Any tips for losing inches.....

around the middle?

[Lauren_]

YES! It's my mission in life right now, so I can share the things that have worked for me.

• Cut the simple carbs (potatos, rice, pasta, corn, bread, and sweets). As we get to be over *ahem* 29 or so, our bodies don't process these things very well and they get stored as fat. More specifically, as belly fat, behind the stomach wall. Beer bellies are made from the simple sugars in beer... This one thing has helped me more than anything.

• Although spot reducing doesn't work, firming the abdominal muscle does help to shape the belly. I'm currently getting great results from Shiva Rhea's core workout CD. Maria, you'd love it, it's sort of yoga fusion, but it's brilliant.

• Another thing that's working well for me, with all-over weight loss, is not eating at night. It's brutally hard for me, though, I'm a nocturnal feeder by nature.

Anxious to read what others have to say on this topic!

[tahiradancer]

Pilates

Of course, people will come here and tell you that you cannot spot reduce, which is true, but you can concentrate on defining the muscles in one area more than another and incorperate it into an overall fitness regime.

Persoanlly, I am thinking about Bahaia's 45 mins of cardio + wieghts along with pilates, yoga and of course, belly dance.

{{{HUGS}}}}

[amity166]

Careful with cutting ALL of the carbs though. Your body needs some types of carbs to keep your metabolism going. Read info about the GI diet way of life. Cracked/stone ground wheat bread is good for you, as well as very little amounts of pasta or rice (favor non fast cooking wild rice) (1/2 a cup). If your metabolism is boosted with the right kind of foods, then you are in business!

Half your plate should be fruits/veggies, 1/4 of your plate should be good carbs, other 1/4 should be lean meat. Small portions, snack in between with nuts, fruits, veggies, low fat yogourt. Favor Balance bar or Luna bar as they are better proportionate for nutrients. You should be eating every 2 hours, even if its just a little bit.

[Gwoofer]

Same old Same old - gain as much muscle as you can while loosing as much fat as you can

[Lauren_]

Originally Posted by amity166

Careful with cutting ALL of the carbs though.

Agreed. I took for granted that Maria's Italian heritage would stop her giving up ALL pastas & risottos!

It's the simple carbs I cut. I still eat whole grain breads, pastas, etc. but not as often. And I don't go for the Atkins no-veggies route at ALL.

[kina]

an exercise that does wonders to help with the obliques is to get into plank, turn to side plank, hold 8, pulse eight, plank, switch sides, repeat.

It's brutal, but effective..

Thanks all for the tips.
However, I have ABS OF STEEL under my belly. It's just having trouble losing the extra padding around there......
I am off to order Shiva Rhea's DVD....
I think it is the carbs.
I cannot eat pasta, though I love it, being italian.
I put on weight just by LOOKING at it,
and I cheated horribly on my diet while I was back In NYC for vacation, I ate my way through Manhattan and Howard Beach Queens, which is all Italian.
*sigh*
back to carb reduction.
I eat tons of fruit and veggies, it's the simple carbs that Lauren says,
that darm pasta and bread, and wouldn't ya' know it, those are my favorites.
thanks to all!

[Lauren_]

Originally Posted by kina

an exercise that does wonders to help with the obliques is to get into plank, turn to side plank, hold 8, pulse eight, plank, switch sides, repeat.

It's brutal, but effective..

Kina, what are you pulsing here, the hips? You can pulse them in Plank, too, if you want to add some rectus abdominus work to the mix.

Most of my students don't have enough upper body strength to do the arm/shoulder work this one requires, though.

[damiena]

The oblique machine at the gym is the best! My waist is much more nipped in now and my obliques are rock hard.

[kina]

Yes, pulsing hips towards ceiling.

D'you mean pulsing (rocking?) forward from your toes, head pushing to opposite wall?

One way to help people develop the strength for this is to work it in stages, I show beginner, intermediate and (described above) advanced versions. Beginner is with bottom knee on the floor, intermediate has bottom leg straight, top leg angled forward so both feet are the floor, advanced is with feet stacked. I then move people through the stages, trying to track how long they've been in class. i also make sure to say that it's ok to go to any of the options, because our bodies are different day to day.

[poohbear]

Cut the REFINED carbs-ones made with white flour(white rice, white bread, white pasta, etc)
Keep the GOOD carbs-fresh fruits and veggies, whole grains, etc
And lastly-cardio, cardio, cardio

The ab workouts will help but you also need to keep the cardio up and watch the refined carbs. Cardio helpts to boost the metabolism and burn fat all over.

All drink your water!

[Lauren_]

Originally Posted by kina

Yes, pulsing hips towards ceiling.

D'you mean pulsing (rocking?) forward from your toes, head pushing to opposite wall?

Nope, I mean actually pulsing the hips slightly up and down while in plank. A little naughty-looking but very effective -- if the strength is there to keep the shoulders stable.

One way to help people develop the strength for this is to work it in stages, I show beginner, intermediate and (described above) advanced versions.

