Wanting to lose a beer gut 4 May 2016 at 4:23PM in Sports & fitness MoneySaving 60 replies 15.2K views

DigForVictory

I suspect my GP will suggest 5:2 for a short period as we need to get my weight down sharpish before the insulin resistance wins & so far not drinking, eating salads & having weak moments [hours] by the biscuit tin have for some reason failed to sort the matter.

(I was doing passably on a high protein diet but then I developed kidney problems.)

Re-education will undoubtedly be my [much smaller] portion.

Best of luck!

Benners123

I lost a stone and a half by following the Lean in 15 recipes and exercises. I bought the book, and followed some of the HIIT workouts he has on YouTube.

The problem I found with the 5:2 diet was the "fast" days were too difficult and left me feeling so hungry the next day I would over eat. The positive aspect of the Lean in 15 is the meals are quick, healthy and very tasty!

I would highly recommend it, I would keep the alcohol consumption down to a minimum, keep up the walking and implement some healthy recipes as well. Good luck!

andygb

That is an incredibly tough regime on the Concept 2.
Back in the nineties I was addicted to that machine, and used to do around 10K five times a week.
I used to do interval training and two of my sessions, involved starting with a fast 2500 metres (8m 45s to 9m 15s), easing off a little then completing 5000 in just under 20 minutes, and then rowing steadily for the last 10K.

Daz2009

thesuperfoodco wrote: »

If you want to lose weight, you have to run on a calorie deficit. What I mean by this is that your body has a certain number of calories, whereby if you eat that many, you will maintain your current body weight. If you eat less calories, or burn off enough calories to take you below that number, you will lose weight, guaranteed.

Without having to go through the bother of figuring out exactly what that calorie figure is (you will learn through trial and error), I can suggest the below practical tips:

- Increase your intake of water. Whatever you are drinking, try to double it. Most people drinks far too little and don't realise that water can really help flush out your system and aid in weight loss.

- Use smaller plates at home. Psychologically this will make a difference. Your plate will look full but you will be eating less.

- Try to snack on healthy things like fruit, instead of reaching for chocolate or biscuits. My personal favourite snack is a smoothie. You can add oats to make it a meal replacement.

- Don't eat dessert, or have very small portions (e.g. halve the normal size slice of cake you would have). A moment on the lips, a lifetime on the hips.

- Ignore the scales, the mirror is your best guide. Muscle is heavier than fat, and so if you up the exercise, you may actually gain weight at first. Do not dismay, and just allow the mirror and how you feel in yourself as your judge.

- Find a sport or type of physical exercise that you enjoy. Walking 2-3 miles is good, but will you keep it up? Do you love walking? You might very well, in which case great. If not, was there a sport you played as a kid that you have since given up? Could you get back involved? Team sport is a great way of getting yourself back fitter than ever without actually realising that you are putting in the work.

Good luck! Remember what is most important is happiness, so be sure that whatever your goal is, you enjoy the journey to that goal. Don't be too hard on yourself along the way.

Thanks,
Matt
@thesuperfoodco on Twitter

What you really mean is muscle is denser than fat so takes up less space for the same weight,hence a person can remain at the same weight yet look thinner if they've gained some muscle and lost some fat.

parking_question_chap

Daz2009 wrote: »

What you really mean is muscle is denser than fat so takes up less space for the same weight,hence a person can remain at the same weight yet look thinner if they've gained some muscle and lost some fat.

Depends which way you want to word it.

Muscle is heavier than fat per unit volume

Muscle is denser than fat per unit weight

Does it really matter which way they want to say it?

Daz2009

parking_question_chap wrote: »

Depends which way you want to word it.

Muscle is heavier than fat per unit volume

Muscle is denser than fat per unit weight

Does it really matter which way they want to say it?

1kg of fat weighs the same as 1kg of muscle,it's that simple. It's a common misconception to say otherwise.
Losing weight is not the same thing as losing fat....but they will often go hand in hand

parking_question_chap

Daz2009 wrote: »

1kg of fat weighs the same as 1kg of muscle,it's that simple. It's a common misconception to say otherwise.
Losing weight is not the same thing as losing fat....but they will often go hand in hand

My statements above are no "misconception". If you take the time to read them, you will find they are accurate.

brat

andygb wrote: »

That is an incredibly tough regime on the Concept 2.
Back in the nineties I was addicted to that machine, and used to do around 10K five times a week.
I used to do interval training and two of my sessions, involved starting with a fast 2500 metres (8m 45s to 9m 15s), easing off a little then completing 5000 in just under 20 minutes, and then rowing steadily for the last 10K.

I too was addicted in the 90s although I was a little bulkier then than now, and could do a decent 2000m pace - 6m41s as a 41 year old 74kg (Lightweight) was well up there. I use a 'Water Rower' at home now, which seems about 10% easier than the Concept II, I can do 30 minutes at 1:45/500m whereas the Concept II would sit at !:56/500m for the same effort. I cycle more now 150 to 200 miles per week but the rower gets used in the winter season when it's not sensible to turn a wheel.

I'd heartily recommend rowing as an exercise, and the Water Rower as an excellent home choice. It's quiet, sits upright in a corner, and you can watch your favourite series on iplayer while getting fit.

Zola.

gabriel1980 wrote: »

Through several years of drinking too much and not watching what I eat, I have developed a gut. I want to lose this beer gut and my partner wants to lose some weight too. I guess the question is pretty simple, what is the best way?


We've started walking 2 - 3 miles a day after work at a brisk pace, and we are watching what we eat. I have cut down my drinking by half (only drinking one night a week, probably Saturday night). Would this be sufficient to see results?


I have heard that sit-ups and other ab exercises won't do much for a beer gut, you need to lose that first. Are there certain exercises that would really help get rid of the tummy?

• Cut out beer, sugar, other empty calories, completely (until you have lost the weight)
• Do hill sprints
• Walk a few miles every day
• Lift weights a few times a week
• Cave man diet, try the Keto diet for a few weeks, your weight will fly off

SpekySquarehead

My GF and I are going on holiday at the start of September and shes decided to take the plunge and really make an effort to lose some weight in the next 4 weeks. I go to the gym most days and eat well so I'd thought I'd help her.

Last night I made a spreadsheet to track our progress so measurements on overall weight, chest, hip, waist, arms and thighs. We'll use this as motivation to eat well and exercise more. A freind of mine once had a play on words and said "a couple that lift together, stay together" and they too are in the gym most days and both look great.

I would suggest doing the simple things first and keeping track and the progress itself will motivate you.

Good luck!