Pot belly (question for the more 'mature' PHers)

[230TE]

I'll be blunt about this. I'm in my mid forties, have this big round wobbly thing sticking out above my belt and I can't seem to get rid of it. I have a physically active job, go out regularly on the bike, I've tried cutting down on food and drink and it seems to make no difference. All the blokes I know of my age seem to have the same problem (and Clarkson wrote about it in the Sunday Times this week).

Anyone have any success in actually getting rid of a pot belly?

[goldblum]

I'll be blunt about this.

'Trying' to cut down on food and drink is not good enough, nor is dawdling around on a pushbike and nor is having a physically active job.

Visceral fat, the stuff you say is a 'pot belly', is the worst kind of fat as it surrounds vital organs and is hormonally active. As you are effectively obese you risk several diseases..diabetes,heart disease, cancer etc...the risk factor for all these rises dramatically if you are overweight.

However the good news is you are aware of your weight and have taken steps to start trying to lose it, which is a start. What you need to do is high intensity exercise 3/4 times a week and forget about booze and research what a healthy diet should consist of.

Start now and you will live longer than all the blokes you know of your age 'who seem to have the same problem'. Think of the alternative..

[IainT]

I've just started a concerted attack on mine before it gets too big. I'm only 41 so not too old yet!

Currently working on getting fitness levels up to a point where I can exercise enough to make a difference, currently just jogging for 20 mins 3 times a week with the plan on that being upped in duration as fitness increases. Only exercise in the last 6 years has been walking to the pub and an annual skiing trip!

On top of that we've changed our week diet significantly - watching calories at lunch and carb-free dinners.

I'm being realistic - I don't expect to ever get back to the 32" waist I had al through my 20s and early 30s but I'm determined to get back to 34" from almost 36".

[230TE]

goldblum said:

I'll be blunt about this.

'Trying' to cut down on food and drink is not good enough, nor is dawdling around on a pushbike and nor is having a physically active job.

Visceral fat, the stuff you say is a 'pot belly', is the worst kind of fat as it surrounds vital organs and is hormonally active. As you are effectively obese you risk several diseases..diabetes,heart disease, cancer etc...the risk factor for all these rises dramatically if you are overweight.

However the good news is you are aware of your weight and have taken steps to start trying to lose it, which is a start. What you need to do is high intensity exercise 3/4 times a week and forget about booze and research what a healthy diet should consist of.

I was afraid someone would say that. Sounds like I need to really start taking this problem seriously, while I am still capable of high intensity exercise. When I was in my early twenties I weighed about nine stone. I'm now at twelve, and as far as I am aware I haven't got any taller.

[Fozziebear]

IainT said:

I've just started a concerted attack on mine before it gets too big. I'm only 41 so not too old yet!

Currently working on getting fitness levels up to a point where I can exercise enough to make a difference, currently just jogging for 20 mins 3 times a week with the plan on that being upped in duration as fitness increases. Only exercise in the last 6 years has been walking to the pub and an annual skiing trip!

On top of that we've changed our week diet significantly - watching calories at lunch and carb-free dinners.

I'm being realistic - I don't expect to ever get back to the 32" waist I had al through my 20s and early 30s but I'm determined to get back to 34" from almost 36".

Can't see why you couldn't get back into a 32, I did it from a 40. Sensible eating and damn hard exercise is the answer. Avoid low carb, low fat and sugar free, each one comes with hidden calories and sweetners etc. get outside and exercise, get dropped off 3-5 miles from home and run/walk, you have to get home so that's enough motivation! Try a cross fit class, should be one in your area just look on the cross fit main site. Set sensible goals, don't starve yourself, avoid take always etc, but treat yourself once a week. Also enjoy the experience of getting fitter and in better shape than most teens! Btw I'm 41.

[Hoofy]

230TE said:

I've tried cutting down on food and drink and it seems to make no difference.

Simply, you've not cut down enough.

Exercise will help but if you eat too much, you will gain unless you spend all day cycling/running/star jumping/masturbating.

You can eat any st you want, btw. You can even hit the pub every night. Just make sure your calories are less than you need. You wanted to lose weight, not get fit/healthy, right? That said, I'd not drink my calories as if you want to maintain a deficit, you will really want to choose healthy foods as you tend not to be so hungry but that doesn't mean you have to cut out all the norty stuff and eat lettuce all day.

