Need to loose belly help.......

[newlysinglemummy]

I have started the gym and I'm trying to go 3 times per week.

Before xmas I was 9 stone and now I am nearly 10.

I was eating quite alot when I was 9 stone and not oin a diet. I seem to have put it all on my belly. So I am wondering if anyone has any tips for how I can loose the weight and keep it off?

I do not want to do fad diets like no carbs or anything.

I am trying to eating the following at the moment:

Toast and peanut butter for breakfast
Main meal for lunch like pasta and veg
Dinner soup or something light.

And more tips welcome.

[newlysinglemummy]

Also I really need a tummy tuck as when i loose weight my belly gets saggyer. And I dont think there is anything you can do for loose skin...

[MARGOsBeenPlayingWithMyNooNoo]

pilates !

[Sheeta]

10 stone? Sorry, but I'm sure I'm not the only one here who's target weight is 10stone+

But anyway, avoid the peanut butter for breakfast, have a good substantial lunch and a light tea. you're doing well

[newlysinglemummy]

yes 10stone, I know I am not massive but i am now out of proportion, my breasts are 30dd and I have much bigger hips and belly.

Do you really think pilates will work for the belly? I have been told it just strenthens the back and posture. And I need to burn fat at the moment so am only doing high impact classes as find it hard to get to th gym 3times a week being a single mum. So I need to spend my time wiseley in the gym.

[TheRealMrsJohnSimm]

Make sure you eat regular snacks inbetween. It will keep your sugar levels more stable and will keep you away from sugar rich foods to give you a boost.

I just spent a couple of weeks following Gillian McKeiths eating plan (not anything like a "diet" ) and that was great. Her suggestions for snacks included a whole pepper, handful of raw almonds/hazelnuts/brazil nuts; celery sticks with small pot of hummous or home made avocado dip.

Tuna salads are always a good bet - healthy and give you enough energy. Make your own dressings for salads - a basic vinaigrette used sparingly will enhance your salad but not pile on the pounds (unlike many shop bought ones full of sh*te). If you make it up in a lidded jar it will keep for several days in the fridge.

Try eating more veggie food - lentil or bean based stews/casseroles etc. Very filling, full of fibre etc and nowhere near as fattening as meat based dishes.

For breakfast: try poached egg on toast; berries with low-fat yoghurt; porridge with fruit; fruit salad

watch the salt content of your soups. Home made are best - shop bought can have lots of hidden salt which of course can lead to water retention and make you feel heavier than you are.

Sit down at the table and eat properly - not on the run, doing something else etc. Listen to the cues your body gives you and drink plenty of water throughout your meal. Also, when you have a "snack pang" drink some water. It isn't necessarily to fill you up its just that many of us are so out of touch with our body's messaging system that we interpret thirst as hunger. Bizarre but true

[TheRealMrsJohnSimm]

oh and pelvic floor exercises will work wonders for your tum. it is almost impossible to have flat lower abdomen if your pelvic floor is weak.

[yelnats]

Slimming world is fab!! Have a look on their website - its so easy and is a healthy way of eating!!

[newlysinglemummy]

Thanks for the tips ladies..

[MARGOsBeenPlayingWithMyNooNoo]

You need 3 types of exercise

Cardio (aerobic)

Muscular Strength and Endurance - weights/abs

Stretching (pilates is very good for this)

also Alexander Technique is supposed to be very good.

Your posture should be something you always work on. My pilates teacher would try to get us into the mindset of always holding your tummy in, with the exception of when you are asleep

It really is effective and I lost a bit of weight and gained somemuscle tone while doing pilates.

[CHOOGIRL]

You look to have quite a lot of carbs in your diet - also you need to snack to keep your metabolism up. I would suggest porridge for breakfast, apple mid morning, soup/salad for lunch, carrots and hummus mid afternoon and chicken/fish and veg for dinner. Also 2 litres of water per day. Exercises alone won't reduce your tummy but will help tone. Also try wholewheat pasta, and sweet potatoes.

[newlysinglemummy]

The classes do cardio and weights in most of the classes, and then abs at the end. And I try to do these classes three times a week. I am going to do pilates tomorrow.

I do eat alot of carbs as I find they fill me up more then other food like salad and meat. I really should cut down on the carbs.

[MrsMattie]

Eat a bigger breakfast. Porridge or a good, wholegrain cereal with fruit or a couple of boiled eggs with your toast. Seriously. Stops the cravings later on in the day.

[MARGOsBeenPlayingWithMyNooNoo]

Good luck - let us know how pilates went

[newlysinglemummy]

I missed the pilates was 10mins late, but will go to a gym class tonight, I was looking forward to pilates as it really helps with my back...

[fraggletits]

Hi NSM - I'm in exactly the same position as you. I'm 10st 10lbs and need to be 9st 4lbs (had DD2 9 months ago)!

I've got a couple of DVD's I'm doing (Davina, Rosemary Conley) - Haven't done them for a couple of days though.

Cottage cheese on toast or muesli with yoghurt for breakfast

pasta salad - lunch

meat, new potatoes, veg - dinner

Snacking on fruit and No booze.

Desperate to be slim for the summer!

Good luck to you

[Queenoftheharpies]

There are two magic bullets for fat loss:

1. training at a higher intensity - the idea of a 'fat burning zone' has largely been discredited. Interval training where you work at a very high intensity and then rest for a short time, has been found to get the quickest results when it comes to fat burning.
   
2. Proper, heavy weight training. Every woman should be trying to get stronger! Not only does it protect you from injury, help you in daily life and prevent osteoporosis, it also helps you lose fat and look hotter too. The pink barbie weights they give you in aerobics classes just aren't heavy enough.
   
   Here are some web resources
   
   Postpartum fitness:
   www.fityummymummy.com/index.shtml
   
   Josh Hillis - celeb trainer and author of the "stubborn 7 pounds" program
   joshsgarage.typepad.com/
   
   Good general site on women's weight training and fat loss (including training in pregnancy and postpartum).
   www.stumptuous.com

[newlysinglemummy]

queenof - so would you say a class like bodypump can help you to loose fat? As there are alot of weights involved in that one.

[newlysinglemummy]

I really think I need a tummy tuck as when I loose weight my belly gets saggier and there is more loose skin, it is horrible, and there are not any exercises to get rid of that.

The only thing is I am not too sure about surgery. AQnd it is alot of money!!!!!