Spot Reducing & Increasing / Question
Published: June 29, 2009
Dear TeenHealthFX,
I am fourteen years old. (and im a girl) I play tennis competitively. I play at least three times a week usually for over an hour, and i also workout on top of that at least three times a week. I am about 5'6 and weigh about 145pounds. Although i am pretty muscular, i also have a layer of "pudge" over my stomach and it bothers me because none of the professional players have that. Is there any chance that any of it is still some "baby fat" that i will eventually lose, and, if not, is there anything else i should try to do other than eating healthier and keeping on top of my workouts?
Signed: Layer Of "Pudge"
Dear Layer Of "Pudge",
Eating healthy and working out on a regular basis will definitely help you to stay fit and maintain a healthy-looking body. It sounds like you make an effort to keep a healthy diet and that you are very physically active – so this should make a difference in how you feel and look. FX thinks that you should definitely continue with this – just be sure that you are not over-exercising or restricting your calorie intake as this will leave you with more health complications than benefits.
If you want to condition the muscles in your stomach area, you might try fitness programs such as pilates or yoga. These types of exercises are geared towards working the “core” of your body (your abdominal area) – stretching, lengthening, and toning muscles for a lean look. You could work with a yoga or pilates instructor on exercises or speak with your doctor about the possibility of doing yoga or pilates videos at home. These types of exercises are not a guarantee of a flat stomach, but since you are already eating healthy foods and doing regular cardio workouts, you might give this a try.
As for this layer of “pudge,” FX wants you to keep a few things in mind:
· Different women have different bodies. Despite all the workouts in the world, some women just naturally have flatter stomachs than others. It is important to be aware of your body type, to be accepting of your body type, and not to knock yourself out trying to get your body to do something it was just not meant to do.
· Some girls may lose their baby fat as they get older and find that their stomachs slim down. However, other girls find that as they go through puberty and mature, they actually become curvier. This is normal for women – so it’s wonderful to find the beauty in it!
· Some girls find that they can eat what they want as children and teens, but as they move closer and closer to being an adult woman, the metabolism is just not what it used to be and the body changes. This is okay and normal and, while it is important to exercise and eat in a healthy manner, it is also important not to defy nature by working towards something that may be nearly impossible (for example, a beautiful curvy woman working towards trying to have a boyish stick figure).
By making the points listed above, FX basically wants you to know that there are ways to eat and ways in which you can stay physically active that are very good for you. And there are specific types of exercises which may work to flatten your belly – and as long as your doctor agrees these types of exercises are safe for you, there is no harm in giving them a try. But at the end of the day, your body type is your body type. And if your body is a body that is curvy – you may need to work on accepting your body for what it is and learn to love your curves rather than knock yourself out to make a change that might not be possible.
If you don't have a doctor and live in northern New Jersey, you can call the Adolescent/Young Adult Center for Health at 973-971-6475 for an appointment or contact your local teen health center. You can also contact your insurance company for a list of in-network providers.
Signed: TeenHealthFX
In the 
