Slim-ish but with a big belly - anyone suggestions?!

[Howhardcanitbe]

Hi,

So I'm 5ft5 and have a bmi of 20.4, so I'm not technically overweight, but I have a large, fat belly . I have 1 ds but even before having him I've always had a small frame but carry any extra weight on my stomach.

I'm looking for any suggestions as to how I can tackle it.

I currently go to 3 high-impact cardio classes a week, although they also include some strength training exercises too. I also walk a fair bit aswell. I have the 30DS and have recently bought the Physique57 dvds as I saw them on special offer, but I don't really enjoy exercising alone at home and much prefer classes, I could fit in one more class a week if it's likely to help.

My diet is an area that needs addressing, but I really struggle to stick to any sort of regimented 'diet' and find that it sends me straight to the biscuit cupboard. I don't do well with large meals as I find they bloat me and make me feel grotty, so smaller meals suit me better. I usually have an ok breakfast - porridge with fruit, muesli, eggs on toast, or a homemade smoothie - but I often skip lunch and have a diet coke and a couple of biscuits to keep me going through the afternoon. Then evening meal is very hit and miss - if I'm feeling motivated to be healthy I'll prepare something like a shepherd's pie with lots of veg, but on other days I just pick at ds' left overs and then don't bother with a full meal . I eat quite a bit of 'junk' eg biscuits and cereal bars etc.

I really need some realistic advice as to how to best approach this without attempting to follow a difficult regime that I'll fail at after 2 days. I've tried to give up sugar in the past, but have found it too difficult/depressing to stick with. Has anyone else successfully managed to change their eating habits without being too drastic, or has anyone found a good exercise regime to tackle stubborn belly fat?

Sorry for the long post!! Thanks for getting this far...

[sophielouise]

No answers but watching with interest! I've lost weight but it clings to my stomach and I also have a biscuit weakness. I've bought the Davina book about reducing your sugar intake, there are loads of nice recipes. I made the digestive biscuits with no added sugar, but kept eating them all the time.... I don't think that was the idea! Anyway, hopefully someone will come along with an idea.. How much water do you tend to drink out of interest?

[Howhardcanitbe]

I drink a fair amount of water but could maybe increase it a bit.

I think in the past I've focused too much on losing weight, with things like mfp and I get too obsessed with counting calories etc. I'm going to try and focus on nutrition instead, but I'll also have to get more organised. I'm thinking of trying to plan 3 meals a day and cutting out the snacking... hopefully it's a step in the right direction?

[chevronstripes]

I'm a lot bigger than you have a lot of weight to lose. I've been 5:2 ing and have found that the weight has really a shifted from my belly. I think it might be because for at least 2 days a week I've ditched the sweet stuff and white carbs.

[sophielouise]

Interesting chevron, I've been pondering 5/2 a bit but don't know if I could really do it. I know there are lots of threads on it here. I'm currently doing MFP and struggling to keep below 1500 most days! (And that's with subtracting calories with exercise)... I am breastfeeding though which makes things a bit different, althought that is reducing now DD is onto solids. Maybe I'll give it a try one week...

[Vivacia]

A flat stomach is made in the kitchen. I think you need to lose weight and eat fewer calories (in which ever way you personally like to go about that).

I've got a toned tummy as a result of calorie-counting and weight lifting. However, one weekend of over-eating and under-hydrating and I look podgy. It's scary how easy that flabby look can reappear.

[Vivacia]

Oh, and I have a real sweet tooth and eat sugary junk every day.

[Howhardcanitbe]

Well yes Vivacia but the losing weight and eating less calories is the tricky bit isn't it! I want to avoid calorie counting, as it's a miserable existence, and I want to enjoy eating healthily but without recording every morsel that passes my lips. I'm going to start today, with a nice healthy breakfast, and try to stick to 3 good meals a day instead of snacking all through the day on nutrient-sparse crap.

Thanks for the suggestion of 5:2 Chevron, I've tried it in the past for short bursts, but have found that I'm still eating poorly on the other days, and also found myself dreading the fast days. I really want to address my poor eating habits, and am trying to avoid a 'diet' as such.

I'm also looking at fitting in a bit more exercise too.

[lisbapalea]

I've been low carving (following the threads on here) for about 4-5 weeks now and mys stomach area is notably flatter and I don't seem to bloat from the food I am eating. It's fairly easy to stick to once you accept that it's quite a lifestyle change.

[lisbapalea]

Carbing, not carving. Autocorrect fail, soz.

[Vivacia]

Well yes Vivacia but...

I'm sorry if you thought I was evangelising about calorie counting, living a miserable existence and eating nutrient-sparse crap all day.

Good luck in getting that toned tummy. I guess it's silly but I find it a real confidence boost, shows the results of my gym efforts I guess.

[Howhardcanitbe]

I didn't mean to suggest that at all Vivacia, sorry if it came across like that. I just meant that I find it miserable when I'm calorie counting and I end up focusing on how many calories are in my food, rather than how good it might be for me. Glad it works for you.

I've often considered LC Lisbapalea and like you say it's a fairly drastic lifestyle change - I suspect it would also help with my bloating too. I'm just not sure if I can do it..!

[Vivacia]

No problem. I believe very strongly that an individual needs to find what works for them, and agree completely that someone banging on about what worked for them is at best boring and at worse counter-productive and spreads half-truths.

[DrHarleenFrancesQuinzel]

Ive heard that low carbing is really good for slimming down the belly area. Carbs and sugar bloat you up. You need to lose the bloating.

