OK so firstly this is actually an attempt at a serious thread because I actually do need an answer to this.

And just in case muffin top is called something else where you come from, it's the bulge that sticks out over your jeans when you sit down. Here's a visual guide:



OK so the question is how do you get rid of a muffin top?

I used to be a gymnast so I was all proportionate but after I was forced to give it up I went back to my natural weight which is something like a stretched out prawn ie long and fairly skinny.

BUT now I'm in my thirties and although I'm quite thin I have started to develop the dreaded muffin top.

As I don't want to get kicked to the kerb by my incredibly hot other half I want to get rid of it.

What's the best way? (without extreme exercise because I'm a lazy bastard)
[Edited 11/3/09 23:25pm]

Exercise is probably the only thing that'll do it. Sit-ups would be the most likely solution.

Nikademus said:

This is my problem. I had to quit gymnastics because I was diagnosed with spina bifida occulta. Probably should have put that in the original post.

http://en.wikipedia.org/w...da_occulta

connorhawke said:

Oh shit...yeah, that would be a problem.

Maybe just try to cut as much fat or whatever out of your diet as possible?

The biggest cause of muffin tops is ill-fitting jeans. Measure yourself before buying and/or have your pants tailored, maybe? Nobody HAS to sport a muffin top, no matter what their size.

Are you able to play squash with that spina bifida..? Squash is really great to loose some fat.

zaza said:

Yeah but I can't hit a ball!!!! So funny I could pull off amazing gymnastics moves but when it comes to ball sports I'm hopeless!!!

connorhawke said:

Practice, practice and practice I was hopeless too for the first time, but keep it up It's really good body workout.

Walking at a decent pace puts the entire body in motion and is the best way to keep urself slender and muffin top free! An hour a day is suffice and even investing in a pedometer to track how many strides U do per day.

PanthaGirl said:

This is probably the best for my back.....do you have a pedometer? Can you recommend?

Actually this should be perfect because all the streets up here are at mountain angles!!!
[Edited 11/4/09 0:20am]

connorhawke said:

that sounds scary!

Scrap that

Just no alcohol and do some cardio every day.
[Edited 11/4/09 0:32am]

connorhawke said:

It's definately the best option and it will put less stress on ur back and knees too. My pedometer is a G-Sensor it's excellent and depending where U purchase it from it's reasonable at around $25.00.

Fauxie said:

Does not compute. Please try again.

ZombieKitten said:

Not so bad. It just means that where another person would have one vertebra, I have one in a few pieces instead. I freaked out at the time because I was destined to be a very very good gymnast but them's the breaks.

Oh....there's also a coven of witches sitting inside my spine
[Edited 11/4/09 1:02am]

Muffin tops

connorhawke said:

oh, that's not so bad I suppose

ZombieKitten said:

ZombieKitten said:

If the org allowed animated GIF's for avatars, I would totally use that for mine

That pic is SO beyond a muffin top Lose the fat, lose the muffin

connorhawke said:

Many people with the mildest form of this type of spina bifida do not even know they have it, as the disease is asymptomatic in most cases
thats what my sister must have...she had xrays a few yrs back...and said she had a vertebrae that wasnt completely closed, drs said it was a mild form of spina bifida. it doesnt affect her every day life (thank goodness)

sorry that it stopped your gymnastic career

im watching this thread with interest, i have degenetive (torn disc) disease in one disc and 2 bulging discs, as well as psoratic arthritis ( similar symptoms to RA ) makes exercise a hassle some times (who am i kidding, all the time )

running up and down stairs with boxes of stock hasnt helped lose weight, just aggrievates the back

prb said:

People with your types of symptoms are normally suggested isometric exercises, right? I remember when I was doing the rehab thing after a gymnastics injury (when they found out about my condition) there were lots of people (myself included) who were working with those rubber things. Tie it do a doorknob and you've got the perfect exercise machine for spines....

Also very interesting but useless fact....this condition is a whopping 5% higher in those of Irish descent. Are potatoes to blame?
[Edited 11/4/09 2:06am]

So I suggest walking and if you want to monitor it get yourself a treadmill that way you won’t ever get rained in!

Good Luck

PS if your partner is genuine he would not mind too much and possibly go walking with you - It's a great way to bond

chocolatehandles said:

Thank you! After I started this thread I took a forty minute walk through the mist. It was fun.

Yeah he's genuine I was just being self-deprecating

And I thouhgt muffin tops and chocolate handles were synonyms

PANDURITO said:

connorhawke said:

i was going to recommend enthusiastic sex. does that count as a ball sport?

whistle said:

If it's not between two women, so it is ball sport
[Edited 11/4/09 3:54am]

I've lost 50 pounds in the last 8 months. I've done a lot of studying around the subject. Everything I read says you cannot "spot reduce". It's a common misconception that sit-ups will reduce your tummy. Exercise of any kind is good for your muscles but if you don't lose the fat over them no one will see how pretty and toned your muscles are.

So if you have fat/flab you want to get rid of you simply need to lose weight which means it's all about healthy diet and exercise - burning more calories than you consume.

If you're a healthy weight already with just a bit of a pudge and aren't willing to do the work then you have to learn to accept your body for what it is. Nothing wrong with that.

Or there's always surgery.

CarrieMpls said:

Unless you tense them up. I'm just starting to lose the fat on my gut, though I didn't have a massive amount to begin with. If I tense up my stomach the muscles definitely show though, but if not, they don't.