I've flattened my tummy!!

[spokette]

I have managed to flatten my tummy and lose inches around my hips and waist in 4 weeks by doing the following:

Went running for 2 or 3 miles for 2 or 3 times a week.

Did tummy exercises, lunges, press ups and planks 3 or 4 times a week. Supplemented cardio exerise and toning with exercise DVDs.

Ate much smaller portions and only ate bread at weekends (small amounts only).

Ate complex carbs with my main meal only and only ate small amounts. No complex carbs for breakfast or lunch. Bulked out meals with veg and ate lots of fruit with high water content.

Stopped snacking in the evening.

Drank lots of water and only a little alcohol at weekends, if any.

The results have been astonishing and I now wear 10/12 whereas before size 12 was becoming a bit tight.

I don't know how much weight I have lost because I have not bothered with the scales this time. I have lost about 2 inches on my waist and hips.

I will buying a new bikini next week and look forward to showing it off soon, especially as I am 43yo!!

Just wanted to pop on and congratulate you Spokette. I have no time to do all of that but have bought an exercise bike which i have been enjoying so hopefully that is a start.

Well done again.

Oh well done. Now feck off in yer posh bikini

Hahaha hilarious.

wow!
going into withdrawal at the thought of less carbs. i lack your willpower (and hence your figure!)

well done.

Thank you all! I'm going to continue my regime for another two weeks before I go on my holiday.

The first week was really hard but it is amazing how well my body has adjusted to me eating much smaller portions. I intend to increase my complex carb intake gradually to ensure that my diet is balanced but for losing weight as well as reducing a bloated tummy, carb reduction has really worked for me.

Well done! I found reducing carbs really helped me with the tummy bloat thing - now I just have to master the smaller portions issue...

Well done!!!!! I am the same age as you and was feeling very proud of dieting down from a size 20 to a 14! Oh dear I have still got a long way to go!
What tummy exercises did you do? My abs have never recovered from the arrival of my ds (who is 10 next week ). I can't manage a single sit up any more.

Glinda

Traditional sit ups etc don't work to really flatten your tummy. Conseqeuntly, I have been using exercises based on Pilates moves which target the deep core muscles. I have been using Pilates for Abs work out which last only 30 minutes but it really targets your whole abdomen area. You have to know how to engage your core muscles because the trainer does not really go into that. Consequently I bought this DVD by Linda Jackson as she explain the fundamentals of engaging your core muscles.

However, I have to stress that you do need to eliminate excess fat around your abs in order to see a toned midriff and the only way to do that is to diet and do cardio exercises such as running, cycling or aerobics.

HTH and good luck.

Forgot to say congratulations on your stupendous weight loss and getting down to size 14 from size 20. You must feel really healthy!

Thanks Spokette!

When I look back I realise how far I have come - but I have reached that awful plateau. I am sticking to my diet but the weight just won't shift anymore . It is very tough but I know that I have to keep doing what I am doing and sooner or later I will start to lose fat again.

I will have a look at your links. Perhaps a change of focus will help.