Waist matters & frustration - some venting

[Catrin]

I couldn't figure out where to put this, so it wound up here.

It is about my waist. I am a Type 2 diabetic - though mild and controlled by diet and exercise I certainly don't want it to get worse. In the past 9, almost 10, months I have lost close to 50 pounds and have gone from 47% body fat to 20%. That translates to a LOT of very hard work - and without a thyroid or reproductive system (I only take thyroid replacement, no other replacements), well I generally say that I have to work harder than the average bear to get my body's attention. That's fine, I do what I need to do.

The reason I am mentioning all of this is that I just cannot seem to lose my apple shape. My body wants to have all of my body fat in middle, and this just isn't good for the diabetes. I work my azz off between strength training, spinning class, and the bike - and have a strict diet. At this point I am losing inches everywhere BUT my waist. Thankfully my thighs and calves are getting bigger from muscle and that is a GOOD thing - they were too small.

Has anyone had this problem? Were you able to find a way to decrease the abdominal fat? Perhaps I am expecting too much out of myself with all of the progress that I've made over a relatively short time - and I have had two abdominal surgeries over the years which may be contributing from all of those muscles having been cut.

[KnottedYet]

and I have had two abdominal surgeries over the years which may be contributing from all of those muscles having been cut.

Considering that, I'd bet it's not "fat" you are frustrated with so much as abdominal/core tone.

I can make a woman look 20 lbs lighter in 20 seconds just by correcting her posture and having her activate her core. Tell your trainer to start earning his keep and address your core!
(and that does NOT mean sit ups and curl ups!)

[Catrin]

I will talk with him. We have been doing a lot of core work - with weights and with the stability ball. Perhaps there are some things that I can do at home that will supplement this, I will ask him. He doesn't have me do sit ups or curl ups at all.

[KnottedYet]

Habits are more important than exercises for core, honestly.

Exercises are just to perk things up. Holding them that way for a full day is the real work out!

Posture and static things like sustained plank (prone and side) in all their variations are the big guns.

But the biggest gun of all is increasing tone by activating the core all the time through posture. (you don't want it to think it only has to work during exercise. You want it active all the time, so train it to be active all the time by using it every moment of the day.)

[Catrin]

Habits are more important than exercises for core, honestly.

Exercises are just to perk things up. Holding them that way for a full day is the real work out!

Posture and static things like sustained plank (prone and side) in all their variations are the big guns.

But the biggest gun of all is increasing tone by activating the core all the time through posture. (you don't want it to think it only has to work during exercise. You want it active all the time, so train it to be active all the time.)

Ahhhh, I understand now. I know about the plank (prone) and will ask him about the side. You are telling me that I need to focus on holding my stomach muscles in all of the time - yes? Considering I work at a computer I am quite sure that this is related.

[tulip]

Everything Knott said...plus Pilates (good, classical Pilates-you've heard it all before). I was amazed at the difference Pilates made in the shape of my middle. It helped my posture, too. And my back pain disappeared.

BTW, that is awesome that you have lost so much weight and that your body fat percentage decreased so much. No doubt you have been working very hard! Congratulations!

[beccaB]

Ahhhh, I understand now. I know about the plank (prone) and will ask him about the side. You are telling me that I need to focus on holding my stomach muscles in all of the time - yes? Considering I work at a computer I am quite sure that this is related.

Have you ever tried one of those exercise balls to sit on while at the computer? You can get a rolling chair to put an exercise ball into. you have to keep your core muscles engaged while sitting in it, or you'd roll away from the computer!

[e.e.cummings]

I will sound an info-mercial myself, but what worked for me was Tony Horton's 10 minute workout Abs workout. Very efficient workout, not hard, not long, I stick with it, I do it twice or three times a week. It worked for me. Becoming available in more places, not just on tv. I feel like it 'sculpted' my mid-section. First thing that I ever bought off tv. Felt silly at first! Should I consider the slap chop thing now???? Wish you luck, you can do it!

[Zen]

I will sound an info-mercial myself, but what worked for me was Tony Horton's 10 minute workout Abs workout.

Whew. For a brief second there I was thinking of Tony Little

[OakLeaf]

Oh man, that guy!

My first husband had some of his videos.

Probably another reason the marriage didn't work.

[NoNo]

First thing that I ever bought off tv. Felt silly at first! Should I consider the slap chop thing now????

I didn't buy it off the tv, but it was at one point one of those early Sunday morning infomercials: Turbo Jam. I have the 2 CD set (there's a larger set), and there's a 20min ab workout, a 20min total body workout, a 45min total body, and my favorite, the 45min sculpt video. Nothing but squats, lunges, and plies while doing presses, curls, and lateral lifts with hand weights. I dropped a size doing that video alone, and I've yet to find anything that tones my legs, hips, and rear as well. It's sad to admit, but sometimes those dumb videos work. I even have some friends that did that P90X thing and got pretty ripped. I hear it's intense.

[badger]

I need my abs sculpting, I may look into Tony Horton.

I had a Tony Little video once upon a time. I no longer have a VCR so I can't watch it anymore.

Are any of Mari Windsor's videos effective? Her latest one looks intriguing with the use of resistance tools.