This is my first time to do this so i hope i can find some help. I have been working outnow for a while, I had a personal trainer last year, but recently moved so now I am working out alone. I work out at least five times a week. I do cardio and weight lighting as well as yoga. I love getting up a good sweat. Here is my problem, it is super hard for me to lose weight, I had a terrible eating disorder in college, and since i gained back the weight and a little to much, I cant seem to get it off. I am afraid that if I dont start seeing results through working out I might revert back to my old ways. The main question i have is, I have been concentrating on my abs for almost a month now, doing over 1000 crunches a week and you wouldnt even know it. but lately i feel like i have been gaining a lot of weight around my belly. It was like i used to have a think layer of fat right there and since i started getting abs it kinna loosened. I know that soundsweird....but can any one tell me if they have seen that before?

thanks for all the help
sherri

Yes, it is normal for the fat to become loose. I have had the same issue, I started at 227 and am now 186. The fat before had more density, and I have read on various fitness websites that when you are losing weight, the fat loses it's density, causing it to feel more "jelly like". Don't worry, it just means that the fat is breaking down. Keep up the good work, you will happy with the final result...

My recommendation is to forget about the abs for now. Very often, the harder you work on one area, the harder it seems to get any results. There is no such a thing as spot reduction. Focus on the whole body. For me, every 5-7 lbs I drop, I lose an inch off my belly. I didn't even pay attention to the fat density there.

Cheers!

Turkey Walk is right, there is no such thing as spot reduction of fat, and its good advice to not worry about one specific area.

Like for most people, the challenge you face is one of motivation, and being aware of which phase of weightloss you are in.
Consistency is the key, so you somehow have to face the fact that training 5-6 times a week is now your normal way of living, rather than a temporary weightloss exercise, and most importantly enjoy the process, the workotus etc, rather than just the result you are after.

Your body also tends to adapt to exercise, and its not just a question of maths and calories. You would do well to vary your program to ensure its always a challenge for your muscles and your body.

Do a body weight curcuit, if you've been on the exercise bike, get on the treadmill etc. Mix it up

You mentioned that you had an eating disorder. Nutrition is vital alongside an exercise program, and if you've come from a background of poor habits, make sure you don't try and change everything at once, get some basics right, drink plenty of fluid and make some step changes that you can live with in the long term

Good Luck

James

How to lose weight and keep it off-Workouts4weightloss

Like others have said, the idea of spot reduction is a myth since fat loss is universal. In fact, if you want to lose weight, you might need to actually eat more. If your diet is too restrictive, your body believes it is starving and will slow down the metabolism as a result and will lead to the hoarding of body fat. So, just in case, PM me if you want and give me a run down of how many calories you eat a day and what your meals look like so that I can better figure out what's happening. As for exercise, 5 days a week is plenty. With my clients, I usually have them perform short workouts of high-intensity with free weights and bodyweight. The workouts are total body, because the more muscles that are recruited, the more calories that are needed to perform the movement. Let me know if this helps. Good luck and keep your chin up!

Fat bellys suck, i hate mine......i wish it would just go away keep up the good work and yours will, thoes bellys are just stubbon little devils!!!!