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Weight Loss Forum / General Topics / August 2004Back and question
I've been here before, about this time last year, but under a different name. I found this group very helpful, so after a very tough personal time, I'm back and right on track continuing my weight loss. Last year I was pretty succesful, lost 10lb altogether, but gained it right back during all the stress. So here's my question: what is it with my abs that they refuse to cooperate? I'm not aiming for six-packs, that will never happen, but in spite of low-fat diet, regular exercise for well over 2 months now, the fat in my abs area is not budging. I've lost maybe one inch, no more. I do pilates 3 times a week, cardio and weights 2 times a week, and eat no more than 2000 cals (no lo-carb, that's not an option for me, just medium carbing...). I know this is the most difficult area to loose fat, but is it really *that* hard? -- --Boemsi 207 - 197 - 180 > I've been here before, about this time last year, but under a different > name. I found this group very helpful, so after a very tough personal [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > carbing...). I know this is the most difficult area to loose fat, but is > it really *that* hard? how tall are you? Assuming some normal height and muscularity, at 197 lbs, you can hardly expect to have flat abs. Flat abs show when fat, covering them, becomes thin, which could only come with general fat loss. Why is low carb not an option for you? i If I can 'jump' inhere, I'm just wanting a little 'menu' of what a day of low carbing would mean. I know low carb except I'm not sure if I'm comletely informed with this. glo > If I can 'jump' inhere, I'm just wanting a little 'menu' of what a day > of low carbing would mean. I know low carb except I'm not sure if I'm > comletely informed with this. I ate breakfast - a piece of salt pork - a handful of nuts lunch - fish and onions and tomatoes and nuts Snack - an apple and a handful of brazil nuts dinner - raw cabbage with eggs Also ate 8 large tomatoes throughout the day. I am sure that other low carbers could eat differently Gloria. I decided to try it to see if I would be less hungry, and yes I am less hungry now than I was a month ago. I am also not yet regaining, and I am eating a little more liberally. I will see how it goes. I decided to try to drop all starches, grains and added sugars. It was not a big change for me, basically I dropped one slice of bread per day, and stopped eating hot cereal. How are you doing? i Thanks i for info . I'm doing okay except tat I'm gaining this 5 or 6 lbs and than losing it over & over again. I'm kind of doing a low carb patern MOST of the time and your menu is 'interesting ' except that I eat a small amount of meat and no pork but it is only for health reasons. IBS is my ever present problem. Anyway, I appreciate the 'feed back' as I keep trying to add to my low carb eating plan. glo >Thanks i for info . I'm doing okay except tat I'm gaining this 5 or 6 >lbs and than losing it over & over again. I'm kind of doing a low carb [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > >glo Glad to know you're still here on asd glo, even if we haven't seen you post much lately. I know all there is to know about gaining and losing the same few pounds, I've done it often enough. Then something happens and I just take off and stick with my WOE for weeks, until the next time. I hope you are coming to a WOE that you can stick with too. janice 233/179/133] Janice, I'm lurking some here but just so little time as my mom (86) has been in hospital and once she was home my aunt broke a hip. She never married and I'm about the only one she has soooo I'm running to see her often. It is a good life to be able to work plus everything else but a bit hectic. My WOE/WOL is pretty good and THAN bad again:( Dr Phil's book is a great help:) and I have a few LBS to lose (only about 12) so it makes me mad to not keep going EVERYDAY! I have just one size down to go and I'll be where I feel the best. Thanks for asking. My WOE is to eat what i want but to stop when full. (before I'm quite full) I do try and eat low lw carb veggies but not completely. I believe that eating for life is my best way so I strive for good health. I try recipes that look healthy and I try to cut out the desserts except for fruits. How are you doing? I have always felt that you & I are a bit alike with our WOE:) glo >Janice, I'm lurking some here but just so little time as my mom (86) has >been in hospital and once she was home my aunt broke a hip. She never [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > >glo Hi Glo. Sorry to hear about your mom and your aunt. I think we both have the same sort of issues with losing and regaining weight, but my WOE when I stick to it is a bit different from yours - I aim to stay within 1500 calories and trying to eat healthy food, and foods that satisfy me most. My numbers have been going up and down for most of this year, but I'm currently going down and feeling quite good about it all. Take care of yourself. janice 233/179/133 > Janice, I'm lurking some here but