LIke is there certain ways to lose inches off your waist rather than focusing on the scale. Honestly if I could lose the inches I dont care what the scale says at the time. So is there better excercises that focus on the inches or waist??? Also if you do weight training doesnt that also give you more weight like more lbs?? I dont know if I am making sense??? About 6 months down the road I might have it all together but i am sooo still learning about all the different excercises and the calories.. thanks for your help everyone!!!!

Lemme put it this way. Weight training may not change the numbers on the scale - but it will change your measurements.

There is no way to spot reduce - like doing stomach crunches to flatten your stomach. If there is a layer of fat over the muscle, unless you lose the layer of fat by lowering your body fat percentage...just toning the muscles underneath the fat won't get you a flat stomach.

As for weight training giving you more weight - I think what you are talking about is the fact that volume-wise fat is heavier than fat. But it means that a pound of muscle takes up a lot less space than a pound of fat. So - it's a good thing. here's a pic of a 5 pounds of fat and a 5 pounds of muscle


check out the stickies in the exercise forum - especially this one about Working Out — And Gaining Weight?

Tons of good info in there. There is also a forum specific to weight training. Lots of info in the stickies there, too.

Happy reading!

Hmmm....I know you can't spot reduce, but I will tell you mine so far.

My original weight was 144...6 weeks later, I'm at 135. Not a lot, but Im okay with that. Mainly because, I have lost 3" off my waist, and 3" off my hips. Yeehaw! This is on south beach. I really think that taking complex carbs out of my diet (pasta, potatoes, etc.) really helped me.

PS- I've done a BUNCH of walking/jogging as well, which also helps!

Pilates will strengthen your core a *lot*. While you won't get rid of the fat, you can work on the muscles underneath - which will give you a slimmer appearance.

Don't be afraid to strength train. The benefits far, far outweigh the temporary weight gain you may (or may not) experience.

I know you can't spot lose weight but resistance training really does help. I use the Leslie Sansone walk away the waist belt not only for her walking/aerobic videos but for her toning videos also. I am losing inches in my waist like crazy. I am building muscles all over my body and all I changed in my workouts was adding dumbbells or the waist band or stretchies with the walking/aerobic videos.. I love her You can do Pilate's too. None of the exerciseing I do has made the weight loss happen any faster but it really has helped to tone the body as I lose weight.

ok well that helps in knowing the difference esp. the picture...and then the different videos to try to do work!! Thanks everyone!!

I second South Beach. It is touted for reducing abdominal fat. I lost about 4 inches off my waist in about a month. Simple carbs can add to your waistline. I've never lost abdominal fat quite so fast. Prevention magazine also did an article on adding MUFA's to your diet (Mono-unsaturated fatty acids). It is fantastic at reducing fat in the abdominal area. These are foods like olive oil, walnuts, peanut butter, avocado, cashews, flaxseed oil. You can find more info on it at prevention.com

I was like oh wow i will have to add some of those things and then when you listed them i was like oh ewww i dont like hardly any of them. I pretty much hate peanuts and peanut butter I use olive oil...hmmmi am gonna go look at stuff for the south beach. Now is it like a diet when you come off and eat regularly then you gain weight??

South Beach is a way of eating healthily for the rest of your life. You don't come off of it. Phase I is induction for 2 weeks (No fruit or bread, can have dairy, cheese, beans, lean meats, nuts and lots of veggies). Phase II is the rest of the weight loss phase (add in whole grain items, fruits). Phase III is maintenance. You don't go off of it. No measuring or weighing, no counting calories or points. And you eat 5-6 times a day. I am always satisfied and not starving between meals. Check out the South Beach forum or read Dr. Agatston's book. I think prevention.com's MUFA eating plan is online if you want to check it out too. Has a lot of similarities to South Beach.

mom-

If you want to lose weight and keep it off, then you have to commit to whatever plan you choose...for life. South Beach, Weight Watchers, calorie counting-they all work. They all make you eat less calories, therefore, you shed pounds. However, when you lose the weight, if you go back to eating the way that you did when you were fat, then you will soon become fat again.

Those who keep the weight off, all have to commit to exercising on a regular basis, and watching what they eat, for life.

The key is to find what eating plan that suits you enough to stick to it for the rest of your life. Also, finding what exercise that you enjoy enough to keep doing it forever.

For me, it is calorie counting. For my exercise, I enjoy walking, strength training, Pilates, yoga, and I am a belly dance instructor/performer. Those are the things that I enjoy.

For someone else, it might be Weight Watchers and jogging. For someone else it might be South Beach and going to Curves. Everyone is different. You simply have to find what plan YOU can stick to for life.