If your belly is more jelly than rock candy, read on to find out your tummy type and how to tackle it.
"If your belly is more jelly than rock candy, read on to find out your tummy type and how to tackle it."
Windy Waistline
Spot it: Your tum feels uncomfortable and is firm to the touch, much like an inflated balloon.
Possible cause: “It could be caused by a build-up of gas,” says Sigrid Grobys, naturopath at An Apple A Day, which provides nutritional wellness services. “If your body has trouble breaking down particular food types, [the undigested food will ferment and produce] wind, which pushes your tummy outwards.”
Tackle it: “Avoid trigger foods, especially FODMAPs (fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides and polyols) such as onions, garlic, wheat, artificial sweeteners and mushrooms,” says Pooja Vig, nutritionist at The Nutrition Clinic. Take your time to eat so you don’t swallow air, adds Sigrid.
Dai Bao Tum (aka Pot Belly)
Spot it: You have a slim bottom and hips, but your tummy sticks out.
Possible cause: Overdoing the alcohol and processed carbs, which are high in sugar content. When sugars enter the bloodstream, says Pooja, insulin is released to help convert them into energy, to be used immediately or stored as fats. When we consume excess sugar, insulin levels correspondingly shoot up, leading to an increase in belly-fat storage (lower-belly fat is especially sensitive to insulin).
Tackle it: Stick to unprocessed foods, or cook more often. Also, cut down on your alcohol intake; alcohol can stimulate the appetite and bring on the munchies.
Pear-shaped Paunch
Spot it:Your ample bottom and nipped-in waist rival all the Kardashian sisters’! Now if only you didn’t have saddlebags and that roll of flab along the bikini line...
Possible cause:It could be due to hormonal imbalance, says Pooja, and can be attributed to conditions such as endometriosis and uterine fibroids. Unfortunately, this pattern of weight gain can be genetic too.
Tackle it: Speak to your doctor about hormone-related issues, which can relate to your method of contraception or even naturally-occurring events such as menopause.
Stress Stomach
Spot it: Excess fat around the abdomen area and an unattractive stomach overhang that sags at the front – in other words, a muffin top.
Possible cause: Stress, which causes the body to release cortisol, the fight-or-flight hormone, for a burst of energy. If unused, that energy is stored as fat, often in the lower part of your tummy.
Tackle it: Identify your daily stressors and make positive changes to your lifestyle – meditation, yoga and even deep breathing can help. Also, “sleep well and eat small amounts of nutritious food regularly so your body isn’t constantly worried that it’s under attack,” says Sigrid.
Mummy Tummy
Spot it: Your little one is more than three months old and you have a saggy, baggy belly with no tone.
Possible cause:Pregnancy. During pregnancy, the abdominal muscles sometimes separate to accommodate the expanding uterus and belly. After delivery, the separated muscles should naturally knit back together, but if it doesn’t happen, the muscles remain weak and you’ll end up with a bulging belly.
Tackle it: See a physiotherapist for exercises that strengthen the core and help the muscles knit back together. Pooja cautions against putting too much emphasis on weight loss. “It’s important for any new mum, especially if she’s still breastfeeding, [to focus more on eating nutritiously].”
