I did it! 40lbs in 1 year with pics!

Ha I forgot to tell you guys, I lost 12 inches of my stomach too!:drinker:

You look great!! I like that you went for the lifestyle change instead of dieting.
What kind of weight training did you do for abs? I have had 5 kids and my weight is in my belly. I run and do yoga, like both. Congrats and let us know about your ab workouts with weights.

Well I like the ab bench and ab machines. I can't do crunches because of back issues so i use the ab bench alot to support my head and neck. for obliques I use a free weight and do side crunches. My favorite ab workout though is on youtube. it's called "12 Minute Standing Up Abs - Lets Kick those ABS into shape". it's awesome and really wittles away the stomach fat and obliques. I like to change my workouts around all the time to encourage muscle confusion. it's worked well for me.

You guys, I had someone ask me this: I do lots of cardio but my biggest struggle is the weight training and to keep myself motivated and not bored while doing it. What did you do?? I noticed you did it for 1-2 hours! i can barely do 30 minutes.

After I finished typing my response, I decided that I wanted to share this info with all of you. I hope it helps. when I changed from just boring repetitive sets to this, I lost 9lbs that month and 4inches off my stomach:drinker: . so it definitely worked for me. remember though, that everyone is different. that's why i say learn your body and what it takes to get it where you need it to be. try different proven methods and develop your own from what works for you. here is my response:

i listen to music. also, I dont stop other than about a min or 2 between exercises. I curcuit train. that is when you do two exercises working the same area at the same time. for example: to work my abs, I use the ab machine at my gym and a free weight. I do my set ( whatever i decide it is that day) on the ab machine, and then I get up immediately and do side crunches for my obliques. after I finish my oblique set, I go right back to my machine sets. I do this 3 times per muscle group i'm working that day. another example is my arms. I work my biceps on the machine and my triceps with the free weights in the same 3 set rotation I mentioned. then I change and work my biceps with the weight and my triceps with the machine. this is one of the ways i change up my routine to keep it challenging and interesting and to encourage muscle confusion. also, I change something about my routine everyday. on some exercises i increase the weight by 5lbs and try to get to 3 sets of 15 reps. when I can, I move up. I try different ways to work my muscles. even if it's something i don't really want to try, as long as it doesnt hurt or feel uncomfortable, I give it a try. you never know, it my be just the exercise you need to add to you regimen. So try and change things up as often as possible. DONT OVERDO IT. go at a reasonable pace, but when you feel stronger, challenge yourself to go one step further. you may ache sometimes, but the week after, when your muscles have adjusted and the inches are starting to strink, you will be so proud of yourself and determined to do more.

I wish you all again good luck! feel free to message me anytime.:flowerforyou: