Talk to me about stomach bloat / protruding lower bellly

I do about 25 to 35 min of cardio on the exercise bike about 5 to 6 days a week. On top of that I do Ab ripper x 4 days a week, and a leg and arm workout alternating days. I've been doing this for over 2 months now and while I'm seeing a change in my body, my lower stomach has not changed one bit. It's not fat really...it just constantly looks distended or bloated. Like I look like I'm 4 months pregnant all the time. Even when I suck in it still sticks out. I'm starting to get discouraged. I eat we'll and watch my sodium intake. I'm starting to think this might be a medical issue??? Any one else have this problem and know what it's from and how to fix it?

Re: Talk to me about stomach bloat / protruding lower bellly

Are you constipated or have other digestion issues? How is your sugar intake? White flour?

Talk to me about stomach bloat / protruding lower bellly

What is your diet like?

Re: Talk to me about stomach bloat / protruding lower bellly

I'm not constipated but I do get gassy a decent amount I guess. As far as diet, I limit my sugar intake and watch my sodium. I don't drink milk or eat yogurt as it generally doesn't sit we'll with me.

Breakfast: smoothie of chocolate almond milk, organic peanut butter, 1 banana.

Mid morning snack: handful of raw almonds and Gogi berries.

Coffee around 10am

Lunch: tuna salad on Arnold's 100 cal sandwich thins with lettuce and tomato (some days I have turkey or a portabella wrap, salad) with water.

Mid afternoon snack: wheat thins with laughing cow cheese or 10 mini Quaker crisps.

Dinner: fish twice a week with rice and a veggie. Other nights pasta or breaded chicken breasts. I always have a starch and veggie with dinner.

No dessert.

That's a pretty consistent view of my daily diet.

Re: Talk to me about stomach bloat / protruding lower bellly

I personally can not eat pasta, bread - or gluten and have a flat stomach

I ate 2 peices of bread friday night- and my stomach was bloated all day saturday

have you thought about going gluten free?

Re: Talk to me about stomach bloat / protruding lower bellly

Re: Talk to me about stomach bloat / protruding lower bellly

This is me! Damaged ab muscles from childbearing. I wake up with a flat firm belly but Eat anything and POOF out it goes! I eat very healthy and a lot of the foods I love are gassy (like brocolli) but it happens even when I don't eat gassy foods. Its part of being a mom - I know many of us have this problem on here.

Re: Talk to me about stomach bloat / protruding lower bellly

Thanks for all the responses. I'm scheduled to meet with a gastro. I've had an idea that it might be gluten for a while now but I didn't really want to even think about it. I'm a huge carb lover and I'm not sure how ill be able to cut wheat products out, but I guess if I have to I will. I can't take the bloating and gas pain anymore...it's killing me.

Re: Talk to me about stomach bloat / protruding lower bellly

I dealt with this forever. Turns out I'm not just allergic to gluten, I'm sensitive to all grains. Within a week of going Paleo my stomach bloat literally disappeared!

Re: Talk to me about stomach bloat / protruding lower bellly

A lot of this sounds like me! In the morning I'm pretty flat, but by evening, forget it!

I don't eat a lot of carb pasta/rice/bread any more, but I do have a small amount & probable other items with gluten in it. I'm thinking I might have a reaction

My entire life I've had other digestive issues.

Message edited 3/29/2013 8:59:38 PM.

Re: Talk to me about stomach bloat / protruding lower bellly

Posted by NewlyMrs

A lot of this sounds like me! In the morning I'm pretty flat, but by evening, forget it!

I don't eat a lot of carb pasta/rice/bread any more, but I do have a small amount & probable other items with gluten in it. I'm thinking I might have a reaction
My entire life I've had other digestive issues.

Re: Talk to me about stomach bloat / protruding lower bellly

UPDATE: I went in for an endoscopy on Friday and learned that I have acid reflux, I'm lactose intollerent (already knew that), and the doctor believes that I'm gluten intollerent. Unfortunately since there's no test he suggested I go gluten free for several weeks to see how I feel.

I started my gluten free diet on Friday and within 24 hours I started to feel much better. Unfortunately on Sunday at Easter my family made short ribs and I didnt know there was flour in the sauce - I blew up within minutes and ended up with terrible cramping and gas pains in my lower abdomen. Looks like gluten is likely the culprit. So, I'm now going gluten free and hopefully I start to see a noticeable difference. It just seems like it's going to be hard to find meals that I can eat being lactose and gluten free and trying to avoid acidy foods that irritate my acid reflux

Re: Talk to me about stomach bloat / protruding lower bellly

I'm vegan gluten free and diabetic

I follow a whole food plant based diet. It's not hard once you get the hang of it

Re: Talk to me about stomach bloat / protruding lower bellly

I'm glad you found out the cause of your symptoms This blog might give you some helpful recipes. Everything is gluten free and since it is vegan everything is dairy free.
http://www.gluten-free-vegan-girl.com/

If you are meat eater it will still be good as you can add meat or sub meat in lots of recipes.
Good luck !

Re: Talk to me about stomach bloat / protruding lower bellly

I'm glad you got some answers from the doctors. I agree that when I eat pasta or bread or white rice I also see my stomach protrude more. However when I eat beans and a lot of salads this sometimes makes me "feel" bloated as well.

I know yours is a health issue but as a women who has has children I think having a little lower belly is normal and expected! Having completely flat toned abs is not the norm!