To ask the what is the most effective way to lose tummy fat

[digestivate]

Posting here for traffic as I am well and truly fed up, and getting very confused, with weight loss diets.

I have been trying to lose weight for just over a year (started jan 2017). I started at 12st and now weigh about 10.8. My goal weight is 9st7lbs. I had some success with weight watchers but have found it harder and harder to stick to as I began to stop losing weight. I have plateaued now and keep losing/gaining the same 3 lbs and finding it hard to keep motivated. I have recently been using nutracheck to track calories to 1400 per day, and lost about 1-2 lbs over 3 weeks, but the weight loss doesn't feel fast enough and I'm not seeing good enough results to want to stick to it.

I'm now considering trying either the 5:2 (but I would prob do 4:3), or a low-carb diet. Can anyone advise me which you think would be best and which I am likely to get fast results with to keep me motivated? I have a lot of tummy fat to lose after 2 children so this is the area I need to focus on. I work out with a PT twice a week and do home dvds once or twice a week too.

Thanks so much, I am getting despondent but so desperate to do it!!

You can't spot reduce weight loss, it comes off all over. If you're plateauing you either need to do more exercise or change your diet.

Thanks foggymist- that's what I thought... I'm sure i read or heard somewhere 'abs are made in the kitchen', but that probably just means it's more down to how much you eat compared to how many sit-ups you do etc.

That's my question really -how to change diet so as to get out of this plateau. I feel a bit overwhelmed by all the different diet advice and need help choosing which one to try from people who have done them and had success...

Hiya, I didn't loose weight untill after baby no 2. Like u I had a massive tummy, I was weight about 59kg but I'm short about 5 ft.

I went for low carb diet. I did allow myself a small celebration chocolate in the evening for the 1st few weeks, just to keep me motivated. Once they ran out I didn't replace them. I did have a cheat day.

My calorie count was 1200 for a day. I tracked roughly with my fitness pal. I had a cross trainer that I started using 6 days a week for 30 minutes.I was loosing 2kg a month.

After baby 3 I was up to 67 kg after birth and stopped loosing naturally at 63. So this time I went in hard. At 8 months post pregnancy, I trained 7 days a week, 40 mins a day, had no cheat days or junk. I lost 4kg in 5 weeks.

Not healthy to loose that much but I had to loose it or I'd loose the motivation if it came of slower. I lost 10kg in total. Now almost a year on from then, I'm still a kg or 2 over but it doesn't come off as easy. So I'm trying to make peace with extra kg or 2. I do still work out 3 times a week. Just allow myself to eat carbs as I did before.

Thanks nixpix- I fear I do just need to cut calories drastically, I was thinking of doing 5:2 and on the non fasting days doing 1200, I don't know how achievable that would be though. How did you manage to do 40mins exercise with 3 children?! I'm in awe. I'm going to try the couch to 5k thing and try to do more swimming in the evenings. I'm just so sick of this extra weight and feel like it's taking forever to shift

Sounds like you've done amazingly well on your diet. The thing I've found most helpful for losing stomach fat was eating a very low sugar diet. So no white carbohydrate including no potatoes, no fruit (only berries) or fruit juice, no alcohol and no sugary snacks, cake etc. You also have to look out for things that have sugar added to them like breakfast cereal or pasta sauceIt is not easy but it did work pretty quickly.
You mainly have to eat vegetables and protein and things like sweet potato, brown rice, brown rice pasta. I also ate porridge for breakfast or eggs. After the initial couple of weeks that were painful, I actually felt really well on the diet and lost a lot of my stomach fat that was very motivating. Good luck!

If you want to have a smaller tummy you really need to do exercise to improve the muscle tone, I think, as well as losing weight. I've heard good things about Jillian Michael's 30 day shred DVD, but you have to keep up with it and do it every day.

I was thinking of doing 5:2 and on the non fasting days doing 1200,

so that just 6000 calories a week. 1500 a day (which is 10500 a week) is recommended for weight loss. This sounds extreme for someone who can't be that much overweight. Are you very short? My understanding is that when you plateau with a healthy, low fat diet it's about upping exercise. How about a fitbit or something?

