People are often dissatisfied with their physique and I am no exception. I am overall at peace with what I got and how I look.
The glaring exception is my belly.
Like a lot of men, my body fat accumulates in the abdominal area. Despite my efforts of exercise and better diet, the belly fat refuses to budge. After a full meal, or when something triggers bloating, I look like I am pregnant. It is not a pretty sight.
Photographs of hot guys with flat stomachs do not elicit in me lust but envy. I respond with ‘ooh, a flat stomach, how to I get that?”.
It behooves me to loose the tire, but like a squatter, it is difficult to eject.
My desire for a flat tummy is more than mere vanity. There are a lot of health hazards associated with abdominal fat: diabetes, heart conditions, hypertensions, and certain cancers. Abdominal fat has the nasty additional attribute it is associated with inflammation ,which may the real cause of all these health conditions. Abdominal fat doesn’t like to go away as quickly or as well as other types of body fat.
Besides the vanity and the health concerns, I see abdominal fat as symbolic of all that is wrong with western civilization < bad diet, lack of activity, lack of exercise, and being suckered into all sorts of nasty foodstuffs from evil food industry empires.
I am quite dubious of human growth hormone and of any diet claim that states it specifically targets belly fat. I have to work on mine the old-fashioned way with proper diet and overall weight loss. This is not fun, glamorous, and provides no quick results.
But like the intrepid tortoise of the fable, I hope to cross the finish line ahead of the hare and with no paunch either.
19 comments
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May 15, 2012 at 1:36 AM
Tai
I’m like 4 month pregnant
May 15, 2012 at 2:40 AM
Erik Rubright
That’s the one part of me that I just can’t seem to get to go away either. Granted, I’m not giving up the beer though.
May 15, 2012 at 2:44 AM
Buddy Bear
I’m with ya, sister!
May 15, 2012 at 2:57 AM
wfregosi
Buddy, most of the pictures I’ve seen of you, you’re delightfully slender.
When I gain weight, it’s distributed relatively evenly but a lot hits my hips. And that’s not a lot better than the belly.
May 15, 2012 at 2:59 AM
zeph
The research about fat is ambivalent. It may be protective if you’re not grossly overweight which… you’re not. Of course, I’d chop off a finger myself if it would make me look 18 again.
May 15, 2012 at 3:00 AM
Cubby
You could always go under the knife.
May 15, 2012 at 5:05 AM
Laurent
liposuction is the magic word.
May 15, 2012 at 5:10 AM
Mark
Hang out with older fatter guys. You’ll feel instantly better!
m.
May 15, 2012 at 5:12 AM
Urspo
I am one of the older fatter guys!
May 15, 2012 at 5:51 AM
Chris (in Philly)
What works for me is avoiding sweets (cookies and candy), avoiding too much beer, drinking lots of water, and running 3 to 4 days a week / at least an hour run. What do you do for cardio?
May 15, 2012 at 6:28 AM
Urspo
not enough. I do an elliptical 30 minutes a few times a week, and dog-walks x 30 minutes a few days too. I lift weights 4x a week, which sometimes have cardio with it.
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May 16, 2012 at 10:32 AM
Chris (in Phily)
It sounds like you do enough cardio. Maybe change your diet a little? Does your trainer have any suggestions?
May 15, 2012 at 7:32 AM
james of the woods
give up all dairy products for 1 month and see if that makes a difference. since giving up dairy, i have the tummy of a 21 year old. however, i suppose i shall have to give it back ’cause i’m getting it all wrinkled.
May 15, 2012 at 8:58 AM
Chris (in Phily)
Actually now that I think about it I do not drink much milk either, and rarely do I have ice cream. Sometimes i do have cheese and some butter on my toast but that is it for dairy. I sometimes substitute hummus for butter on toast.
May 15, 2012 at 3:45 PM
ronzorro
Dr. Spo,
This is a sensitive subject for me and most of us “older” men. For most of my life I’ve had a flat stomach. Finally, at 70 years of age I have developed somewhat of a “roll”. My weight hasn’t increased that much, it is more like my flesh has shifted. The muscle tone is gone. I fear this is a losing battle as we age. You should not concern yourself though Dr. Spo. You look just fine. Don’t make yourself crazy trying to look like “The Situation.”
Ron
May 15, 2012 at 3:56 PM
anne marie in philly
I have a fat belly. according to my trainers, it’s the last spot to lose fat; dammit!
oh well, I keep working at it; I didn’t put the weight on overnight, nor will I take it off overnight. and I know I will never look like jillian michaels. I still love me!
May 15, 2012 at 5:20 PM
ronzorro
We love you too Anne Marie!
May 15, 2012 at 7:17 PM
anne marie in philly
MWAH, honey!
May 16, 2012 at 7:40 AM
Tony Davis
ha. your post, and posts like this, always make me smile. flat stomachs are a topic that so many men talk of, but in my experience, few men are willing to do what is necessary to achieve them. genetics aside, it is f**king hard work to keep a stomach flat, especially as an older man. several suggestions above are on the money–avoiding dairy, etc. everyone has a way to do it, but the common factor is that they ALL involve changing what you are doing. if you are willing to do that, then it may happen! i will be 50 this summer, and i recently slimmed off 5 lbs from the winter thickness. i feel better. but i also don’t own a car, so i am riding my bike about 10 miles a day, on average, working out 4 times a week, and cutting out most dairy and bread. but for me, it is worth it. easy? no. but then what is? -tony