How long, in exercising, does it take for belly fat to go bye-bye?

[Deja Q]

Since restarting my exercise program a week ago, I've lost somewhere between 2 and 3 pounds. (2/wk is the maximum amount, but I have not changed my diet and, indeed, have been eating more complex and even some more simple carbs than I ought to :crazy: )

It's nice to be 197, though. But the belly has got to go.

Exercise feels nice, once I've been doing it for a few minutes... but by 15 I'm totally pooped out.

Still, if the belly fat is going, that's what I want.

/meandering

[Reverend_Smitty]

1. Unfortunately there is no way to specifically target belly fat...

the body will burn the fat where it wants to, not where you tell it. You can work on abs to help and tone the muscle but there is a specific reason why belly fat is the last to go but the explanation escapes me at the moment...I didn't pay enough attention in exercise physiology, but I think it has to do with the fat receptors in that area; they are different than in other places in the body.

Just keep on doing what you are doing and you'll be pleased with the results

[RedCloud]

2. Follow nature's clues...

Walking and water.

2 walks of about 30 minutes daily and plenty of water. Walking helps the body burn fat more than carbs or protein.

Expect the belt to need a few holes in it if you avoid sweets and fats...

before this gets locked I have a degree in Phys. Anthro. It's really just nature in action and the human interacting with it the way the human was designed to...

[Deja Q]

3. Oh, I'm not asking for advice. Just curious why blubber isn't burned

where I want it to be burned. :D

[RedCloud]

6. I guess it moves like a river...

to the "sea" known as the stomach, but I would have to get some dudes to test it to see if there is something attracting it there or the only destination if all other former fat areas have closed for business.

I also think lint gets transported by body movement to the navel.

[tjwmason]

4. I need to see a shirtless picture before I can give an opinion

and then I'd probably be too smitten to think straight.

[maxsolomon]

5. it is the last thing to go

sorry, but it is.

you'll lose fat in your cheeks, your chin, your neck, thighs, ass, feet (!), but that will be the last piece that gets there.

[jpgray]

7. Your body chemistry will change to fat-burn mode

But it takes a few months. The trick is consistency--no two weeks of strenuous stuff and then a two month layover, etc.

[arwalden]

8. Some Things That Are Working For Me...

Portion control... smaller (reasonable) helpings and *not* going back seconds. I skip dessert most of the time. No snacking in between meals. I don't have a special diet plan (ie: SouthBeach, WeightWatchers, etc) I just avoid the most obvious culprits that we know are fatty or high-calories.

Exercise... for the past 6 weeks I've been walking about 2 miles a day, 5-6 days a week. That's 35 minutes on a treadmill at 3.5 miles per hour.

When I first started, it was difficult to complete 10 minutes at 3 miles per hour (or slower) so I just walked until I was tired and then tried to go just a couple of minutes more each time.

It got easier and I gradually increased my distance, time, and speed. I doubt I'll reach jogging speeds but 3.5-3.9 MPH is definitely a brisk walk that will make you sweat.

I've heard (but don't know for sure) that a single 40 minute cardio/treadmill workout gives more results than two 20 minute workouts. It makes sense if you think about it... it takes 15-20 minutes to get your body's furnace stoked, and from that point forward you're burning fat/calories at a faster rate than you were for the first 15-20 minutes.

For my efforts, I'm now 18 pounds lighter than I was 6 weeks ago. Only 25 more to go.

Good luck!

[joneschick]

10. Wow! very impressive.

[arwalden]

12. Thanks!! -- What Others Are Saying Is True...

... unfortunately, the beer-gut is likely to be the last thing to go away. I can tell that my jeans are starting to fit better... so there's been a little progress in losing an inch or two in the belly, but I've still got 6" to go before I reach my target size of 32".

I suspect that it will take a year longer to get there (and that doesn't include having to make it through T'giving and X'mas and the likely back-sliding on my promise to avoid desserts and extra portions.)

[Fleshdancer]

9. 11 weeks 5 days 2 hours 28 minutes and 32 seconds.

That's my guess. :D

[Deep13]

11. It will be awhile.

Body fats disappears in the reverse order it developed. Unfortunately, it is 90% diet. Excercise is important to train your body to burn fat rather than sugar, but reducing calories is still the lynchpin.

[Tyrone Slothrop]

13. I've found that swimming seems to take care of the belly

Much more rapidly than any other form of any activity.

Maybe that's just me though???

[Taverner]

14. Sometimes never

Sadly...but you can reduce it by doing cardio and eating lean protien