Waist matters & frustration - some venting

[Catrin]

I just wanna say, if you're 20% body fat then you have less fat than I do, and I'm pretty thin. And although your waist/hip ratio might be higher than you want and higher than ideal, I'm sure you've lost fat and inches around your waist as you've lost all that weight. And that's a very good thing. It fis still an improvement for your overall health.

Indeed, and I know that...it is just that all of that 20% body fat seems to be at my waist and it just gets frustrating. I am still happy with my progress though!

[NoNo]

I feel your pain Catrin. All of my weight is in my stomach and hips. It's not that bad when I'm standing, but when I sit, it's like my body sucks all the fat straight to my stomach. It's maddening.

Yesterday I spent a good 5 hours in the car and the bulk of the time I focused on sucking in my stomach and engaging my abs. It's definitely easier with the upper abs than the lower. My stomach is actually a little sore today, so I guess I was doing something! I will continue to try to focus on my posture and try to get in more mat work.

[KnottedYet]

I feel your pain Catrin. All of my weight is in my stomach and hips. It's not that bad when I'm standing, but when I sit, it's like my body sucks all the fat straight to my stomach.....

....It's definitely easier with the upper abs than the lower.

Lift your boobs.
Pull in your lower belly.

If you get a belly sitting, but not standing, then you are very likely dropping into a slouch and turning off your lower abs as soon as you plop into a seat. The chest drops, the neck cranes forward, and the abdominal contents land in the lap. They have nowhere else to go but OUT when your ribcage slops down onto the abdominal cavity.

To let the guts out of the way, your body has to turn OFF the lower abs. It will be very hard to pull the lower abs back into work while the guts are flopped out and begging for mercy to get away from the ribcage. It's also very hard to breathe until the ribcage is back up. The body has a strategy of dumping the abdominal contents into your lap to make room in your squashed torso for your lungs to expand.

So, first lift the ribcage back into it's rightful place (lift the boobs), *then* pull the lower belly in.

[OakLeaf]

The return of low rise jeans made me develop some better sitting habits, I can tell you that right now.

[NoNo]

Lift your boobs.
Pull in your lower belly.

If you get a belly sitting, but not standing, then you are very likely dropping into a slouch and turning off your lower abs as soon as you plop into a seat. The chest drops, the neck cranes forward, and the abdominal contents land in the lap. They have nowhere else to go but OUT when your ribcage slops down onto the abdominal cavity.

To let the guts out of the way, your body has to turn OFF the lower abs. It will be very hard to pull the lower abs back into work while the guts are flopped out and begging for mercy to get away from the ribcage. It's also very hard to breathe until the ribcage is back up. The body has a strategy of dumping the abdominal contents into your lap to make room in your squashed torso for your lungs to expand.

So, first lift the ribcage back into it's rightful place (lift the boobs), *then* pull the lower belly in.

Very, very interesting. Makes a lot of sense, too. Guess I have something to focus on. I suspect the men in my office will be happy with these changes.

[NbyNW]

Very, very interesting. Makes a lot of sense, too. Guess I have something to focus on. I suspect the men in my office will be happy with these changes.

What matters is YOUR happiness!

[ny biker]

Indeed, and I know that...it is just that all of that 20% body fat seems to be at my waist and it just gets frustrating. I am still happy with my progress though!

And I would like to take the fat from my thighs and put it in my ridiculously small boobs....

[redrhodie]

And I would like to take the fat from my thighs and put it in my ridiculously small boobs....

When I used to teach an adult metal-smithing class in NY, one of my students came in late, and asked if she looked different, which she did. I asked what she had done, and she said "I had the fat sucked out of my azz and put into my lips."

[Catrin]

I feel your pain Catrin. All of my weight is in my stomach and hips. It's not that bad when I'm standing, but when I sit, it's like my body sucks all the fat straight to my stomach. It's maddening.
... I will continue to try to focus on my posture and try to get in more mat work.

Thanks to Knotted I am starting to think about my posture. It will be difficult to break bad habits of many years, but what she said made a lot of sense

I have always had small hips - back in my largest of days there was quite often a 2-3 size difference between hips and what most would consider my waist It is still hard for me to see myself as the size I actually am - I can feel that stomach and I suspect that I see myself as still being on the obese side. I can't argue with the size of the clothes that fit though, so that is helping.

And I would like to take the fat from my thighs and put it in my ridiculously small boobs....

You can have some of mine - have always wanted smaller boobs

[tctrek]

Great thread! I'm an apple too -- all my weight is in my torso, but I have normal/thin arms, legs and no butt.

I have hypothyroidism,HBP and am post-menopausal. Still I keep fighting the battle of the bulge. I'm not losing the war, but I'm not winning either. I eat right, exercise and just try like heck not to gain any weight. But I am 28% body fat and I feel it.

The posture tips are good.. gets us all to thinking! Thanks, Knot!!