How To Lose The Mummy Tummy...

angelgonemad88

Hi All,

I was looking for some advice? I have two small children (youngest is 1.5 years) and I am struggling to get rid of the mummy tummy. I'm not sure what exercises I should be doing to help get rid of the tummy and love handles. My tummy always looks bloated and like I am in early pregnancy...which I am NOT!

For the past three weeks I have dramatically reduced my sugar intake. Used to drink 2-3 pints of fizzy juice a day, now down to maybe 2-3 pints a week. Drink mainly water now (always at least 6+ cups a day - usually more). I have cut down on the amount of sugar I have on cereals (I have weetabix) and have cut down how much milk (either semi skimmed or full fat) when I used to drown my cereal in it. I have even reduced how much chocolate/sweets I eat (although I kinda of failed this weekend with the sweets). I try to eat more healthy meals now and trying to vary my diet, i.e. more fish, protein, and reduce how much carbs I take (I am a carb junky..could live on pasta, pizza and potatoes and bread). Even thought I have made all these cuts backs, I am struggling to stay within the recommended 1300 calories that I am allowed as I am still feeling hungry which makes me snack more than I should.

I have also increased the exercise I do, I used to do two classes a week at gym; ETM (which is aerobics to music) and Boogie Bounce (aerobics to music again but with a trampoline). I have now added in running three times a week and using the Couch to 5K app..now going into week 3 and have managed to get up to 4km in 30 mins.

Even with all these changes I am not sure if I am doing all I can to try and get rid of this belly. It just seems to stay there. I know progress takes time but I just feel like it's never going to happen.

Can any of you recommend anything else I should/shouldn't be doing to help move this tummy/love handle fat?

Thanks in advance!

jmgj27

I'd bet that I'm a lot bigger than you with a much bigger mum tum (I had twins) but mine has reduced significantly as I've lost weight. I have a loooong way still to go (65lbs+) and I'm not sure how taut my stomach will look at the end as my abs were completely separated but it definitely looks a lot smaller. I'd say you're doing plenty (incidentally I'd check your calorie intake as if you're feeling hungry a lot of the time it may be that increasing slightly will stop random snackage) and that as you lose weight your tummy will shrink as well. Good luck!

BroScience83

stay preggers

goldthistime

1300 seems low. My advice, for what it's worth, would be to set my goal to .5lb/week, and lift weights.

angelgonemad88

Thanks for the advice everyone.

How long should it take before I start seeing some results?

shadow2soul

Read this thread:
So You Want a Nice Stomach

angelgonemad88

shadow2soul wrote: »

Read this thread:
So You Want a Nice Stomach

Thanks for the link. Most of that makes sense but that TDEE-30% stuff is like a foreign language to me!

MelaniaTrump

Opinion: Eating right is 90% of the battle. Exercising is for your health.
10 Tips to lose your baby weight.
From WebMd, a site you can trust.
http://www.webmd.com/parenting/baby/ss/lose-baby-weight-slideshow?ecd=wnl_wlw_040416&ctr=wnl-wlw-040416_nsl-ld-stry_title&mb=nsvhrm64l1jOtre0iBEYIBXFE73IOX1ckgtLaT@8ZBI=
Hardest tip is to get enough sleep

shadow2soul

angelgonemad88 wrote: »

shadow2soul wrote: »

Read this thread:
So You Want a Nice Stomach

Thanks for the link. Most of that makes sense but that TDEE-30% stuff is like a foreign language to me!

TDEE = Total daily calorie expenditure
Say you maintain on 2000 calories.
TDEE - 20% would be eating 1600 calories to lose weight.

Unlike MFP's method were your calories increase when you exercise. TDEE is a flat calorie rate everyday of the week.


You should also look at these (pictures of women who lift on MFP):
Lifting is the Most Horrible Thing to a Woman Since Twiggy
Halp! Heavy Lifting Made Me Supah Bulky
Females only - lifting/weight training results?

jemhh

BroScience83 wrote: »

stay preggers

Lol. Somebody once told me that staying fat would prevent wrinkles since my skin would be filled out.

