Is anyone else fed up of their muffin top (the bit that spills over your trousers)???? My problem area is my love handle bits which make me look really wide even though my stomach isnt that big at the front (if that makes sense) - does anyone else have this problem?
Soph x

Me ! I have started running to try and shift it .... fingers crossed !
Karen )

I have a massive muffin top at the moment. Although I have weighed more in the past, my belly hasn't been quite this big!! Love handles... cannot wait to shift them!

yes thats my problem too

what helps to shift it?

My problem as well. Thats the thing I want to shift. any ideas?

I've started doing a few stomach crunches but really until I lose the fat on top of the muscle, there isn't much point! Of course it helps, but really the blubber needs to be shifted first!

Isn't it revolting. When I first heard the expression I knew exactly what it meant as I had one hiding under my very baggy jumper! I think it is mainly shifting the fat and then I am going to do pilates

Personally i think th eonly way to get rid of love handles is to do lots of cardo at a lightish restiance

I've been doing Tae Bo which is great as every move even kicks, punches and knee raises all involve working the waist and abs!

Sure way to get rid of a muffin top!

In the past running has done the trick for me but following lack of exercise mine have sprouted back. I'm off to the gym now to try and deflate them.

I see girls out and about that are much smaller than me in size and they have muffin tops and it looks hideous but the difference between me and them is that I buy clothes that fit me, I don't try to fit me to the size.

If I wore clothes that were too small for me then I would have a muffin top to. I've never understood why some women fool themselves by wearing clothes that are obviously whole sizes too small for them when it is so horribly unflattering.

Completely agree. Sometimes I see girls who are only maybe a 12 but try to squeeze into size 8 skinny fit jeans so inevitably things fall out/over.

Same here - I don't have a muffin top at all in my size 16's but I do in my 14's. Having said that I am a pear shape type so life is fair whereas an apple shape type that tends to collect more fat around the middle may have more muffin top issues but with lovely slim legs!

Yes, have the dreaded muffin top too. Swimming definitely helps keep it under control to a degree. It is annoying because the rest of me is fairly toned now, just this big lump in the middle that won't go away. I saw some of those Slendertone belts selling for half price at my local Boots the other week. I wonder if they work at all. Has anyone tried them?

Tone your tummy muscles with exercise, and reduce the fat with a good diet.
Running burns off my fat, but I need to do crunchie type exercises to tone up the muscles too.

Did anyone else notice that Muffin Tops came in with Lo-Rise jeans? High waists cover the flab, while hipsters let it all hang out over the waistband

Take care of your muffin top, I came across someone the other week who said that hers had turned into a gateau! Conjured up lovely images. I am trying to walk and jog my way out of icky flabby bits, so good luck to everyone. I am also hoping that Hula Hooping will help, so far it has given me some very attractive bruises around the middle, so my muffin is multi coloured.

Swimming swimming swimming!

I have noticed that I fit better in my low rise-ers after swimming every time I go to the gym since January.

If you are a keen swimmer but get bored, or wwant to get better at it, I recommend the following link...

http://www.swim4fitness.com/about

They are swimming programmes for all levels!
I use LA Fitness and they have these programmes hung up next to the pool. They are waterproof and easy to follow! My swimming has improved so much I actually can't wait to do my next programme!!

I also use this website to track my swims! Swam 6000m last month!

Kirstin

Has anyone else noticed that size can vary depending on the make, style and where you bought it from or is it just me. Some things are almost falling off, and others are so tight its untrue, even if its a size bigger.

That's definitely true, I daren't go into any 'younger' shops as I can't get anywhere near into my size! Unfortunately sizes have changed in the past 20 years in my opinion. When I was in my teens and a lot lighter I was a size higher than I am now!

Muffin tops come from wearing trousers in the wrong size! plain & simple.
My OH used to complain how the girls 25 and under in his office would insist on cropped tops with belly ring spilling over too tight trousers.... put him off his lunch...and he loves to ogle young flesh..has caused many a row!

Unless your abdomen is washboard flat think Kelly Holmes, Paula Radcliffe...buy trousers that fit, not the size you think you are, then you won't have muffin tops ladies. I am amazed that people will cram themselves into a size 16 when they are really an 18...you just look fatter.

Depressingly I found a vogue style guide at school in Textiles from 1956, guess what a size 10 then is a 14 now........ I only fitted into the special ladies section!!!Not the misses....

I have to say, thought my weight loss has not been anything to get excited about, I do feel like my muffin top is disappearing. It's great!! I've been doing lots of cardio to shift the fat and sit ups every morning to tone things up.

Its not just me!!!!...I hate it and will be doing everything I can to lose mine but there's no quick fix...if there are any tips you can share, please tell...

I've been swimming seriously for about 5 weeks now, trying to go about 4 or 5 times a week and the weight is going round the middle. I'm also eating healthily, trying to use a medium sized plate. I still want to lose another 16 pounds but I've got back into some clothes I haven't worn for a few years. That is definitely keeping me on track, along with some fab summer clothes in the wardrobe that won't fit at the mo.

The sit ups sound good, Emily, how many do you do, or for how long? I might give those a go too. I've got one of those sit up contractions getting very dusty in the garage - does anyone find those any good?

Jaki

I usually aim for about 75... not sure how long I take but I certainly take my time now to 'feel the burn' as it were. I've heard those sit up things are quite good, it's funny how a lot of people have them collecting dust hidden away!

Tummy exercises are more effective if you do them slow and hard, rather than 100s of silly quick ones. Pilates-type exercises are v.effective and easier on the back than sit-ups/crunches. here's just one example, but I'd recommend a class to teach you correct posture etc.http://www.shapefit.com/abs-exercises-oblique- crunches.html

While this seems like a female only forum, I'll risk it and say, for your own sake, buy pants that fit. You will be more comfortable, and it looks better!There is nothing worse than being constricted by pants that are too tight... (for a guy at least).

I need to start Emily C's sit up regimen. While there is still flab covering my abdominals, I am losing at 1/4 lb per day, and I want them to be ripped and, (bang bang) rock hard!

Alright Emily, I'm getting psyched!

75 sit ups?

I can barely manage 10. I've lost a lot of weight from around my middle, but my podgy belly isn't shifting... now I know why....

Keep at it!! Does require perseverance. Initially I could barely manage 10.
I still need to shift the layer of fat before any of this action is going to be worth it!!

It is advisable to wear pants that fit! For the past few months I had been living in skirts at work as my trousers were all too small and I refused to buy any new ones. Slowly they're creeping back into my everyday wear which is great...

I've started doing sit-ups on a swiss ball at the gym - it's basically a space hopper without the horns. I thought I was quite good at sit ups till I used this - they're much more difficult, but still only use your own body weight. Worth a go if you're after something a bit more challenging.

Good for you Emily. I have also been creeping back into clothes, and get a boost from it. Couldn't manage one crunch a few weeks ago, I was surprised that I was able to do 50 tonight. In sets of 10 of course.