Advice needed for ab problem :-)

**de1234** · 13-03-2009 06:28 PM

Hi

Iam 6ft 1" and weigh 85kg, I currently go to the gym 3 times a week and do a mixture of exercises

Deadlift - 120kg
squats - 80kg
bench press - 60kg
pull ups
dips
leg curls
military press
standing ab curls using rope pulley
various bicep/shoulder using barbel and dumbels
20 min various cardio each visit

My daily intake in food

Breakfast - museli or porridge or 3 scram eggs on toast / protein shake
Mid Morn - fruit
Dinner - jacket with tuna or chicken salad
mid aft - yoghurt
dinner - chicken with veg OR tuna salad
supper - peanut butter on brown bread / protein shake

I also take brazil nuts as snacks

On workout days i also have an extra shake after workout

Supplements (as well as shakes)

Morning - vit e and c tabs - bcaa - alcar
lunch - thermopure and alcar - bcaa (and before workout)
supper - bcaa

I have come on in shape (noticed myself and also the really good comments i get from everyone else) - my arms/shoulders big and tight - my chest getting bigger and tighter as with my back and legs.

My body looks good in shape and is NOT fat.

MY Problem which is doing my head in and as been the bain of my life ... my stomach

Is always looks BLOATED and hard, more during the day - and looks out of proportion to the rest of my body. In fact i look pregnant some days !!!

Can anyone help me sort this problems out - is is due to my diet, not enough ab exercises ?????? I think HTTK said in one of my other thread that it may be due to the high cortisol levels due to stress ( i have 3 business to run)

I would be very appreciative if i can sort this problem out once and for all. either including things in my diet or exercise OR supplements to combat it (like the cortisol problem)

PLEASE HELP, i dont want to look like a pregnant bodybuilder

Look forward to your responses

**hailtotheking** · 13-03-2009 06:49 PM

It may be cortisol levels. It may also be insulin resistance causing a secondary response in the form of elevated cortisol. It might also be blunted testosterone / elevated strogen from too much boozing.

Look at both your lifestyle and your diet. Are you sleeping enough? Are you getting quality sleep? Are your under unusual amounts of stress? Are you using too many stimulants (tea, coffee, chocolate, cigarettes)? Are you drinking too much booze? Are you eating too much processed food?

**TRC** · 13-03-2009 07:07 PM

What about postural deficiencies?

Are you sitting for extended periods of time in a chair, car etc

**animal26** · 13-03-2009 07:46 PM

Could simply be genetics, consider Chuck Liddel (UFC fighter) fights at 205lbs, clearly very low body fat and great abdominal strength/training but always has a distended stomach. Increasingly pro-bodybuilders are developing distended stomachs from the massive food consumption they have. Try core stability work- supermans, bridges, kneeling on fitness balls as these help to tighten the abdominal wall and thus tighten your stomach area. Minor, but possibly inappropriate question, but are you particularly gasy? cold simply be your stomach reacting badly to your diet?

**de1234** · 13-03-2009 08:36 PM

I dont drink or smoke and drink 2 litre of water per day at least. So its not my diet or training then ?

Its doing my head in and embarrasing to say the least. The think is i do not look bloated first thing in the morning. I do have gas during the day as well.

Would the protein shake 3 times a day be doing it (started on hurricane xs to maintain muscle while cutting) - maybe its to do with my digestions (dont want to be crude but i dont go to the toilet until 2 - 3 days pass and iam mostly constipated - fibre does NOT help with this, makes it worse sometimes)

I can say the days when i dont have the problem my stomach looks very flat and toned

What could i take supplement wise if i do have a cortisol/insulin.testosterone problems ?

**hugedyno** · 14-03-2009 01:24 AM

Quote

Originally Posted by de1234

maybe its to do with my digestions (dont want to be crude but i dont go to the toilet until 2 - 3 days pass and iam mostly constipated - fibre does NOT help with this, makes it worse sometimes)

If you've not already done so, it might be worth having a check-up with your G.P. There's always the possibility that ingestation of numerous dietry suppliments, may have contraindications in regard to any possible gastrointestinal issue.

HD.

**bad_horse** · 14-03-2009 10:01 AM

you could try doing vaccums, ive been doing these for a while and i think its brought my stomach in slightly.

**bad_horse** · 14-03-2009 10:08 AM

Your stomach does get a little bigger from increased food consumption doesn't it? Does it get smaller again when you stop eating quite as much and go a cut for instance?

**animal26** · 14-03-2009 10:15 AM

Sounds like your stomach is reacting badly to the protein shakes/ supplements, try different types of protein and see if that helps. Always worth seeing a GP anyways as a proper consult is always going to be better than internet advice

**de1234** · 14-03-2009 11:46 AM

I think it might be the protein shakes ? iam using hurrican xs at the moment to help maintain muscle while cutting

Does anyone else think this or know of any better MP protein shakes that wouldnt give me a pregnant belly ??

What about the other supps i use - will the be reacting with my digestive system

bcaa
alcar
thermopure

WOuld love some advice on the supps especially the protein shake - it has got worse since i have been on hurricane xs i think ?