OP, my biggest piece of advice is to be patient. You're not going to see much in terms of visual results within 3 weeks. I have no idea what size you are (what are your height and weight btw?) but it is possible that your results will take 3 months to show up or even longer. I started out with a very big stomach--I don't get curvy thighs or a curvy butt, I just get a giant stomach and chicken legs while fat (lovely.) I'm in really good shape now and anybody who sees me with my clothes on likely thinks I am fine but the truth is that I still have a lot of belly fat plus the stretched abdominal skin that comes from being overweight or pregnant. I've been at this for over two years. Like I said, I have no idea how big you are so you may not have as far to go as I did when I started but the "be patient" point still remains.

angelgonemad88

jemhh wrote: »

BroScience83 wrote: »

stay preggers

Lol. Somebody once told me that staying fat would prevent wrinkles since my skin would be filled out.

OP, my biggest piece of advice is to be patient. You're not going to see much in terms of visual results within 3 weeks. I have no idea what size you are (what are your height and weight btw?) but it is possible that your results will take 3 months to show up or even longer. I started out with a very big stomach--I don't get curvy thighs or a curvy butt, I just get a giant stomach and chicken legs while fat (lovely.) I'm in really good shape now and anybody who sees me with my clothes on likely thinks I am fine but the truth is that I still have a lot of belly fat plus the stretched abdominal skin that comes from being overweight or pregnant. I've been at this for over two years. Like I said, I have no idea how big you are so you may not have as far to go as I did when I started but the "be patient" point still remains.

I'm 5ft 3" and weight..I have no idea..I do not trust my scales, one minute it tells me I am 9st 10lbs and the next I am 9st 7.5lbs within seconds of each other. Tried changing the battery and taking readings on solid level surfaces.

I am like you..my friends think I am fine, but that's because I have clothes on and I always wear a vest top underneath t-shirts etc to try and hold in my flabby bits, streamline line haha.

I get the whole "be patient" thing but to be honest after reading a lot on here about the extent everyone has to go to to lose weight, i.e, weighing everything, logging everything, it's putting me off making me feel down as I don't have time to maintain this type of accuracy with food logging; I work 4 days a week, I have two young children that occupy a lot of my time, I work out 4-5 times a week and well along with housework and just generally trying to have a life, i.e see family, friends, have family time with hubby and kids etc. Maybe it just isn't the right time to try and lose weight.

I will keep up with the exercise as I enjoy it..it's a little bit of me time. But I think the food logging and weight loss will have to wait.

Thanks everyone for taking the time out to give me your advice and opinions.

TavistockToad

angelgonemad88 wrote: »

jemhh wrote: »

BroScience83 wrote: »

stay preggers

Lol. Somebody once told me that staying fat would prevent wrinkles since my skin would be filled out.

OP, my biggest piece of advice is to be patient. You're not going to see much in terms of visual results within 3 weeks. I have no idea what size you are (what are your height and weight btw?) but it is possible that your results will take 3 months to show up or even longer. I started out with a very big stomach--I don't get curvy thighs or a curvy butt, I just get a giant stomach and chicken legs while fat (lovely.) I'm in really good shape now and anybody who sees me with my clothes on likely thinks I am fine but the truth is that I still have a lot of belly fat plus the stretched abdominal skin that comes from being overweight or pregnant. I've been at this for over two years. Like I said, I have no idea how big you are so you may not have as far to go as I did when I started but the "be patient" point still remains.

I'm 5ft 3" and weight..I have no idea..I do not trust my scales, one minute it tells me I am 9st 10lbs and the next I am 9st 7.5lbs within seconds of each other. Tried changing the battery and taking readings on solid level surfaces.

I am like you..my friends think I am fine, but that's because I have clothes on and I always wear a vest top underneath t-shirts etc to try and hold in my flabby bits, streamline line haha.

I get the whole "be patient" thing but to be honest after reading a lot on here about the extent everyone has to go to to lose weight, i.e, weighing everything, logging everything, it's putting me off making me feel down as I don't have time to maintain this type of accuracy with food logging; I work 4 days a week, I have two young children that occupy a lot of my time, I work out 4-5 times a week and well along with housework and just generally trying to have a life, i.e see family, friends, have family time with hubby and kids etc. Maybe it just isn't the right time to try and lose weight.

I will keep up with the exercise as I enjoy it..it's a little bit of me time. But I think the food logging and weight loss will have to wait.

Thanks everyone for taking the time out to give me your advice and opinions.

At 5ft3 and between 133lbs and 136lbs you are not very over weight. You only need a deficit of 0.5lbs -1lb max and you do need to be more patient. Adding in some resistance training may help too.

angelgonemad88

TavistockToad wrote: »

At 5ft3 and between 133lbs and 136lbs you are not very over weight. You only need a deficit of 0.5lbs -1lb max and you do need to be more patient. Adding in some resistance training may help too.