I carry my weight on my tummy and the only thing that makes a difference for me is low carb. I find it hard as I LOVE carb (crisps, pasta, bread) but if I reduce carbs and up protein and veg my tummy is definitely flatter and I lose weight quite quickly. I exercise too though.

Thanks for the replies!!

Yes 6000 calories does sound extreme when you put it like that! I won't be doing that then, doesn't sound healthy or sustainable. This is what I mean - I just get so confused by it all. I just did the fasting calculator thing and it says I should do 1600 cals on non-fast days, which sounds much more doable. I'm not short, average 5'5, need to lose a stone.

Low sugar does interest me, I will do some more research on that one. I think for now I will try out 5:2 and see how I go, as well as upping exercise. I think part of the problem is fitting in the exercise around the small children, but that's just an excuse really! I will look into getting a Fitbit but I have heard such mixed reviews of these. Which one is best to get?

Thanks for the help and motivation - and yes I do need to remind myself that I've done well to get this far!

Look at Kim Saha postnatal on YouTube. It's aimed at women who have recently given birth but if you've never done anything to specifically flatten your tummy after babies you might find it really beneficial.

Ask your pt. That is what you’re paying them for, after all - sounds like you’re doing all the right stuff but just need to stick at it. No particular diet or exercise will make any difference to a certain area - it’s just plain old calories in vs calories out, whether it’s low carb, 5-2 or whatever.

Have you asked your PT about it, especially as you see one twice a week.

For me, I need to reduce carbs and wine to shift a few pounds after Christmas/holidays etc. I still have small amounts at weekends though. Plus increase the exercise. I have a xtrainer at home which really works for me. I try to get 30 mins done in the morning before getting everyone ready for school. Radio on and the thought of coffee at the end keeps me going!

I’m doing 1250 Calories for 4 days 2 days at 500 5:2 and one treat losing weight every where and it’s manageable don’t give up good luck when you reach your target introduce a 2nd treat day

Quitting sugar did it for me. Full fat 3 meals, no snacks & low carb. It’s hard the first couple weeks but your diet is then fresh produce & meat. I’ve lost a lot of weight without the exercise other than walking.

Could you try HIIT with your PT? It is supposed to be better than cardio for weight loss. Also I always lose more on a low GI diet so something like the blood sugar diet plus HIIT is likely to be worth a try - Michael Mosley the doctor behind Blood Sugar does HIIT himself and says it works for him so maybe give the combination a try?

No added sugar and no alcohol - that will get rid of tummy fat. Then if you want shape, you can do sit ups to sculpt.

Doing stomach exercises whilst still consuming sugar is pointless, as any stomach muscles you are building will remain hidden behind the layer of fat built up by the sugar and alcohol.

Hula-hooping. The only way I have ever toned and lost my tummy fat. Great for your body, good for the mind, and the best thing is once you've bought (the right sized) hoop, it's free, and there are 1000's of free tutorials on Youtube for beginners. I went up to 11 stone after my 1st DS, and tried everything to lose my tummy fat. Once I started hooping it flew off and I noticed the difference almost immediately. I'm at advanced level now and I still absolutely love it. It also works out your entire body, great for your bum and sciatic nerves, good for upper arms.
I've introduced it to a couple of other mums who have also seen fantastic results.
If you want any more details on how to get started, feel free to PM me.
P.S. Went from 11 stone to 8 1/2 stone with no dieting (but healthy eating) by hooping 1/2-1 hour a day over the course of 6 months.

Wow puddle ducker that sounds amazing! And great fun too! I will pm you as that sounds like something I could get on board with.

I think I will go for a combination of 5:2 with as little carb/sugar as I can manage and go from there. Annoyingly the rest of my body I am absolutely happy with, but I am such an apple shape and all the weight I gain just sticks to my tummy and face. I also have borderline high blood pressure (and a family history of it) so really need to shift this tummy fat for health reasons too.

Thanks so much for all the help! Which Fitbit can people recommend?