I've been doing a SS type of thing, and have been trying to eat more since I started. I've always been a skinny guy, and have gained like 9 kg in the last few months, but I'm still definitely not fat. FWIW, I'm 1.94 m tall and weigh around 83 kg now.

But, one thing that's bothering me is that my belly really sticks out when I don't use my abs to keep it flat. The fat is not on the outside, but when I relax my abs, it's like I have a ****ing beer belly. I've never had this before. Now it could be that since I've started eating more, the food and milk and water and whatever are pushing my belly out from the inside? I'm sure that I don't eat as much as many of the other guys on this forum, so in that case you should all have the same 'problem'.

Here's a link to a pic; on the left I tighten my abs, on the right I relax them.
http://img194.imageshack.us/i/mybelly.jpg/

Input appreciated.

what makes you think you are not fat? the 2nd picture is not normal for non-fat people but standard for fat people.

to be more specific, may be "skinny fat"??

"A person (typically a girl) with a thin frame, who has a fat stomach / upper body. A skinny-fat person occurs as the result of bad genetics, poor eating/drinking habits, and complete avoidance of the gym. "


maybe something to do with genetics??

If you eat a lot you can stretch your stomach and actually grow extra length in your intestines, as well as enlarge your liver. All those things can help directly or indirectly to give you a protruding belly.

Also, so can carrying around a lot of food if you're eating "massively" to gain muscle. I can lose 5 pounds and a belt notch when I poop.

There are trade-offs in life.

fwiw, i have a similar problem and im 69 Kg at 1.75 meter (150 pounds at 5'9)

i think its just being bloated from lots of food etc. because its way worse in the evening then in the morning.

so check that out, if its the same throughout the day you just have to face the fact that you store most of your fat around your belly / are fat

Meh, you've got like 13% bodyfat and underdeveloped abs. Its definitely not abnormal. Maybe your stomach just sits a little lower than normal or you have really weak transverse abdominals.

If you really want to take care of this you could try ALWAYS keeping your core tight, which is really hard to do but definitely helps. You could also do lots of stabilization ab exercises like planks, side bridges, and lots of vaccuums.

edit: while I wrote this reply, I hadn't read the last 3 replies or so yet!

Thanks for the replies.

I know it looks fat. Maybe I've gained a lot of weight in my belly in the last few weeks.

However, I've always been skinny. Not skinny fat, but just skinny. I actually had my fat% measured at the gym a week or two ago, and it came back at 6.2%. I doubt that's correct, because that just sounds really low. Maybe it's too low because I had already done my warm-up and squats when it got measured, or that thing just doesn't work on me..? But if it's anywhere near my real fat percenage, it's still low. FWIW, I've had my fat percentage measured a few times years ago, and I had 5-6% then too.

There is not a lot of fat ON my belly, it's like it's pushing from the inside.

Can you take a picture that shows your stomach, chest and back?

Sort of like this?



kthx.

I have the exact same problem. I'm by no means FAT (just a few pounds over weight) but my stomach usually looks big unless I've had nothing to eat for a couple of hours. I'm gonna try and do situps to see if that helps but I'm not sure, my abs are already pretty strong.

After a little research it looks like some people are just like this, they have "distilled bellies". It may also be fat, but on the inside. Ive heard form various different sources that working on your abs, drinking plenty of water (stop bloating) and performing stomach vacuums will help.

You mean distended belly. And also fat on the inside is visceral instead of subcutaneous. BUT ITS STILL FAT. YOU FATBODY.

When I haven't eaten anything in a while (AKA I'm starving), especially in the morning, it looks fine.

Sounds like I just have to use my abs to not look fat. :P

Thank you thremp. English is not my native language. And thanks for the kind words.

edit: whoops this was not a reply to me probably.

No problem. Try a diet. The advice you got was from idiots BTW.

PS: My diagnosis is 100% skinny fatness.

You are no where near 6% body fat. What kind of test was it? A carny guessing your body fat and giving away prizes?

This probably has alot to do with your diet.

It's a machine that you have to hold in both hands with outstretched arms and then it says your fat percentage. They tried it on me a bunch of times before I gained this weight, and then it always said 'Error'. I was always borderline underweight, so it takes some getting used to that I'm actually getting fatter now.


About diet: what I've eaten basically my whole life, and what my parents believe is very healthy, is pretty much this: breakfast: bread, lunch: bread, dinner: potatoes+vegetables. And I mean plain light-brown bread. After reading this forum a bit I'm getting the idea that this isn't actually that good.

Simply doing heavy deadlifts will give you ridiculously strong and thick abs without a lick of ab work whatsoever. Since deads are such a great exercise to have in your routine period, they'd be the first place I'd look to tighten up my core. They will toughen and thicken your midsection quickly whether you like it or not.

My handicapping, in order:

> Fat/skinny-fat
> Bloat/food-related distention
> Anterior pelvic tilt

lol at OP. oh to be young again.

Your diet seems completely devoid of protein and your probably getting some pretty good insulin spikes in there too.

My guess is the second one in your list. If you're gonna be pounding food into your belly to gain muscle, it's gotta go somewhere. And meat especially doesn't take a quick trip.

OP, i go through sizable variance every week in belly protrusion. i can look decent on sunday and then by wednesday night i look like i'm pregnant. and then back again. it sucks, i know, especially when at the store trying on clothes during one of my bloated days. decent site - along with AB's recommendation to me before to increase potassium - http://www.cinnamonhearts.com/Bloat03.htm

this too. might have to just suck it up (no pun intended)

lol. Try >20, or a little less with a lot of bloating.

People way, way underestimate bodyfat.

I measured at around 14% a couple weeks ago and I am much, much leaner than OP.

imo

How do you come to this conclusion Jeff? Hydrostatic/Multi-site Caliper via professional vs pictures posted on the internets?

I'm just guessing, but I can't see anyone with a relaxed gut like that being anywhere near 13%.

I didn't read the whole thread and see that he took measurements though, so fair enough.