Losing the Paunch
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Discussion

julianhj

Original Poster:

8,871 posts

292 months

Sunday 13th November 2005
quotequote all
I've been losing a pound a week by cutting out the snacks and junk food for the last 3 months, but my paunch is still very much in evidence. I've gone from 12 stone 4 to a current 11 stone 5, with the aim of reaching 11 stone by Xmas. I'm 6ft, and generally well proportioned aside from the belly. I currently walk briskly for 45 minutes a day and when I move house next week I'm going to take up running (commute will change so not as much walking). I've noticed my waist size drop a couple of inches over that time, but I want to lose the flab above it!

What is the quickest/easiest way to ditch the spare tyre?

Buffalo

5,484 posts

284 months

Sunday 13th November 2005
quotequote all
You can only lose so much through diet alone IMO. Strenuous exercise (groan) and use of weights is really only where results (in terms of shaping up) can be had. You don't have to lug weights like schwarzengger, just lightish weights and lots of reps concentrating on mid-section willl help.

e.g. situps clutching a light weight to your chest.
-lie on your back and kick legs forward one at a time, whilst similutaneously raising a light weight over head
-twists holding dumbells in hand parallel to floor etc etc

Here in Aus, Ms Buffalo discovered some weights classes called body pump (run as well as step and all of those types). Its a series of exercises done to fast music, concentrating on light weights and lots of reps. The calorie burn and muscle toning is really good IMO - i have gone a number of times (its blokey cos it uses weights! ) and quite enjoy it (although i tend to load my weights to moderate rather than light). Something like that would be useful.

julianhj

Original Poster:

8,871 posts

292 months

Sunday 13th November 2005
quotequote all
My sister has one of these I can nab, a worthy piece of kit?

Jaglover

46,801 posts

265 months

Sunday 13th November 2005
quotequote all
If you are 11 1/2 stone and 6 foot the problem is not diet but lack of muscle definition, get yourself down the gym, or get some free weights.

Buffalo

5,484 posts

284 months

Sunday 13th November 2005
quotequote all
i have one of those boards - or at least its very similar. Its a full on bench that stands at both ends. One end can be dropped for inverse sit ups and the other end can be made into a seat.

Don't know much about it as i was given it, but it is a york one...

julianhj

Original Poster:

8,871 posts

292 months

Sunday 13th November 2005
quotequote all
Jaglover said:
If you are 11 1/2 stone and 6 foot the problem is not diet but lack of muscle definition, get yourself down the gym, or get some free weights.


Free weights I can do (g/f has a set), gym I tried for a year and didn't like.

Is it just a case of exercising strenuously enough to burn off the weight, which will build muscle at the same time? Does it need to be lots of upper-body stuff rather than running/cycling?

Jaglover

46,801 posts

265 months

Sunday 13th November 2005
quotequote all
julianhj said:
Jaglover said:
If you are 11 1/2 stone and 6 foot the problem is not diet but lack of muscle definition, get yourself down the gym, or get some free weights.


Free weights I can do (g/f has a set), gym I tried for a year and didn't like.

Is it just a case of exercising strenuously enough to burn off the weight, which will build muscle at the same time? Does it need to be lots of upper-body stuff rather than running/cycling?


Building up muscle in itself raises your metabolic rate. Also you should be trying to do exercises which target your Abs.