Lower belly - is it just fat or something more? page 3

[Derpamix]

STFU, assbeard.

Classy.

[j3nn]

STFU, assbeard.

Really? That's uncalled for.

I don't think it looks like pure fat at all; I think it looks more like bloat. I'd definitely see a stomach doctor and try eliminating some foods for a few weeks to see if there's a change. Look into nightshade and fodmap intolerance. I've seen a popular Paleo blogger show an after pic of her stomach after eating tomatoes and she looked pregnant when she has an otherwise flat tummy.

So much bad advice on this forum!

[Wulf]

Seriously, why?

your comment came off as seeming to say, because she does not have a perfectly flat stomach, there is something really wrong with her, which is especially offending assuming you are male. so I was gonna make a snarky comment about stop looking at unrealistic female bodies on the internets (aka porn, tho we know the internet is for that), and realize that most females do not have flat stomachs. Her stomach is a bit big for her frame but not terribly so, and actually it's pretty much normal, except that she should be able to get rid of it on paleo.

and yea if I've eaten well the day before I can wake up to a reasonably flat stomach. If this bloating is especially pronounced and ongoing, like waking up to it everyday for a year like that, only then would I think it's very abnormal. Also if I have a big SAD meal I can go from near flat stomach to hugely pregnant bloat in the time span of the meal, so I'm not gonna freak out about her little pot in the pictures, but obviously she is concerned enough about it to post here so we'll offer what advice we can. Only thing is that all her exercise is aerobic with no weights, and she may need to add in weight lifting a lot more and/or cut down on the aerobics.

btw for a dose of reality on what real female bellies look like check here: The xoJane Real Girl Belly Project -- 75 Strong, Beautiful Non-PhotoShopped Bellies | xoJane
and here: The xoJane Real Girl Belly Project -- Part II | xoJane
not saying they are all healthy, but they are real, and actually represent most of what is out there.

[Sora]

STFU, assbeard.

Hey, no namecalling allowed in my thread!

[Derpamix]

Really? That's uncalled for.

I don't think it looks like pure fat at all; I think it looks more like bloat. I'd definitely see a stomach doctor and try eliminating some foods for a few weeks to see if there's a change. Look into nightshade and fodmap intolerance. I've seen a popular Paleo blogger show an after pic of her stomach after eating tomatoes and she looked pregnant when she has an otherwise flat tummy.

So much bad advice on this forum!

Food allergies are definitely a common cause of bloat.

Here is another article you might find interesting, Sora.

Water: swelling, tension, pain, fatigue, aging

I had a friend who had a similar problem as you, and I told her about aldosterone and low salt, as well as progesterone. The salt fixed her.

[Sora]

I am kind of inclined to think it's fat, because I can grab it and it's soft and squishy. And when I tighten my ab muscles, I can feel the hardness of the muscle beneath it. Though it's possible another food intolerance or bloating is aggravating it. I could certainly try eliminating something, not really sure what I'd start with. I haven't really noticed any correlation between it and digestive problems. My digestion is actually pretty decent lately, though I could probably stand more fiber (I hate most salads..).

I cook a lot, and I don't really have a consistent meal plan. Usually breakfast is leftovers or eggs or eggs & bacon (depending on hunger levels) though often I am not hungry until 11/12 and just have some tea. Lunch is usually dinner leftovers (or eggs if I skipped bfast) or some protein with a sweet potato (with kerrygold). If I snack it's an apple and sunbutter, about 1-2TB. Lately I've been craving grapefruit so I've been having those as well (broiled, with cinnamon, SO good). Dinner is usually some fun paleo recipe I found online. Tonight I am feeling lazy and am slowcooking a whole chicken in the crock pot with some carrots and onion. I'll use the carcass + innards to make a nice broth tomorrow =)

[Derpamix]

Do you wake up looking significantly bigger than before? Frequency in bowel movements? Discomfort? These are some good ways to tell if you're bloating

Greens are nasty, and irritate your digestion unless cooked thoroughly. Carrot salad is a good way to optimize digestive health.

grated carrot
apple cider vinegar
maple syrup or honey
coconut oil
salt

[solstice]

Were the same height and weight but my stomach does not look like that. However...what is your build like....do you tend to carry more around the middle? If I put it on, it's usually my legs or rump! I would also suggest a fibroid or cyst...any heaviness in in your stomach or pelvic region? Any chance you are pregnant?!

[MissJecka]

Keep in mind that women are predisposed to have that lower belly fat, for baby-making purposes - it keeps the womb protected. It's in our genes and is one of the reasons it's more difficult for women to get the last 2 cans (the lower ones below the belly button) of a 6-pack than it is for a man to do so.

[Sora]

Just thought I'd update this. My belly looks pretty much the same, despite incorporating more exercise into my life! I started the C25K program about 2 months ago. Basically, it is a program where you alternate walking and running until you can run a full 5k straight through. However, I have been repeating the first "week" because I haven't yet felt like I am strong enough to move forward. Only recently have I been able to do all the running parts without skipping them. It's been somewhat discouraging because I feel like I should be farther along than I am, but I am sticking with it and I am seeing some progress through it is very slow. I have actually gained a couple lbs, though I am assuming it is water weight from the increased exercise.

I have a gyn appt next week, so I'll bring this up with my doctor as well. It just doesn't seem 'right', yanno. I also have noticed that I seem to be retaining water a bit, especially around my ankles, but I dunno if that's from the running or what.