How to burn belly fat?

BabyCakes3

I gained 60+ lbs with both of my pregnancies. I lost it fairly easily after the 1st. With the 2nd, I had to join the gym to get the last 12 off. I'd like to lose 5-7 more lbs but I'm more fit than I've ever been....EXCEPT for a belly pooch. I've started running 1-2 times a week. Still doing gym classes. I'm eating better than I ever have.

More cardio? More core work? More crunches?

Sunidaze

Right there with you.  Curious to see the responses.

pantsarella

You can't burn fat from a specific area of the body. You can burn more calories than you take in and your body will use stores of fat for energy. 

You can tone your belly by doing additional core work. Eating clean will also help- the 'rule' is that abs are 70% diet, 30% gym.  

Another possibility is that it might just be excess skin from when your belly stretched in your pregnancies. With each additional pregnancy, it becomes harder for the skin to bounce back.  

vlagrl29

I know eating clean is what everyone says is most of the results but really since I got back to pre prego weight i still had the muffin top.  so i decided to work on that body part more than others.  Hip hop abs really helped it and now i'm going back to full body weight training.  I've heard that's the best way to tone along with eating right.  I think that I will always have some loose skin but it's getting there.  for me I think it's loose abs and if you don't tone it they will always be like that regardless of how you eat.

Jams1002

pantsarella:

You can't burn fat from a specific area of the body. You can burn more calories than you take in and your body will use stores of fat for energy. 

You can tone your belly by doing additional core work. Eating clean will also help- the 'rule' is that abs are 70% diet, 30% gym.  

Another possibility is that it might just be excess skin from when your belly stretched in your pregnancies. With each additional pregnancy, it becomes harder for the skin to bounce back.  

This exactly. I really recommend the eat clean diet series by Tosca Reno. It's the only program that's ever made sense to me (and I've done a lot!!)  

verybusymomto4

Running is good but there are tons of cardio exercises out there and some you can find online for free! I have always done The Firm Workout after all 3 of mine pregnancies and will do it again after this one I lost weight fast even in the stomach area. I did eat more fruits and veggies,more water but i did take one day to splurge on something yummy. You can do all the crunches you want to, it wont help, you have to burn fat first. The tummy area is a tough one to tackle and you might also have just stretched out that area with your pregnancy.  My sis worked out daily and could never get her tummy back, she talked to her dr about it and they told her sometimes it happens and no matter what you do, it wont go back to your nice little tummy, which is what happened with her.  She finally opted for surgery, 4 years later, sometimes that is the only thing that will help. Your DR can help you and see if this problem is just fat or just from being stretched out.
Good Luck! 

flamencogal

I was just lurking and I would recommend checking to see if you have an abdominal separation.  I have lost all the baby weight plus more.  I'm the thinnest weight wise I have ever been as an adult (and almost underweight according to BMI).  I have been working out hard, eating clean, etc. yet still have this belly pooch.  Went to my GP who agreed that my tummy still looks like I'm pregnant.  She was concerned about something else going on--ordered bloodwork, abdominal ultrasounds, etc.  All came back normal.

I finally found info on abdominal separation and I'm convinced that's what is going on for me.  So I've just started that Tupler Technique (only research supported program I could find).  The biggest thing they warn against is that typical ab work will actually make the separation worse--so no crunches, etc.! I'll let you know how it goes! 

BabyCakes3

flamencogal:

I was just lurking and I would recommend checking to see if you have an abdominal separation.  I have lost all the baby weight plus more.  I'm the thinnest weight wise I have ever been as an adult (and almost underweight according to BMI).  I have been working out hard, eating clean, etc. yet still have this belly pooch.  Went to my GP who agreed that my tummy still looks like I'm pregnant.  She was concerned about something else going on--ordered bloodwork, abdominal ultrasounds, etc.  All came back normal.

I finally found info on abdominal separation and I'm convinced that's what is going on for me.  So I've just started that Tupler Technique (only research supported program I could find).  The biggest thing they warn against is that typical ab work will actually make the separation worse--so no crunches, etc.! I'll let you know how it goes! 

So are you wearing a splint? What exactly is this technique?

aislinnanne

So as a personal trainer here's my 2 cents:

Ditch the carbs but keep it clean. Check out "The Paleo Solution" by Robb Wolf and for recipe ideas either "Everyday Paleo" by Sarah Fragoso or her website everydaypaleo.com

Lift weights. If you don't feel comfortable doing it on your own, get a personal trainer (even if it's just for a few sessions) and tell them  you want to learn. If that's not financially feasible, check out a crossfit gym or try to find a group to lift with that can help you learn. Lean mass burns more fat.

Just don't run yourself fat. Steady state cardio will help you lose weight for a little while...then it will bite you in the ass. Here's a great article about why running sucks: https://articles.elitefts.com/training-articles/women-running-into-trouble/