[w4WBthjv]

From mybodycomp.com

There is no way to "spot reduce" fat from a specific area (e.g. doing sit ups will burn fat from all over your body - not just your abdomen). When fat is lost, it is taken from all over the body. The only way to alter your fat distribution is through an effective diet and exercise program that reduces body fat while preserving lean body mass.

Resistance training is the best way to change your muscle distribution. More emphasis should be placed on the underdeveloped parts of the body and less emphasis should be placed on the overdeveloped parts.

[CKDIWEQ]

I agree. Couple of related pieces of information:

1. If you are using resistance (strength) training to build muscle to raise your metabolism to burn fat, it is better to focus on large muscle groups (legs, glutes, chest, back) than small muscle groups (arms, shoulders, abs, grip). The bigger the muscle, the quicker it can grow.

2. Ab workouts do little to burn fat, but they do tone the ab muscles which can result in a slenderising effect. This is very limited, and does not improve much once you have reached a certain level of ab fitness.

Patty, how's the thigh?

[VonErmad4]

Well, this marathon is looking bleak. I really need to keep off it for a while, and I think the race is too close to continue without further injury.

There will be others. The problem is that there aren't any around here until the Fall.

[rxnixoncom]

Sorry to hear that Patty.

[KukkoDrukko]

Thanks. I wanted to run my 1st before I turn 40 in November. There are 2 local marathons in November, NYC and Philly. NYC is before my birthday, but you put your name in a lottery to get in. I'm in the lottery, but it's no guarantee. If I don't get in, the training won't be for naught, since Philly is a couple of weeks later.

Here comes the dilemma ... If I run NYC, I'll still be 39, hence making my goal. If I run Philly, I'll be 40, just missing my goal.

I guess it's ok. I've always been just a little off (on my goals ) .

[Blolover11]

Patty - run -- who cares whether you are 39 or 40 + --- it's better than 99% of Americans! And hon, 40 ain't nothing!

[olivelappers]

And hon, 40 ain't nothing! Ain't that the truth!

[RaicickKida]

I guess I was pretty unfit but the abs workout from the Pilates tape has
decreased my waist but my hips are constant (?) I think it is the exercise because my weight is a pound up recently but waist is down over an inch over the same period.

Welcome to the over 40 crowd Patty.

[Blacksheepaalredy]

Definately, the inches are lost from the exercise. The point is that the exercise will not remove fat from a specific place. No matter what exercise you do, your fat will come off the same way.

I tend to lose in my hips first, while my upper body always stays the same. It all depends on where our fat cells are and how we gain weight.

Fat and muscle are 2 different tissues. Working a specific muscle causes it to firm, shape, grow, etc. But, working that muscle has no impact on the surrounding fat, but rather on fat in general.

Like Brian said, working larger muscles will have the most affect on fat loss.

Hey, I'm not 40 yet

[VoriEremiagem]

With just the diet and basically no exercise I lost most off the hips but and thighs (kind of a funny shape now size 6hips, 8waist and 10/12 chest). The exercise reduced the waist about 1.5inch from 10/8 to a real 8 but did not touch the hip (that is what I wanted but I suppose it was coincidence). Anyway I'm sticking with the Pilates and arm exercises posted here I try to do them every day. Once it gets above freezing here I'll walk (snow again on Friday and cold on Saturday, Sunday was in the 40s but we're back down to freezing again during the week, it can't last though we have had snow in April). I suppose that building muscles can be specifically done and that does shape you? I'm not sur I notice changes in my arms but I've only been doing that every day for about a week.

[Jjfotqse]

FL, WHEN are we going to get to 'see' you??? :wink:

[economex]

People neglect the pulling muscles for some reason. The abdominals are especially critical to women. If they are not kept fit and firm, women will experience, more than men, a sinking of the internal organs which produces that lower abdominal belly that you all hate. Once those organs sink it is not really possible to fully recover them to their original position.
You need to keep the abs firm at all times.

Biceps and pectorals are also neglected by people doing moderate exercise. Basic, simple pullups will remedy the entire problem with the major pulling muscles.

I recommend moderate exercise to be fit and healthy. I wouldn't emphasis anything to a radical degree. One will pay, in the future, for any extreme exercises done over time. In my youth I was a competitive weightlifter, mountainclimber, martial artist, navy diver, and some other equally insane things; and now I hurt every day of my life. I did experience some radical injuries; but even the tally of what I did causes me pain. I think it's better to just be fit and lean than to blindly do things now that will haunt you for the latter years of your life, when pain means a lot more. haha.

Good Luck!

[Kilsimpaile]

Thanks for the web site Patty. I did a rough estimate on my self with an improper tape measure so I can get a rough idea where I'm at. Unfortunatly it said I am carring over 50 pounds of fat and I'm around 25% BF.

[wooclosmercob]

Someone else posted that site here recently. I'm not sure how accurate it is, but it seems like it would be consistant enough to gauge progress.

I never heard of internal organs sinking! I do know that strong abdominal muscles really relieve pressure from your back.

[AdobebePhoto]

The pic that Blueskyes posted is exactly what I'm talking about. Fat and muscle are 2 separate fibers. Fat does not turn into muscle or visa versa.

When we gain fat, we fill our fat cells, wherever they may be. Most of us have fat that concentrates in certain areas. When we burn or lose fat, these cells reduce.

When we gain muscle, are muscles get larger. By stretching them, we create long, lean muscle. When we stop working muscles, they atroph, or shrink. They do not turn to fat. Loss of muscle, tho, will slow your metabolism allowing fat cells to grow again.

Altho, muscle does burn fat, it does not burn any particular fat. It raises your metabolism, which in turn burns fat from all over.