT!". No tips for the belly problem here, sorry, just wanted to let you know you aren't alone.

 

[lmattaway]

yep, no tips, but i'm totally with you. no matter how skinny i was as a kid i always had a pouch. right now i just try to have good posture, that tends to help a bit.

 

[lightNlife]

I have a scar across my abdomen which makes my tummy look a little odd, even through a shirt. However, I've noticed that since I've been working out, my tummy is flatter.

 

[letsrockcfem]

Oh my poor belly..I am a pretty fit gal and still my tummy will not go away. From when I can remember I have always had a little chub down there. Posture is what I am really concentrating on these days. My upper adbs and back are tight but I still have a crazy belly. It is different!

 

[barbc888]

It's funny you mentioned this because I have gained 5 lbs. recently and my belly just got bigger when the weight came on. It's been bothering me... but I think the best thing is good posture, like others have mentioned.

 

[sarabeth87]

I've got the same problem. I've been asked when I was due and just yesterday someone asked me if i was pregnant. It's pretty embarassing, but I haven't found a way to fix it. I tried using a corset, but I usually end up taking it off bcuz I feel like I can't breath in them.

 

[blonde1]

I have the same problem! I have skinny arms, legs, butt, face...I am in great shape (dancer and fitness teacher)- and my abs are strong as all heck (even after having a baby)- but no matter how low my weight is, I still think my stomach has that slight "malnourished" pouch that my daughter has. What is up with that? Definitely annoying..!!!

 

[JazzysMom]

I think most CFers understand this!

My hubby is very proud of my flat, strong tummy so when I have flare ups or am pmsing that causing the "bloated" look he is shocked.

It doesnt happen on a regular basis and when it does its from the inside out. Its not muscular or lack of toneness, but like a natural force pushing it out LOL!

 

[sue35]

Yep I have this also. In good shape and have strong abs but they are covered by belly fat. When I lost 20 pounds last year and was scary skinny I still had the belly! I feel most CFers have that "apple" body and it is so hard to dress. I tend to wear a lot of empire shirts to try and cover it

 

[bittyhorse23]

I am the same way. I have great ab muscles from coughing but there is that little pouch area that never goes away either. No matter how many crunches I do or days a week I do Pilates. I think it is just a build up of fat from all the crap I eat. The heavier I get the bigger it gets. It's also a great way to tell if I've lost alot of weight! When it almost disappears I know I am in trouble haha! If you can't beat it, join it!

 

[kybert]

so... most cfers have 'the' belly, but what actually causes it? some people say its malabsorption, but i know people who have no digestive issues and they still have it. some say its from lack of exercise but once again i know plenty of people who exercise and its still there. some say its constipation but what about those who arent constipated and still have it? someone go find the answer! hah!

 

[AnD]

I have always had this too, even on the best "tummy" days, and I am mostly pancreatic sufficent (taking an enzyme helps, but isn't neccesary for me to keep weight (or extra weight) on so far.
I have fairly good abs too because of coughing and swimming, and yet, I still have the "pooch", so when I do have tummy issues, it really pokes out. I got a pair of the tummy control undies for "formal" occasions, because I got tired of being asked if I was pregnant, too, not to mention tired of trying to find a nice "little black dress" in petites that also hid my tummy.
I will probably cry when they quit making midrise jeans and shorts- they help me with my poking out tummy, but don't go high enough to be uncomfortable for my tummy or my breathing, .

 

[Aspiemom]

I know that when you go on Stage 1 of the South Beach Diet, the first thing you do is lose the weight off of your belly & waist. What do you do different on that stage? You avoid all of the bad carbs & also fruit. No potatoes, white rice, pasta, sugar...fruit. It was terribly hard for me to do because I'm a sweet-o-holic, but the hardest for me was giving up fruit! But at the end of 2 weeks I noticed a big difference and I didn't have the cravings anymore. That is why they start out with that - to rid you of your cravings.

I know Robin, Dr. Phil's wife, had worked out and felt happy with everything except her belly and she mentioned it to her pharmacist. (Weird person to ask, if you ask me.) Anyway, he told her to cut out all sugar, so she did and she was able to flatten her tummy, too.

My worst area is my tummy/waist but I just can't kick that sweet tooth for the life of me! I had the flattest, firmest belly until I was around 30 and then "something happened" - life.

 

[Landy]

I can't even count the number of times I've been asked if I'm expecting. It doesn't even faze me anymore!

Here's a theory I heard once & take it with a grain of salt: When I was a baby, I was very malnourished (obviously, due to pancreas issues), almost to the point of death, and I had the Etheopian tummy.
Well, I've never lost it. I don't know if those poor, starving Etheopian people ever loose theirs either when they finally get some nourishment?
But that's the comparison that I got, that I was basically a starving person too.

Luckily, now I'm pretty much pancreatic sufficient and at a pretty good weight.

 

[Momtana]

always always always for me, even when I was most athletic as a young teen. I am pancreatic sufficient. Why oh why do people who don't know a woman well ask if she is pregnant? I don't get asked that any more, ha!

 

[blondelawyer]

My husband has it too! He is skinny all over, but has a tummy. If he sticks it out he looks about 8 months pregnant! Luckily as a guy he doesn't get the pregnant question but I think that he has heard "beer belly" quite often--which I do think bothers him quite a bit.

 

[blondelawyer]

My husband has it too! He is skinny all over, but has a tummy. If he sticks it out he looks about 8 months pregnant! Luckily as a guy he doesn't get the pregnant question but I think that he has heard "beer belly" quite often--which I do think bothers him quite a bit.

 

[Rokiss12]

i always have one, and i dont mind usually, but if im wearing something tighter around my belly then i wear spanx. if you dont have them you should definilty get them....they're like pantyhose but a corset...they just suck you in and smooth you out a little bit. LOVE. THEM.


and they're a little pricey so you can check out targets knock off version called 'assets'


Kate

 

[Iamqueenofeverything]

thanks for the input.
glad to know i am not alone.
i geuss with me i don't eat when i am sick/hungry. when i do get better from an infection or hospital stay then i need the food that i didn't get from when i was sick. i tend to eat twice as much when i get better.