Thanks for replying.

Ideally I would be happy at the 9st mark. I am generally trying to eat healthy and a varied diet (as much as I can anyways..sometimes easier eating what everyone else is having) and have increased my exercise and that's all I can do at the moment I think. Food logging every minute detail of my food intake isn't something I feel I can do right now.

thunder1982

I am surprised that no one suggested strength training as yet, its helps retain muscle which makes your body look better as you lose weight. I have recently started stronglifts 5x5, I have by no means seen results as yet but I've read and seen great things on here about the results. I got some results from body weight strength training I did last year though, actually have some arm definition now.

I am not logging food at the moment. I have a rough idea from logging strictly for 3 months last year and I still often use the same recipes to prepare lunches and dinners. I have committed to a training program for a 12.6km run in early June. The program has cardio and strength training. I am not yet ready to go back to calorie counting but I do weigh myself at least twice a week to make sure I am not slipping back up the scale. Took measurements this morning as well so I can monitor my progress over the next couple of months.

I have 3 kids, a full time job and a part time volunteer role so i understand busy and thats partly why I have taken a break from calorie counting but also working through sorting out a medical issue too and it will take some time to adjust medication. So as long as I am not going backwards I am happy with not losing weight ATM. The June run has given me something to focus on without being all caught up in the numbers (now its all about average times:))

angelgonemad88

thunder1982 wrote: »

I am surprised that no one suggested strength training as yet, its helps retain muscle which makes your body look better as you lose weight. I have recently started stronglifts 5x5, I have by no means seen results as yet but I've read and seen great things on here about the results. I got some results from body weight strength training I did last year though, actually have some arm definition now.

I am not logging food at the moment. I have a rough idea from logging strictly for 3 months last year and I still often use the same recipes to prepare lunches and dinners. I have committed to a training program for a 12.6km run in early June. The program has cardio and strength training. I am not yet ready to go back to calorie counting but I do weigh myself at least twice a week to make sure I am not slipping back up the scale. Took measurements this morning as well so I can monitor my progress over the next couple of months.

I have 3 kids, a full time job and a part time volunteer role so i understand busy and thats partly why I have taken a break from calorie counting but also working through sorting out a medical issue too and it will take some time to adjust medication. So as long as I am not going backwards I am happy with not losing weight ATM. The June run has given me something to focus on without being all caught up in the numbers (now its all about average times:))

Someone suggested weights in another thread, but I am not keen on doing strong lifts, dumbells I can candle but nothing like what body builders do. I have committed to a 5km run at end of May which I am looking forward to and I am enjoying running as I am getting better at it, increasing my distance in the time I am running for. Also I go to an aeorbic class once a week which uses dumbells and resistance bands but someone said on another thread to aim for this type of training twice a week but where I live, the classes I need to go to in order to keep my motivation are always on at wrong times/days. I am not keen on using the actual gym machinery as I lose all motivation, I find classes are better as the instructor is there motivating you. In the gym environment I just feel like a lost cause as everyone in there look like they belong there and this totally puts me off.

Thanks for the advice though and it's nice to know that someone else gets the whole 'busy' life..I only listed a few things in my post but as you well know there's so much more to it LOL.

I think I am getting a bit obsessed with my scales and I don't like it They are certainly not my friend at the moment and just put me in a low mood which doesn't help with my healthy eating.

TavistockToad

angelgonemad88 wrote: »

TavistockToad wrote: »

At 5ft3 and between 133lbs and 136lbs you are not very over weight. You only need a deficit of 0.5lbs -1lb max and you do need to be more patient. Adding in some resistance training may help too.

Thanks for replying.

Ideally I would be happy at the 9st mark. I am generally trying to eat healthy and a varied diet (as much as I can anyways..sometimes easier eating what everyone else is having) and have increased my exercise and that's all I can do at the moment I think. Food logging every minute detail of my food intake isn't something I feel I can do right now.

there is absolutely nothing wrong with not weighing your food or whatever, but the fact of the matter is, if you don't, then you are less likely to be in a meaningful enough deficit to consistently lose weight. so you need to re-adjust your perception of how much weight you can lose in a short space of time...

ilacheta

angelgonemad88 wrote: »

Hi All,

I was looking for some advice? I have two small children (youngest is 1.5 years) and I am struggling to get rid of the mummy tummy. I'm not sure what exercises I should be doing to help get rid of the tummy and love handles. My tummy always looks bloated and like I am in early pregnancy...which I am NOT!

