Advice for hubby

Congrats to your husband on working out. I have found that even though I now have a standing desk, I still need to guard against bad posture. I have found that barre helps more than anything on my core/etc. Twists seem to help the most.

The change from an active job to a sedentary one would mean he doesn't need as many calories as he did before, so that would be the first thing to look at.

Easy and effective exercises to add would include getting a jump rope. He should also consider adding burpees to his routine. He could do his exercises as part of a timed circuit to add intensity.

Cap'n, that's not necessarily true.

It's the same with my husband as it is with Stargazer's, and I've seen that genetic pattern across his family. They all put on weight in the belly. My husband, for instance, is only about two pounds overweight, which is exactly where I'm at. Yet I'm a "pear" (and became a pear almost immediately when I started to lose weight, even when I was still about 18 pounds overweight) and he's got that blasted belly. His sister is my height and my weight, and is pretty toned, but she still has a belly.

I know there are ethnic components ... for instance, people of South Asian/Indian ethnicity (like my husband) tend to put on weight in the belly and resist losing it. I suspect that's true on a micro level too (e.g. not ethnic groups but just individual family genetics).

Anyway, it's REALLY frustrating. In my husband's case, he does do some cardio and strength training, and I know exactly what he eats (which is what I eat, except for lunch, when he has veggies and lentils at the office.) He does not eat grains or drink beer and isn't a snacker. Yet, any weight at all goes straight to the belly! And I bet that's true of a lot of folks. It's the genetic luck of the draw.

I've always heard you can't "spot reduce." But I dunno ... maybe you can. When you say "slow zone 2 cardio," what do you mean, exactly? Details and suggestions for particular exercises or gym equipment would be really helpful!

It's genetic where fat deposits on a person. And if it wasn't this way before, then it means the current intake is more than he needs. Couple of ways to combat this. Either eat less or increase physical activity or a combination of both.

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
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Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

whitespider360 wrote: »

Ok, this is my personal secret to lose inches, so don't laugh. When you walk, if you wrap your troubled areas with saran wrap (several times) you will lose more inches and melt more fat faster. I went from a size 24 to a size 8 in 7 months using this method.

No.

Congrats on losing the weight, but you would have seen the same result without the saran wrap.

ViolaLeeBlueberry wrote: »

Cap'n, that's not necessarily true.

It's the same with my husband as it is with Stargazer's, and I've seen that genetic pattern across his family. They all put on weight in the belly. My husband, for instance, is only about two pounds overweight, which is exactly where I'm at. Yet I'm a "pear" (and became a pear almost immediately when I started to lose weight, even when I was still about 18 pounds overweight) and he's got that blasted belly. His sister is my height and my weight, and is pretty toned, but she still has a belly.

I know there are ethnic components ... for instance, people of South Asian/Indian ethnicity (like my husband) tend to put on weight in the belly and resist losing it. I suspect that's true on a micro level too (e.g. not ethnic groups but just individual family genetics).

Anyway, it's REALLY frustrating. In my husband's case, he does do some cardio and strength training, and I know exactly what he eats (which is what I eat, except for lunch, when he has veggies and lentils at the office.) He does not eat grains or drink beer and isn't a snacker. Yet, any weight at all goes straight to the belly! And I bet that's true of a lot of folks. It's the genetic luck of the draw.

I've always heard you can't "spot reduce." But I dunno ... maybe you can. When you say "slow zone 2 cardio," what do you mean, exactly? Details and suggestions for particular exercises or gym equipment would be really helpful!

"slow zone 2 cardio" means cardiovascular exercise, done slowly, staying in zone 2 heart rate.

Stargazer525 wrote: »

According to the MFP BMI calculator he is right in the middle of a healthy weight for his age, so obviously, doesn't need to lose any.
However he does have a paunch/muffin top developing.... The last year he has moved from a manual job to a desk job.

Sounds like he is what's called "skinny fat". That's usually from a lack of doing heavy strength training, which leads to a loss of muscle and a drop in metabolism. Make sure he's following a professionally-designed strength program, instead of doing his own thing. Popular programs here include NROL and Stronglifts.. or he can work with a good personal trainer.