Need help with gf's stomach getting bigger from morning to night

[sportyaccordy]

One, hello, this is my first foray into the female BB section.

I'm sure this thread has been done a trillion times but I have to ask anyway.

My gf is in decent shape... def not looking to become a bodybuilder (nor would I want her to). Her only problem area is her abs. It's not so much an issue of reducing fat as it is her stomach changing size dramatically during the day. When she wakes up her stomach is pretty flat, but by the time she comes home it's noticeably bigger. Obviously she has to eat- and honestly I wouldn't want her to lose body fat- but would core training help minimize this effect? I get the feeling she has a very weak core.

[Rowyn]

My gf is in decent shape... def not looking to become a bodybuilder (nor would I want her to).

Dude, that is not the most PC thing to say on this forum, lol. Apparently she just wants the four letter word...."t-o-n-e".

Lots of people experience the morning/night belly transformation. When you wake up, you are fasted, less water bloated, flatter. For me, eating grain carbs causes me to hold more water in that area. Some others have lactose or fructose issues too. Or maybe she just eats processed/crap foods during the day and gets water bloated. Tightening up her core and eegads, changing her body comp a bit so that she has more lean mass (cough*muscle*cough) would probably help.

[Foxyladie]

Dude, that is not the most PC thing to say on this forum, lol. Apparently she just wants the four letter word...."t-o-n-e".

Lots of people experience the morning/night belly transformation. When you wake up, you are fasted, less water bloated, flatter. For me, eating grain carbs causes me to hold more water in that area. Some others have lactose or fructose issues too. Or maybe she just eats processed/crap foods during the day and gets water bloated. Tightening up her core and eegads, changing her body comp a bit so that she has more lean mass (cough*muscle*cough) would probably help.

agreed however there are other things that can cause this as well

Like Rowyn said fruictose/lactose intolerance can cause inflamation. she may not show signs of "normal allergies" but it does not mean that they don't exist.

the other things to look at too is when her belly is "swollen" is it soft or hard. If its soft its likely just from normal food and water intake throughout the day (possible allergy) but if it feels hard she needs to see a doctor, as there may be an underlying issue. especially if there is a dramatic difference from morning to night.

[princessTiffany]

My gf is in decent shape... def not looking to become a bodybuilder (nor would I want her to).

How condescending. Can you at least show respect for people in the section your asking to help your gf? Good luck with that attitude. Tell your gf to get some common sense and join the forum herself. :P

edit: would have negged you because of it (and the fact that too many of these "please help my gf because she's too lazy to set up her own account" threads pop up every day) but it's not worth it.

[sportyaccordy]

Sorry, I meant no disrespect. I just wanted to get some insight for a course of action for someone not as into fitness as someone who would register on this board. It would have been nice to at least give me a chance to explain myself before negatively repping me. Thanks.

[Jen_K]

[QUOTE=sportyaccordy;486859661]

My gf is in decent shape... def not looking to become a bodybuilder (nor would I want her to).QUOTE]

Why do you come and ask this question in a womens bodybuilding forum then??

[sportyaccordy]

[QUOTE=Jen_K;487200051]

My gf is in decent shape... def not looking to become a bodybuilder (nor would I want her to).QUOTE]

Why do you come and ask this question in a womens bodybuilding forum then??

Because you guys would be experts on issues' with women's physiology and fitness?

[take.it.off]

One, hello, this is my first foray into the female BB section.

I'm sure this thread has been done a trillion times but I have to ask anyway.

My gf is in decent shape... def not looking to become a bodybuilder (nor would I want her to). Her only problem area is her abs. It's not so much an issue of reducing fat as it is her stomach changing size dramatically during the day. When she wakes up her stomach is pretty flat, but by the time she comes home it's noticeably bigger. Obviously she has to eat- and honestly I wouldn't want her to lose body fat- but would core training help minimize this effect? I get the feeling she has a very weak core.

it's called bloating...

Less salt, more water.

[sportyaccordy]

it's called bloating...

Less salt, more water.

Thank you.

[princessTiffany]

Sorry, I meant no disrespect. I just wanted to get some insight for a course of action for someone not as into fitness as someone who would register on this board. It would have been nice to at least give me a chance to explain myself before negatively repping me. Thanks.

I didn't neg you, I said negging you would have been pointless. You could have googled instead of saying something about the demographic of women who DO have the guts to register on this board and use this section. "Explain"? Explain what?

It ain't no physiology issue specific to women (ask for womens' insight then insult them? I smell troll), genius. A simple google w/o insulting us would have worked.

