Getting rid of the booze belly

[turnedthecorner]

Hi, I started back at the gym since I quit drinking 8 days ago.

I'm trying to find a reasonable way to get rid of a bit of a ponch that I have from the calories from the wine I drank and lack of exercise over the last few years. Now, I am not fat by any means, I am just unfit and have what us ladies call a bit of pot belly or a bit of flab around the middle.

I have been doing 30 mins of walking/jogging on treadmill and have started doing sit-ups. Did 40 today. Ya I know... weakling!! But I hope to get stronger.

Can I ask if anyone has any advice to carefully and sensibly get my tummy in shape and up my metabolism as well?

The treadmill says I burn approx 200 calories from 30 mins of jogging. Does it up your metabolism throughout the day as well? Should I stay off the bread and pasta as well? My two fave foods?

How is everyone else getting rid of the beer belly?

[bohemianzen]

oh ty ty for starting this thread. i wish i had something good to add.... but i'm dealing with this myself. i'm trying to eat better and eat more salads. and also drink more water. can't wait to hear what everyone else has to say on this subject.

[marty888]

Diet is 70% of the equation and exercise the other 30%. I would recommend your exercise first thing in the morning to get the metabolism going. Instead of 3 main meals a day eat 6 smaller meals (that way your metabolism is working constantly). Limit your carbs (sorry about the bread and pasta), and no carbs after 3pm.
Drink lots of water and green tea.
Hope this helps

[turnedthecorner]

Thanks Marty!

So I'll eat bread and pasta for breakfast then...

Will start the morning exercise routine on Monday morn as I have been going after work to give me something to do after work. Will try this out and attempt to shift my schedule around a bit. Earlier rise, earlier to bed.

Thanks.

[Bamboozle]

I have booze gut and booze butt.

My backside is wide...not sure I can do much about the hips.

I'm trying very hard to watch my calorie intake every day...I don't exactly count...but I'm calorie aware. I know how many calories are in each thing I eat and if I'm not sure I guesstimate. I get in about 1500-2000 a day...which for my size is okay. I've been losing weight over the past 4 months by simply restricting my calories.

I've gone from 245 down to 215...thereabouts. I've done this before, though, and gained it all back several times. I'm really going to have to crack down this time to make the loss stick...and I need to start walking again.

Thanks for starting this thread.

[Fubarcdn]

The advice that Marty gave pretty much sums up what I would say especially the part about the six smaller meals a day and more protein calories than carbs.
I have a protein shake for 2 of my six meals (23grams protein 130 calories)
Joining us for the 16 week fitness challenge in a thread here may also help. There are still 8 weeks left in the challenge and every participant is experiencing good results so join us if you wish.

[Gypsy Feet]

woohoo Bam! Feels great doesn't it?!?! I switch over to one serving a day of the starchy carbs, and went to whole wheat pasta or brown rice. It was VERY tough at first, now I prefer them.

[NewBeginning010]

I am working on that middle section too, all of that beer has wrecked havoc on my stomach. I used to have a six pack & now I have the results of far to many 6, 12, 18 & 24 packs along with other booze & all of the crappy fatty foods that come with it.

I have been doing about 45 minutes of exercise per day & started working on some ab exercises too. I lost four pounds this week and about half an inch in the middle ;-)

I just started tracking my weight & mid size in the 16 week challenge thread... join us.

Here is a good article on reducing you middle

Belly Fat and How to Beat It

[bjork]

I am so happy you started this thread! I am hoping that cutting the booze out removes my belly fat.

I have always been an avid gym person. I (even throughout all of my drinking....I would just sweat it out) do 45 minutes of cardio and alternate upper and lower body weight training. After 20 years of doing this, I shouldn't have a belly....right? WRONG! I'm a size 10 or 12 depending on the brand! I'm hoping that cutting out a bottle of wine each night helps slim me down.

Make sure your calories are healthy ones.

[marty888]

When, i am cutting up, my daily diet is generally:
6AM Weight train
7.30Protein Shake
9.30 4 egg omelette
12.30 Chicken and salad
2.30 Protein Shake
4.30 Canned Tuna
6.30 Steak/fish or chicken with salad
9.30 Protein Shake.

Water, coffee and green tea all day. Can get boring and repetitive. I always have a cheat day a week though with some carbs

i would get probably 3 cardio sessions a week in as well.

This strip weight of me fast

[Gypsy Feet]

Ooo, thanks for that marty!! I think I will try it. Any good non-chocolate protein shake mixes out there? If I am eating any during the day, they have to be able to be mixed with water as opposed to milk.

[marty888]

Lisa, I always mix mine with water, milk tends to get to heavy for me. If the flavour is ok, they taste good with water. I know Isoflex do quite a good range of flavours

[historyteach]

WEight training 3 times a week. It revs up the metabolism.

You need carbs for energy. Those no carb diets wreak havoc on your body, and cause the weight gain after you stop. Your body NEEDS carbs.

Go for lots of fruits and veggies.
For dinner, fill half your plate with veggies or salad. Then add 1/4 starch and 1/4 with protein.
Eat whole grain bread whenever you eat bread; I prefer 12 grain -it's delicious. Wheat pasta and brown rice.
Fruit in season for breakfast, with a piece of dry toasted 12 grain bread will sustain you. And it's tasty.
Lunch, have fruit with cheese and a *few* nuts, or salad with meat.
Snacks include fruit, carrot sticks, celery sticks - as much as you want. Volumetrics it's called. Or you can have a small handfull of nuts or a low cal yougart. (Be careful here...these can be a dieter's disaster!)
See the Mayo Clinic food pyramid; it's different from the government's version, with more servings of fruit and veggies than starch:
http://www.mayoclinic.org/news2000-av/pyramid1.jpg

Just remember, weight training increases the metabolism by adding muscle. Muscle burns fat faster. You do not have to become a body builder to gain the benefits, though. Any increase gets you the benefits. Start small, and build up. Alternate top body and lower body, and you can do something every day, if you want.
And keep doing your arobics, too.