just so little time as my mom (86) has > been in hospital and once she was home my aunt broke a hip. She never [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > > glo Glad to hear from you, Glo. Just remember those last few pounds are often the toughest to lose. Don't get discouraged! Beverly > how tall are you? I'm about 5'11", my BMI is just above 27. > Assuming some normal height and muscularity, at 197 lbs, you can > hardly expect to have flat abs. Flat abs show when fat, covering > them, becomes thin, which could only come with general fat loss. I don't believe for a second that I would ever have a flat stomach, and I don't really care for it either. Just a few inches of my hips, so I can fit in a smaller clothes size again. In spite of losing 10lb, I haven't dropped a single size because my hip/abs region don't budge... > Why is low carb not an option for you? I've tried and got so fed up with the limitations that I gave up after two weeks. The results I got simply were not worth the effort, I could never make it a lifestyle. Besides, I don't believe in it. I was eating too much carbs, that's for sure, so this time I minimized my carbs to a level I feel comfortable with, and it works. I also pay attention to GI, avoiding foods with high GI and making sure I get loads of fiber. FYI, here is a typical day: breakfast: non-fat yogurt with 0.5 cup Kashi GoLean, cup of juice snack : apple lunch : zucchini and mushrooms with gorgonzola, pasta, diet coke snack : non-fat yoghurt with fruit dinner : black bean chili (vegetarian), non-fat sour cream, cheese desert : none, twice a week I allow a scoop of regular ice cream  Signature-- Boemsi 207 - 197 - 180 >> how tall are you? > > I'm about 5'11", my BMI is just above 27. I am also 5'11", my BMI is 24.0, I weight 172.8 lbs and while my stomach is relatively flat, there is still a bit of spare tire and my abs are not at all ripped. That's 25 lbs less than you. I am small boned. >> Assuming some normal height and muscularity, at 197 lbs, you can >> hardly expect to have flat abs. Flat abs show when fat, covering [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > 10lb, I haven't dropped a single size because my hip/abs region > don't budge... Lose 20 more pounds, it will make a difference. Exercising to keep muscle would also help to lose fat and not too much muscle. >> Why is low carb not an option for you? > [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > works. I also pay attention to GI, avoiding foods with high GI and > making sure I get loads of fiber. I see. > FYI, here is a typical day: > breakfast: non-fat yogurt with 0.5 cup Kashi GoLean, cup of juice [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > dinner : black bean chili (vegetarian), non-fat sour cream, cheese > desert : none, twice a week I allow a scoop of regular ice cream Are you a vegetarian? How much protein do you get per day? Do you feel excessively hungry? Anyway, 10 lbs lost is not that much, so, as you lose weight further, you would see your clothes size drop. How do you exercise? i > I am also 5'11", my BMI is 24.0, I weight 172.8 lbs and while my > stomach is relatively flat, there is still a bit of spare tire and my > abs are not at all ripped. If I could reach that point, I'd be very happy. Good for you! > Are you a vegetarian? How much protein do you get per day? Do you feel > excessively hungry? No, I'm not vegetarian, but I do limit my intake of animal protein. I just don't like meat too much. Fish is another matter, but my partner is allergic to that, so we hardly eat it. I usually get at least 60g protein during a day, but hardly more than 100g. I'm not at all excessively hungry, rather the contrary. > Anyway, 10 lbs lost is not that much, so, as you lose weight further, > you would see your clothes size drop. How do you exercise? Twice a week I do elliptical for 30 minutes, one day in combination with weights for the upper body muscles, the other day with low impact biking for fat burn. Three times I week I do Pilates for the core and lower body muscles. I do notice that I have gained a lot of strength over the last months, and muscle tone is much better. Now I'm slowly moving more towards fat burn rather than muscle building. Guess I need to be patient... Thanks for all the help! Signature-- Boemsi 207 - ... - 180 Boemsi, I would keep doing what you are doing, but add strength training, find a way to eat more protein -- you eat pretty low -- and be patient. Maybe you can use whey protein of some sort, it tastes like condensed milk when you dissolve it. Myself, I like meat, but there are healthy sources of protein other than meat, like eggs, whey protein, etc. i > Maybe you can use whey protein of some sort, it tastes like > condensed milk when you dissolve it. Myself, I like meat, but there > are healthy sources of protein other than meat, like eggs, whey > protein, etc. Does it really taste like condensed milk? or do you mean evaporated milk? SignatureWalking (but mostly biking!) on . . . Laurie in Maine 207/110 60 inches of attitude! Start: 2/02 Maintained since 2/03 >>Maybe you can use whey protein of some sort, it tastes like >>condensed