Belly & Arm Fat!

Updated on July 07, 2011
S.E. asks from Chicago, IL
13 answers

Ok, it's official. I need to lose a little belly and arm fat. Didn't notice too much in winter, but bathing suit season is a whole different deal! I see all these adds for losing the belly fat you accumulate as you get older and it seems arm fat comes with aging too... Is losing either of these any different than just losing weight in general? Are there certain things I can do to specifically lose belly/arm fat or will cutting back on calories and exercising do the trick? Wondering why belly fat is addressed like it's a special thing to lose... Any success stories out there or advice/tips? Any favorite exercises that target these areas really well? Thanks!

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J.W.

answers from St. Louis on

Just thought I would warn you once you lose the fat you end up with bingo wings. I would suggest strength training so you gain some muscle to fill in the skin when the fat is removed.

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J.S.

answers from Atlanta on

The only real answer that most people don't want to hear? Eat less, exercise more. That's the stripped down answer. The specific cardio and strength training exercises people are suggesting are all wonderful options, the trick is to find which ones you most enjoy so that you will stick with them. If you like to eat, the unfortunate news is that diet is 80% of what makes up successful weight loss. Exercise without proper diet will help you lose about 20% of what you'd like. Again, there are lots of ways to go about eating to lose weight. What is important is to try different, healthy eating habits that work for you. I, personally, use a free app on my iphone called "my fitness pal." It calculates my specific information and tells me how many calories per day I can eat to healthily lose 2 lbs a week. When you eat something, you type it into the app and it subtracts the calories from your daily allotment. If you exercise, it adds calories to your daily allotment! :) Most foods' nutrition and calorie content have already been entered into the app so you just type it in and click on the one that matches your food item. However, if you eat something that isn't on the list already, you simply key in the nutrition info on the packaging and it saves it for you and anyone else who may eat that item sometime.

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R.J.

answers from Seattle on

You won't lose an ounce, but you WILL lose inches and inches very quickly by using a broomstick.

Just place it over your shoulders, drape your arms over it, and twist back and forth for at least an hour every day. Put on a movie, and do it for 2 hours.

What it does is tighten the INTERIOR abdominals (the ones that keep your organs where they belong). These aren't the "sexy" abs. And you won't burn fat or calories, but you'll go down a pant size to 4 pant sizes in just a few months depending on how long it's been since you've done this.

It doesn't work if you hold your arms up, they need to be up and supported, otherwise you're using the wrong muscles. And don't try to "work hard" or you end up using the wrong muscles.

The last time I spent 5 months twisting every day (starting in Feb for a july wedding) I lost 8 inches around my waist (my alteration person hated me). I just started again a month ago and have dropped 2 already.

ALSO, more than 80% of our daily calorie expenditure is not being a "puddle", but is spent by our muscles supporting us sitting/standing. MAJOR "trick" in weightloss is to sit up straight (instead of leaning back in a chair or couch) and STANDING without leaning on anything. Who knew that good posture helps you lose weight, and be slimmer?

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A.G.

answers from Houston on

Unfortunately you cant pick where you burn fat. I WISH! You can target those muscles though, and while you lose weight everywhere (whatever order your body chooses to make it in) you will start seeing your work. Im doing that exact thing right now. Im targeting my arm and ab muscles and burning calories a variety of ways (weights, dancing, aerobics, balance ball, pilates, yoga, kickboxing, kettle balls, strength bands, rollerblading, jogging and walking)

Like you, my stomach and arms are taking their sweet time, they are getting there, but not as fast as my legs, butt and back.

A couple recommends for you would be Jillians videos "6 week 6 pack" and "trouble zones" id also recommend pilates to stabilize your core(this makes ab toning easier.

also over refined carbs tend to stick to the gut, ive read great things about green tea being tummy slimming.

Jo W. omg......bingo wings!!! yikes, thats scary and funny

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M.M.

answers from Chicago on

Exercise and diet will certainly do a lot for you!
But some if it is genetics, too.

I have disproportionatly large arms. If you were to look at a picture of me from the bust up, I look like I weigh about 50lbs more than I do.
I have worked and worked and worked for YEARS without being able to make a dent. I lift, eat clean...and there's a lot of muscle under there. But there's a good amount of subcutaneous fat that I just can't budge.

SO! I'm getting lipo done on them this fall. :)
Sometimes we just need a little extra help.

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K.H.

answers from Phoenix on

Right there with you girl. Everything I've read said that targeting areas for weight loss isn't real. You have to do it the old fashioned way of cutting calories and exercise in order to lose fat. Belly fat is a big deal because it's the one with the largest link to heart disease and type 2 diabetes, not sure why, but that's what the latest research is showing.

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D.N.

answers from Chicago on

Cardio is the way to lose the fat, interval cardio is even better since you are making your body work a little harder here and there. Toning with bands and core exercises will help make it look better. I use exercise bands (though not as often I as I should) to help get my arms back and trying to get rid of that nasty goose waddle as I call it when you hold your arm up. Crunches really don't do much for toning your abs since a lot of people don;t do the right but there are a lot of other exercises that use you core muscles--like standing on an uneven surface that requires you to maintain your balance.

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M.R.

answers from Chicago on

Getting rid of belly fat and arm fat is the same a loosing any other weight. Diet and exercise. I think they target belly fat because so many women have it and it's a lucrative gimmic to buy their product.

J.S.

answers from Jacksonville on

Swimming. I take my daughter to the pool around three times a week and see great results with it. At least I did last year, this year I just started again so we will see how that goes.

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P.M.

answers from Portland on

The way extra fat is distributed on each of our bodies is largely due to heredity. Some people gain primarily on hips and thighs, some spread it around, etc.

Belly fat IS 'special,' though because it can indicate that you carry the Type II diabetes gene, and that you are pushing closer to developing that disease. I began accumulating belly fat as I approached menopause, and because I knew of the diabetes connection, I got a fasting blood test at least once yearly. Sure enough, when I turned 55, type II diabetes landed on me. Now, 8 years later, I've lost my ability to control it through diet and exercise alone, and am on a medication that helps me keep my blood sugar controlled. If I'm very careful, I may be able to stay off insulin for a couple more years.

For belly fat, I've found the singe best thing to leave out of my diet is carbohydrates, especially refined grains and sugars. I eat lots of vegetables, moderate protein and moderate healthy fats. Any and all exercise seems good.

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B.A.

answers from Chicago on

There is generally no targeting losing fat in a specific location. There is no magic product that will substitute for eating clean nutrition without starving yourself and doing daily cardio and light weights several times a week. I use a weighted bar that they use in classes called strike and fast walk several times a week. I also do zumba as it is fun tol see how much I can scew up..the laughter also burns it off too. Good luck and don't buy into anything you ingest like pills or formulas to drink and nothing radical like atkins south beach or the grapefruit diet..thing slow steady rather than immediate and magical.

S.J.

answers from St. Louis on

Running - even slow jogging - is the best (all over body) fat eliminating exercise. Start out doing walk/runs. Google couch to 5K and get some motivation. You won't regret it and you will feel fabulous.

Good luck!

S.H.

answers from Spokane on

Cardio is key!! at least 30 minutes.

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