[MaigicyuNinia]

So many good pieces of advice,, maybe I can help explain each one, within one post..

as Patty said:

Fat comes off on a last on/first off basis.. this holds true for me also. It does have everything to do with how you are built. I am small in my hips and gain weight there last. My waist is wide (not really protruding) and gain weight there first.. so my hips readily shrink, and my waist waits until I'm ready to take a bite of a donut to show improvements. lol...

Lunacat said:

Core exercises are vital, rather than crunches and situps.. Never truer words spoken.. While most people focus on the abs you can "see",, they are forgetting about the structural support basis that was built into our bodies to make us stand erect and walk on two legs.. Meaning, if you are not working hip flexors and all of your BACK MUSCLES,, which is spinal support, then you are only doing half the job. The lower back muscles are what helps support the abdominals and vice versa.. with weak lower back, you will use more of your abs when doing lifting,, but this sets you up for injury and you lose the ability to sufficiently pull your tummy in.. additionally upper back muscles help support your posture and draw your shoulders back.. if you are working at a desk even typing, and not concious of your back muscles, you have to consider that you chest is constantly engaged, and your upper back muscle fiber could suffer from shortening (across the shoulders).. I know this doesn't sound like it matters, but it does, because of posture and the ability to pull you tummy in also..

Patty also said:
fat and muscle are two different types of tissues,, so require two different methods.. yep yep yep..!!!! We can build all the muscle we want,, and it will lay there,, UNDERNEATH THE LAYER OF FAT FOR ETERNITY,, if we don't make a conscious effort to burn more fat.. Building muscle does increase metabolism,, but no nearly enough to effectively burn fat by itself.. so cardio is MANDATORY,, if you are only doing strength training/resistance workouts,, then you are only trying to spot reduce,, which we have repeatedly seen,, does not work.. If your problem area is the belly,, great,, keep working the belly,, but don't leave out the cardio.. also,, creating muscle,, means a bigger circumference.. muscles get BIGGER!.. not smaller,, so you could actually experience an increase in waist size, as you build muscle there,, and fail to remove the fat..

So, what's the solution??

Work core muscles...for every ab exercise you do,, do an equal hip and back exercise that contrasts that same group of muscles.. (abs/lower back/hip flexors) (chest/upperback/shoulders) (obliques/middle back) **upper abs are easiest to work.. traditional situps, work the hip flexors/upper,,, and crunches work the upper,, NOT lower... reverse crunches, leg lifts and lower body curls work the lower abs**

Don't forget the cardio.. it's not an option.. it's mandatory.. walking, at a moderate or faster pace, is probably the best solution because it concentrates only on cardio,, where as most others incorporate some other type of resistance,, (like stairs, running, swimming).. but there is nothing wrong, in doing the other types of cardio and can actually improve abs.. (stairs work lower, running support total core, swimming works waist **traditional crawl**)

Last,, give it time,, if you still have residual fat deposits on other parts of your body that gained last.. the tummy will still take some time.. it doesn't mean you won't lose anything,, but it does mean that you will probably continue to look "lopsided" until the other parts are sufficiently down to suit your bodies standards, before it will release the fat from the belly.

Most of all,,, it can be done.. it takes time and dedication.. I haven't achieved it totally yet, , but I will,, you can bet your sweet cheeks, I will,, but it does take time and a tremendous amount of effort!!