Can't shift the gut.

[KH]

50 year old man, 5' 10", 12 stone, three weeks in on a no-carb diet and have lost 7lbs with one Stone left to lose.
3 x Powerplate fat-burning sessions a week
3 x 4 mile cross country walks a week.

No buns, sweets or biscuits, but three glasses of red wine every day.

Can't shift the gut or the man boobs and getting fed up.

Should I be including lots of sit-ups?

I don't do running, the gym or weight training, and was hoping I wouldn't need to.

Many thanks in advance for any advice, I value this forum and I do appreciate anyone's help.
cheers, Kim

[davido140]

Hate to say it, sounds like a case of less wine and/or more/different exercise is needed.

Interval training is very popular here for a good reason, give it a google, it works, honest!

ETA situp will tone the muscle beneath your gut but will not shift it on their own. If you're dead set on FAST results look at "cutting" diets and exercise plans, popular with body builders. I'm no Doctor and cant comment on the other health implications of diets like these.

Edited by davido140 on Sunday 23 January 11:43

[pacman1]

Perhaps you should reconsider 'doing running'. 10 - 20 minutes gentle jog per day will get rid of it in two weeks.

Added bonus is you can eat and drink what you like. Works for me.

Edited by pacman1 on Sunday 23 January 11:45

[KH]

I like the sound of that.

Does it have to be jogging non-stop? I don't think I can jog non-stop for 10 minutes. Could I do four lots of 5 mins with a minute rest in-between?

[KH]

Powerplate is an incredibly expensive piece of equipment (around £3000) that's supposed to help you tone up and burn fat in ten minutes a day. My wife bought it to tone up and has only used it twice. I've been giving it a go and can definitely feel a bit more toned but there's no way it's knocking the weight off.

I'd be interested to hear anyone's views. Please have a look here: http://www.powerplate.com/uk/

Buggles, did you mean a half hour walk plus the jog?

[y282]

3 glasses of wine a day and 50? you're making it very difficult for yourself.

[pacman1]

KH said:

I like the sound of that.

Does it have to be jogging non-stop? I don't think I can jog non-stop for 10 minutes. Could I do four lots of 5 mins with a minute rest in-between?

That would be fine, everyone has to start somewhere. The trick is not to build it up in your head beforehand as a big deal, otherwise it becomes a chore and you are less likely to do it. I'd get some running shoes properly fitted at a running shop, cost you about £75 for a pair, but well worth it. With the nights becoming lighter and slightly warmer, its the perfect time to have a go.

[Driller]

Just my humble opinion, from someone who's done loads of sport all his life:

Forget the powerplate, waste of time. It's one of those pieces of equipment designed to make you feel like you're doing excercise and give you a clear conscience without you actually expending any energy. A bit like those Slendertone things.

Stop drinking alcohol (it's bad for you anyway) and go for a 5-6km run 4 times week. Eat plenty of fruit and vegetables, drink plenty of water. Stay away from sweet desserts, fatty cheese, cakes etc

If you want to eat carbohydrate just eat it-it will fuel your running.

Do that for 3 months I guarantee you will lose your stomach. If you do some situps after each running session you'll get defined abs with it.

ETA Good stuff for worrying about it and having already started to do something positive!

Edited by Driller on Sunday 23 January 13:06

[KH]

Buggles said:

Just looked at the powerplate website. I'm not convinced to be honest, surely you would get the same effect by sitting on top of the washing machine?

LOL. I must admit, it does feel very weird. It's an incredibly powerful machine. Thanks for looking at the site.

I'll cut down/knock out the booze and give the running a good go. Thanks mate.

[pacman1]

KH said:

Buggles said:

Just looked at the powerplate website. I'm not convinced to be honest, surely you would get the same effect by sitting on top of the washing machine?

LOL. I must admit, it does feel very weird. It's an incredibly powerful machine. Thanks for looking at the site.

I'll cut down/knock out the booze and give the running a good go. Thanks mate.

If you aren't currently a runner, don't overdo it to start, or you will risk injury and apathy. By doing little and often, you will fire up your metabolic rate and find you end up eating and drinking accordingly. Don't make it a chore, or you won't keep it up.

[KH]

Driller said:

Just my humble opinion, from someone who's done loads of sport all his life:

Forget the powerplate, waste of time. It's one of those pieces of equipment designed to make you feel like you're doing excercise and give you a clear conscience without you actually expending any energy. A bit like those Slendertone things.

Stop drinking alcohol (it's bad for you anyway) and go for a 5-6km run 4 times week. Eat plenty of fruit and vegetables, drink plenty of water. Stay away from sweet desserts, fatty cheese, cakes etc

If you want to eat carbohydrate just eat it-it will fuel your running.

Do that for 3 months I guarantee you will lose your stomach. If you do some situps after each running session you'll get defined abs with it.

Edited by Driller on Sunday 23 January 13:05

Thanks Driller, the problem is, although I'm a fit bloke and can cycle all day long, I can't run/jog for more than five minutes without feeling a heart attack coming on. My body just can't run, never been able to for some reason. But I will try building up to it.

I'd agree with you on the Powerplate thing. I think you've hit the nail on the head. It certainly conned my wife.

On the running thing, best on the street or grass? I've got a field behind me which would be quite convenient but it's quite bumpy.

Edited by KH on Sunday 23 January 13:13

[y282]

KH said:

Driller said:

Just my humble opinion, from someone who's done loads of sport all his life:

Forget the powerplate, waste of time. It's one of those pieces of equipment designed to make you feel like you're doing excercise and give you a clear conscience without you actually expending any energy. A bit like those Slendertone things.

