Hi, I really would like to know how to lose weight on my tummy and love handles. I'm about 117 lbs and I'm 5'4. I went on the South Beach diet a year ago and lost 10 lbs (i was 127) and now I'm wondering: is it possible for my body to lose more weight still? How do i get rid of the excess fat on my stomach and my obliques?! It's driving me nuts!!!!! Does cardio do it or what? I just wanna be smaller! I'll use any good and helpful advice! THANK YOU!!!

It's not exactly healthy to lose much more weight for your height unless you add some lean muscle. You can't spot reduce fat loss, but you can add some lean muscle which will increase your metabolism and help you to healthfully get leaner and more toned. Doing some kind of strength training, some cardio, and eating clean will do it. It's hard to stay lean without all three of those working together.

Yes you are already where you should be weight wise. An athletic person looks good at 5'4" 117 and also at 5"4 127. If you are very fine boned maybe closer to the lower number. I would say try circuit training with weights as well as some cardio but pay more attention to how you look than what the scale tells you. 1/2 hour 3 days a week on the weights and 45 minute 4 days a week of cardio.
I think you might be happier with a reduced body fat ratio than simply skinnier so it is best to add a little bit of muscle in some areas as you take it off in others. Kind of sculpting.

Thanks, yeah I think that's what I'm looking for. I've always been pretty athletic doing swimming and tennis and its just the extra fat on my stomach and my thighs that I want to get rid of. I'm actually happy with my size, but i think you are right about losing fat through cardio and weights. Thanks again for your advice, I'll try it out rather than always watching my weight and what i eat.

Natacha

Thanks, yeah I think that's what I'm looking for. I've always been pretty athletic doing swimming and tennis and its just the extra fat on my stomach and my thighs that I want to get rid of. I'm actually happy with my size, but i think you are right about losing fat through cardio and weights. Thanks again for your advice, I'll try it out rather than always watching my weight and what i eat.

...and so doing this will build muscle which will burn fat?

Natacha

Yes. Muscle increases metabolism and will help you to burn more fat. It will help you get leaner without being "skinny". One word of warning, do not worry about the scale when you start doing strength training. Muscle is more dense than fat, so as you gain some lean muscle you may see no movement on the scale - and may even see an increase in weight - but don't panic. That does not indicate an increase in fat. The scale will claim you're not making progress, but your clothes will get looser. It's not a good gauge of progress in the beginning, so please don't use that to determine your success or failure. You'll SEE the difference in the mirror. :D

Alright, i'll try that. I dont know if I can do it everyday of the week though, would it be good to do both cardio and weights on the same day like 3-4 times a week.. or 2 days cardio, 2 days weights?

you shouldn't do weights every day. 2-3 days is plenty for your goals. Ideally, do weights first, then cardio if you want to do them on the same day. If you want to do cardio and weights on different days, that's ok too.