Fat boy flab, how to suck it up??

[JRose]

Ok, so I'm shucking off weight, and right now am down from 228 to 186 pounds. I feel like i'm at the weight I want to be at, and although there's a few more pounds of fat in there that could go, I feel I'm at my appropriate weight.

Question is, will I ever be able to suck up that belly flab completely? I've only been on the "lifestyle change" for two months, so am I expecting too much, too fast?

Will plugging away at it, continuing to workout hard, and eating the right foods be enough? Or is this stretchy skin destined to be with me forever?

Just curious b/c I get sick of people nay saying, saying it's impossible to get rid of the flabby belly skin.

Main reason I ask is because a friend of mine has been in to cycling the last couple of years and has went from 210+ to probably 150 pounds. His cardio is ridiculous, he's aneorexic looking, but still has fat boy skin too.

 

[BullzeyeNJ]

Re: Fat boy flab, how to suck it up??

I think it has a lot to do with a person's age and how long they had a big belly. The older you are the less elastic your skin becomes. The fatter you were, the more extra tissue you have lying around.

 

[paulo_santos]

Re: Fat boy flab, how to suck it up??

I'm at the same stage you are. I lost weight and several inches off my waist and I still have a flabby lower belly. Everyone I spoke with has said that I need to build more muscle, which I have been doing for 4 weeks now and I'm seeing some improvements. I can acrually see a 4 pack on the upper abs. Just keep doing what you are doing with the P90X and after the 90 days, I'd start eating more protein to feed your muscles. Nutrition is key.

 

[jcfd2201]

Re: Fat boy flab, how to suck it up??

One of the guys I chatted with that has done P90X was 295lbs! He lost 45lbs in the first go round of P90X and kept going until he was down to 208lbs. He had the "extra skin" problem and it just took time for it to shrink back down. He kept going with the P90X and with the continued exercise and time it went away. I'm sure I am going to be in the same boat so I asked him about it. I don't need to lose as much as he did but I can tell you i have more of a gut than you do. Don't promote beyond Captain until you have to.....look at how many BC's and up have gained the weight...me included!

 

[canman]

Re: Fat boy flab, how to suck it up??

Cardio for no less than 20 minutes will burn fat. The longer you go above 20 minutes the more fat you burn. If your weight is good you'll just trade muscle for fat good trade and muscle weighs more. I'm 57 and last PFT I was at 7% body fat. Age does have an effect but it can be done. My year round BC is usually closer to 9-10%.I know you do PX90,good program also check out Insanity it's more cardio based and both together may get the result your looking for.

 

[JRose]

Re: Fat boy flab, how to suck it up??

I have no desire to promote above LT... Lol

 

[jcfd2201]

Re: Fat boy flab, how to suck it up??

My brother (also a firfighter) was preparing to do the John Muir Trail last year and did Insanity to get ready for it. He is sending me the program and I may do that after I finish P90X, if I survive it. My brother doesn't wants to promote to Captain and stay there....he has been lucky to learn from my mistakes over the years!

 

[JRose]

Re: Fat boy flab, how to suck it up??

Everyone I know above LT has either hated the fire dept, or is too much of a moron to tie their shoes.

 

[jcfd2201]

Re: Fat boy flab, how to suck it up??

Thats why my boots have zippers! LOL

 

[superde]

Re: Fat boy flab, how to suck it up??

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: canman</div><div class="ubbcode-body">... also check out Insanity it's more cardio based and both together may get the result your looking for. </div></div>

I got suckered into ordering Insanity last year, to mix up my exercise, and it got really boring. I saw that they have added more workouts to change it up, which may improve it. It does kick your butt, but it is not as entertaining as Tony - even though he is a goofball.

 

[canman]

Re: Fat boy flab, how to suck it up??

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: superde</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: canman</div><div class="ubbcode-body">... also check out Insanity it's more cardio based and both together may get the result your looking for. </div></div>

I got suckered into ordering Insanity last year, to mix up my exercise, and it got really boring. I saw that they have added more workouts to change it up, which may improve it. It does kick your butt, but it is not as entertaining as Tony - even though he is a goofball. </div></div>We do Insanity as a company on duty and I've been doing it on off days also. Not sure when they added materal but it's got alot of programs. If thats not good then there is always running.You can't beat running for cardio. I've been a runner for years and like it but as far as good for your body,not really.Keeps the fat off but beats the daylights out of your legs and hips.Also helps with breathing. I can make a bottle last as long as anybody in my company and they are all 20 or more years younger.

 

[JRose]

Re: Fat boy flab, how to suck it up??

I thought about insanity, but unless I did it with other people, I doubt I'd stay motivated.