For the past three weeks I have dramatically reduced my sugar intake. Used to drink 2-3 pints of fizzy juice a day, now down to maybe 2-3 pints a week. Drink mainly water now (always at least 6+ cups a day - usually more). I have cut down on the amount of sugar I have on cereals (I have weetabix) and have cut down how much milk (either semi skimmed or full fat) when I used to drown my cereal in it. I have even reduced how much chocolate/sweets I eat (although I kinda of failed this weekend with the sweets). I try to eat more healthy meals now and trying to vary my diet, i.e. more fish, protein, and reduce how much carbs I take (I am a carb junky..could live on pasta, pizza and potatoes and bread). Even thought I have made all these cuts backs, I am struggling to stay within the recommended 1300 calories that I am allowed as I am still feeling hungry which makes me snack more than I should.

I have also increased the exercise I do, I used to do two classes a week at gym; ETM (which is aerobics to music) and Boogie Bounce (aerobics to music again but with a trampoline). I have now added in running three times a week and using the Couch to 5K app..now going into week 3 and have managed to get up to 4km in 30 mins.

Even with all these changes I am not sure if I am doing all I can to try and get rid of this belly. It just seems to stay there. I know progress takes time but I just feel like it's never going to happen.

Can any of you recommend anything else I should/shouldn't be doing to help move this tummy/love handle fat?

Thanks in advance!

Please look into the youtube vedios with all belly exercises( mostly short up to 10 min but intense) and also check a military diet that allows you to drop down to 10 pounds during 3 days. I have checked this diet and really works.

ilacheta

Please look into the youtube vedios with all belly exercises( mostly short up to 10 min but intense) and also check a military diet that allows you to drop down to 10 pounds during 3 days. I have checked this diet and really works.

Charlot4444

ilacheta wrote: »

Please look into the youtube vedios with all belly exercises( mostly short up to 10 min but intense) and also check a military diet that allows you to drop down to 10 pounds during 3 days. I have checked this diet and really works.

Ignore this. First of you can't spot reduce and the military diet is terrible.

TavistockToad

Charlot4444 wrote: »

ilacheta wrote: »

Please look into the youtube vedios with all belly exercises( mostly short up to 10 min but intense) and also check a military diet that allows you to drop down to 10 pounds during 3 days. I have checked this diet and really works.

Ignore this. First of you can't spot reduce and the military diet is terrible.

agreed!

jemhh

angelgonemad88 wrote: »

jemhh wrote: »

BroScience83 wrote: »

stay preggers

Lol. Somebody once told me that staying fat would prevent wrinkles since my skin would be filled out.

OP, my biggest piece of advice is to be patient. You're not going to see much in terms of visual results within 3 weeks. I have no idea what size you are (what are your height and weight btw?) but it is possible that your results will take 3 months to show up or even longer. I started out with a very big stomach--I don't get curvy thighs or a curvy butt, I just get a giant stomach and chicken legs while fat (lovely.) I'm in really good shape now and anybody who sees me with my clothes on likely thinks I am fine but the truth is that I still have a lot of belly fat plus the stretched abdominal skin that comes from being overweight or pregnant. I've been at this for over two years. Like I said, I have no idea how big you are so you may not have as far to go as I did when I started but the "be patient" point still remains.

I'm 5ft 3" and weight..I have no idea..I do not trust my scales, one minute it tells me I am 9st 10lbs and the next I am 9st 7.5lbs within seconds of each other. Tried changing the battery and taking readings on solid level surfaces.

I am like you..my friends think I am fine, but that's because I have clothes on and I always wear a vest top underneath t-shirts etc to try and hold in my flabby bits, streamline line haha.

I get the whole "be patient" thing but to be honest after reading a lot on here about the extent everyone has to go to to lose weight, i.e, weighing everything, logging everything, it's putting me off making me feel down as I don't have time to maintain this type of accuracy with food logging; I work 4 days a week, I have two young children that occupy a lot of my time, I work out 4-5 times a week and well along with housework and just generally trying to have a life, i.e see family, friends, have family time with hubby and kids etc. Maybe it just isn't the right time to try and lose weight.

I will keep up with the exercise as I enjoy it..it's a little bit of me time. But I think the food logging and weight loss will have to wait.