Negged.

[k4plan]

I didn't neg you, I said negging you would have been pointless. You could have googled instead of saying something about the demographic of women who DO have the guts to register on this board and use this section. "Explain"? Explain what?

It ain't no physiology issue specific to women (ask for womens' insight then insult them? I smell troll), genius. A simple google w/o insulting us would have worked.

Negged.

what an idiot feminazi for taking everything out of context.
Shameful. tsk.

[sonti]

I'm sure we can give the OP the benefit of the doubt and assume that he doesn't realize that it takes women many, many years (decades?) of consistent training and proper nutrition to actually look like bodybuilders

Your girlfriend is just bloated at the end of the day. Something she eats or drinks is bloating her, whether that is salt, lack of water, sometimes dairy (for some people). Male or female, same thing happens.

[sportyaccordy]

I'm sure we can give the OP the benefit of the doubt and assume that he doesn't realize that it takes women many, many years (decades?) of consistent training and proper nutrition to actually look like bodybuilders

Your girlfriend is just bloated at the end of the day. Something she eats or drinks is bloating her, whether that is salt, lack of water, sometimes dairy (for some people). Male or female, same thing happens.

Thank you

I wasn't knocking female bodybuilders at all; I was just saying I didn't want to get advice within the context of building a core for deadlifts or w/e. I just worded it wrong + too strongly.

I get the feeling she's not getting enough water. I drink about 1/2 to 3/4 gallons of water and don't have any issues with bloating (but I def have a strong core). IDK. I will look into it. Thanks for the insight on bloating though.

[princessTiffany]

It's what the people wanted. Stop making stupid threads. You have to be respectful enough to word your post correctly, I'm surprised you even got help at all with the way you worded your first post. Crap like that keeps guys like you posting in this section.

[sportyaccordy]

It's what the people wanted. Stop making stupid threads. You have to be respectful enough to word your post correctly, I'm surprised you even got help at all with the way you worded your first post. Crap like that keeps guys like you posting in this section.

I understand I was wrong. I apologized profusely. Relax. With all the effort you put into trying to eternally guilt me you could have answered the question 33x over.

[sharonatkinson]

Possibly wheat intolerance

[karoline8]

Possibly wheat intolerance

I get crazy bloat and gas and a feeling of lathargy when consuming grains and starchy carbs, but could eat the same # of carbs through fruits and vegetables and nothing, feel great and lots of energy (and stomach will stay falt all day )...so there could be something to this.

[trace1P167]

I've had this problem as well and like some posters have mentioned she may have allergies. I have LOTS of them which causes me to bloat or have the 5month pregnant look..(something your gf might relate to depending on some days).

Have her log all the food intake (including herb/spices) and how much she drinks, what she drinks throughout a few days and that might help target which food might be giving her the symptom - plus time of day...IF food allergy is the case. If it is a food allergy, this might be an easy fix or something more serious (like me). It was not an easy fix for me so could be an hidden issue she may not know of.

Good luck

[sportyaccordy]

I think it might be an issue with not getting enough water (+ drinking a lot of diuretics during the day.. .coffee + tea) and possibly a dairy or starch allergy. I know today she woke up and was OK, but after a bowl of cereal kind of blew up. For the water I'm gonna get her one of those half gallon jugs to keep at work. I think all she drinks is coffee which dries her out + makes her retain water.

Also after drinking she gets it pretty bad too. Mainly from wine.

There's some point in her menstrual cycle where she is OK though, and it's during that time that she looks GREAT. That's about the week or so where things "really happen" (I hope that wasn't too misogynistic or objectifying).

Would ab strengthening exercises help at all? I don't even think reducing body fat would help. There's something else going on.

I don't know that she'd be down to do a food log. It's hard for me to even talk to her about it because she's very sensitive about it. On one hand I feel bad being so fixated on something that's basically visual, but on the other hand I work pretty hard to keep up my appearances, and she doesn't work out at all. We've had talks before but they've never ended well... any advice on how to approach it? Should I just leave it alone?