milk when you dissolve it. Myself, I like meat, but there >>are healthy sources of protein other than meat, like eggs, whey >>protein, etc. > > Does it really taste like condensed milk? or do you mean evaporated milk? They’re an acquired taste. I drink the GNC Chocolate varieties. They taste like a powdered chocolate milk drink that wasn’t stirred enough. Chocolate flavored with plenty of lumps. Soy milk is another source. Swap it for 2% milk in recipes and you'll get the following: Soy vs. 2% 100 calories vs. 130 4g Total fat vs. 5g 0.5g saturated vs. 3g 0mg cholestorol vs. 20mg 8g Total carbs vs. 13g 1g Fiber vs. 0 6g Sugar vs. 12g. 7g Protein vs. 8g > >>Maybe you can use whey protein of some sort, it tastes like > >>condensed milk when you dissolve it. Myself, I like meat, but there [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > taste like a powdered chocolate milk drink that wasn?t stirred enough. > Chocolate flavored with plenty of lumps. Try a blender. I hate lumps so I use a blender. When I'm at work I have a little mini hand one that I got at a kitchen store for about $10. It runs on 1 AA battery and fits in my purse. > Soy milk is another source. Swap it for 2% milk in recipes and you'll get > the following: [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > 6g Sugar vs. 12g. > 7g Protein vs. 8g For some people soy milk is an "acquired" taste. Jenn <snip> >>Soy milk is another source. Swap it for 2% milk in recipes and you'll get >>the following: [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > > Jenn That's why I said, "recipes" instead of just chugging a glass. Substitute it for milk in packaged or boxed side dishes and recipes. Once you’ve acquired the taste you might be able to add it to cereal. As for drinking it in a glass as a beverage, substitute water instead. That saves caloric room for a martini or margarita. >> For some people soy milk is an "acquired" taste. >> [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > it in a glass as a beverage, substitute water instead. That saves caloric > room for a martini or margarita. I happen to like soy milk and can tolerate it better than cow's milk. However, if I use it in something, my husband can figure it out right away. Jenn >> Maybe you can use whey protein of some sort, it tastes like >> condensed milk when you dissolve it. Myself, I like meat, but there >> are healthy sources of protein other than meat, like eggs, whey >> protein, etc. > > Does it really taste like condensed milk? or do you mean evaporated milk? I mean evaporated, but even condensed milk tastes similar (the one without sugar). There is a milky flavor to it, very nice. i > I've been here before, about this time last year, but under a different > name. I found this group very helpful, so after a very tough personal [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > --Boemsi > 207 - 197 - 180 Welcome to the horrible world of body composition. Regardless of weight, abs are only visible when body fat percentage is in the low teens to single digits. When my diet kicked in and I dropped to 140 pounds without exercise eight years ago I still didn’t have abs. That was my wake-up call that there was a lot more to body composition than weight. What a shock to learn I had a light, high fat body. The last eight years I’ve been eating a diet higher in protein and exercising. My body fat has dropped from 20% to below 12% and I’ve gained 15 "good" pounds. I’ve been replacing fat with heavier muscle. As you can see from the pictures, even shrinking to my current 29” waist isn’t enough for strong ab definition. Hopefully, along with my goal of 160 pounds will come a body fat percentage under 10%. Maybe then I’ll have defined abs. You should probably increase your weight training. Weight training burns more fat and yields a better body shape than cardio. Don't expect results soon. It's a long road ahead ... http://f1.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/cheesensweets/my_photos 185/140/155/160 Excellent progress. Also, good looiking kids. Your bodyfat is now what, 10-13%? i >> I've been here before, about this time last year, but under a different >> name. I found this group very helpful, so after a very tough personal [quoted text clipped - 32 lines] > > 185/140/155/160 Between 10-12% I’m increasing leg exercises to hopefully break that plateau. I can’t wait to give my wife your compliment of looking like a kid. > Excellent progress. Also, good looiking kids. Your bodyfat is now > what, 10-13%? [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] >>>spite of low-fat diet, regular exercise for well over 2 months now, the >>>fat in my abs area is not budging. I've lost maybe one inch, no more. I do >>>pilates 3 times a week, cardio and weights 2 times a week, and eat no more >>>than 2000 cals (no lo-carb, that's not an option for me, just medium >>>carbing...). I know this is the most difficult area to loose fat, but is [quoted text clipped - 21 lines] >> >>185/140/155/160 > You should probably increase your weight training. Weight training > burns more fat and yields a better body shape than cardio. Don't expect > results soon. It's