Says me who carries all my weight in my tum, but refuses to stop eating pasta. Though I have cut out bread and cut down on potato's and certain sugary items like chocolate, biscuits and cake.

[Scottishmumofgirls]

What about one of the hypnosis apps: easy loss or Paul McKenna. It focuses around drinking water I.e we tend to eat when we're thirsty, ; eating mindfully - eating slowly and checking with yourself if you are still hungry, if you are keep eating, if not, stop eating.

There is a Paul McKenna thread on here and easy loss Facebook page and podcasts.

I've been following the above and have lost some weight. I'm about to start listening to the apps again. People who follow the advice fully have lost more than me.

For me, the plus is I'm not calorie counting and can eat what I want. I find I naturally want to choose healthy options, but I can eat junk if that's what I feel like doing. I just stop when I'm full.

[ppeatfruit]

Howhardcan Yes I 2nd Paul Mackenna but I also have an amazing belly flattening easy crunch you may be interested in trying-

1. lie flat on a firm surface (i do it on my bed) with arms by your side, you can bring them flat over your head to increase the difficulty.
   

1. Raise your shoulders and head for 6cms to the count of 6 and hold for 6. All slowly. Then lower ,always KEEPING YOUR HEAD IN LINE WITH YOUR SPINE.
   

I do this 3 times at night and 3 times in the morning.

There are a couple of other easy stretches too. I now have a defined waist and flat stomach which I didn't have when I was a size 8 at age 20!!

[Howhardcanitbe]

I've got the Paul McKenna book and find it useful but I tend to just maintain my weight on it.

Thanks for the exercise tip ppfruit I'll give it a try, although at the moment I feel as though any toning of that area is just concealed under flab

I'm thinking low(er) carb could be the answer - if I aim for 3 meals a day with no snacking (which would cut out a lot of the chocolate and biscuits) plus cut out wine for the time being, and think about upping my protein and reducing carbs in my meals.

I've made quite good choices today - b.fast was a smoothie with blueberries, yogurt and a banana, lunch was a cheese sandwich and a mini Twirl (ok, not so good) and we're having chicken in a tomato and veg sauce for dinner. This is considerably better than usual.

[lisbapalea]

Low carb honestly is doable and I say that as someone who has previously always defaulted to carbs, with a crazy sweet tooth. I think once I have achieved my goal I will try to reintroduce some kind of (low GI) carbs but I am currently coping OK and breaking lots of bad snacking habits in the process.

Check our BIWIs boot camp threads - if you find full on boot camp daunting there is a "light" version which might seem less full on. If I am honest I probably follow light rather than full on boot camp but it doesn't feel like a hardship. This is what I have had today for example:

Eggs scrambled with butter, on a mushroom roasted with butter
Roast beef and blue cheese salad with home made coleslaw
Bbq'd squid, bbq'd salmon, loads of vegetables with home made mayonnaise.

[pseudonymity]

Running is the best thing for bellies, honest.

[ppeatfruit]

I hate running, psuedo I lost my weight and belly without running. Some people are good with it ,but as Paul Mckenna says 'if it hurts don't do it'. We're all different .

[Howhardcanitbe]

Pseudonymity I often think about running as an option, but whenever I've tried it I've REALLY hated it! I do like exercise, and work out hard 3-4 times a week, but like they say 'you can't outrun a bad diet' which I think is my problem. I see very fit people at the gym whose physiques never improve despite being there working hard every day.

ppeatfruit can PM help with actually losing a small amount of weight - as I said upthread I tend to just maintain with him, but maybe I need to concentrate more on his 'rules'?

As much as I love the idea of BIWI's bootcamp, extreme LC-ing just really isn't for me. I can try my best to incorporate some reduced carbing into my daily diet though - cutting back on sweet snacks. I think I need to try and plan my weekly meals in advance so I don't end up snacking and then not having a proper meal.

[Howhardcanitbe]

But do I still need to calorie count or will it work if I don't??!

[ppeatfruit]

I have lost nearly 3 stone with Paul Mackenna and I have never calorie counted or eaten low fat diet foods

I do follow the Hay diet though which is not mixing carbs and heavy proteins at the same meal. That's brilliant for bloating because it helps the digestion. Also you eat fruit only when you're hungry, so not straight after a meal, (except bananas which are starchy).

[feesh]

Have you checked yourself for diastasis rectii? If it's that, the sort of exercise you are doing could well be making it worse. Google the Mutu System for a safe system of exercises to deal with it - it's brilliant.

[Howhardcanitbe]

I had to google 'diastasis rectii' feesh but I'm pretty sure I don't have it - thanks though.

Wow ppeatfruit 3 stone is very impressive!! The more I look into it, the more I'm beginning to think that perhaps diets are the problem all along, and if I genuinely only ate when I was actually hungry and 'allowed' myself the things I wanted to eat rather than trying to eat things that I perceive as 'healthy' then I'd be a lot happier and hopefully shed a few lbs along the way. I'll look at the Hay diet though, as I do have problems with my digestion, and by the end of the day my stomach can be hugely bigger and more bloated than 1st thing in the morning.

I'm off to google effective stomach exercises too, as perhaps I do just mostly need to tone up afterall??

[ppeatfruit]

Yes true Howhardcan If you also eat slowly and chew your food completely it makes you full quicker, so you literally CAN'T eat any more. It is a great way to eat because you really taste your food so find it almost impossible to eat junk;it tastes revolting when eaten slowly!!

The above is Paul Mackenna I Can Make You Thin in essence. It helps with digestion too.