Do you have lines across your stomach? Horizontal creases across the stomach are really common but they may be stopping you from wearing certain outfits or causing a knock to your self-confidence.
If you want to wear that crop top you love or wear that skin-tight dress that is gathering dust in your closet, don’t let the creases and lines on your stomach stop you,
Whilst some people are confident in their own skin and love their stomach folds and creases, others want to know how to get rid of stomach crease lines.
If you are looking to get a flat stomach and get rid of belly creases too, this article is packed full of tips you are definitely going to want to read.
It is possible to get rid of stomach crease lines through regular exercise and a healthy balanced diet. The appearance of stomach creases can also be reduced by using a skin tightening cream or moisturizer regularly and by correcting your posture.
Horizontal lines across the stomach are a common occurrence and whilst many people don’t mind how they look, others want to have a more smooth and toned abdomen.
Getting rid of stomach folds and creases is possible and by making some lifestyle changes you can have the stomach you dream of and improve your general health and wellbeing at the same time.
In this article
Why Do I Have Lines Across My Stomach?
You may not like having lines on your stomach but if you do, you are not on your own – not even close. It is very common for people to have horizontal lines and creases across their stomachs.
Most people will notice the lines across their stomach when they are sitting down but other people do permanently have folds on their stomach.
There are several reasons why lines appear across the stomach, let’s take a look at the key influencing factors:
Your weight
People of any weight can get stomach creases. Whether you are slim or overweight, your skin can fold across your stomach when you are sitting, causing lines to form.
However, people who are overweight or have more fat on their stomachs are more likely to have lines and creases across their middle.
Cellulite
Cellulite can affect people who are a healthy weight, as well as people who are overweight. It occurs when the skin overlying certain areas of fat is pulled downward to the deeper tissues by connective tissue bands, creating an uneven surface.
Cellulite can cause the skin to appear lumpy and have a similar appearance to the peel of an orange. If you have cellulite on your stomach it may be causing those pesky folds and lines to appear.
Bad posture when seated
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Spending hours slouching or not sitting up straight with the correct posture can cause lines across the belly.
This happens because slouching causes the stomach fat to fold in and over itself, when you stay in this position for a long time the folds are not smoothed back out and lines will be visible when you next stand up straight.
Tight clothes
Wearing tight clothes can cause lines to appear across your stomach. Similar to slouching for a long time, if you wear clothes that are too tight for too long they will start to dig into your skin and will cause lines to appear across your stomach.
Tight pants, for example, can cause fat to hang over the top, making creases across your stomach visible, even under a shirt.
Lack of abdominal exercise
The more toned your abdomen is, the less likely you are to have lines across your stomach. Creases and lines are often caused by fat folding across the stomach and this can be avoided by doing regular exercise that targets your abs.
People who hit the gym regularly can get stomach lines but they are more common on people who are carrying excess fat on their stomachs.
Are Stomach Creases Normal?
We are so used to seeing celebrity bodies on social media and in magazines that we can sometimes look at our own bodies and feel like our stomach isn’t ‘normal’.
The truth is, every single body is different and celebrities are often on a strict diet, have a personal trainer and a nutritionist too.
Don’t forget that what you see on social media may also have been edited and their body has been posed in a way to prevent any unwanted fat or creases from showing.
Don’t compare yourself to them, it is actually really normal to have stomach creases.
As we have explained, stomach creases aren’t just there because of your weight. Cellulite, badly fitted clothing, and incorrect posture can all cause lines and creases across the stomach area.
Stomach creases are common but they can be a sign that you need to start living a bit more healthily, or that you just need to buy the next size up next time you buy some new pants from the store.
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Do Stomach Creases Go Away?
The good news is stomach creases do not have to be permanent. It is possible to get rid of stomach lines, folds, and creases but you will need to put some work in first.
Unless you are lucky, your stomach isn’t going to stop folding of its own accord, you are going to need to make some lifestyle choices and commit to getting fitter first.
How To Get Rid Of Stomach Crease Lines?
If you want to get rid of the lines on your stomach there are several steps you should take. You will first need to work out which of the reasons we listed above is causing the lines on your stomach, this will make getting rid of them much easier.
Eat a healthy diet
People who are overweight are more likely to have ‘fat rolls’ on their stomachs. When fat folds over itself and stays like that for a prolonged period of time, this can cause lines to appear on the skin.
Some people have folds permanently in the fat and skin on their stomach, for others the folds only appear when they are sitting down.
Regardless of whether your fat rolls stay or go when stood up straight, you will need to work on losing some belly fat if you want to get rid of your stomach creases.
Losing weight is possible and your first step should be to start eating a healthier diet. Reduce the empty calories and high sugar foods and make an effort to eat at least five portions of fruit and vegetables every day.
If you want to lose weight you will need to eat a balanced diet of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and protein and take control of your portion sizes. You can speak to a doctor if you want advice on how to lose weight or seek support from your local weight loss group.
You don’t want to eat so little that you are permanently hungry, but you will need to create a calorie deficit and eat as clean as you can.
The key to losing weight is developing sustainable lifestyle habits, a quick-fix diet will help in the short term but it will not help you keep the weight off long term.
Stay hydrated
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Drinking plenty of water is just as important as eating healthily when you are on a weight loss journey. To stay hydrated, health experts recommend you drink 8 – 10 glasses of water a day.
As water can help to flush out sodium and other toxins that can cause bloating. Staying hydrated can also help you to reduce the appearance of lines on your stomach.
It is important to drink plenty of water every day, regardless of whether you are trying to get rid of stomach lines or not.
