How do I lose the fat?

[gahorse]

Does anybody have any suggestions on what really works ! for losing belly fat. I am a single mom with 2 kids, I have lost 35 lbs since last summer, I am now 140 lbs, and 5'3". I am happy with everything except the little fat pockets around my belly and hips, but no matter how much exercise I do, and I do a lot.I just can't shape up. I will not get out in public in a swim suit with my little fat roll hanging over the edge of my bikini bottoms.I walk a lot, do crunches, hip hop abs, I just can't tone it up ! Anybody have any ideas ?

[sweetaspie]

To be honest it probably isn't fat but more like left over skin. When you are short(I am also 5'2" and 130 so I feel where you are coming from) and get pregnant your skin has to stretch a lot futher then if you were 5'7" and pregnant. I feel where you are coming from having a one year old myself. Crunches actually aren't that good for your abs after having a baby because they actually shorten the ab muscules and when you have to empty space to fill from loose skin you are better off doing cardio and toning exercise such as pilates which tones the core and lengthens the muscles. Bicycle crunches work well for toning up the lower abs because you aren't completely contracting the muscles so it tones without shortening. Weight training is good too because it speeds up your metabolism and builds muscle which helps to burn off fat. Also, try drinking at least 3 glasses of skim milk each day. I was watching a show on Discovery Channel and the did a whole experiment with poop (yes gross) and compared peoples poo who intake 24oz of dairy each day to those who intake less and those who comsume dairy get rid of 50% fat the intake from food in their poop then those who don't. I know gross, but you gotta go with the facts! Also eat 5 SMALL meals each day. Eating only one meal a day sends your body into starvation mode and causes your body to hold onto fat. Here is a website that has great diets plans you can follow.

www.dietbites.com

I am using their plans. You don't feel starved and the calories and fat are low to help promote weight loss. HOpe this helps!

[punchxcore]

Ever heard the phrase, "abs are made in the kitchen"? You won't get rid of the belly fat unless you're eating really clean and exercising to shed excess fat. You can do all the crunches and sit ups in the world, and that still won't make your stomach any leaner. Sure, it'll make the muscle under your fat pretty firm, but that won't do anything for what's on the surface. My suggestion? Limit the carbs you eat, don't drink pop, limit your sugar intake and eat lots of meat and veggies. If you feel fine at the weight you're at, then sadly. you're probably stuck with your belly. But in order to lose belly fat, you have to decrease total body fat.

For exercises you could do HIIT on a treadmill, which is high intensity interval training. HIIT is proven to shed fat a lot better than just plain old running.

[gahorse]

Well I don't eat that much, the only meal I have is lunch and maybe a light snack later on in the day, I walk the track 5 days a week at a very fast steady pace. I did the treadmill thing but it never showed results so I sold the stupid thing. I don't know, it just stinks that I'm too ashamed to wear a swim suit which cuts out a lot of my summer fun.

[punchxcore]

But what does your only meal and light snack consist of? It's not how much you eat as much as it's WHAT you eat. Like I eat 3 meals a day, with some snacks on occasion, and my belly fat is going down because I eat low carb, so I don't eat all kinds of processed foods. Honestly, it's all going to come down to what you put in your mouth if you want to shed that belly fat. You could wear a two piece swimsuit that covers your midsection. That's what I do until I can wear a bikini.

[soxfan94]

It's true that you definitely have to eat better to lose the fat you want, but it's also true that a steady ab routine will speed up the fat loss and get the abs in great shape for once the fat is gone. I have no idea what "hip hop abs" is, but I suggest hitting the obliques heavily. They're the muscles on the side that will help with the love handles. You can do this with rotation machines at a gym, or with side curls at home.

[Nitty-Gritty]

Eat small well balanced portions throughout the day and spurts of intense activity are shown to increase weight loss and are easier to fit into your schedule.