Skinny Fat - need to exterminate belly fat

[Taureanman]

Hi folks -

I have been on PP for 3 weeks today.

During that time I have lost around 5#, but have not lost any belly fat at all.

Age: 54
Hgt: 6'2"
Weight: 201
Belly: 40.5
Hips: 42.5
Wrist: 7.25
Body fat: anywhere from 12% (caliper pinches at abdomen, thigh and pectoral) to 25% (!) based on weight/belly measurement.

Is it too soon to see reduction in my belly measurement?

Here is the strange part. I can barely get a caliper pinch at the thigh, pectoral, biceps, triceps, etc. The only place I have visible fat is around the belly, the sides and the lower back area.

I actually apppear to be lean and muscular in clothes - w/o clothes I have a spare tire with a pot belly!!! In fact I often get compliments on my "cuts"! - that is as long as my shirt is on. ;)

I eat 3 meals/day along the PP guidelines. I also have been adding fats like olive oil, ground flax seeds, avocado, cheeses, cream, almonds, seeds, peanut and almond butter. For my purposes do I need to cut back on these fats?

I work out with weights 3-4 times/week and am VERY active otherwise working a full time job and taking care of 1.5 acre property and home, etc.

Should I just continue on the program or should I introduce any changes at this point? I know they say that fat will come off in a certain "order" (?) so perhaps for me the belly fat is the last to go? Your input is appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

[Mitra]

My gut reaction is to say that you should probably just carry on as you are for a bit longer. I'm 5' 2" and 115 lbs and 5 lbs doesn't make a huge difference to my measurements - my closer fitting clothes would be distinctly snug, but my waist measurement might change, or it might not, just depending on how I do the measurement, whether I measure soon after eating etc. At 6' 2", it could easily be unmeasurable - especially at the waist, where it's quite hard to get an accurate measurement in any case.

[maxlharris]

Large abdominal fat deposits could be indicative of metabolic issues, precursors of diabetes. Keeping carbs low for a while should move them. If body fat is very low, however, might take a long time to move fat from abdomen to other regions.

I wouldn't know which formula to trust if I had an uneven distribution of adipose tissue, as you describe. If my insurance would cover it, I'd look into a DEXA scan (might be able to get this covered for another health issue. Costs $250-$300, and is good for folks with high osteoporosis risk factors (smoking, inactivity, family history). Have the doc write up the family history to get the insurance to pay for it. If you have the money sitting around loose, might be worthwhile to get a better idea of what's up, BF%-wise. Way more accurate than really anything going.

Immersion-displacement is also pretty good.
Everything else has some fudge factor.