??? lower abs never used to stick out

[Spark77]

Hi! This is my first time posting a question on a forum, because so many of my other issues (boobs, butt, etc.) have already been addressed by my searching for and reading others' posts.

I've had a flat stomach my entire life. Even during a time many years ago when I got up to 180 lbs., it was all in my hips, thighs, and butt, and while my waist got up to 32", it still looked "flat" and nothing ever stuck out.

I have lifted on and off for years, and even during that one short part of my life when I got heavy, that was all due to bad diet rather than lack of exercise/activity. But last May was when I really started to get serious about lifting/bodybuilding. I started at 132 and 23% bf, and a couple months ago got down to 111 and 11% bf.

All of a sudden, for the first time in my life, my lower abs began to stick out, even though I had developed a six-pack. Now that I am bulking (clean bulk and haven't gained much because it's hard to eat enough calories, but that's another story), it's getting worse instead of going away. My abs are rock-solid and not jiggly at all. And from the front they look great; it's the side view that's the issue. Why are the lower abs suddenly protruding? I don't have a pic but it's almost like a shelf has formed just below belly-button level.

Any ideas on what the heck happened? Only thing I can think of is that maybe I need to back off on ab work (they've always been my strongest body part, relatively speaking), and that I may have built too much mass there before the rest of my body has had a chance to catch up. But I could be totally wrong.

Thanks for any and all input/advice!

[Cara0915]

Can you upload a pic?

[acrawlingchaos]

Sounds like a posture issue.

[Spark77]

Abs are still sticking out when I stand up straight (as I am trying to be more conscious of again--when I was younger I had really good posture).

I won't have any way to take and upload a pic for a few days as I am away from home and the only technology I have is a flip phone and a computer. But yes, I do think a pic would be helpful.

BTW, chaos, love the quote in your sig!

[kimm4]

You're at a low bodyfat and you're underweight for your height, so that's why it's an issue. Add some healthy weight to your frame and it will become less noticeable.

You don't need to be doing a clean bulk. It comes down to total calories being consumed. Using calorie dense foods come in quite handy to help you hit your daily numbers.

[acrawlingchaos]

Abs are still sticking out when I stand up straight (as I am trying to be more conscious of again--when I was younger I had really good posture).

I won't have any way to take and upload a pic for a few days as I am away from home and the only technology I have is a flip phone and a computer. But yes, I do think a pic would be helpful.

BTW, chaos, love the quote in your sig!

It could still be posture. An anterior pelvic tilt will cause a distended look. It could be distention caused by extreme dieting with a low protein intake. It's most likely as Kimm stated and it may just be how you look when you are lean and just be under muscled. We will really need pics.


And thank you

[oregonchick76]

Do you have an ED? I only ask because I checked your profile and you look unhealthy to me. I think you need about 10-15 solid lbs on your frame to round you out instead of looking emaciated.

[Spark77]

Totally agree about adding weight. I’d been cutting intentionally up until about 5 weeks or so ago. I would like to get back up to 132, where I started, only with a lower bf %. I know it’s impossible to gain 100% of the weight back as muscle, and I am totally OK with that. I just want to end up at a “better” 132 than I started with. Like oregonchick said, “solid” weight.

Protein intake has definitely never been an issue. The whole time I was dieting, my macros were 60% protein, 30% fat, 10% carbs on 1400-1600 cals. (I am eating way more than that now!)

Totally no ED, either. I have a healthy relationship with food and see it primarily as fuel. I’m having a little trouble gaining the weight back so far simply because I’ve developed a taste preference for foods that aren’t very calorie-dense. I’m working on that, though.

I’d never heard of “anterior pelvic tilt” so I googled it. Briefly scanned a few articles and will read in more detail when I get more time. We may be on to something here. My abs and butt posture matches the pictures. My hip flexor flexibility (and my flexibility in general) has always been terrible, although it’s much better now than when I was younger. I thought it was odd, though, that one article said the most common causes were being sedentary and sitting a lot, because I’ve been very active for almost my entire adult life and find it hard to stay seated for very long!

I’ve always wanted to be WAY more muscular (think Physique class or the ‘80s gals like Cory Everson), and I’m built so darn tiny. Both sides of my family are small-boned; dad’s side is skinny-fat, and mom’s side is morbidly obese. Come to think of it, maybe the anterior pelvic tilt stems from childhood. Both sides of my family are very sedentary, and I was forbidden to be active because I “might get hurt” (my dad was even against the school making me take P.E. class because he thought it was dangerous!). I didn’t start working out until I was 24.

I know it is going to literally take years to get to where I want to be, and that I’m getting a late-in-life start as far as seriously pursuing this goal (actually bodybuilding vs. just being fit). I appreciate having this forum as a resource for all the little questions I will have along the way (like this abs thing). Thank you!

[Spark77]

Sorry I haven't had a chance to take and post a pic. Hubby's health problems are an issue again so this has kind of gone on the back burner. Haven't forgotten, though!

BTW, chiro says I do have an anterior pelvic tilt but it's very minor. He didn't seem very concerned about it.

[Spark77]

Sorry for the delay. Gaining 12 pounds, eating right and eating plenty, and lifting heavy with intensity do not seem to be fixing the problem. Have a look:

[coconuttree2009]

Sorry but to me it looks like it's simply a fat layer on the lower abs - skinny fat look.

[Spark77]

Sorry but to me it looks like it's simply a fat layer on the lower abs - skinny fat look.

I'd buy that, except for it's rock-hard, it never used to be there, and at the time it showed up earlier this year I was at 11% bf. I'm beginning to wonder if this is even related to lifting and if I should talk to my doctor. I'm about due for my mandatory physical anyway.

[coconuttree2009]

I'd buy that, except for it's rock-hard, it never used to be there, and at the time it showed up earlier this year I was at 11% bf. I'm beginning to wonder if this is even related to lifting and if I should talk to my doctor. I'm about due for my mandatory physical anyway.

Are you saying you cannot pinch the layer of fat there?
If it's rock hard, then yes, you should consult your doctor and get a scan done for cysts.

[CLMNO]

I think a doctor should perform an ultrasound.

[Spark77]

I can pinch some fat there now, but not at all when I was at 111 lbs. I think at the very least I should talk to the doc and see if she feels an ultrasound is warranted. I am far from being a hypochondriac, but I am beginning to get a little concerned, especially since it's been over 6 months and there are other issues that have recently surfaced that may or may not be related to this.

[attaroa29]

Did you find an answer to this? This same thing happened to me in March. I've had a CT scan, GI work up, ultrasounds, etc. and no answers. It's extremely depressing. For me it's mainly my right side that sticks out. I woke up one morning and my flat stomach was flat no more! I was cutting at the time. It literally happened overnight and I've felt uncomfortable in my own skin since. Hope you found some answers?