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

[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?

[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.

[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

[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

[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.

[KH]

Fadeaway, yes it was the same scales, first thing in the morning.

Thanks again, all. I shall definitely give the running a good try, on the street I think. I've never done it apart from at school, and it's the only sport/exercise routine that I've never done, so it might well work.

Thanks for the encouragement. It's so easy to give up on this stuff if you don't feel you're getting anywhere.


One more question if I may: Running shoes - are they that different to cross trainers? (which I have)

[KH]

Many thanks to you all.

[KH]

Agreed, not good. But as I said before, I've never been able to run, even when I was super fit at school. An hour on the squash court though, no probs. Weird.

Pacman, thanks for that link. It's 20 mins away from me. I shall go there tomorrow.

Edited by KH on Sunday 23 January 19:07

[KH]

Cheers Lee, thanks for all that.

[KH]

Thanks ATG, I think I was maybe running too fast and getting too out of breath too quickly, then got scared I was going to die and so I stopped. I think this time, building up is the key.

[KH]

Good article, thanks for the link.

Stopped drinking last night for the first time in 30 years. Had a great night's sleep and now off to the running shop.

[KH]

UPDATE:

I'm not fishing for praise but feel a duty to report back.

Running Shoes now on board - great tip. Thanks.

10 min jog at Old Lady speed = gasping for breath after one minute which improved slightly, thighs burning, mouth bone dry,eyes watering. Legs literally gave way when I stopped and ached liked crazy.

5 mins rest. Breathing recovered after 2 mins.

10 min jog back. Not gasping for breath but couldn't talk. Legs like hot pokers.


Breathing all over the place. Any tips?

Not looking forward to tomorrow.

[KH]

Just a 5-min walk to the running path to warm up. No stretching or anything.

On the breathing front, does that get easier? I Hate that gasping for air feeling as I'm running.

Edited by KH on Monday 24th January 13:56

[KH]

Thanks chaps.
Steven, I like the sound of that.

[KH]

Update:

I did the 20 mins jog ( 2 x 10 mins) on Monday, and by Tuesday could hardly walk, the pain was so bad in my quads. I've only been able to row since then with a bit of slow walking.

It's now Friday and it's eased off to the point where I can bend and sit down without feeling it. I'll start again tomorrow but keep it to 1 min jog, 1 min walk for around 20 mins as suggested. See what happens.

No booze at all this week, which makes the evenings very dull, with nothing to look forward to at the end of the day. Not even a Kit-Kat.

I suppose something will give (or give way) sooner or later.

[KH]

Thanks Pacman. It's not fun mate. Keeping away from the booze, the buns and the cakes is not fun. Especially when it's all around you in the family home. I feel like a Monk.

But....I shall keep at it even though this last week has felt like a month.

I applaud anyone on a diet and who loses weight through that and excercise. When I was younger and saw the tummy coming on, I could burn it off in a week, no probs, with gym, squash etc. When you hit 40, losing weight is very hard. Best thing is Never let it go on in the first place.

My advice to all you wippersnappers

Edited by KH on Saturday 29th January 19:14

[KH]

I don't do Evaluation.

But thanks for your input.

[KH]

I think that's great advice. My cake-craving has certainly cut down, and when you realise how many calories are in things and how long they take to burn off, it's not worth eating them. (Still getting through eight bottles of Jack Daniels a night though. No wonder I keep falling off the rower)