Jogging to lose belly fat. Help!

1. tell us what you currently eat and when and we can advise better
2. don't increase (a) total weekly distance, (b) distance of longest run or (3) speed/intensity of any run by more than 10% per week. Every 3-4 weeks take an easy week to help body recover.
3. Will come down to the old equation total calories in < total calories used = weight loss.

As well as running, have you considered some resistance training if belly loss is your primary goal?

eh? peer review has worked for a couple of hundred years now, I'll be sticking with that for my science :-) The guy doens't want to be a pro-cyclist, just to lose a belly.

hunnymonster wrote: »

eh? peer review has worked for a couple of hundred years now, I'll be sticking with that for my science :-) The guy doens't want to be a pro-cyclist, just to lose a belly.

I'm always open to research! I'd yet to see anyone back up the statement that putting on muscle has a tangible effect on fat loss. If you have some please let me see it and I'll up my gym sessions!

I know its just a Q&A on a cycling site but its the first thing I've seen outside of the Fitness board on boards.ie that had anything on it.

lots of refined sugar in there, especially considering you're doing a relatively small amount of exercise. There is a slightly nerdy/mathematical explaination here
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=58627633&postcount=29

but to keep things simple in the first instance while you adjust
1. get protein with each meal (e.g. a boiled egg with breakfast, slice of chicken with that soup at "small lunch", yoghurt might not be enough
2. Do you need all that butter/jam? It's a lot of calories that are not really doing a whole lot for you
3. how is your liquid intake
4. porridge, porridge, porridge, waaaaayyyy better for you than crunchy nuts (and cheaper!)

This list is by no means a comprehensive list of changes that you should make but it is a good start. Also, I know it sounds like I'm saying everything is wrong with your diet, I'm not, it's great that you are eating regularly, it's good that there is a limited amount of processed food in your diet.

hunnymonster wrote: »

lots of refined sugar in there, especially considering you're doing a relatively small amount of exercise. There is a slightly nerdy/mathematical explaination here
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=58627633&postcount=29

but to keep things simple in the first instance while you adjust
1. get protein with each meal (e.g. a boiled egg with breakfast, slice of chicken with that soup at "small lunch", yoghurt might not be enough
2. Do you need all that butter/jam? It's a lot of calories that are not really doing a whole lot for you
3. how is your liquid intake
4. porridge, porridge, porridge, waaaaayyyy better for you than crunchy nuts (and cheaper!)

This list is by no means a comprehensive list of changes that you should make but it is a good start. Also, I know it sounds like I'm saying everything is wrong with your diet, I'm not, it's great that you are eating regularly, it's good that there is a limited amount of processed food in your diet.

Hi hunnymonster, I'm far from an expert on diet, at a guess I'd say you probably know a lot more about it than me. But, to me, his current diet looks quite good. Your advice looks good, but give the guy some credit - I would be shocked if there are many people on this forum with a better diet.

I think the best way to start is to eat good healthy food from a good source 'not tescos etc' local butcher or fish shop! you know its quality goodness! I started back training a few weeks ago and fish is the key its so good, I also have a protein shake after training helps recover the body!;)

tunney wrote: »

The "resistance training" aids fat loss has been exposed as a myth. http://www.cyclingnews.com/fitness/?id=2008/letters12-23

First section - Metabolism rate in training

I read this. Not sure who it aimed it at but not at anyone who is trying to lose weight. More muscle = more kcal burnt at rest and active. While this a small amount compared to your daily basal rate, so is cardio. Resistance training in this gentlemans case would up the metabolic rate, tone up the body and help prevent injury. While possibally adding a fourth training session to his week (ergo more kcal spent). More kcal out than in equals less body weight. (both science and common logic)

Cyclists of a serious level need to be aware of all non essential weight on the bike. So if a muscle isn't powering the bike it is in effect extra weight (muscle weights more than fat). This is what I presume the "Q and A" is trying to point out without adding any real science to prove it.

pipelaser wrote: »

I’ve been jogging 1 month now (had not participated in any physical activity for two years and was ridiculously unfit) and currently taking on a 2.5mile run(takes about 20 to 21mins) 3 times a week. I’m looking to build myself up to 3.5 miles and then 5 miles and so on, until i have enough done to do a half marathon.
I’m male, 5' 9" and weigh almost twelve stone. Light build but a real stick out beer belly. Just three questions,
1. What sort of foods should i eat day to day and what quantity (while my distances become greater)
2. How quickly should i move up my distances
3. If I complete the half marathon and haven’t lost as much of the belly as id like would I diminish it by constantly running 5 miles, 3 times a week for a year or longer?
Sorry the last question is ambiguous, my main goal is to loose the belly!

I started out heavier than you and shorter about a year ago. It took a few months for the weight to start to fall off (possibly gaining muscle for a while) but I have now lost over 2 stone (though I still have not got taller).:D
My advice, continue regular running - take the advice here about low mileage increases to avoid injury; set a target race to keep motivated - maybe a 5K or 10K in the short term.
Eat & drink sensibly, particularly avoiding high fat foods but don't obsess about it !
Have patience, it could take 6-12 months to start to get to where you want, but if you do it that way its more likely to last and you will get hooked on the running, like most of the people here - you are allowed to obsess about running.

pipelaser wrote: »

Thanks for the replies everyone, ill keep it up and stay realistic.
What a great website!

i have to say this forum is particularly good for support and advice , also one of the more active boards forums

Clum, no not really. Mince is usually made from all the bits of meat that wouldn't be sold as solid pieces. While round steak in itself is not too bad (as red meat goes) the minced stuff is likely to be the dregs. You don't need to add additional oil for sure. Other options to improve the fat (saturated fat particularly) content are
1. choose a piece of lean looking meat and have the butcher mince it for you (of course this is more expensive than bying their ready made mince)
2. use turkey mince - I never find this tasty and is very pale looking
3. use quorn "mince" - I actually really like this stuff, tasty, good value, good nutritional content, not great for burgers though, ideal for bolognaise etc.