That last inch

[Fubarcdn]

When I get back from my holidays at the end of May i want to lose probably that last 5 pounds and that last inch of belly fat so I can have the ripped abs I have always wanted.
I am 5'10", 175 pounds and in my mid 50's.
I do 5 gym days a week. One hour weight training and 30 minutes cardio. I also usually walk for about 1 hour a day.
At the gym I do one body part each day along with ab work on a daily basis.
I don't eat processed sugar but I do drink coffee with Splenda.
I am not willing to start calorie counting but I estimate I eat about 1400 per day.
Any tips on how to get rid of that last inch will be appreciated.
I could never get the 6 pack abs while drinking ( mostly beer0 but now I don't drink I am hoping this goal is achievable.
Am I too old to expect this to happen?

[Astro]

Originally Posted by Fubarcdn

Any tips on how to get rid of that last inch will be appreciated.

Am I too old to expect this to happen?

I doubt that in your mid-50's you're too old to lose that weight and get rid of the body fat. Your regimen of exercise sounds pretty ideal, I'm sorta surprised you haven't lost it already, so my thought would be that you might need to start counting those calories a little more closely, and following a stricter diet.

Here's my experience with this......

When I sobered up in '05 I went on my own special donut, depression, and cookie diet, went from 165lbs up to 199lbs in no time. I kept that weight on for 4 years, the last year I tried pretty rigorous daily exercise but I could never get my weight below 190.

I started Weight Watchers this year, the program I'm using doesn't have me counting calories, just watching my portions and what I eat. It's simple to follow, I've been losing an average of 10lbs per month, I'm almost at my target weight of my original 165.

But to be honest, I've been stuck between 166-168 for the last few weeks, I can't seem to lose those last few pounds. Why? Because I'm cheating. I've reached a state of confidence and comfort, I know I'll lose the weight eventually, I just don't have the rigid determination to do it right now. I'm playing a mind game with myself in a way.

One of my sponsees is a fitness nut, he works out every day and stays in great shape. When I whine to him about not being able to lose weight, his comment is the same every time....... "you've got to force yourself past the milestones, even starve yourself for a few days, and the weight will come off".

Keep us posted on your progress, best wishes to you in reaching that goal.

[Fubarcdn]

Thanks for the response Astro.
Maybe I will try that starvation diet your sponsee mentioned. I don't want to lose any of the muscle tone I have regained. I think if I get to 170 pounds that may do the trick.
The only time I ever had ripped abs is when I was using meth in the 70's but that is not a good option.

[Astro]

Originally Posted by Fubarcdn

The only time I ever had ripped abs is when I was using meth in the 70's but that is not a good option.

Uh yeah I had pretty nice abs on vodka and beer, I ate very little and exercised every night. The long walks I took gave me an excuse to drink and chew tobacco, I was doing my best to hide those habits from the ex.

I'm no diet guru, but I've heard our bodies instinctively store fat when we're not eating enough, so I'm not really recommending that you don't eat a healthy amount. But as an exmaple, I was doing really well today and eating right, then I snuck in a small slice of a pizza and a breadstick. Once again my chances of losing those last few pounds is pretty nil

[marty888]

I find if I drop carbs and eat 6 meals a day I can drop weight pretty easy. Also cardio first thing in the morning on an empty stomach really helps me.

[Fubarcdn]

Thanks Marty.
I usually have 3 meals and 2 snacks usually consisting of a nut and raison trail mix.
I have been eating before I go to the gym but I may try to mix it up and do cardio on an empty stomach.
Do you think it is OK to do cardio (bike or crosstrainer) every day?

[Astro]

Doesn't hurt, but I've heard it's not necessary, 3 times a week is enough to keep our metabolism elevated.

Trail mix, or anything containing nuts, is very high in fat. If you're going to snack, check out some low-fat or fat-free alternatives. I love peanut butter but have to avoid it if I'm going to lose the weight.

[Gypsy Feet]

Originally Posted by Astro

When I sobered up in '05 I went on my own special donut, depression, and cookie diet
.

HAHAH Thanks for the laugh!

(I do the no count ww thing too, works nicely=)

[OceanBound]

Originally Posted by Fubarcdn

Thanks Marty.
I usually have 3 meals and 2 snacks usually consisting of a nut and raison trail mix.
I have been eating before I go to the gym but I may try to mix it up and do cardio on an empty stomach.
Do you think it is OK to do cardio (bike or crosstrainer) every day?

Not Marty but my 2c. I always go to the gym on an empty stomach but that delays my breakfast for 3 hours after getting up which I heard is not good. What you can do it get a small drinkable yogurt so your stomach has something to work with. I do cardio at least 5 times a week and if I get enough sleep, I have as much energy on Friday as on Monday.

The trick with trail mix is not overdoing it. Yes, it's high in fat but it's the good fat and natural sugar from the raisins. And it keeps you full much longer than a lot of other things. So just watch the portions. Or get some non-fat yogurt although I personally hate the taste of fake sugar on those, yuck!

Good luck!
OB

[marty888]

OB, The trail mix sounds fine, I usually do 3 X cardio a week, either bike or cross trainer, then on other days take the dog for a walk, not fast or hard, just enough to keep the metabolism ticking.