Then we’ll argue about the answer in the comments

  • cylon_jg@kbin.social
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    3
    ·
    1 year ago

    I’m running, doing core and arm workouts and eating well, and losing weight - but I can’t seem to shift the belly fat.

    Is it just a case of “keep going” and it’ll go?

    (I’ve been working out / watching calories for about 2 months and dropped 4 kg, and gone from a 34 to a tight 32 on my pants (trousers). It’s just the damn spare tire.)

    • devnull@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      5
      ·
      edit-2
      1 year ago

      I’m running, doing core and arm workouts and eating well, and losing weight - but I can’t seem to shift the belly fat.

      Just to be unambiguous, the only thing really affecting your amount of belly fat is the amount of fat you lose. You can’t spot reduce fat by doing core workouts. It’s good for general health and fitness to work out, but training abs won’t decrease belly fat at all - you need the calorie deficit for that (which you apparently do have, so that’s good, and you should work out to make sure you don’t lose 80% muscle weight but mostly fat).

      Where you lose fat just depends on genetics. For me belly fat is some of the last fat to go when losing weight and some of the first to come back when gaining - results really tend to come in at the end of a cut.

      dropped 4 kg, and gone from a 34 to a tight 32 on my pants (trousers)

      Sounds like there’s progress. If you want more, continue.

      • cylon_jg@kbin.social
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        2
        ·
        1 year ago

        Thanks friend! I appreciate the advice and encouragement. Down to below 80kgs for the first time in 25 years now!

    • ramsgrl909@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      1
      ·
      1 year ago

      As an on and off workout person, I usually see more meaningful results at month 3.

      And as someone whose fat is on my Calves and thighs, sometimes it’s just genetics.

    • funchords@lemmy.sdf.org
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      1
      ·
      1 year ago

      When we’re at our biggest, our skin holds everything “up.” When there’s less everything to hold, our skin sags lower due to gravity and our fat hangs a bit lower. This is why the spare tire “collects” around the lower part of the abdomen when everything used to hang higher when we were at our biggest weight.

      You probably have lost some girth there in the middle. Try your non-stretchy pants that you used to wear for formal occasions and see if they fit any differently now that you have lost 4 kg. Or, an old leather belt with well-worn belt holes can show progress because we’re suddenly needing the next smallest hole to hold our pants up.

      • cylon_jg@kbin.social
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        1
        ·
        1 year ago

        Thanks! I’ve got tighter pants but the issue is just above my belt line so it looks WORSE for a bit. However progress is still happening. Thanks for the info, friend!