To ask for tips to lose half a stone and tone my tummy up in 3 weeks??

[Aria20]

I'm going on holiday in 24 days. I'd like to lose half a stone and tone up my tummy before. I realise I've left it late but we moved house a couple of weeks ago and we've had a lot of takeaways while we were busy unpacking/decorating etc and I've eaten lots of ice creams with the hot weather!!

I'm trying to eat more healthily, an apple in the morning and then salad in a wrap at lunch. Dinner is unfortunately usually carb based as kids are all pasta lovers.... do I need to quit the carbs and eat a different meal in order to lose weight? I have a dog so I walk for minimum of an hour/hour n half each day but it doesn't seem to make a difference! I don't have much free time for extra exercise or money for a gym membership. I don't drink alcohol but I do eat sweets/choc usually as a treat once kids are in bed - I know it's a bad habit and I'm cutting down but as I say it's my one treat.

I'm 35 and 5 years ago I could eat anything and not gain weight... people used to say it would catch up with me one day and it has

I lost 6lbs in 3 weeks on Slim Fast to kick start my weight loss - I'm 11lb down now after 3 months of just eating sensibly. You really have to be strict though, although I did have 100cal chocolatey Whip bar things occasionally.

i Could have written all your posts OP. Exactly the same weight and size, also trying to shift half a stone in 3 weeks. Also have a carb heavy diet and eat chocolate in the evenings.

also have a glass of red most evenings.

im trying to add more protein and veg, and I’m off to a weights class now.

Stop saying lol after everything!!

You know what you need to do OP. Obviously the ice creams, chocolate, crisps and takeaways need to go if you want to shift the weight. I also agree that cutting out bread definitely will help.

I did a massive change in diet eating i lot more fruit and veg. Drank only water and ate more eggs. Also try and reduce sugar intake.
I also downloaded a fitness app which had HIIT on it and set aside one hour a day to do it. The app was specifically for females and concentrated on the areas i wanted more toned. Was usually after 9pm when i got time to myself. I walked the dog more and made sure i did at very least 10000 steps a day.
I found that i was in calorie deficit and that the exercises was what toned my tummy. Went for a fake tan and the lady commented on my tummy abs 😁. I took 3 months but did lose almost 2 stones.
i also got a set of scales which linked to my phone so i could track the weight loss.
DH noticed a big difference after 3 weeks but it was hard work.

"I guess I need to really cut the carbs and my sweets haha and find some time to exercise."

Clearly that would be a good idea if you want to lose weight and tone

@daisyblooms stop telling people what to say.

@Aria20 I’ve been using nutra check which has opened my eyes to how much sugar I was having. I thought I had a healthy diet but all those spoons of sugar in my tea add up.
I’m similar weight and also want to loose half a stone and tone up if you need a buddy?

@Fitbachick do you not find if you exercise that late you then don't sleep? I find I get too pumped if that makes sense and then can't sleep. Also when I used to exercise more previously I'd then say to myself "I've burnt x amount of calories now I can eat a cornetto without feeling guilty" but obviously that's not how it works!

I do drink mainly water but could drink more. I usually do over 10,000 steps due to walking the dog but it's not really helping me physically but it's good for mental health.

I know I eat a lot of crap but I'm not eating more than usual I don't think - if anything I'm eating less, as I've decreased my dinner portions and cut down the chocolate. But weight just seems to have gathered around my tummy in the last few months.

Why not try to help the OP not roll your eyes and be sarcastic?

You’ve got to ditch those unhealthy snacks. This is coming from a sugar/snack addict..
mum not overweight at all but I really had a talk to myself a few months ago about how bad all that stuff is. For your teeth, for your insides. And also energy wise.

I would trade feeling pumped from exercise at night over having a sugar high before bed!!

Don’t make excuses (we all do this 🤣) - you can do this.

add up the calories all those evening snacks. Just out of interest. It would be waaaay more than a ‘normal’ dinner portion.

You could also try Lucy Wyndham Read 7 minute workouts & 7 day challenges, she has several videos for losing belly fat, toning the muscles, .
I find they are easy to do each day.

Honestly if you follow this advice you will do it easily.

Don’t eat anything - then when you feel like you are about to faint, eat a cube of cheese.

How much exercise are you doing at the moment? 1,000 calories deficit per day is doable, but is likely quite hard work.

Rowing, running or the elliptic trainer are all good for burning the calories. Take it easy, aiming for long sessions over high intensity and try to get to the gym four times per week.

Find HIIT and toning workout videos on YouTube and do them at home, no need to spend on gym membership and also doesn’t use half as much time as a trip to the gym.

skip the wrap with lunch - salad and some protein.

Carbs are good but don’t overdo it. When I have pasta half the dish is veg.

Try to cut out the treats or find something that is healthy but seems treat like. I love fresh pineapple or strawberries with a little really dark chocolate (almost pure cacao) grated on. A sweet treat but also very healthy!

Yep give up sugar and processed foods completely. Do a 16/8 intermittent fasting where all eating done in 8 hrs and then 16 hrs (includes sleep) with no eating. That will lose the spare weight but to tone up you will need targeted exercise.

Ironically you’re telling me what to say by telling me not what to say? @daisyblooms

I'm in a similar position, none of my holiday clothes comfortable fit so I'm being extra good till we go away in 24 days. I've lost 3lbs this week. I'm tracking my calories with my fitness Pal, doing 15-20k steps and going to the gym about 3 times a week.

@Manzana thanks for that link I will give those a try as 7 mins is easy to fit in - even doing a couple in a row should help right?!

@FemmeNatal unfortunately I don't have spare money to pay for gym or the free time to commit to going several times a week to get the moneys worth! Currently my exercise consists of walking the dog for an hour/hour an half a day and walking to school and back - only 10 mins each way so another 40 mins walk.

Be brutally honest about what you eat and use a calorie counter along with planning lots of veg and lean protein for every meal. It’s only three weeks.

The chocolate is not your ‘one treat’ when you’re also having lots of carbs, takeaways and ice creams.

Yes it's doable but takes commitment and will power!

Try starting the couch 2 5k, the first few weeks are interval training and it really helps with those core muscles.

Or
30day shred by Jillian McMicheals available on you tube.

You don't need to cut carbs out, just ditch sugary snacks and drink as much water as possible.

Oh this is interesting thanks for posting op.
I'm older and peri and am now 10 stone rather than 9 1/2 - have belly fat sitting on hard tummy. Have been doing sit ups every other day which have helped but I deffo am size 12/large round the middle and 8-10 everywhere else so out of proportion.

That’s still pretty decent though. A calorie worked off walking the dog is just the same as one worked off in an expensive gym.