The six pack challenge

[TalkToTheHand123]

I used to be very active / sporty when younger, many moons ago. The weight seems to have been a bit of a gradual increase up to now for many reasons (no real excuse). I've tried (to a degree) to stop the increase with many different ideas but have failed.

I'm trying to get in a good routine which works well for me and hoping a few ideas I have had recently will help me reach my target. I'd probably be more than happy to just lose 2 or 3 stone (currently 15.5 stone), but ultimate target is to get my 6 pack back.

Anyone have similar goals?

For me, I think of my gym membership now as like a subscription for my health. It has to be a priority, I’m not in my 20s anymore, and I don’t want my health to decline as I get older.
Talk your posts seem like you’re not exactly sure what your plan really is. You started this thread talking of getting a six pack, most people have said this is quite an unrealistic goal (unless you’re already at your goal weight), and you would be better off with a half a stone at a time target. Looking back at your posts here, you seem to go up and down half a stone within 1-2 days, are you sure your scales are accurate? Could it be water retention from bread and other carbs, so not really true weight (fat) loss? As a few of us have said, stretching and seated exercises won’t be affecting your weight that much, so it really will be about what you’re eating. And although you’ve said you eat a good diet of yoghurt, bread and salads, you’ve also said you eat up to 4 sandwiches a day, plus kids leftovers, and forgot about chicken and veg meals, and talk often about ‘pigging out’. I really think it would help clear your mind if you wrote down a food diary for a week, to see exactly what you’re eating and where you can make changes.

We’re all happy to help with advice, if needed, but you seem to lurch from saying you never have energy and need to prioritise sleep, to saying you’re doing a workout at the gym. Why don’t you join one of the Lose It threads to join in with the chat there, and the weekly weigh ins, for more support?

Wasn't after advice.

Ok well good luck to you then.

Not sure what you wanted to achieve with the thread tbh because you stated you want a six pack but with your current weight, diet and exercise of what you’ve shared that won’t happen.

People with experience kindly gave you suggestions or ways they’ve achieved similar goals as you asked in the op but you obviously don’t really want to listen to anyone or even have their support even. Maybe it’s because it’s not what you want to hear.

Good luck with your goal.

Good luck with your goal.

She’s going to need it!

A snowball’s chance in hell springs to mind.

I will gladly take advice!

HIIT training & weights!! Lots of walking. Clean eating.
I have abs after 3 kids.

Oh sorry you don't want advice

I should have put lecture instead of advice. Happy for advice, but the main reason for the thread was to log my journey, a bit of accountability and for any experiences / views people had on getting a six pack.

I'm starting to ignore the scales now though as my clothes are feeling very loose, most of the bloating appearance has gone when I look in the mirror and I'm now really feeling the muscles around my waist. When I breathe in fully, there is an outline of a six pack now so I should be on the right track and shouldn't be too far off soon.

My diet hasn't changed much as far as I'm aware. I've had a little more sleep, but it seems to be down to the stretching (any chance I get I have a good stretch, whether that's before sitting down or just after getting up etc). Feels great after a stretch too.

I missed out on the top 10 on the Wii running so need to keep at this! I find playing music helps the time go quicker as it takes a bit of motivation to do it!

I decided to try give up the brown bread and stick with soup (more tinned soup now rather than the packets) through the day when doing 12 hour shifts. I seem to have managed ok. This with more yoghurt and granola on an evening to keep me from binging too much (I'm addicted now!). Even with the odd slip up (pasties, sausage rolls, burgers, chips), I've managed to get under the 15 stone mark which I haven't done for years so I'm well chuffed.

I've not done any real exercise recently, just stretching in front of a mirror last few days and my body seems in a much better shape.

Hopefully this means I'm on track. I'll give myself a couple of weeks and review again then! ☺️

That not all you’re eating? Just to check I haven’t misread…it’s not just yoghurt, granola and tinned soup?

I have salads and other foods, chicken, cereal, toast, ice cream, occasional sausage, chips.

The soup keeps me going out at work through the day and the yoghurt settles me on an evening.

SingaporeSlinky

Your advice was useful to the rest of us so not wasted even if OP was ungrateful!

I just really can't see how you will be able to see any definition of a six pack at 15 stone by doing some sitting sit ups and stretching. Is that even possible?

I just didn't like the patronisation. No need for the purile comment Ohilo.

You can feel the muscles Kristy and notice the difference for sure, absolutely if you are constantly toning your stomach with a variety of methods.

*when stretching and not bloated. Long way to go but some progress.