Thanks everyone for taking the time out to give me your advice and opinions.

I promise we are not all unemployed single people using the public library computer lab to post on mfp. We all are busy. I've never met a person in my life who said "I have absolutely nothing going on ever. I'm free as a bird!"

It's fine if you aren't at a point where you're willing to commit to losing weight but using your job and family as an excuse is poor logic.

Best of luck to you.

shadow2soul

angelgonemad88 wrote: »

jemhh wrote: »

BroScience83 wrote: »

stay preggers

Lol. Somebody once told me that staying fat would prevent wrinkles since my skin would be filled out.

OP, my biggest piece of advice is to be patient. You're not going to see much in terms of visual results within 3 weeks. I have no idea what size you are (what are your height and weight btw?) but it is possible that your results will take 3 months to show up or even longer. I started out with a very big stomach--I don't get curvy thighs or a curvy butt, I just get a giant stomach and chicken legs while fat (lovely.) I'm in really good shape now and anybody who sees me with my clothes on likely thinks I am fine but the truth is that I still have a lot of belly fat plus the stretched abdominal skin that comes from being overweight or pregnant. I've been at this for over two years. Like I said, I have no idea how big you are so you may not have as far to go as I did when I started but the "be patient" point still remains.

I'm 5ft 3" and weight..I have no idea..I do not trust my scales, one minute it tells me I am 9st 10lbs and the next I am 9st 7.5lbs within seconds of each other. Tried changing the battery and taking readings on solid level surfaces.

I am like you..my friends think I am fine, but that's because I have clothes on and I always wear a vest top underneath t-shirts etc to try and hold in my flabby bits, streamline line haha.

I get the whole "be patient" thing but to be honest after reading a lot on here about the extent everyone has to go to to lose weight, i.e, weighing everything, logging everything, it's putting me off making me feel down as I don't have time to maintain this type of accuracy with food logging; I work 4 days a week, I have two young children that occupy a lot of my time, I work out 4-5 times a week and well along with housework and just generally trying to have a life, i.e see family, friends, have family time with hubby and kids etc. Maybe it just isn't the right time to try and lose weight.

I will keep up with the exercise as I enjoy it..it's a little bit of me time. But I think the food logging and weight loss will have to wait.

Thanks everyone for taking the time out to give me your advice and opinions.

Lot's of people here are busy.
Meal prep. Take Sunday for example and make all your meals for the week. I like to make this chicken taco chili recipe I found on Skinnytaste. It's a slow cooker meal, so it's one of those through the ingredeints together and let it sit all day things. When it's done, I separate out servings to have throughout the week and throw them in the freezer. Then all I have to do is grab one and heat it up. You can make a whole weeks worth of heat and serve lunchs/dinners one day a week that is already in small portions (like making your own microwave meals).
For me weighing food is much faster and less clean up compared to using measuring cups. Put a plate or bowl on the scale, zero it out, add food, and I log it right then. You could also prelog your days and plan your meals in advance.

Weightlifting will not make you look like a bodybuilder. That takes very specific training and eating plans plus lots of time (years). In some cases it also requires steroids. Stronglifts 5x5 is a strength building program and is one I do it (I am very far from being any sort of body builder).
That said you don't have to use weights. You can use body weight (You are your own gym) or restance bands or even dumbbells. Strength training will help a lot though. Maybe see if your gym has an Interval or Boot Camp or Body Pump class if you like the class setting.

elm478

Have you checked for Diastasis recti? If your abdominal muscles separated during pregnancy (it's super common), it can make you look pregnant when you're not. Crunches and planks tend to exacerbate the separation. I've been doing some of the Tupler technique exercises, and my separation has gotten smaller! There are tons of YouTube videos that show how to check for a separation.

If you don't have Diastasis recti, just ignore me.

angelgonemad88

Thanks for the responses. Will look into the bulk cooking thing and will check Skinnytaste out. I have already been looking at other recipes online to try and vary my diet but didn't think about bulk cooking.

I did not mean to insinuate that folks on here don't have a busy life, sorry if you felt that way...all I was saying is that I feel 'my' life has too much going on.

angelgonemad88

Looking back at this and I think now that I must have been have a bad couple of days

My husband has now joined up to MFP and is being supportive by encouraging me to keep at it etc. I also felt better after I went for a run yesterday even though I didn't manage to run as far as I wanted...but I'm still a running newbie so I have to be 'patient'..plus weighed this morning and have lost 0.5lbs