Thread: It's all in my gut!

People just gain fat in different areas more easily. I too am a gut guy. Just cut down to a lower body fat level, and gain mass, but not necessarily in that order. As long as you are making progress, don't be too hard on yourself. Keeping close track as to the exact caloric intake you are getting can help a lot.

Originally Posted by Morox

I'm 5"8 and 145 (on an empty stomach) and I have a big problem with my gut. I can literally pull out about 3 inches of loose fat on the sides of my waist and get two hand fulls of my belly. I don't look fat at all, but I definitely have some hanging around. The thing that discourages me is that I have been eating a lot more properly in the last few months and I haven't seen a change at all. Maybe it's even getting worse? Even after starting working out, my gut remains. It's hell. I can't really cut any weight since I am already skinny as hell and i'll just look like a skeleton. I don't know what to do.

I feel your pain, all my fat goes to my gut, none on arms, legs etc

When did you start working out? Are you talking cardio, resistance training, both?

What do you mean by eating more proper? Are you counting calories?

gut = diet

most people that think they're eating properly, often times are not.

if you list the details of your diet that would be helpful.

I've been working out for about 4 months now. The thing is, I am trying to bulk. I can not cut any more weight. I understand that if I do, my stomach fat will most likely go away. But I feel that cutting down weight would not be healthy at all (since I am 5"8 and 145 lbs). I'm in a big mixup here. If I try and do bulking, my stomach will not go away I assume. I don't know what to do.

you may just have to make a few adjustments to your eating habits. details?

So what if that isn't the problem? I am pretty screwed it seems.

You should really post what you are eating and then we can help you.

It's typical male patterns to hold fat in the stomach.

All of my fat seems to go to my butt.

yup definitely goes to the gut

It's pretty difficult to list everything I eat. I'll give you an estimation.

For breakfast, I eat bacon and eggs. Hard-boiled and fried (I switch off). 2 pieces of toast (brown bread).

For lunch, turkey breast sandwich on bown bread with lettuce and tomato with some vegetable soup. If I have soup, it's usually vegetable or wild rice soup. If I don't have sandwiches, i'll fry a turkey breast and make some rice with it. Sometimes i'll eat a shrimp ring. I'll make a hamburger and eat it with nothing else. Sometimes a fillet of fish (non-battered) with rice.

For supper it's usually pork chops, non-battered chicken wings, pasta, roast beef, salad, potatoes, ribs.

Pretty much this stuff with different variations. I'll guess right now that everyone that reads this will say that I need to change what I am eating.

The 6 meal a day thing doesn't work for me. I DO NOT get breaks at work.

Originally Posted by Morox

It's pretty difficult to list everything I eat. I'll give you an estimation.

For breakfast, I eat bacon and eggs. Hard-boiled and fried (I switch off). 2 pieces of toast (brown bread).

For lunch, turkey breast sandwich on bown bread with lettuce and tomato with some vegetable soup. If I have soup, it's usually vegetable or wild rice soup. If I don't have sandwiches, i'll fry a turkey breast and make some rice with it. Sometimes i'll eat a shrimp ring. I'll make a hamburger and eat it with nothing else. Sometimes a fillet of fish (non-battered) with rice.

For supper it's usually pork chops, non-battered chicken wings, pasta, roast beef, salad, potatoes, ribs.

Pretty much this stuff with different variations. I'll guess right now that everyone that reads this will say that I need to change what I am eating.

The 6 meal a day thing doesn't work for me. I DO NOT get breaks at work.

Well - you pretty much listed the reason you still have a gut! That diet is terrible!

I don't know what to eat then. It seems that eating healthier costs a lot more (for some odd reason). I don't have the money to buy my own groceries. I eat whatever is put in front of me.

Originally Posted by Morox

I don't know what to eat then. It seems that eating healthier costs a lot more (for some odd reason). I don't have the money to buy my own groceries. I eat whatever is put in front of me.

egg whites - cheap
oatmeal - cheap
cans of tuna - cheap
big bags of frozen chicken breasts from Sams or Costco or BJs - cheap
fruits/vegs - cheap
protein powder - cheap
brown rice - cheap

Read the shopping list in this post:
http://ironmagazineforums.com/showthread.php?t=21113

all of my fat goes to my dick, its crazy

Originally Posted by kicka19

all of my fat goes to my dick, its crazy

Well keep eatin'

Originally Posted by Morox

It's pretty difficult to list everything I eat. I'll give you an estimation.

For breakfast, I eat bacon and eggs. Hard-boiled and fried (I switch off). 2 pieces of toast (brown bread).

For lunch, turkey breast sandwich on bown bread with lettuce and tomato with some vegetable soup. If I have soup, it's usually vegetable or wild rice soup. If I don't have sandwiches, i'll fry a turkey breast and make some rice with it. Sometimes i'll eat a shrimp ring. I'll make a hamburger and eat it with nothing else. Sometimes a fillet of fish (non-battered) with rice.

For supper it's usually pork chops, non-battered chicken wings, pasta, roast beef, salad, potatoes, ribs.

Pretty much this stuff with different variations. I'll guess right now that everyone that reads this will say that I need to change what I am eating.

The 6 meal a day thing doesn't work for me. I DO NOT get breaks at work.

Yes - you need to make some serious changes to your diet

Did you read the stickies at the top of the Diet forum called Guide to.......