Good thinkin, that makes sense. I teach a lot of gentle yoga classes, for elderly/chronic pain students, and some of them can't do regular plank with both knees on the floor (some can't bear weight on their wrists due to arthritis either) but your modifications sound perfect for regular populations. Wish you lived closer, i'd totally want to be in your fitness classes!

[annwyn]

also, a belly band, it is that rubber thing that you put around your waist and it makes you sweat in that area. It wont make you lose fat there but will shrink the fat cells, and dehydrate them. Which will make you loose inches...

[heinakuu]

this is very interesting but could someone post a pic about the exercise or a youtube clip (with pilates) so that I could understand better what to do? It is so hard to understand just by reading. Please:Awhatchutalkingabou I am confused...

Originally Posted by poohbear

Cut the REFINED carbs-ones made with white flour(white rice, white bread, white pasta, etc)
Keep the GOOD carbs-fresh fruits and veggies, whole grains, etc
And lastly-cardio, cardio, cardio

The ab workouts will help but you also need to keep the cardio up and watch the refined carbs. Cardio helpts to boost the metabolism and burn fat all over.

All drink your water!

Great tips: However, and here is my frustration!

I teach 3 bellydance classes per week, do 1 bellydance company rehearsal once a week, take yoga twice a week, and flamenco once a week. Plus I go out and walk my dog once a day. PLUS, perform 1 or 2 1/2 hour shows twice a week at the least, sometimes up to 4 times a week, so we're talking anywhere from 2 - 16 shows a week!
How much more can a gal do!

It is definitely the carbs in my case....
My bums, arms, abs under a bit of flubb, and legs are rock hard.....
Also, when I am PMS'ing, I gain, and no joke, 5 pounds, and I bloat so horribly.

No more bread for me......that is my mantra,
no bread, no pasta -

BTW, I get complimented lots on my body, so even if I don't lose the two inches I don't like around my middle, I guess I'm okay, but *I* want to lose it.
Especially when I bloat due to freekin' PMS. Which, as longtime bhuzzers know, I often, along with Mish Mish, complain about, and frequently!

[tabitha]

Originally Posted by *maria*

Great tips: However, and here is my frustration!

I teach 3 bellydance classes per week, do 1 bellydance company rehearsal once a week, take yoga twice a week, and flamenco once a week. Plus I go out and walk my dog once a day. PLUS, perform 1 or 2 1/2 hour shows twice a week at the least, sometimes up to 4 times a week, so we're talking anywhere from 2 - 16 shows a week!
How much more can a gal do!

It is definitely the carbs in my case....
My bums, arms, abs under a bit of flubb, and legs are rock hard.....
Also, when I am PMS'ing, I gain, and no joke, 5 pounds, and I bloat so horribly.

No more bread for me......that is my mantra,
no bread, no pasta -

Unfortunately, even though you ARE doing a helluvalot, your body has built up the stamina and you are able to maintain at that amount of exercise per day/week. You probably need to do more high intensity cardio to make a difference. As for time, you can make the time if you really want to. (That's what I tell myself, anyway. I have a similar schedule: 5 performances a week or more, and a full time student.)

But this is just my suggestion, Maria. IMO I think you have a FAB figure!

I know my body has built up a resistance. And I know I can "make" the time.
Excuses excuses.........

Tks for the compliment, but I would *really* like to lose 2 inches around my waist.
And, if it takes a girdle to do it, well them, dam**t I'll have to get one.

[Gwoofer]

Originally Posted by *maria*

BTW, I get complimented lots on my body, so even if I don't lose the two inches I don't like around my middle, I guess I'm okay, but *I* want to lose it.
Especially when I bloat due to freekin' PMS. Which, as longtime bhuzzers know, I often, along with Mish Mish, complain about, and frequently!

Maria, I just went over to your profile to check out your bod , I absolutely must compliment you on the lovely figure of your english springer

OK, seriously, I think the very best reason for wanting to make any change is for yourself. So if you want to pursue those few inches my very best wishes to you

[SamiraShuruk]

Originally Posted by kina

One way to help people develop the strength for this is to work it in stages, I show beginner, intermediate and (described above) advanced versions. Beginner is with bottom knee on the floor, intermediate has bottom leg straight, top leg angled forward so both feet are the floor, advanced is with feet stacked. I then move people through the stages, trying to track how long they've been in class. i also make sure to say that it's ok to go to any of the options, because our bodies are different day to day.

Another good modification for plank (or side or supine plank for that matter) is to support oneself on the forearms instead of on the hands. Good for people with wrist or forearm problems as well as for people still developing the upper body strength.

[kina]

Originally Posted by Lauren_

Nope, I mean actually pulsing the hips slightly up and down while in plank. A little naughty-looking but very effective -- if the strength is there to keep the shoulders stable.



Good thinkin, that makes sense. I teach a lot of gentle yoga classes, for elderly/chronic pain students, and some of them can't do regular plank with both knees on the floor (some can't bear weight on their wrists due to arthritis either) but your modifications sound perfect for regular populations. Wish you lived closer, i'd totally want to be in your fitness classes!

thanks , I'd love to take your yoga!