thin girl, fat belly

mrs.byron · 09-08-2009, 08:40 PM

Am I the only one?

I work out regularly and eat well, and have never been 'overweight.' However, my stomach sticks out so far I think I look pregnant (ah, the irony). The strangest part is--when I flex my stomach, you can see six pack abs, but when I relax--blam! Big round belly again. It's almost as if the fat is beneath my abs, not on top of them. I'm so frustrated with my body right now.

If I hold my stomach in, I look fine, even fit--but without constantly flexing, I've got a round stomach that sticks out farther than my little boobs...while the rest of my body looks great!

Anybody else have this problem? Any ideas on how to get rid of this fat belly? Or--should I not attempt to lose any weight right now, since I'm TTC? I get so confused--one day I think i should cut out carbs all together (I know, not a smart option), the next day I've convinced myself that any weight loss will only make it harder to conceive. Btw, I'm 5'7", 135 lbs.

duramater · 09-08-2009, 11:27 PM

I don't think you should try to lose weight, but you can eat low carb without losing weight. I eat a low glycemic index diet with lots of good fats, like avocados and nuts, so I won't lose weight. I think it's helped my belly, which isn't huge but isn't flat either. I really look pregnant after a big meal! I have clothes I can eat in, and clothes I can't.

I'm looking forward to having a huge pregnant belly and looking cute in a bikini without sucking it in!

Yasmin8 · 09-09-2009, 01:48 AM

I have a big tummy too, but a regular size arms and legs! My mom, sister and myself were comparing pregnancy stretch marks and other stomach scarring and mom asked me if I was pregnant. She said I looked like I was 3 months pregnant. Of course I'm not! My sister and mom are bigger than I am but don't have the stomach I do. I feel like I look like an ethiopian sometimes....no offense to ethiopians.

cdcm · 09-09-2009, 03:31 AM

I think it's kind of strange to be able to see your abs under fat. Have you been to the Dr. to rule out any growths? I get them, (they are not cancerous), and my cousin had one that in late 30's early 40's she had to have a hysterectomy, the thing had filled her entire uterus, and she looked about 3-4 months pg.

If it's not a growth... then I would get into weight lifting, and cardio. Weights to increase the mass in your thin arms and legs, and assist with burning fat. But I would also make sure your body fat % doesn't get so low that it interfers with your hormones...

Isn't is just spectacular the crap we have to deal with????

Melly78 · 09-09-2009, 03:23 PM

My belly is the same way. I have a 6-pack when I flex. When I relax it's just a round belly. It's the worst by the end of the day so I think some of it is bloating. VERY frustrating though, especially when I work out so hard and every other part of body is skinny and toned. One of my friends saw a photograph of me and said I needed to have an enema!!!!

I wouldn't try to lose weight though, you want a little body fat to sustain a pregnancy.

Pink Nails · 09-09-2009, 04:02 PM

I am the same. It sucks, I am petite and my BMI only about 19 yet my belly is the bane of my existance. If I get pregnant I could probably conceal it the whole time because I am so good at dressing to cover a pooch.

DLChic428 · 09-09-2009, 06:57 PM

I have this same thing! Until I was diagnosed w/ PCOS I was going crazy. I have 6 pack when I'm standing and slightly flexing but if I just let it out it's NOT the stomache that should be on my body compared to my legs/arms/etc. I'm lean everywhere but there. SO weird. Do you have insulin issues?! I'm getting fasting glucose/insulin test done this Friday because my GYN thinks this may be the reason I have fat storage around the abdomen area. I guess sometimes w/ PCOS hormone imbalance/insulin imbalance causes fat storage around this area so I've been told...

KatCarney · 09-10-2009, 11:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cdcm

I think it's kind of strange to be able to see your abs under fat. Have you been to the Dr. to rule out any growths? I get them, (they are not cancerous), and my cousin had one that in late 30's early 40's she had to have a hysterectomy, the thing had filled her entire uterus, and she looked about 3-4 months pg.