Stop drinking alcohol (it's bad for you anyway) and go for a 5-6km run 4 times week. Eat plenty of fruit and vegetables, drink plenty of water. Stay away from sweet desserts, fatty cheese, cakes etc

If you want to eat carbohydrate just eat it-it will fuel your running.

Do that for 3 months I guarantee you will lose your stomach. If you do some situps after each running session you'll get defined abs with it.

Edited by Driller on Sunday 23 January 13:05

Thanks Driller, the problem is, although I'm a fit bloke and can cycle all day long, I can't run/jog for more than five minutes without feeling a heart attack coming on. My body just can't run, never been able to for some reason. But I will try building up to it.

I'd agree with you on the Powerplate thing. I think you've hit the nail on the head. It certainly conned my wife.

On the running thing, best on the street or grass? I've got a field behind me which would be quite convenient but it's quite bumpy.

Edited by KH on Sunday 23 January 13:13

don't do much running myself, need to though. one thing i can tell you is to run somewhere interesting. really helps.

[Scraggles]

pretty sure a bottle of wine is about 3 glasses, try 2 glasses on wednesday and saturday

gave up beer for 6 weeks, lost about 1.5 stone, was 16 stone, now 14.5 - 15 stone

[Buzz word]

If you don't like running try the elliptical machines. I find you don't get as much calf benefit but you get some upper body so it is swings and roundabouts. I think you need to do something more strenuous for your exercise. Do some weights as you need to let your body know you need the muscle and create a demand so the calorie deficit targets the fat. Lastly weigh yourself weekly, I weigh myself with some analyser scales every week on the same day after I get up and have been for a wee. I think this gives me a comparable base from which to measure any changes. That way you can see you are making changes before you have dropped 5kg and can actually see the change.

[KH]

Thanks again and good on ya, Scraggles. It's really hard losing weight.

I have a Concept 2 rowing machine which I've never really taken up in earnest. All I've done is 20 mins three times a week on number 6, and I must admit, it makes your bum ache and it's a bit boring.

Does anyone rate Rowing as a good fatburner/toner etc? I'd start again with it if you did.

Edited by KH on Sunday 23 January 14:14

[ShadownINja]

KH said:

I have a Concept 2 rowing machine which I've never really taken up in earnest. All I've done is 20 mins three times a week on number 6, and I must admit, it makes your bum ache and it's a bit boring.

Does anyone rate Rowing as a good fatburner/toner etc? I'd start again with it if you did.

Edited by KH on Sunday 23 January 14:14

It's better than sitting on a sofa. Watch a three hour film while rowing. If you do that three times a week and don't lose weight, offer your body up for medical science as you have something special going on.

Or read a newspaper while just moving back and forth with your legs for three hours a day.

Edited by ShadownINja on Sunday 23 January 14:24

[Stevenj214]

KH said:

50 year old man, 5' 10", 12 stone, three weeks in on a no-carb diet and have lost 7lbs with one Stone left to lose.
3 x Powerplate fat-burning sessions a week
3 x 4 mile cross country walks a week.

No buns, sweets or biscuits, but three glasses of red wine every day.

Can't shift the gut or the man boobs and getting fed up.

Should I be including lots of sit-ups?

I don't do running, the gym or weight training, and was hoping I wouldn't need to.

Many thanks in advance for any advice, I value this forum and I do appreciate anyone's help.
cheers, Kim

I'm confused. If you have lost 7lbs in 3 weeks (a fairly manageable weightloss), with 14lbs left to shift, your gut and moobs should disappear as the weight comes off.

As has been said before, it's very simple. If calories in are less than calories out, you will lose weight. If you lose weight, this will likely mostly come from fat reserves. If you lose fat reserves, you lose your gut and moobs.

My advice would be, if possible, do something you enjoy and do it because you enjoy it. If you don't like running, don't do it. Cycle instead. Make active lifestyle choices - walk to the shop instead of driving, use the stairs instead of a lift, go for a walk to enjoy the scenery.

Make sensible choices with what you eat and drink but don't deprive yourself completely of things you enjoy.

[KH]

Thanks Steven,

I lost the 7lbs in the first week of the diet and for the last 2 weeks the weight hasn't moved. So I was wondering what I could do to kick-start it.

[fadeaway]

KH said:

Thanks Steven,

I lost the 7lbs in the first week of the diet and for the last 2 weeks the weight hasn't moved. So I was wondering what I could do to kick-start it.

7lbs is a lot of weight to lose in one week. Did you use the same set of scales, wearing similar clothes and at the same time of day?

When I've dieted before I've always found that some weeks I didn't lose much, then there would be a bit of a jump (but never that much in one week!)

[Stevenj214]

KH said:

Thanks Steven,

I lost the 7lbs in the first week of the diet and for the last 2 weeks the weight hasn't moved. So I was wondering what I could do to kick-start it.

Ah ok, well that is rather odd.

When I got to my slimmest, I did it mostly by calorie counting. I liked the numbers, the keeping track etc.

I used 3 or 4 online calorie calculators to find my daily 'maintenance calories' then took an average. Take 500 off of this total to give you a steady 1lb per week weight loss.

I planned meals around 6 small meals per day (breakfast, snack, lunch, snack, dinner, snack) and kept track of all drinks (i.e. tea, juice, wine, beer).

This alone should see you losing weight.

If you want to include exercise (for general health) you will have to add some to your maintenance calories unless the calculator has already accounted for it.

Edited by Stevenj214 on Sunday 23 January 14:41