Three weeks to get some shape?

[GoGoSuperBug]

I have lost weight which I thought would make me happy but it hasn’t. I now weigh seven stone seven pounds, have a 25 inch waist and I thought I would be over the moon.

instead my bum looks flat from the sides, my boobs are empty flaps and my belly sags between my hips.

I have a bikini holiday coming up in three weeks. Can I realistically make any improvements? What do I focus on? I exercise already but with little focus and have fallen by the wayside a lot as I have been super busy at work.

And your bmi is now 19 and you’re bordering on underweight?

I didn’t mention WLI so interesting that you have picked that up. I did indeed lie to get some, just took small doses and ended up with a result I am not happy with.
I am 100% planning to gain some back now though.

I was doing CPR on a patient the other day and realised Id lost all my muscle strength post diet. I had to hand over to someone else. Back to the gym for me too 😘

If there was ever a good reason to train upper body, that is it @Gettingbysomehow!

I hate training chest but I did Chest Tris and Abs last night, try to fill my bikini with some pecs of nothing else 🫣

Just to echo what others have said, I was in a similar position to you, I’m the same height and was 7 stone 10 but seeing the same in the mirror. I’m now 8 stone 4 and have been running 3 times a week and doing a small amount of regular core exercises and some kettlebells. I’ve lost an inch from my waist since starting despite being 8 pounds heavier and the weight has filled out my boobs again. My arse is still MIA but I look a lot better for the exercise and eating more. For info the weight gain was prior to the exercise, not caused by it.

Ok this has made me feel better ! I’m 5ft 1in and currently 8st 10lb. I am trying to lose weight and want to get to 8st as that’s where I think I look best - but you’re reminding me I won’t look like I used to at that size as I’m now in my mid forties and maybe I look fine as I am (just with a bit more muscle!)

Less is definitely not alway best. That’s for sure!

Hmmm, that's interesting @GoGoSuperBug I have occasionally said to my PT - I wish I could just drop 10 kilos (it's all I need to do, but it won't budge without me being miserably hungry & food-obsessed) and if I could get Ozempic legally, I'd do it.

His response was emphatic - you'll lose so much muscle, you'll lose really hard won gains. It took me 6 years of heavy lifting to get to a 100 kilo deadlift and a 70 kg (bodyweight equivalent) squat. I'd lose that and at my age it would be hard to get up there again - especially as I'm on my way to 110 kilo deadlifts.

Your experience suggests he's absolutely right. I'm trying to make peace with my middle-aged looking body (I'm 67). Not be "young skinny" which is the lure of Ozempic/Mounjaro etc.

Your PT is absolutely right.

When I started I hadn’t planned to drop off the gym so much, the work stress was unexpected so who knows how much I would have lost muscle wise if I trained throughout but it’s not worth the risk.

@GoGoSuperBug how are you getting on? Have you been away already?
i have a holiday planned end of april and i am wondering what would bethe best to tone up: caroline girvan (and if so which program) or the shred? Unless there is another way? Any advice will be gratefully received! I can only exercise 4 times a week max. One of these sessions will be yoga.

Try Jillian Michaels 30 day shred. I think she has a super hard core one too where you do it twice a day for 30 days.