How to lose weight??

wiggywoo9

Hi long story short, single mum to one 2.5 year old, I'm a size 18 and around 14 stone. I've met someone I like and pretty eager to shift weight so I can look and feel nice. I really want to get back to my old size of a size 14, which I felt great at.


How can I do it? Bit restricted to doing stuff at home but no equipment. I started doing Just Dance daily and limiting my calories. I walk a fair bit to places.


I mainly want to lose weight on inner thighs, under arms and the pouchy bit on lower tummy. The rest I can live with, its just these areas that make me self-conscious.


I started doing sit ups but was told my a friend that theres no point in this if you don't do big exercise as it will just make muscles under fat?


If anyone can help that'd be fantastic- thank you! Just need a kind of routine to fit in that'd help.

the_devil_made_me_do_it

I followed the Harcombe diet & have had greater success than spending hours in the gym & following calorie controlled diets.

It's a fairly easy diet to follow especially if you eat meat, fish & veg.

I still continue to go to the gym as I now just want to tone up & keep my fitness up. However, if you are restricted when it comes to fitness regimes, then this diet will defo help you to lose weight.

I would advise you to buy the books that have been written by the creator of the diet. It helps you understand why the diet works. Also, they have written a good recipe book too. Can't praise this diet enough, it's changed the way I view diets and my eating habits.

trailingspouse

Good for you.

There's lots you can do for free - when you walk, walk briskly, when you go up and down stairs, run. Take your kiddie to the park and run around with her/him.

BUT - do it for you, because you want to do it, and because it's the right thing for you to do. If a man comes along as a result, that's a bonus.

paulineb_2

High Intensity Interval Training such as metafit, circuit classes, plus lifting weights worked well for me. If you go on youtube you can find bodyweight exercises. I also use kettlebells, you can pick one up from amazon or ebay for about £9. Loads of kettlebell workouts on youtube also.

You dont need equipment to do a high intensity workout, everything you do in classes such as metafit are bodyweight only.

DomRavioli

Hi OP,

Walk, walk and walk some more - the weight will drop off if you follow a good diet also.

Don't restrict calories as such, find out how many calories you should be eating to lose 1-2 pounds a week (calculators can be found by googling), and eat fresh fruit and vegetables (potatoes don't count!) instead of unhealthy foods. You might like to try clean living, but that can be a bit of a shock to the system if you have a bad diet.

And remember, there will be weeks you don't lose (muscle weighs more than fat), always go off the measuring tape and not the scales - measuring is more honest of losing inches, and knowing you've dropped half a foot from your waist is an amazing feeling!

the_devil_made_me_do_it

paulineb wrote: »

High Intensity Interval Training such as metafit, circuit classes, plus lifting weights worked well for me. If you go on youtube you can find bodyweight exercises. I also use kettlebells, you can pick one up from amazon or ebay for about £9. Loads of kettlebell workouts on youtube also.

You dont need equipment to do a high intensity workout, everything you do in classes such as metafit are bodyweight only.

Problem with high intensity training is if your not very fit this isn't the way forward initially. I found I had to get reasonably fit before I even attempted this type of exercise.

However, I do feel that a certain level of fitness has helped me when it comes to strength training.

paulineb_2

the_devil_made_me_do_it wrote: »

Problem with high intensity training is if your not very fit this isn't the way forward initially. I found I had to get reasonably fit before I even attempted this type of exercise.

However, I do feel that a certain level of fitness has helped me when it comes to strength training.

I wasnt very fit when I started doing metafit as a participant. I had been injured and my fitness was probably as bad as it has been in a very long time. It was challenging, but it got me fit quickly and there are always options for every exercise. I teach metafit and FBX which is a very similar class and there are all shapes and all sizes in my classes and everyone has got to the end of every single class.

I was heavier than the OP when I started doing HIIT training. I understand what you are saying, but sometimes I think even if you have quite a lot of weight to lose, doing something challenging is better than doing an hour of aerobics. Its too easy to get into your comfort zone.

I also do thump boxing classes, which are similar to boxercise and that's also made a massive difference to my fitness.

paulineb_2

DomRavioli wrote: »

Hi OP,

Walk, walk and walk some more - the weight will drop off if you follow a good diet also.

Don't restrict calories as such, find out how many calories you should be eating to lose 1-2 pounds a week (calculators can be found by googling), and eat fresh fruit and vegetables (potatoes don't count!) instead of unhealthy foods. You might like to try clean living, but that can be a bit of a shock to the system if you have a bad diet.

And remember, there will be weeks you don't lose (muscle weighs more than fat), always go off the measuring tape and not the scales - measuring is more honest of losing inches, and knowing you've dropped half a foot from your waist is an amazing feeling!

Muscle is denser than fat, it doesn't weigh more than fat.

But I agree with what you say about taking measurements and not always relying on the scales.

tori.k

Try the plank exercises, use the weight of your own body to tone up, circuit training has done wonders for me, im quite active and do two 45min classes a week dropped a dress size even tho my weight has maintained within weeks, altho I do have muscle memory as I was very fit a few years back.
It's a misnomer that muscle weighs more than fat they both weigh the same why the BMI is grossly outdated as it doesn't take build and body fat into consideration

belfastgirl23

Any exercise is good. For food, try focusing on not eating sugar and eating in a way that makes you fuller for longer. I wouldn't worry so much about eating fats as long as you avoid sugar in all it's forms.

You may not be able to get rid of the tummy though, I lost most of my bust and a good bit of my hips but the tum was still there. I think it's permanent

trolleyrun

I'd recommend pilates for toning up. Pilates is all about the core, so will give you strength in your tummy area and support your back. There are lots of YouTube videos and if you have an iTunes account you can download video podcasts for free.

If you want to try using a kettle bell but don't want to spend money, put a few tins in a strong bag (such as a bag for life) and use that.

I believe in cooking from scratch, and having the odd treat. Don't deprive yourself of anything, as that's when the cravings kick in. It's ok to have a couple of squares of chocolate a few times a week - it's the whole bar every day that causes problems (as an example).

And lastly, what we all know deep down - losing weight is achieved by spending more calories than we eat.

Good luck! And don't forget that you're beautiful no matter what the scales say