Is belly fat the last to go?

[BangBrahs]

I started a diet about a 6 weeks ago and have lost about 10 lbs. I can notice some changes, but I still have quite a bit of belly fat. I was wondering if belly fat is the last to go?

[Dave P]

Yep

If losing weight was storming a castle then the stomach would be the kings secret passage.

(Im in an analogy mood today)

[doncarlin]

I started a diet about a 6 weeks ago and have lost about 10 lbs. I can notice some changes, but I still have quite a bit of belly fat. I was wondering if belly fat is the last to go?

Kind of depends on the individual. In my particular case, belly fat went first along with the other parts of my body, until I hit around mid 180s. Then the belly fat loss plateaued even though other parts continued to lose fat. Finally I got some belly fat loss again.

[911medic]

Yeah, generally with men it's the first place fat is stored and the last place it goes from. The longer you have a belly, the harder it is to get rid of.

Diet is the answer.

[tizom]

when you say the longer you have a belly the harder it is to get rid of, do you mean like 5 years? or is 1 year a long time?

[Dave P]

Depends on your definition of not having a belly anymore.

Are we talking ripped sixpack or just relatively smooth/maybe alittle bump but totally unnoticeable under a shirt.

[BangBrahs]

Depends on your definition of not having a belly anymore.

Are we talking ripped sixpack or just relatively smooth/maybe alittle bump but totally unnoticeable under a shirt.

I'm aiming for a 6 pack

[tizom]

well i went from being a cross country type build ( very thin stomach) to the college beer belly.. 10 lbs ?

[tizom]

oh and i was lookin to go into a stomach that shows some definition and eventually the 6pack (not the beer one anymore!)

[gixxer0.6g]

I know for me that last place fat leaves is right around my bellybutton. Around my quads seems to be a slow area too.

[Dave P]

If you're 152 right now I'd say a 9 months to a year to a sixpack. You need a long solid bulk then a decent cut. I doubt you have the muscle mass to really have a nice stomach right now.

[doncarlin]

I know for me that last place fat leaves is right around my bellybutton. Around my quads seems to be a slow area too.

Yeah, I notice that on me too. Most of my thigh feels like pinching the back of my hand, but the back sides still have significant fat deposits.

[911medic]

when you say the longer you have a belly the harder it is to get rid of, do you mean like 5 years? or is 1 year a long time?

I went from a XXL shirt and size 48 pants to an XL and size 33 in two years (110lbs). I still have one little pocket of fat in my lower abs (about a 1/2" pinch) that hides the bottom of the two lower muscles and screws up my six pack.

But I'm 49 and started at over 300 lbs. You are 152#'s so I'm sure yours will go much quicker.

[Tr0ublesome]

The first place you put on fat will be the last to come off. If you stick to a clean diet a long with cardio you can expect good results. Just not over night.

[doncarlin]

I went from a XXL shirt and size 48 pants to an XL and size 33 in two years (110lbs). I still have one little pocket of fat in my lower abs (about a 1/2" pinch) that hides the bottom of the two lower muscles and screws up my six pack.

But I'm 49 and started at over 300 lbs. You are 152#'s so I'm sure yours will go much quicker.

Don't you just hate that little pocket!! Mine is about 5/8s according to calipers!

[alang184]

If you're 152 right now I'd say a 9 months to a year to a sixpack. You need a long solid bulk then a decent cut. I doubt you have the muscle mass to really have a nice stomach right now.

You mean build ab muscles for a long period, and then a careful diet?

I'm sort of in the same boat as the topic poster; too much stomach fat. But in my case the rest of my body has always been skinny. I've been trying to build muscle mass for a few months, while trying to find the best way to lose stomach fat without losing muscle mass overall. In another similar thread somebody said to cut immediately, and then build after a few months once the fat is lost. But I prefer the idea of not just doing cardio/diet.

[mridgley]

Wait - I thought weight loss comes in layers similar to an onion. Would this not be considered spot reduction (If we are talking about one specific area)?

I have the same issue and am curious.

[izaktj]

Depends on genetics.

[911medic]

Wait - I thought weight loss comes in layers similar to an onion. Would this not be considered spot reduction (If we are talking about one specific area)?

I have the same issue and am curious.

Well, normally, yes. But, belly fat is often stubborn because of a lack of accessible nerve endings at the fat deposits that tell the body to burn the fat from there. Over time your body may "forget" how to access the last fat deposits and until nearly all other reserves are depleted and it's forced to look for fat stores. Eventually, it will rebuild nerve pathways to utilize the fat, but until then consistent, clean, dieting and exercise are the only real answers short of liposuction.

Unfortunately, lots of things will cause men to store fat in their belly. Stress causes cortisol release which tends to cause our bodies to store excess calories as belly fat. Also, white, refined sugar tends to go right to our belly along with alcohol calories (hence, the "beer belly").

[Captain Crunch]

Yep

If losing weight was storming a castle then the stomach would be the kings secret passage.

(Im in an analogy mood today)

Damn good one though!

[plumher]

the first place fat goes on when your gaining is the last place is comes off when your losing

[doncarlin]

Well, normally, yes. But, belly fat is often stubborn because of a lack of accessible nerve endings at the fat deposits that tell the body to burn the fat from there. Over time your body may "forget" how to access the last fat deposits and until nearly all other reserves are depleted and it's forced to look for fat stores. Eventually, it will rebuild nerve pathways to utilize the fat, but until then consistent, clean, dieting and exercise are the only real answers short of liposuction.

Unfortunately, lots of things will cause men to store fat in their belly. Stress causes cortisol release which tends to cause our bodies to store excess calories as belly fat. Also, white, refined sugar tends to go right to our belly along with alcohol calories (hence, the "beer belly").

Well that would explain why in my case it came off easy initially but after I reached a certain point it was extremely stubborn.

[jravens13]

So my issue is that I have a decent amount of belly fat compared to the amount of fat I carry on the rest of my body. Enough to where I have a slight gut and my abdominal muscles are not visible unless I am flexing my core and I also carry some love handles/lower back fat. I work out pretty intensely and finally cut out all the alcohol binging I used to perform.

I just wanted to know if anyone thinks I will be able to burn the fat, and develop a 6 pack without performing abdominal exercises??? Or is it necessary to perform abdominal exercises to develop a 6 pack at my age (27)? I perform intense interval cardio for 30mins 4 out of every 6 days. And I have a rotation legs, chest, back every 3 days. My goal is to get as strong and as cut as possible without any supplements. My diet is pretty disciplined.

I'm 6'2" 198lbs

[Tombanelas]

For me it's the last place to go. I mean, not around the bellybutton, but on the side and a little on the back. I came from 18%BF to bellow 12% and I can still see all my fat stored on the sides of my belly. I lost some centimeters on my legs (even tho I'm lifting a lot more but now it has almost no fat, they look like stone) and I maintained the same on my arms (but still, lifting way more than I was before).

As someone said, the problem is for how long you had that belly. Mine has 7 years of University, drinking mostly beer, eating poorly and not exercising. It will take a while (I've been at it for 1 year and 3 months) but you'll get there. And the best part is the road till you get there. I enjoy every bit of progression I see and feel, and I love hitting the gym almost everyday. What started out to be something I had to do is now one of my biggest passions. Enjoy the ride bro, you'll get there.