As far as running, I used to run everyday, but now the thought of running turns my stomach. It's soooooooooo boring. A friend is wanting me to start cycling with him, I might try that instead.

 

[JJones75]

Re: Fat boy flab, how to suck it up??

The skin will tighten back up , your not that old!!

just remember than the skin diden't get streched out of shape in a short period of time and its gona go back the same way.

Some of the figure girls i know that have had kids keep their bellys rubbed down with coco butter to improve the elasticity and they swear it helps tighten it back up

 

[JRose]

Re: Fat boy flab, how to suck it up??

If all I have to do is keep on keepin' on than I'm good... I don't expect miracles, just wondering if it was a fixable problem or not..

 

[Nocalphoenix]

Re: Fat boy flab, how to suck it up??

Basic rule regarding skin stretch is that it will hold the stretch the same amount of time it was stretched. If you held a gut for 5 years it will not be snapping back in 6 months even if the fatty tissue under it is gone.

 

[neeley205]

Re: Fat boy flab, how to suck it up??

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: JRose</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I thought about insanity, but unless I did it with other people, I doubt I'd stay motivated.

As far as running, I used to run everyday, but now the thought of running turns my stomach. It's soooooooooo boring. A friend is wanting me to start cycling with him, I might try that instead. </div></div>

Thats right hoss, Im actually trading in a very nice Mtn bike for another road bike so I can drag you along with me. I think you'll enjoy it. Plus its serious cardio and because of the gears you can tailor the speed and resistance to your fitness level. what I love about it is the active recovery. You crank up the hill, when you get to the top your completely out of breath in an anaerobic state, but you have to keep pedaling, just slower and with less resistance. you body has to learn to recover while still in motion. Its almost like interval training with running, if you could run at the perfect level to keep your heart rate in the perfect zone for well over an hour. If your not already a fairly experienced and in shape runner, you will be hard pressed to pull this off. But with cycling, its much more flexible.

 

[canman]

Re: Fat boy flab, how to suck it up??

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: nly205</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: JRose</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I thought about insanity, but unless I did it with other people, I doubt I'd stay motivated.

As far as running, I used to run everyday, but now the thought of running turns my stomach. It's soooooooooo boring. A friend is wanting me to start cycling with him, I might try that instead. </div></div>

Thats right hoss, Im actually trading in a very nice Mtn bike for another road bike so I can drag you along with me. I think you'll enjoy it. Plus its serious cardio and because of the gears you can tailor the speed and resistance to your fitness level. what I love about it is the active recovery. You crank up the hill, when you get to the top your completely out of breath in an anaerobic state, but you have to keep pedaling, just slower and with less resistance. you body has to learn to recover while still in motion. Its almost like interval training with running, if you could run at the perfect level to keep your heart rate in the perfect zone for well over an hour. If your not already a fairly experienced and in shape runner, you will be hard pressed to pull this off. But with cycling, its much more flexible. </div></div> And it's low/no impact. Except for stupid drivers there is little bad can be said about it. It is probably the best exercise along with swimming.

 

[Slippery_Pete]

Re: Fat boy flab, how to suck it up??

My advice is to build more muscle. Forget about the scale, and focus on the mirror. Putting muscle on your back, shoulders, chest, arms, butt, and legs will maximize whatever results you are able to achieve.

The excess skin is going to take more time than 2 months, and quite frankly, dropping as much weight as you did in 2 months should cause it to be overly dramatic. Just get on the program, train hard, DIET is key, and you will continue to improve.

 

[DT1]

Re: Fat boy flab, how to suck it up??

Jason,

Please clarify, do you have loose skin around your lower abdomen or do you still have some fat to lose? There is no such thing as "spot reducing" ie: no specific exercise routine that will cause you to lose in a certain area. That concept is a myth.

The lower abdomen is the last place for the "excess baggage" to go away during weight loss in men. Continue to do any type of cardiovascular exercise you enjoy and watch your diet and that last little bit will eventually melt away. Building additional muscle mass will help also in the fat burning department. I doubt you were ever heavy enough to have a loose skin problem. People losing huge (more than you) amounts of weight are typically the ones who have that issue.

So many people try to overcomplicate weight loss. Simple: burn more calories than you take in. You can acheive that in different ways. Pick one that you enjoy on the burning end and watch what you eat on the other.

Dave

 

[flar10]

Re: Fat boy flab, how to suck it up??

I've lost and gained my belly fat lots of times unfortunately I always tend to gain it back after a few yrs.One more time coming up. Stretch marks didnt go away last time and excess skin may begin to be a problem that does not go away either. Some people have better genetics than others in that regard.