Related Article: How To Get Rid Of Hanging Belly After a C-Section
Exercise regularly
Eating healthily and drinking plenty of water are great places to start, but you will also need to exercise regularly if you want to lose weight and get rid of your belly folds and lines.
Regular exercise is essential for health and wellbeing, as well as being a guaranteed way to reduce the number on the scales.
Exercising will help you to eliminate any excess fat on your stomach, your abdomen will become more toned and over time you should notice your stomach folds and lines begin to disappear.
You should aim to work out three to four times a week if you are trying to lose weight. A combination of strength training and cardiovascular exercise is usually the best approach and you should try to exercise for around 30 minutes.
If you are looking for support and expert exercise advice, you can hire a personal trainer to help you on your weight loss journey. A personal trainer will be able to recommend exercises that will target the fat on your stomach and help you to get rid of stomach lines.
Target your abs during workouts
Is your end goal to get rid of your stomach lines and creases? If the answer is yes then you need to be doing specific workouts that target your abdominals and core muscles.
There is no point lifting weights every day if you want to get a flat, toned stomach with no creases or lines. To get rid of your fat folds and the lines they create, you will need to target your stomach muscles during your workout.
If you have strong and tight abs, you are less likely to have folds across your stomach. Keep reading to the end of this article for a list of exercises that target your abdomen muscles and help get rid of stomach creases.
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Avoid processed food
Processed food should be completely avoided during your weight loss journey. Processed foods are often high in sodium, fat, and sugar and can cause weight gain and bloating.
When trying to get rid of stomach lines, you will need to cut processed foods from your diet and switch to fresh and nutritious produce instead.
Eat more fiber
Eating plenty of fiber has been proven to help with weight loss. Switch your white bread for whole grain and opt for whole-grain pasta too.
A study in the early noughties found women who ate a high fiber diet were 49% less at risk of major weight gain.
Eating lots of fiber can help you stay in shape, reduce belly fat and, therefore, reduce the appearance of horizontal lines across your stomach.
Wear looser clothing
This is by far the easiest fix to stomach lines and creases. If you are already eating healthily and exercise regularly, your stomach lines may just be there because your clothes are too small.
You can be thin and still have stomach lines if your clothes are too tight. You should never feel ashamed for having to go up a size, you deserve to feel comfortable in your clothes and not like you have been squeezed into them.
If you have lines around your middle, try wearing jeans or pants that are a bigger size, they won’t dig into your skin or cause a roll of fat to sit above the waistband if they are not too tight.
Some people can be really self-conscious of their stomach rolls and folds. If you don’t like how your stomach looks under your clothes, you can try to wear looser shirts, dresses, and sweaters, there are lots of clothes that won’t look frumpy but also won’t cling to your stomach.
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If your clothes are getting too small and causing stomach rolls, it doesn’t necessarily mean you have gained weight. Clothes can shrink in the wash or can lose their shape over time.
Stop squeezing yourself into those tiny jeans that just don’t fit and have a little shopping spree instead.
Buy yourself clothes in a size that fits you comfortably and if you are really conscious of your stomach avoid tight-fitting clothes while you work on getting rid of your stomach lines.
Correct your posture
Bad posture can cause you to have more than a bad back and aching muscles in your neck and shoulders. Sitting in a slouched position can cause rolls in the fat and skin across your stomach, especially if you stay in that position for a long time.
With a quick readjustment to your posture, you could see your stomach folds disappear immediately.
Try to sit up straight for as long as you can and readjust your position as soon as you notice you are slouching again.
If you work at a desk every day, try to readjust your sitting position regularly and make sure you stand up throughout the day to stretch your back out. If you maintain proper posture you will be able to reduce the appearance of lines across your stomach.
Use skin tightening cream
If you want to prevent lines from forming in the skin of your stomach or reduce their appearance, you could try using a tightening cream.
Skin tightening creams do as the name suggests, they tighten your skin and reduce the appearance of lines, wrinkles, and creases.
Tightening creams and lotions are best at preventing lines from appearing to begin with but many brands promise to also reduce saggy skin and improve the appearance of any lines you already have.
Best Exercises To Get Rid Of Stomach Creases
The best way to lose weight and subsequently get rid of stomach lines and creases is to eat healthily and exercise regularly. If you really want to get rid of those stomach folds fast, you will need to incorporate plenty of core and abdominal exercises into your workout routine.
Here is a list of exercises that will get rid of stomach creases, fat rolls, and horizontal lines on your stomach:
- Side planks
- Planks
- Crunches
- Leg lifts
- Oblique twists
- Yoga
FAQs
Does everyone’s stomach fold when they sit?
It is normal to have rolls on your stomach when you sit down and even those that are super fit have these rolls. So it is perfectly normal and it is also absolutely okay.
Does holding your stomach in help tone it?
Sucking in your stomach does activate your core muscles and it helps you to maintain a good posture. It makes you feel instantly taller, your shoulders relax, and will of course appear to have a smaller stomach.
How do I get rid of lines on my stomach?
There are a few steps that you would need to follow in order to remove the lines on your stomach and they are:
- Stay hydrated
- Eat well with plenty of fruit and vegetables
- Cut back on processed food
- Lose weight and exercise daily.
The Final Thought
If you have ever wondered how to get rid of stomach crease lines, we hope this article has provided you with the answers you have been looking for. The first step in getting rid of stomach lines and folds is to identify what is causing them in the first place.
Excess stomach fat, bad posture, and cellulite can all cause horizontal lines across your stomach.
The good news is that lines on your stomach do not have to be permanent, by making healthy lifestyle choices you can tighten your abdominal muscles and reduce the appearance of folds, creases, and lines.