[Tiggsy]

230TE said:

I'll be blunt about this. I'm in my mid forties, have this big round wobbly thing sticking out above my belt and I can't seem to get rid of it. I have a physically active job, go out regularly on the bike, I've tried cutting down on food and drink and it seems to make no difference. All the blokes I know of my age seem to have the same problem (and Clarkson wrote about it in the Sunday Times this week).

Anyone have any success in actually getting rid of a pot belly?

You eat too much. So does Clarkson and your fat mates. Unless you're a pro athlete your job is irrelevant.

Exercise will help but most of it is diet, diet, diet.

Going on a run will be nice, but the second you neck that beer it's all over. Far easier to avoid the kitkat than go to the gym.

[IainT]

Fozziebear said:

Avoid low carb, low fat and sugar free, each one comes with hidden calories and sweetners etc. get outside and exercise, get dropped off 3-5 miles from home and run/walk, you have to get home so that's enough motivation! Try a cross fit class, should be one in your area just look on the cross fit main site. Set sensible goals, don't starve yourself, avoid take always etc, but treat yourself once a week. Also enjoy the experience of getting fitter and in better shape than most teens! Btw I'm 41.

Pretty much the approach I'm taking. I should say 'we' as my wife and I are working together to lose weight and get fit.

We know from experience that crash diets are pointless - for example we're cutting down on calories across the board and in the evening dinner tends to be meat and veg only.

I might get down to 32" but I'd have to buy new ski-gear!

We're in week 3 of going running and the general feeling of well being from the increased exercise is reward in itself and quite unexpected. At the moment we're just covering 2km in 18m but our fitness levels are atrocious - my goal is to cover ~5km 3 nights a week with a longer run at the weekend. Where we live is very hilly which removes some of the boredom and ads to the energy requirements.

[Hoofy]

Tiggsy said:

Going on a run will be nice, but the second you neck that beer it's all over. Far easier to avoid the kitkat than go to the gym.

[highwayman]

About 18 months ago I weighed 17.5 stones - 38" waist. I'm now 12.5 stones - 32" waist. All of this was done by adjusting my diet. Basically eating less calories than I use. I found this site very good at helping keep track of what you've eaten http://www.myfitnesspal.com/ .

Now I'm down to my target weight my plan is to get fitter & bulk up a bit.

[goldblum]

Hoofy said:

Tiggsy said:

Going on a run will be nice, but the second you neck that beer it's all over. Far easier to avoid the kitkat than go to the gym.

It is certainly easier, but the exercise will be of greater benefit to the lungs, heart, bones, blood vessels (capillarisation) self-confidence and immune system and therefore make a proportionate contribution to future weightloss: I.e. the more exercise you do the better you will feel and so you do more exercise and in the process you lose weight. Once a program of exercise has begun the body will adapt to develop more muscle which in turn will burn more calories when you're not even exercising.

I would like to add that chunky kitkats (280 cals) are very nice, even if you should avoid them.

[otolith]

I'd started having to buy 36 inch waist trousers and was over 15 stone. I suppose that was 18 months ago or thereabouts. Now 12 and a bit stone, can fit into 32, but doing so still looks a bit Clarksonesque.

Three weeks ago I set out to lose another 20lb in 7 weeks in anticipation of a holiday, which I thought was maybe an unrealistically ambitious target. Currently, 4 weeks to the holiday, 11lb lost and 9lb to go, so it might actually happen. Pretty sure that even if I do, there will still be a bit of belly left.

[Hoofy]

goldblum said:

Hoofy said:

Tiggsy said:

Going on a run will be nice, but the second you neck that beer it's all over. Far easier to avoid the kitkat than go to the gym.

It is certainly easier, but the exercise will be of greater benefit to the lungs, heart, bones, blood vessels (capillarisation) self-confidence and immune system and therefore make a proportionate contribution to future weightloss: I.e. the more exercise you do the better you will feel and so you do more exercise and in the process you lose weight. Once a program of exercise has begun the body will adapt to develop more muscle which in turn will burn more calories when you're not even exercising.

I would like to add that chunky kitkats (280 cals) are very nice, even if you should avoid them.

