Lose belly fat first?
 

Hello,

I am currently on an Atkins-like plan and it's working well so far. I am reading SBD for the fun of it but I don't think it's something I am going to do (I don't think my wife could handle it and we need to be on the same plan). I do have a question about something Dr. Agatston? said in the book. Do you really lose belly fat first? On my plan I'm losing some belly fat, but also man-boob fat, leg fat, etc.

I have a friend that did SBD and she said it was true...not sure how 'reliable' she is though. She is rather impressionable!!

I'm here to tell you that I lost belly fat first.

I've been on SBD since May 1st, and while some of the belly fat is disappearing (waistlines becoming looser), I find I'm losing more in my thighs and breasts. (Yeah, breasts for me are always the last place to gain weight and the first place to lose it - sigh) I know the book makes claims about losing the belly fat first, but I really think it depends on the person. Even when I was down to 135 pounds and starving myself to stay there, I had a belly!

I actually lost my belly fat first on Atkins. Actually, it is STILL the place that is shrinking the most. Now if my arms will only submit!

I also did Atkins after I had the twins. I decided not to go back to Atkins since I am nursing my new daughter. I found that I have lost more weight and faster on SB. I have lost inches also. I love the verstilaty of this diet more then atkins. :)

The theory behind losing belly fat on any diet is that your body will pull from your visceral fat quickly (the fat underneath your abs) because it is the most easily metabolized fat. So that would help explain your shrinking waistline. I am on a new notch on my belt!

I also lost waist fat first.

I think as you said it depends on the person. Some women, in their forties and on, will not lose it so quickly because belly fat is menopausal fat cells holding on to oestrogen (read this in a great book by Debra Waterhouse (I can check on name etc if anyone is interested)). I have lost a bit of waist fat but belly fat is hanging on for dear life!

Thanks for the responses everyone.

I have heard that the last place you gained fat is the first place you lose it. For some it will be the belly, others it won't.

my bf was on south beach phase 1-2 for 4 weeks, his waistline went from 44.5 to now surprisingly 40 so basically he does lose inches on the belly.

altho hes not really doing it by the book now he still doesnt really eat reg fat foods and only eat grains sparingly

he couldve lose more and quicker if he can live without milk (lf). his weight stays between 211-213 (was 220 at 6'2") not really losing or gaining

good luck

I'd like to read more about "menopausal fat holding on to estrogen". Might be the reason I'm losing everywhere except
belly fat!

What's the name of the book you read this in? This is the
first I've heard of this........

just more fun to look forward to with menopause, oh, the list gets longer, urgh!

Vikki

Well I can't really see it yet but my friend told me today that my belly was getting smaller so I guess it's true!! Pants are a little looser around the waist also! :D

Sorry, lucky, I've been away and just looking in. I will post the name of the book this evening as it is at home.

The book is called Menopause without Weight Gain by Debra Waterhouse (ISBN 0 7225 3449 3).

"Each and every one of us has 30 billion fat cells, and a few years ago research finally validated what we had long suspected: fat cells have gender. A woman's fat cells are physiologically different from a man's. They are larger, more active and more resistant to dieting. As soon as your fat cells detect a slightly lower oestrogen level, they come to your aid to produce oestrogen for you."

She says that fat cells start increasing when a woman is in her mid-thirties so they can prepare for when oestregen levels fall. The fat cells in your waist grow the largest because they are better equipped to produce oestrogen than other fat cells. "The larger and more active your abdominal fat cells become, the more oestrogen will be produced, and the more benefits you will receive: fewer hot flushes, milder mood swings, less intense PMS, improved sleep, a reduced risk of osteoporosis and an overall easier transition".

Her answer is to do what we are already trying :) six small meals a day (she says our stomachs are only slightly larger than our fist so we don't need to eat large portions), exercise including weight training, no diets but eat well especially foods containing plant oestrogen, and to think why you want to eat, i.e. the reason you are reaching for food when you are not hungry. She claims a high success rate and it is an interesting book, published in America in 1998, so probably one of the earlier books about low fat diets not working.