[trace1P167]

I don't know that she'd be down to do a food log. It's hard for me to even talk to her about it because she's very sensitive about it. On one hand I feel bad being so fixated on something that's basically visual, but on the other hand I work pretty hard to keep up my appearances, and she doesn't work out at all. We've had talks before but they've never ended well... any advice on how to approach it? Should I just leave it alone?

ahhh well on that note, if you're just fixated on it and it's either distracting, not attractive or whatever it is....then it might be your issue you need to deal with and not her. even though YOU may work hard, she may not want to or have the desire for it. if you keep bringing it up to her, it's not gonna make her feel very good about herself since its a hard issue to deal with anyway (well for most girls).

if you're worried about her health then thats one thing....but if its just a visual appearance and you like it better during that "specific" time of the month.....then thats something you need to get over. sorry

[sportyaccordy]

ahhh well on that note, if you're just fixated on it and it's either distracting, not attractive or whatever it is....then it might be your issue you need to deal with and not her. even though YOU may work hard, she may not want to or have the desire for it. if you keep bringing it up to her, it's not gonna make her feel very good about herself since its a hard issue to deal with anyway (well for most girls).

if you're worried about her health then thats one thing....but if its just a visual appearance and you like it better during that "specific" time of the month.....then thats something you need to get over. sorry

That is good advice. I suppose it is a small thing

[SuperDL]

One, hello, this is my first foray into the female BB section.

I'm sure this thread has been done a trillion times but I have to ask anyway.

My gf is in decent shape... def not looking to become a bodybuilder (nor would I want her to). Her only problem area is her abs. It's not so much an issue of reducing fat as it is her stomach changing size dramatically during the day. When she wakes up her stomach is pretty flat, but by the time she comes home it's noticeably bigger. Obviously she has to eat- and honestly I wouldn't want her to lose body fat- but would core training help minimize this effect? I get the feeling she has a very weak core.

Not a woman but I'm a dude and this always happens.

[erkahj]

One, hello, this is my first foray into the female BB section.

I'm sure this thread has been done a trillion times but I have to ask anyway.

My gf is in decent shape... def not looking to become a bodybuilder (nor would I want her to). Her only problem area is her abs. It's not so much an issue of reducing fat as it is her stomach changing size dramatically during the day. When she wakes up her stomach is pretty flat, but by the time she comes home it's noticeably bigger. Obviously she has to eat- and honestly I wouldn't want her to lose body fat- but would core training help minimize this effect? I get the feeling she has a very weak core.

haha, i knew you'd get in trouble for that comment.

anyway my girlfriend has exactly the same problem. she's wheat intolerant though. see if cutting out wheat helps with the bloating.

be careful though, you'd be surprised just how many things have wheat in them. so cut out EVERYTHING with wheat for a week. see if the size changing stops. then reintroduce wheat again and see what happens.

though be careful. even if she is still changing size make sure you've checked all food labelling there are quite a few things out there with wheat in.

[kimm4]

Dude, that is not the most PC thing to say on this forum, lol. Apparently she just wants the four letter word...."t-o-n-e".

Lots of people experience the morning/night belly transformation. When you wake up, you are fasted, less water bloated, flatter. For me, eating grain carbs causes me to hold more water in that area. Some others have lactose or fructose issues too. Or maybe she just eats processed/crap foods during the day and gets water bloated. Tightening up her core and eegads, changing her body comp a bit so that she has more lean mass (cough*muscle*cough) would probably help.

LOL

We don't even allow the word "tone" in this section.

As a bodybuilder, it's probably best that I don't give any advice...

[PBnBanana]

I have the same problem with my stomach and I have a very strong core as well. Digestive enzymes or digestive tea might help her. Both available at health food stores

[MeredithP1]

I experience the same thing. Drinking more water helps combat this. Certain foods can trigger this as well (eggs, broccoli)

[jagadzie]

i get crazy bloat. if i overeat, i absolutely look 5 months pregnant. at the end of every day, even if i don't OVEReat, i still look questionably pregnant. belly just puffs out (soft puff) really significantly every day. kind of sad and annoying. no matter how huge it is at night, by morning, it's flat again. don't know what to tell you.
oh- if this is something you dislike about her, and she does not dislike it, i don't think it's very kind to try to push her into caring about it. she is fine with her body the way it is, end-of-day-puff and all. i appreciate that YOU like working hard to keep your body in shape, but if it's not a priority to her, remember that she's her own person and doesn't need to do what you want her to do...

[candyismycarb]

sugar alcohols
artificial sweetners cause bloating

I notice that drinking a bit of diet soda in the morning is fine but if I continue on through the day with diet coke my belly is bloated like I am pregnant and kind of hurts--but yea by morning it's literally 2 sizes smaller--when I pass up diet coke this does not happen

processed foods including protein bars can have sugar alcohols in them

[candyismycarb]

basically people have to experiment cutting things out and changing habits to really isolate what is causing it cause it comes from different things

if it stays bloated that is a sign of a possible serious health problem

[sportyaccordy]

It was super flat yesterday... I think the culprit may be coffee