Hey everyone,
I’m kind of in an unusual situation. I’m underweight with a fat protruding lower gut. I find it quite disturbing and I’m very self conscious about it. Put on a pot of coffee and relax because I’m about to tell you the story of how my unsightly belly was born…
I’ve been skinny and underweight for most of my life. Even the day I was born I was premature and only around 6lbs. I was always the smallest and scrawniest kid in class and boy did my classmates make me know it by their insults and negative comments. It seemed no matter what I ate I never gained an ounce. I think as a freshman in High school I was 97lbs. Anyway, around the age of 17 I decided enough was enough. I gorged myself on everything in sight. But mostly I ate enormous servings of white pasta– big giant bowls of it. I’d eat it til almost puking. This went on for a while and I finally managed to pack on a decent amount of weight. At 17 I started at like 103lbs. By 20 I was 125lbs. at 5’3. I also worked out and built some muscles by then. With this weight gain my pseudo beer belly was born.
I won’t get into too much detail right now but let’s just say I went through a weird phase in which my lifestyle and diet changed pretty drastically overnight. This is when I was around 20. My weight dropped down to a very unhealthy 93lbs. I developed a lot of stomach problems during this time and the strength of my digestion suffered greatly. 5 years have gone by and I’ve gradually gained weight to where I’m currently around 107lbs.
So now I’m back at being underweight again but I have this stomach which makes me look like I’m 5 months pregnant. Not a good look for a guy, trust me. I think the obvious solution would be to “eat more protein” and “cut back on your carbs” but I get so easily constipated from a low carb diet I just can’t afford it. When I was younger I never really had any problem with constipation. But after those 5 years of bodily abuse (when I went from 125lbs.-93lbs.), it changed the sensitivity of my digestive system. It seems the only thing that doesn't make me constipated is if I eat a lot of whole wheat. Here is what my diet looks like right now…
Whole wheat cereal/whole milk/peanut butter/fruit
OR
Oatmeal/raisins/almonds
Whole wheat pasta/egg or chicken breast
Whole wheat cereal/whole milk/peanut butter/fruit
I'm almost certain it was all that white pasta that created my fat belly. I wonder, could the whole wheat pasta be bad for it too??? Even if it is I still wouldn't be able to abandon it because it helps me with my BMs. I wanna gain weight desperately but at the same time I don't want my gut to get any bigger. And I can't really afford to get any skinnier either so dieting wouldn't help. So what other options does that leave me with? I wanna gain weight, gain muscle, and have a normal looking washboard stomach displaying a nice set of abs. Please help!
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04-30-2010, 11:24 PM #1
I'm underweight and I have a fat gut!
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05-01-2010, 12:13 AM #2
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05-01-2010, 05:48 AM #3
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05-01-2010, 01:12 PM #4
Take a look at my post about the same issue:
http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showth...hp?t=124104121
In short, that's our body type if we do not work hard to change it. We are naturally prone to look "skinny" other than our gut, which hangs out because fat gathers there. It is common, and easy to hide under a shirt.
Bust your butt lifting weights to gain some muscle mass, and see if the extra gut doesn't shrink a little. That's what I'm doing. It seems to already be working, but I'll keep you posted. See my journal from my sig line.
P.S. I eat right around maintenance calories, plus 200-500, depending on the day. I want muscle right now, and if delaying my gut shrinking means more muscle, I'll do it. The gut will go eventually...
I hope
P.P.S. My thread became a bashing thread. It got real confused and people started to enjoy twisting everything, so beyond 1 1/2 pages it's just a mess of misinformation. Read up to half way through page two, and you'll get the gist of it. After that is all crap.Last edited by followme; 05-01-2010 at 01:17 PM.
My Starting Strength journal:
http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?p=476695911#post476695911
I'm a video editor! | See my latest videos! http://www.youtube.com/user/thejapanesechallenge
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05-01-2010, 02:15 PM #5
I see posts like this a lot, chances are its probably not as bad as you think, can you post pics from all angles first off?
Secondly its genetics (body type) that determine where fats stored/burned off 1st. The theory is its very typical in guys for it to be stored in the stomach mostly because males are typically defenders/combaters and its advantageous to have it stored thier, versus the limbs.
It could either be genetics, or it could be CORTISOL thats causing it all to be stored thier, Get your cortisol levels checked ASAP.
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05-01-2010, 08:54 PM #6
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05-01-2010, 09:08 PM #7
It's hard for me to tell from just that picture, but it does seem that you look moderately lean otherwise and that your "gut" doesn't look to be the normal thick subcutaneous layer of fat. How much fat can you pinch near the naval?
It looks to me like a normal semi-skinny guy who just drank a liter or two of water then slouches (poor posture) and lets his stomach hang out, like the people often seem to do in the "before" shots for transformations.
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05-01-2010, 09:47 PM #8
^ eat more protein and less carbs? no. just eat more protein. you can eat all the carbs you want really.
what i suggest is lifting heavier weights. doing more situps and pushups... and run more.
the more active you are, the more athletic you will look. the changes are very gradual but stick to it and you will see the results you'd like.
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05-02-2010, 02:17 AM #9
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05-02-2010, 05:34 AM #10
This doesn't seem like anything anyone on here could diagnose - only your doctor imo. By the way, 'followme' seems imo to have something totally different to you - he is only 2' taller and 60lbs heavier according to his profile.
