Trim my hips!

InkedinCork

Right...I'm a certified massage therapist but I really need to lose weight around my midsection. I have working hard on it for the last two years and have lost a total of approx 60 lbs but I need a shot in the arm as it were!

For being a big girl I have a cinched waist but very wide hips. Any suggestions on excersizes to trim down those specific areas???

Thanks for any help!!

Transform

need your stats and current training program and lay out your diet completely

InkedinCork

6'0 - 20 st used to run 5 miles a day 4 times a week but haven't been because gym prices in this country are insane and I just can't afford it and I can't get my hands on an eliptical machine so I walk an hour a day everyday and work on my feet and do some strength training at home.

My diet consists of a bowl of cereal (1/2 cup) in the AM with soy milk and strawberries, never any added sugar or honey or anything of the sort. If not cereal then hardboiled eggs with plain toast or porridge made with soy milk and strawberries.

Lunch is usually some kind of soup (as low sodium and fat as possible), or cous cous or a salad with no dressing, or sushi.

Dinner is more chicken than anything, never breaded or fried always baked or cooked in a tiny bit of olive oil. Fish twice a week, usually steamed salmon with veg and cous cous. same sides with chicken. I don't eat red meat often, once a week maybe and I try not to do ground beef.

Hope that's detailed enough! Thanks for the help!

**Timbuk2**

Your diet sounds really good! You've already lost 60lbs - which is a lot, well done. It's possible now that you've lost all that weight, you should concentrate on toning up a bit now. You could try working on your abs and back etc to try and tone up your midsection, which will eventually shape it.

Does your BMI put you in a healthy weight range or an overweight one? If it's in or approaching healthy, then definitely consider toning up more.

It's possible that your body might be adapting to your exercise routine, which means you will not get as good as results from it, even if you feel you are putting in the same effort. Try throwing in a curved ball to 'confuse' your body. Perhaps when you are walking alternate jogging with walking. Some people think jogging isn't enjoyable, but it is if you go slow enough. Your speed will eventually build up

Hope this helps!

InkedinCork

Aw thanks! I was really nervous about posting about this to be honest but you've curbed my fears!

I have done a CRAZY amount of work in the last 2-3 years re-training myself on what tastes good and what my body needs! I would never go back now

Didn't really think about alternating to be honest, must try that. Because of the amount of weight I carried for so long my knees have a bit of a hard time now with running which is why I always used an eliptical but slow jogging should be ok! I think I will start doing that and hopefully I will start seeing a difference! It's only since I moved here in June that I started to see some definition in my tummy so hopefully that will continue the harder I work!

Thanks a bunch! Much appreciated!:p

**Timbuk2**

Good to see you willing to improve your fitness so much!
Don't worry about going fast when you are jogging - sometimes people think there is a lot of pressure just to boot it really fast and then eventually get fed up and annoyed. Just take it slow until your body gets used to it. In fact, it'll probably surprise you how quick you'll progress in jogging once you start something new.
Now that the weather is getting better (well at least it should be), you'll have more oppurtunities for outdoor exercise. Listening to music while you run helps to motivate you to keep going ("keeping running until the end of this song")

Also I've started doing interval training in the gym, but I'm sure it can be done outdoors as well. Interval training is basically where you walk/jog at a normal pace for 30 seconds, then jog at a high pace for 30 seconds, and then take it back to a normal pace for 30 seconds, and keep repeating. This is excellent for weight loss. I've heard it promotes weight loss without muscle loss (whether this is true or not, I'm not sure. But I know it works great for weight loss and it can be more fun than just jogging at a constant speed for 30 minutes etc).
For example, on the treadmill I might run at 9km/h as my normal pace, and then 30 seconds later up it to 12.5km/h, then take it back to 9km/h.

Good luck with the jogging. If you find your knees are not up to it, then slow down and take it easy. It should be tough but not painful.

Hope you get on well!