It sounds like you're describing fibroids. I had four of them, and the largest weighed about 4 pounds - it, too, made me look 4 months pregnant.

If fibroids aren't an issue, try dramatically increasing the intensity of your workouts for awhile. Higher intensity cardio can really target belly fat.

From the stickies at the top of the Diet & Exercise forum>>

QUICK LINKS: PCOS and Losing BELLY FAT

cdcm · 09-11-2009, 12:16 AM

Thank you Kat, my mind had gone blank while writing that... yes.. FIBROIDS... I had several. They were smaller, and my Dr. was quite suspicious, that in addition to causing me to bleed so badly that I couldn't leave my house, that they were easily acting as an IUD, preventing PG...

I also happen to know that he spotted some when he delivered my babies via C-section. Didn't remove them as I was apparently bleeding enough... but noteworth should I start developing problems again...

Yeah... cutting back on the calories, and upping the workouts are pretty much the only thing that works. I really think us cycters have no choice but to be rather aggressive with with extra weight.

mrs.byron · 09-11-2009, 01:27 PM

I've had an ultrasound recently, and they didn't see anything unusual (other than my cystic ovaries). Would fibroids show up on US?

jules80 · 09-18-2009, 05:08 PM

I totally have the same problem. My stomach is the bain of my existence. I am otherwise thin. I run, eat health, and have tried every diet but have NEVER had a flat stomach. A couple months ago a woman riding in an elevator had the nerve to ask me if I was pregnant, which just made my complex even worse. I always worry now that people are wondering if I am pregnant. I hate that woman....

MrsG · 09-20-2009, 01:56 AM

Like most of you, I too have that SAME problem! I am also getting bloodwork done this coming Friday. I guess I am pretty naive; I had no idea insulin retention caused weight gain around your belly? Maybe that's the problem.. I even had a doctor giving me a physical once basically jumped when he saw my midsection. He exclaimed "Wow! It looks like someone just collected all off the fat off your body and put it here in your stomach!! Weird..."

Awesome. Needless to say, I found a new GP.

cdcm · 09-22-2009, 03:25 AM

I'm 5'5", and at my lowest weight... 105, and heavily working out... NO TUMMY....

Our tummy's happen to be where we carry weight. But that weight is FAT... So if you're over fat... even if you're thin... the tummy will still be there...

BMI and Body Fat % are not the same thing. BMI is based on weight (regardless of ratios) and Height...

My generic recommendation would be to add weight lifting, especially if you're already thin... and if you're overweight... watch those calories...

KatCarney · 09-22-2009, 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cdcm

I'm 5'5", and at my lowest weight... 105, and heavily working out... NO TUMMY....

Our tummy's happen to be where we carry weight. But that weight is FAT... So if you're over fat... even if you're thin... the tummy will still be there...

BMI and Body Fat % are not the same thing. BMI is based on weight (regardless of ratios) and Height...

My generic recommendation would be to add weight lifting, especially if you're already thin... and if you're overweight... watch those calories...

Excellent advice. The only thing I'll add is to include high intensity cardio, if you're physically able. It really targets visceral fat (ie belly fat)

Quote:

Originally Posted by CandyJimmyMilly

I'm not exercising much though. I think I'll need to start some sit ups soon.

Sit ups won't do much for belly fat. Sorry

The Rx is:
- calorie controlled diet
- High intensity cardio
- Large muscle strength training (ie Chest, Back, legs)

Pink Nails · 09-23-2009, 01:08 PM

[quote=cdcm;1890061005]I'm 5'5", and at my lowest weight... 105, and heavily working out... NO TUMMY....

Great to hear! I have heard from a couple other girls that resistance training where you get your muscles active is what does it for the tummy fat. That is motivation for me. I have avoided muscle work in the last few years since I literally do bulk up (becuase of the extra androgens). I run and eat almost no carbs or sugar but evenso at 112lbs and 5'3" I am sick of constantly battling my stomach.

I will have to do so more agressive workouts. Thanks for the input!