You are 5'3 and 107 pounds, there is no way that belly is fat. Just from looking at it, you can see it's bloated. You say you have digestion/constipation issues so it's obviously something going on in your body that only your doc/seeing a specialist could tell you.
Don't think you should be too worried about it though, there are many people with sensitive stomach/digestion issues who can keep it under control.
Good luck
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05-02-2010, 06:08 AM #11
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05-02-2010, 06:37 AM #12
Your gut is nothing, my goal is to have that little belly fat after a month or two (or three) of cutting.
I wouldn't worry about that. Just focus on bulking up, because cutting wouldn't reveal much to be worth your while.My Starting Strength journal:
http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?p=476695911#post476695911
I'm a video editor! | See my latest videos! http://www.youtube.com/user/thejapanesechallenge
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05-02-2010, 06:40 AM #13
In my case, I have a variety of stomach issues. One happens to be lactose intolerance, which can cause bloating and excessive gas.
The other issues have not been resolved. My gastroenterologist acknowledges that I have some digestion problems, as well does my other doctor, but so far all I've gotten is a prescription for anti-spasmodics. This wouldn't explain the constant bloating, pain, nausea, and occasional vomiting spurts that I have (occasionally vomit repeatedly throughout the day, up to 10 times in a day).My Starting Strength journal:
http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?p=476695911#post476695911
I'm a video editor! | See my latest videos! http://www.youtube.com/user/thejapanesechallenge
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05-02-2010, 07:07 AM #14
Ok, but I was referring to what you actually posted firstly in this thread:
Originally Posted by followme
Anyway, I still hope the OP sees his doctor because it doesn't seem like a cutting/bulking issue.
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05-02-2010, 09:03 AM #15
- Join Date: Jun 2009
- Location: Vancouver, Washington, United States
- Age: 60
- Posts: 4,384
- Rep Power: 776
This^^^
Your posture is terrible. Stop slouching!
My friend's teenage son is similar.... Every time I see him, his shoulders are drooped , neck forward, stomach out...looks like a 90 year old man... I always comment.... "Stand up boy! Show some pride in that body!"
Join the Marine Corps. They will teach you to stand up properly..chest out...stomach in...
From that one picture it doesn't appear that you need anything more than a good diet, exercise, and PRIDE!Last edited by ejthomp; 05-02-2010 at 09:06 AM.
A diet isn't punishment. A diet is a way to reward your body with the wholesome, nutritious food that it needs. Your body composition is a direct reflection of what you put in your mouth.
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05-02-2010, 09:14 AM #16
Yeah sorry about that. I had to sort of twist to take the picture. I'm gonna post new pics up shortly.
I AM very lean EVERYWHERE except my gut. But when I pinch near my navel, it seems as though I can grab A LOT of fat. Maybe I can post a picture of me pinching it.
I was thinking that maybe this is the only way to do things. If I do a very slow controlled bulk it'll allow me to put on weight but do so in a way where it won't go right to my stomach. At least, I hope it can be accomplished like that. I really don't know at this point.
You're right that "followme" is in a different situation than me. But I'm not sure that I'm bloated. My stomach came about after I gorged myself on white pasta and cakes, fast food etc. when I was desperately trying to gain weight. Is it POSSIBLE that there's bloating involved because of my stomach issues? Yes. But I don't think it's likely.
Well, after eating a raw food diet for 6-8 months (back around 2005) I completely altered the way I digest food. I'm very prone to gas. I easily get gas from vegetables and carbs. There have been occasions where I produce so much gas I'd be farting for like 3 hours straight. And I get constipated easily if I don't have a steady supply of whole wheat in my diet.
I appreciate your help followme, but there's a significant difference between us. You seem to be an average sized guy who has a gut. I'm UNDERWEIGHT with a gut.
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05-02-2010, 09:24 AM #17
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05-02-2010, 10:01 AM #18
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05-02-2010, 10:21 AM #19
You know when you squeeze your gut and pinch certain sections can you feel lumpy bits? If so, that is fat and would suggest it's fat being stored.
But I don't know man, it does seem to me that your belly is in some kind of constant bloat. Body can easily be bloated by food sources such as white pasta etc.
Imo see your doc first because the rest of you doesn't seem like the skinny-fat type where a gut is left over. You say you have had digestion issues anyway so seeing your doc about this might be beneficial any way.
Hope it works out for you.
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05-02-2010, 10:28 AM #20
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05-02-2010, 11:02 AM #21
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05-02-2010, 11:11 AM #22
looks like fat to me... i've seen a number of people with your problem (although none weighed less than 145), but for them a good clean bulk helped tremendously. eating more food brought up their metabolism, and gave them a good base for cutting fat... so i would suggest bulk up some, gain some serious muscle, and then think about maybe a recomp or a cut
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05-02-2010, 12:49 PM #23
IMO it looks like you have barely any muscle in your arms, chest, or shoulders and a bodyfat % of 15-20% possibly with a genetic pre-disposition of storing fat mainly in your stomach. Nothing you have to see a doctor for i dont think.
Im gonna guess if u did a lot of weight-training, ur arms would look a bit more "fat" so to speak, its not that your "lean everywhere else", its that you barely have any muscle. Im gonna say just slowly diet it off, dont crash diet or u will look really bad because itll devour some of the little muscle u do have if its not a slow+steady deficit.
GL
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