a long road ahead ... Thanks Rob, I'm aware of the issues with losing fat and not muscle, which is why I do the Pilates and weights. I also don't dream of a flat stomach, I'm just surprised that there is virtually *no* change. I'll try to be patient a bit longer... Signature-- Boemsi 207 - 197 - 180 >>You should probably increase your weight training. Weight training >>burns more fat and yields a better body shape than cardio. Don't expect >>results soon. It's a long road ahead ... > > Thanks Rob, I'm aware of the issues with losing fat and not muscle, which > is why I do the Pilates and weights. I also don't dream of a flat stomach, > I'm just surprised that there is virtually *no* change. > > I'll try to be patient a bit longer... Perhaps there is a change. It’s been a while but here are some signs of change I remember: As men gain weight in the mid section they sort of keep the same waist size pant by pushing the beltline down lower so the belly hangs over. If your pants are moving back up to your waistline that’s a sign of improvement. Stronger abs also means resistance to tight waistlines and belts. When the abs are buried under fat, tightening a belt puts a groove in the midsection that looks rather silly. If the abs are strong, tightening the belt applies pressure to the abs, but the abs do not “cave in” for lack of a better term. Maybe these will help you realize a change has already taken place. If not, they should be the first signs of success. > Stronger abs also means resistance to tight waistlines and belts. When > the abs are buried under fat, tightening a belt puts a groove in the > midsection that looks rather silly. I guess this applies to women too in some sense? ;) Maybe you're right. I have been wearing a lot of very tight pants that do seem more comfortable of late. The tape measure doesn't quite agree though. I am just glad I am feeling a lot more energetic, which helps a lot to stay motivated. Signature-- Boemsi 207 - 197 - 180 > > I guess this applies to women too in some sense? ;) Oops. *blush* Too many posts, forgot to get a sex check. Sorry about that. > Oops. *blush* Too many posts, forgot to get a sex check. Sorry about that. No problem! It's funny, I noticed that even women tend to think of 'anonymous' posters as male... :-D Signature-- Boemsi 207 - 196 - 180 >I've been here before, about this time last year, but under a different >name. I found this group very helpful, so after a very tough personal [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] >carbing...). I know this is the most difficult area to loose fat, but is >it really *that* hard? For me (I'm female, age 56) this was one of the areas that took a while to show results. But eventually I lost a lot of fat from the abs and waistline -- just took some time. I think fat comes off where it wants to. Exercise doesn't influence where fat comes off first, it just helps you lose it overall. Chris 262/143/ (145-150) > For me (I'm female, age 56) this was one of the areas that took a > while to show results. But eventually I lost a lot of fat from the > abs and waistline -- just took some time. I think fat comes off where > it wants to. Exercise doesn't influence where fat comes off first, it > just helps you lose it overall. Being female too, I wonder though if there is something I can do to help it along. Male friends who start a diet and exercise routine seem to get results soo much faster. For me it takes a long time for my metabolism to kick in, plus my monthly cycle affects my weight significantly. I could really do with the extra motivation by losing at least one pant size, but so far no luck... Signature-- Boemsi 207 - 198 - 180 >> For me (I'm female, age 56) this was one of the areas that took a >> while to show results. But eventually I lost a lot of fat from the [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] >really do with the extra motivation by losing at least one pant size, but >so far no luck... I don't think there's anything you can do to cause weight to come off the waistline as opposed to elsewhere. It will come, though, I promise. I don't even know what my waist measurement was when I started (unfortunately, I didn't take starting measurements), but given the clothing sizes I was wearing I'd say it was around 42". Now it's 27" :-). But it didn't seem to change too fast at first. Just for the record: doing lots of abs exercises can actually increase your waistline measurement, because it builds up the muscles in that area. The good side of this is that when you become lean enough you can have some muscle definition. But it won't help you drop pants sizes. Chris 262/141/ (145-150) > Just for the record: doing lots of abs exercises can actually increase > your waistline measurement... I hope it's that, as I have indeed been doing a lot of abs workouts. It does feel good though, all of a sudden I feel like I have a 'core' and not some floppy area between my ribs and hipbones. I also do like what I see in the mirror, which is that my body is much more in proportion. So it's not all that bad... Signature-- Boemsi 207 - 195 - 180 |
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