I would highly suggest it

Your diet really lacks quality proteins and complex carbs. you have alot of fatty things and no EFA's or veggies for that matter.

If you want to know why it is in your gut then this is why. Only a clean diet will help

I totally agree with all of the suggestions about changing your diet and eliminating that TERRIBLE meal plan that you mentioned above, but I would also like to point something else... what does your workout routine look like? Are you lifting and training the way that someone looking to maximize their mass build and eliminate their fat stores would lift? No offense bro, but at 5'8 145lbs, I am going to venture to say that if you have a lot of (3" worth) fat around the mid section, and you still way that little... you dont have much muscle mass considering... Swallow this bit of advice... the more muscle mass you have, the more you force it to work (train it), the larger amount of calories it uses to rebuild itself, and the more likely your body would be to shed excess weight and shift into a building (body building) phase. When your body is using up all of its caloric intake to build muscles and you are dieting well, your body literally sheds and melts the fat off... look at the success stories on IMF.com and BB.com The proof is there, you just have to believe it, analyze it, review it, apply it, and live it.

Originally Posted by Morox

I don't know what to eat then. It seems that eating healthier costs a lot more (for some odd reason). I don't have the money to buy my own groceries. I eat whatever is put in front of me.

Eat healthier and eat less. The only way to lose weight it reduce the calories you consume to below what you expend on a given day.

I switched to an extremely healthy diet lifestyle about a year ago and I don't spend any more than I did before it. Yes, it is more expensive to buy entirely organic, unprocessed, unaltered, natural food items. However one can still eat healthy from purchases made a regular grocery store.

Oh, and consume more fiber. It takes longer to digest, helps curb hunger pains, and will help you eat less.

also look at training your stabilizing abdominal muscles, if these are strengthened it can keep you straighter and make your gut protrude less.

Okay, but like I said, losing weight at 145 lbs can not be good for me. I am actually going to go out and buy some healthy food tonight. The thing is though, I want to gain weight but I don't want my gut to get any bigger. If I am eating 6 meals a day (healthy food) and training 5 times a week, is my gut going to get bigger from eating many more calories? Or is the training and the healthy food going to help show my abs?

Originally Posted by Morox

Okay, but like I said, losing weight at 145 lbs can not be good for me. I am actually going to go out and buy some healthy food tonight. The thing is though, I want to gain weight but I don't want my gut to get any bigger. If I am eating 6 meals a day (healthy food) and training 5 times a week, is my gut going to get bigger from eating many more calories? Or is the training and the healthy food going to help show my abs?

If do what you just mentioned and consume ~5-10% above maintenace in you calorie intake, you will start to slowly recomp - meaning loosing bf while adding on little muscle. Recomps take longer so hang in there and don't give up because you think it's not working fast enough. Your diet is going to be key in this - so make sure it is in check and you're eating the right things at the right times.

Okay, well I went to the store and this is what I bought.

-4 bags of fish fillets. Cod and Salmon. Obviously NOT breaded.
-3 cans of Lupini beans
-Two cartons of cottage cheese
-2 cartons of fat-free yogurt (also low in sugar)
-1 bag of oats
-2 cartons of skim milk
-Peanut Butter (1g of sugar)
-Some kind of grain bread (0g of sugar)
-Chinese noodles
-Bag of mixed brown/wild rice

Mind you, I still live with my parents and I bought this with my own money. I am still quite the rookie at finding what is best. But I tried and this is what I came out with. What do you think?

Originally Posted by Morox

Okay, well I went to the store and this is what I bought.

-4 bags of fish fillets. Cod and Salmon. Obviously NOT breaded.
-3 cans of Lupini beans
-Two cartons of cottage cheese
-2 cartons of fat-free yogurt (also low in sugar)
-1 bag of oats
-2 cartons of skim milk
-Peanut Butter (1g of sugar)
-Some kind of grain bread (0g of sugar)
-Chinese noodles
-Bag of mixed brown/wild rice

Mind you, I still live with my parents and I bought this with my own money. I am still quite the rookie at finding what is best. But I tried and this is what I came out with. What do you think?

Where are the vegetables??? Watch your portions on the noodles.

I didn't buy any vegetables since I have some at home here. The noodles aren't the most fantastic selection, but it's still decent and it's good for a lunch at work.

Here's the link Jodi was referring to. It has some great info that will really help answer your questions faster then all the posting.

Guide to Cutting, Bulking & Maintenance

I'm just worried that i'm going to get more of a gut since I am trying to bulk up. Even if I did try to cut weight (standing at 145 lbs right now), it doesn't mean it's all going to leave my gut. My gut might be the last thing to leave. I don't want to risk that. Cutting down from 145 lbs doesn't sound like a good idea. I'm kinda worried on what to do. I don't want to get fat.

Originally Posted by Morox

I'm 5"8 and 145 (on an empty stomach) and I have a big problem with my gut. I can literally pull out about 3 inches of loose fat on the sides of my waist and get two hand fulls of my belly. I don't look fat at all, but I definitely have some hanging around. The thing that discourages me is that I have been eating a lot more properly in the last few months and I haven't seen a change at all. Maybe it's even getting worse? Even after starting working out, my gut remains. It's hell. I can't really cut any weight since I am already skinny as hell and i'll just look like a skeleton. I don't know what to do.

If you have a family history or hypertension or Diabetes... please go to the doctor and get an oral glucose tolerance test done before you continue your bulk.