Losing stomach fat takes a lot of hard work and dedication, but even after you lose all of that stomach fat, you have to do even more work---toning. You definitely don't want all of your hard work to fall by the way-side by not gaining lean muscle mass after you've lost the fat. Lean muscle mass has multiple benefits.
The Effects
Depending upon how much stomach fat you lost, you may have excess skin or fat tissue leftover. This typically happens when you lose a substantial amount of fat. Common reasons people gain abdominal fat are inactivity and genetics. As you become inactive, the lean muscle mass you once had turns to fat, adding even more fat to the fat you've already gained. When you lose all of this fat, you may find that you have very little, if any, lean muscle mass. Having lean muscle mass is important because this is what tightens and tones your stomach and gives it shape, such as six-pack abs. Without it, your stomach just droops.
Tightening
You can tighten your stomach to add muscle tone, which helps your stomach's appearance. Lean muscle mass helps draw your stomach in, eliminating a droopy or flabby appearance. Incorporating core workouts into your routine will help strengthen your the muscles of your abdomen and back and help improve your balance. You don't need special equipment to do it either. You can do core exercises anywhere. Sit-ups and push-ups are examples of core exercises. To make your core really work, try doing sit-ups on an exercise ball or put your feet on an exercise ball while doing push-ups.
Surgery
Sometimes tightening your abs just isn't enough, depending on how much excess skin exists. For those who are morbidly obese and lose a surprising amount of weight, core exercises aren't going to do the trick. The fat stretched the stomach muscles and skin for so long that there is no elasticity left, regardless of how many push-ups or sit-ups are done. Abdominoplasty is a surgical procedure that removes excess skin and fat tissue to make your stomach firmer and flatter. The risks of abdominoplasty include scarring, infection of the incision site and numbness or pain where the surgery occurred.
Considerations
If you've lost quite a bit of stomach fat and have loose, flabby skin, you may want to work with a professional certified trainer to help tighten the area as much as possible. Even if you've lost quite a bit of weight, your stomach muscles may be able to tone up so much that you'll be satisfied with your appearance. A certified trainer can help you modify and intensify your workouts for dramatic results that you may not have achieved on your own. Talk to your health care provider about all possible risks associated with abdominoplasty before deciding if it is right for you. Your insurance may not cover it, as it is an elective cosmetic surgery and there's generally no medical need to have the operation.
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