It helps but then people start thinking that doing 30 minutes of walking every other day means they can tuck into a roast dinner every night plus sticky toffee pudding and two pints of beer.

[230TE]

I am inspired. Normally I stop off at the garage on the way home and pick up a bag of crisps, a Coke and maybe a Mars bar. Not tonight, or any other night from now on.

Shame about the pie I had for lunch, but it was very nice.

[Fozziebear]

230TE said:

I am inspired. Normally I stop off at the garage on the way home and pick up a bag of crisps, a Coke and maybe a Mars bar. Not tonight, or any other night from now on.

Shame about the pie I had for lunch, but it was very nice.

A pie is fine, as long as you have made it and you know what's in it. Just take the first steps and the rest will follow. I'm an animal when it comes to food, could eat all day, but I have stopped myself from eating crap and replaced it with fuel for my training. A good rule is 90% clean/healthy then 10% cheat.

[Terminator X]

I don't drink apart from occasional night out every few months. Had a small belly last year which was zapped by cutting out all/most of the sugary st from my diet - ate fish + chicken + salad etc. Did it strictly for just 2 months and it worked for me. I also do bootcamp 2x a week and jog 1x a week so reasonably active.

TX.

[Du1point8]

Can I ask those out there that are comparing waist sizes, is that the real measure?

Im 36" waist and weigh a little less than a friend who is 34" waist (he likes to remind me of that, however he has a large gut that flows out and over his trousers.

Where as most of my weight is a little in the belly, but mostly in the legs, Im stuck with rugby player legs so normal suit trousers need to be a size up to fit round the thighs.

So which is better?

The person who is slightly shorter, but broader and in proportion. However still needs to lose weight.

Or

The person which is thinner at the waist, larger belly (muffin top for blokes) and slightly taller (2").

[Fozziebear]

Du1point8 said:

Can I ask those out there that are comparing waist sizes, is that the real measure?

Im 36" waist and weigh a little less than a friend who is 34" waist (he likes to remind me of that, however he has a large gut that flows out and over his trousers.

Where as most of my weight is a little in the belly, but mostly in the legs, Im stuck with rugby player legs so normal suit trousers need to be a size up to fit round the thighs.

So which is better?

The person who is slightly shorter, but broader and in proportion. However still needs to lose weight.

Or

The person which is thinner at the waist, larger belly (muffin top for blokes) and slightly taller (2").

If he is flowing over his trousers he's lying about his waist size and wearing hipsters! Your waist is level with your belly button, it's fashion that's pushe it downwards

[blueg33]

I am 47 and 6ft tall. I had a pot belly which I have now lost. I carefully counted calories over a 6 month period keeping to a max of 1700 per day and some days getting down to 1500. I used an app called "fat secret" to count the calories by enetering what I ate.

I went from 94kg to 79kg and have managed to keep it off. Its now a year since I started, at first the weight comes off quickly, but the last 2kg was a bugger.

You will be surprised at the calories in some foods and how quickly they add up. I had to change my eating habits to hit the target, particularly snacks and drinks plus portion size, salad rather than sandwiches for lunch.

Its all worth it though, I look and feel much better, I am better at the sports I play, I am better at sex (so the oh tells me)and the cars I own have all increased their power to weight ratio with no expensive tuning I have had to buy new suits etc.

Go for it op, but it takes will power and commitment, make a target and stick to it.

[BenM77]

goldblum said:

Hoofy said:

Tiggsy said:

Going on a run will be nice, but the second you neck that beer it's all over. Far easier to avoid the kitkat than go to the gym.

It is certainly easier, but the exercise will be of greater benefit to the lungs, heart, bones, blood vessels (capillarisation) self-confidence and immune system and therefore make a proportionate contribution to future weightloss: I.e. the more exercise you do the better you will feel and so you do more exercise and in the process you lose weight. Once a program of exercise has begun the body will adapt to develop more muscle which in turn will burn more calories when you're not even exercising.

I would like to add that chunky kitkats (280 cals) are very nice, even if you should avoid them.

This is a very good point, it is the exercise that gets you fit. There is also a big difference in what you will end up looking like if your weight loss is diet only vs exercise and diet.

It really helps if you enjoy exercise so finding something that suits you is a good idea, more likely to stick to it