Trimming the "BELLY FAT"

Hi, I am in my thirties, have 3 kids and have the same problem. I have always been thin but now I have the smooshy belly and the love handles. Unfortunatly, after much research, there is not an exercise that targets these specific areas. Some people, myself included, just seem to deposit extra fat in these areas as they age. The most important thing to do is overall cardio, weight training, and watching what you eat. If you lose weight overall you will loose some of the belly fat. It may be the last area to tone up and may never get back to the flat tummy you had before mommyhood. I was overweight after my third son and finally decided to do something about it. I cut my calories, started going to the gym and have gone from a size 12 to a size 4. I have kept it off for almost 2 years now. I still have the squishy belly but it is much better than before and I can be proud of what I have acomplished because I have changed my lifestyle to a more healthy one. I think that is the most important thing. Feel free to email me if want any info or gym tips. Hang in there.

In addition to cardio, which is key, doing core strengthening exercises will help. The cardio works on eliminating the fat, but if you don't tone the muscle underneath, it'll still be squishy. Pilates and yoga are great for your core, and they are rejuvenating. It's important to find an instructor you like who helps you find your poses to get the most from it. After you understand where your body placement should be, you can start doing videos at home, but it's important to have an instructor in person first. Good luck!

20 minutes of cardio at least 4 days a week. Does NOT have to be running.

hey C., im 42 and have been tryin to get my weight off. my problem is i eat right but also eat wrong. I workout 5days aweek. but everyone, im mean everyone has told me running, yes running will take off belly fat. i try, but it hurts my shins to much. i think i run wrong. but running. then i just read lately, that you should push yourself to workout an extra 30 mins a day that helps too. so thats what im tryin now. i have about a 2pack right now. lol

ZUMBA!!!! I am also a mom in my 30s and a "little athletic." After knee surgery, I found yoga to help strengthen and rehab the knee. Yoga was great for stress relief, improving muscle tone & posture, & increasing self confidence. However, I needed to add cardio to work on those extra few pounds. Then I found Zumba, and it is HOT!!! It is a latin inspired fitness class and their tagline is "Ditch the workout, join the party" You have so much fun dancing to the hot salsa & latin club music that you don't realize that you are working out. I ended up loving it so much that I became certified to teach it & while I was learning my choreography & dancing for a few hours a day, my hubby was like wow - you've got abs & a booty! You can go to zumba.com and search for teachers in your area. Have fun in whatever you choose!

Good Morning C., How about getting a Belly Dancing DVD and have a blast. It works the tummy, abs, thigh everything.. Those snake rolls will get ya going for sure.
Then there is Salsa Dancing, total work out. Grandsons really like the music on the DVD's.

My daughter in law used to do yoga every morning ( before kids got older and in the way...lol )

I love music and dancing so the belly dancing and Salsa are so much more fun.
God Bless you and make it fun

K. Nana of 5

I'm in the same boat. Three kids, relatively thin but with a poochy belly. I am following the plan in a book I picked up at Costco - "Flat Belly Diet" by Liz Vaccariello. See: http://www.amazon.com/Flat-Belly-Diet-Liz-Vaccariello/dp/...

The basic rules are EAT LESS, EXERCISE, and load up your diet with Monounsaturated fatty acids (olive oil, nuts, avocados, dark chocolate, etc...) Supposedly these fats reduce belly fat even if you don't change your overall calorie intake!

I have lost 10 pounds in the last 2 months or so - but the belly is still there. Improved, for sure, but still there. Probably because I can't seem to exercise regularly no matter how hard I try. I can keep it up for a few days, but then I falter.

I'm sure regular cardio, toning yoga, and a firm commitment to maintaining a healthy posture at all times would help enormously. Exercise experts will tell you that you absolutely cannot target a specific area for fat loss. You lose fat all over through cardio exercise, and of course, belly fat is the last to go.

All my kids were born via c-section and I have a feeling that I will need a tummy tuck. I have very little muscle strength in my abdomen anymore and I wonder if it's even possible to get it back. I think I could weigh 105 pounds (I'm 5'7") and strangers would STILL ask me when I'm due. :-(

I would say bicycling. I've read that bicycling burns the most calories in the least time. And you can take the kids along with you on their own bikes or a baby bike seat depending on their age!! dont forget helmets! good luck

Pilates, pilates, pilates.