Belly - Bloated or fat?

[bijalpanwala]

Food Background:
I eat pretty healthy, consuming about 1300 to 1700 calories a day.
Breakfast I have eggs or protien shake, I have subway for lunch on most days at work and have a good dinner consisting of a protien with some veggies.

The Burn:
I workout about 4xs a week on avg., sometimes 6 days if I can.
Rotating btw a Lifting day & a cardio day.
Lifting days I burn about 500 to 700 calories normally.
Cardio days I burn about 900 to 1200 calories.

The Body:
Overall my strength has doubled since Jan. I look much fitter however my belly still sticks out. I have to suck it in to make my top abs show and so I dont look fat. I have a strong core, I do 4 sets of 5 reps of hanging leg raises up to the top of the bar.

The Question:
Why does my belly still stickout having dropping down to 12% from being 23% in Jan.

[coolspin27]

Well if that is a recent pic on your profile the answer is easy... your no where near 10% BF.

[mikeyparkster]

you don't look 10% body fat in the picture.. looks like you've still got some fat to go... but quite soon you should be considering bulking instead of cutting... @ 155 is pretty light!

[bijalpanwala]

you don't look 10% body fat in the picture.. looks like you've still got some fat to go... but quite soon you should be considering bulking instead of cutting... @ 155 is pretty light!

i'm only 5'6 so I dont want to look all bulky and look short and stocky.

I corrected the fat I am currently 12% and the pic is about 2 months old.

[csb5731]

Lot's of guys store a very large percentage of their fat in their abdominal region. Sounds like you are one of them - it's probably more the norm than it is the exception.

You probably won't need to drop all the way down to 10% BF to get a reasonably flat stomach (you look like you are in the mid- high-teens now in your avatar), but you apparently still have more fat to lose to get there.

[bijalpanwala]

Lot's of guys store a very large percentage of their fat in their abdominal region. Sounds like you are one of them - it's probably more the norm than it is the exception.

You probably won't need to drop all the way down to 10% BF to get a reasonably flat stomach (you look like you are in the mid- high-teens now in your avatar), but you apparently still have more fat to lose to get there.

I am acuttullly turning 27 next month. AHHH

Yes my belly sticks out and i still have love handels. I burn alot when I work out but cant seem to do anything about my mid section.

[coolspin27]

You are def in the high teens in your profile pic.... but unless you have a recent pic we cannot judge to accurately. Do not worry no one accidetly gains 20-30lbs of muscle your not going to wake up one day with too much muscle.

[csb5731]

I am acuttullly turning 27 next month. AHHH

I meant in terms of %BF, not age.

[bijalpanwala]

I meant in terms of %BF, not age.

according to last night before bed i am at 12.6% fat currently.
Do I need to work on lowering it even more to have my belly flatten out?

[csb5731]

according to last night before bed i am at 12.6% fat currently.
Do I need to work on lowering it even more to have my belly flatten out?

Yes, you need to lower your overall %BF further to flatten the stomach and eliminate the love handles.

How are you measuring your bodyfat?

[bijalpanwala]

Yes, you need to lower your overall %BF further to flatten the stomach and eliminate the love handles.

How are you measuring your bodyfat?

I have a Omron Fat Loss Monitor I use I got at GNC.


I check myself 3x's to ensure i have the right amount to log.

[csb5731]

Basically, you just need to continue cutting fat until you look like you want. I wouldn't worry about %BF readings, especially from a BIA unit like the Omron or a bodyfat scale. They are reknown for being very, very inaccurate. Use the scale, tape measure, and pictures to gauge progress.

[SicilianFool]

You are def in the high teens in your profile pic.... but unless you have a recent pic we cannot judge to accurately. Do not worry no one accidetly gains 20-30lbs of muscle your not going to wake up one day with too much muscle.

This. Just keep on the path you are on and you'll get there. There is no benchmark or direct point in which you will get the body you are working for, it will just accumulate over time.

and for body fat estimates look here, and then you should get a better idea of where you stand forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=123521521 (sorry for no direct link, ive been more of a lurker then a poster on this site)

[Reloadguy]

I have a Omron Fat Loss Monitor I use I got at GNC.


I check myself 3x's to ensure i have the right amount to log.

First off your fat loss monitor is completely wrong, this is indisputable. Second, if your profile pic is you now or close to that then you're 20% BF easy.

Keep cutting.

[bijalpanwala]

First off your fat loss monitor is completely wrong, this is indisputable. Second, if your profile pic is you now or close to that then you're 20% BF easy.

Keep cutting.

Attached is a picture from last week.

I guess I need to keep burning more then 700 calories per session.

[Pennyw1se]

About 20% BF

[bijalpanwala]

About 20% BF

this morning it read 13.5%

How many calories should I burn a week to drop down atleast 2% body fat?

[.aeterna]

find ur calorie maintenance level and lower it by 500.

in addition, i doubt u are eating 1300-1700 cals a day with subway. one footlong sub alone can be upwards of 800-1000 cals and god knows how many carbs.

get ur diet in check, n lift heavy, cardio as well

[bijalpanwala]

i log all my calories. I range from 1300 to 1700 on most days.
I may go over from time to time by 100 calories.

I only eat the 6in sub at subway. The footlong is to many calories for one sitting.

http://www.caloriecontrol.org/health...calculator-men

According to this site if i put in moderate activity its 2494 cals. to maintain. I didnt pick heavy just to have my cal count lower.

[Reloadguy]

this morning it read 13.5%

Sorry bud but you're not even below 15%.

[andien10]

You want ripped abs and muscle definition.
You think that you have too much fat right now.
Sounds like you need to: lose fat by cutting and get more muscle.

OP, just forget all the tools and numbers for a minute. Those tools can be very inaccurate, and everyone's body composition differs. They're only good enough to give you a sense of where you at; not serve as an absolute measurement.

My goal is to hit "8%" body fat. I've got 4-5 lbs to go, but if I'm at "8%" and I'm not ripped enough, I'll go lower. Inversely, if I hit "9%" and my abs look shredded for some reason, I'll be happy and not stress out about the last 1%.

You're either a troll, or really naive...

[Amel]

around 17 brah, at least

[DeeBO-]

I dont think it should matter if your 12% BF or not, if your belly is still sticking out and your not satisfied with it, just keep going hard and eventually it will go + the stomach is usually the hardest and last place to shred.

[ThirstyPretzels]

you try any fat burners to assist you? you think about taking creatine? protein is a must. what are you eating?