Losing weight, still have a belly?

LegacyUser

Can anyone PLEEEEEASE help. I'm 29 y.o. male around 5'10 or 5'11 and on January 2 weighed 14st 9lbs. However, by kinda looking at the gf's weightwatchers book and cutting out junk, walking 30 to 40 mins briskly each day, I've managed to get the weight down to 13st 1lb, which I'm delighted with.

However, I find that my belly is not disappearing (12 years of booze). Has anyone got any advice or exercised I can try to help get rid of the belly, bearing in mind that sometimes I get a bad back?

Also, because I just don't understand BMI (it's over my head), what should the ideal weight be for someone my age/height? I reckon somewhere between 12st and 12st 7lbs.

Help anyone?

vibrant

Ok, your BMI started out at around 29.4 (I used 5ft 10 as your height), and is currently 26.3 which is a HUGE step in the right direction, well done! I used the BMI Calculator on VHI's website ... www.vhihealthe.ie ... there is lots of information about diet and nutrition on the site, even if you're not a member I suggest you give it a read.

It says that your "ideal" weight should range somewhere from 128.9 and 174.2pounds, that is around 9 stone - 12 and a half stone! A huge range, isn't it?! I'm sure other Boardsies will chip in and say that the BMI scale isn't the only good indicator to use when losing weight. It doesn't take into account your frame (actually I saw a show where they said that George Clooney and Brad Pitt could be classified as obese using the BMI Scale!)

I am trying to shift a bit of weight myself, and what's been working so far is cardio - and lots of it. I see a big difference in my loss the weeks I put in a good cardio effort (4x a week) compared to the weeks I don't. I watch what I eat, and try to avoid as much fat as possible, and I stay away from fizzy drinks/alcohol. You mentioned that you are doing the brisk walking... do you have facilities nearby where you could swim/jog/cycle/etc? As for the belly - I'll echo everyone else on here and say that spot reducing doesn't work! You can do sit ups until the cows come home, but until you burn away the layer of fat over the muscle, you'll kind of be wasting your time. Get sweating and the belly shall get smaller

You seem to be happy enough doing the WW points thing... would you consider going along to their weekly meetings for a better education and some motivation? I think they have web-based meetings too if you weren't comfortable.

Kojak

In my opinion that BMI thing is slightly flawed. It doesn't take into account a persons physical make-up (I am not talking about their height).

I used the BMI calculator and was told I had a BMI of 26 which meant I was over-weight (which is fine - I know I have a few pounds to loose) but to be 'normal' according to the BMI I would need to be under 12 stone (or 168 pounds). This would not be applicable to be as I have been classed as a person with broad shoulders.

The point I am trying to make is that the BMI is only a guide - it should not be taken as gospel.

LegacyUser

Thanks for your help ... think I might turn the brisk walk into a jog and see how it goes.

t-ha

monga_ringpull wrote:

I've managed to get the weight down to 13st 1lb, which I'm delighted with.

Good stuff.

monga_ringpull wrote:

However, I find that my belly is not disappearing (12 years of booze). Has anyone got any advice or exercised I can try to help get rid of the belly, bearing in mind that sometimes I get a bad back?

Can I ask what is wrong with your back exactly?

monga_ringpull wrote:

Also, because I just don't understand BMI (it's over my head), what should the ideal weight be for someone my age/height? I reckon somewhere between 12st and 12st 7lbs.

It depends on your build but that sounds about right.