By the way, you cannot target any weight loss, ie, for belly loss. It will come off with diet and exercise. As nike says, "Just do it!"

Hope this helps!

Shalom!

[marty888]

Thanks teach, I weight train 5 days a week and have always dropped the carbs when I want to cut and it works well for me. Of course normal diet involves carbs, but 90% of the time I have none after 4pm

[turnedthecorner]

Thanks so much everyone, I have my gym bag packed and ready to go for tomorrow morning.

I didn't know weight training actually burns calories! Wild. Will add some of that in, namely the arms and shoulders. The legs are taken care of by running, I think. At least the tenderness in my thighs and calves are telling me this today from yesterday's run.

I just had pasta for lunch and dinner today... and two cookies. Aah well, tomorrow is a new day. Marty I like your diet plan. Will print it out tomorrow.

I am so unbelievably happy right now to be turning over this new leaf. Will check out your fitness challenge and join at the 8 week mark.

TTC

[turnedthecorner]

Oh, and Marty, I got the green tea today too. I am very happy to see that coffee is allowed on your list. I can give up ANYTHING. Booze, sleeping pills, cigarettes, men... but if I have to give up coffee you'll see a small nuclear mushroom cloud erupt way off on the horizon... and that will be me having a temper tantrum because I had to give up coffee.

Thanks again for your tips.

[Bamboozle]

Originally Posted by NewBeginning010

I am working on that middle section too, all of that beer has wrecked havoc on my stomach. I used to have a six pack & now I have the results of far to many 6, 12, 18 & 24 packs along with other booze & all of the crappy fatty foods that come with it.

I'm sorry, but this made me giggle and slap myself silly.

[Gypsy Feet]

give up men?!?!?!

[Bamboozle]

Originally Posted by Gypsy Feet

give up men?!?!?!

Sure, why not? Go for chicks instead.

[Gypsy Feet]

cant I have both?

MARTY!! I am soooo sad. I had a protein veggie dinner, very few carbs today and then as I was fixing my ice cream I realized, no ice cream at night!!!

So I gave up your diet before the end of the first day =)

[californiapoppy]

Originally Posted by Gypsy Feet

give up men?!?!?!

Never! just consume moderately and they've never given me belly fat, headaches sometimes.....

[turnedthecorner]

Nah... I could never give up men.

[historyteach]

Eating pasta is ok.
But, not a plate full!
A serving size of pasta is 1 cup cooked.
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgu...%3D2%26hl%3Den
That's not a lot, compared to what you get in a restaurant today. We've been "supersized" into beliving unrealistic portions are normal. No wonder there's an obeisity problem!

And when you eat pasta, stick with the tomato sauce, especially if it's filled with veggies like chunks of tomatoes, mushrooms, peppers and such. Stay away from the cream based sauses, like the alfredos. Those are "heart attacks on a plate," as my friend, the health teacher calls them.

Just stick to the plate plan. One half veggies; 1/4 starch, (which would be the whole wheat pasta), and 1/4 protein. So, for a spaghetti dinner, have a nice salad; 1 cup of whole wheat pasta topped with tomato based sause and a piece of chicken, pork, meatballs, (homemade and easy on those breadcrumbs), or whatever lean meat you choose. A healthy meal!

Stay away from the sausage and ribs. They are very fat. Cook the meatballs in the sause the day before you want to eat them, and you can skim away any fat after the sause has cooled. Same with the lean pork, and it will be very tender too.

And I do agree with Marty to have a cheat day every once in a while. Just knowing you can choose to have your favorite food, (mine is fried clams! ), once in a while, helps you stay on course. *I* think the deprevation caused by most diets is what causes their failure. But, set a day of the week that will be your "cheat day" and you can live with that deprivation the rest of the week, knowing you can have your favorite food! And if a special occassion comes that isn't on that day, switch it, and keep your normal "cheat day" a diet day. No "double dipping" if you really want to loose!

BTW, whole wheat pasta is better because it takes longer to break down in the body. Therefore, it doesn't give you the sugar up and crash, like the bleached, white pasta does. It sustains you longer. Same with whole wheat bread. Be sure to look for *whole* in the lable.

Shalom!

[Bamboozle]

Mmm...I'm hungry now.

[Gypsy Feet]

Phal, you dont eat fruits or veggies you big liar!! Your plate is

corn tort
egg
BIG MUSCLE GUY STUFF!!

I remembered last night they make carb free ice cream I think!

Teach, I cant honestly tell you where my diet has stalled. I eat pretty darn healthy, so it may be portion control. I will have to go back to measuring and weighing

Morning:
egg white micro-scrambled with mushrooms and fat free cheese
snack grapes
lunch
salad with romaine, black olives, tomatoes, tuna and rice vinegar
nectarine
snack hard boiled egg (white only)
peanuts or pear
dinner
whole wheat pasta or brown rice
chicken breast/fish/lean pork/ground turkey 7%
veggies galore
desert
ICE CREAM!!

I work out 6 to 7 days a week. I alternate weights with swimming. I walk 5-15 miles a day for work, but not fast enough to pant, and with lots of stops. I just started the gym back up (the day it reopened!), so that should help. I went from 220+ down to 175 real quick when I joined ww 2 years ago. since last summer, I have added an extra 5-10 miles a day to my walking, and cut out booze, and only lost an additional 10 or so. I am at 164 this morning, which according to the damm charts is still obese! I must be the most fit obese girl on the freaking planet haha. Id like to drop another 30. . .but its just not happening at the moment.