Love Handles not going away

jeremychang125
jeremychang125 Posts: 1
in Health and Weight Loss
I started going to gym 5 months back. I lost 25 lbs in the first 3 month and reduced 2 inches in my waist too by running at least 2 miles a day and nothing more.

Since last 2 months, I am doing upper and lower body weight for 1 and half hr a day in alternate days along with running 1-2 miles each day for six days a week. But during these 2 months my weight has been almost the same. It sometimes go 1 lb up and sometimes 1 lb down but has been consistent on 148 for 2 months. Although my upper body is coming in shape, I haven't lost anything on these love handles and bellies. I don't want to gain muscles, I want to get rid of those love handles and belly fat and look fit.

What am I doing wrong for these 2 months? Should I do more abs crunches for these love handles and belly fat? I have heard doing more abs crunches will make the muscles inside your abs bigger and it even increases the love handle area and it looks even bad. is that true? I am maintaining the 1200 calorie a day and drinking enough water as well.

Replies

  • kitinboots
    kitinboots Posts: 589 Member
    Okay fr a start, take another look at how much you're eating. Have you calculated your BMR? Your total calories consumed should not drop below this (I'm not talking NET, I mean actual total). If you're far below this, start increasing gradually, maybe 50 extra calories every fortnight to allow your body to adapt.
    Also, going to the gym is all well and good but how hard are you actually pushing yourself? If you've been running the same distance for the past few months it will have become easier to you, yes? So you should be increasing the intensity somehow - upping the speed, going further, putting an incline on...if you consider a scale of 1-10, with 10 being maximum effort, you should aim to feel at a 7 and keep it up for 30-60min 5 times per week.
    With your weight training, are you lifting heavy enough? Do you max out? Couldyou squeeze out more reps than you are? If so, do more or up your weight. Also monitor how much time you rest between sets. Since most people lift in the 8-12 rep range, 45-60 seconds should suffice.
    It's also worth noting that weight training and increasing lean muscle mass will have an effect on your bodyweight. Are you measuring progress in other ways too? With a tape measure or body composition testing?
  • kitinboots
    kitinboots Posts: 589 Member
    Also, while crunches may increase the size of your abdominal muscles, you will not see a visible difference until your bodyfat% comes down a bit.
  • meeper123
    meeper123 Posts: 3,347 Member
    it will take more than a few months also you can't pick where you will lose fat. You just have to keep going and it will shrink eventually.
  • j6o4
    j6o4 Posts: 871 Member
    Hey bra, you need to be eating more than 1200 calories if your a guy. 1200 calories are for short, sedentary women. Yes you need a deficit to lose fat but if your deficit is too aggressive, especially if you are within a healthy bodyfat percentage, you will lose mostly muscle. Why is muscle so important? Because your bodyfat percentage is what you need to worry about to get rid of those love handles, and bodyfat percentage is a ratio of muscle to fat. IMO the best way to lower your bodyfat percentage is to get enough protein, have a fair deficit, and do some strength training to help retain muscle while losing weight. When I say strength training, I am referring to compound movements not no isolation bull *kitten*.

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