Happy To Help Anyone

Hi Matt

I have started going to gym 3/4 times a week for the past 1.5 months and am starting to notice some definition forming.

However, I think my current diet it holding back any real progress. Do you have any tips of what foods I should be eating to get toned abs?

TIA

Hi, any tips on getting rid of the dreaded belly, legs and arms are toned from years of dancing, but having recently had a baby and cant seem to loose it from the middle

Hi Tia,

Thanks for the question.

I like to keep nutrition really simple and stick to a few basic principles...

1. Ensure 90% of your diet is single-ingredient, natural foods

2. Drink at least 2L water per day

3. Aim to start your day with a protein-based breakfast.

I have written some good blog posts you might find useful to read...

Simple Wedding Weight Loss Plan

The Number One Reason You Struggle To Lose Weight

Hope that helps you out :-D

I find Brides lose weight from their belly well if they cut out the amount of wheat and alcohol they consume.

These tend to make people 'bloat' and store fat around the tummy area.

Well worth trying to avoid and see what happens :-D

I find Brides lose weight from their belly well if they cut out the amount of wheat and alcohol they consume.

These tend to make people 'bloat' and store fat around the tummy area.

Well worth trying to avoid and see what happens :-D

So I get married in September 2016 and I found my dress (the dress of my most beautiful dreams) and put the dep down in December.

I get measured for my dress to be ordered in October. Just 6 little months away.

I said that after Christmas I would get on it and if I told 1lb a week it would be a fantastic achievement and I would be in great shape for ordering so if didn’t loss any more that would be ok. Realistically to be healthy and the best me I can be I should be losing about 6 stone.

The dress shop said they can take my dress in unto 2 sizes if needs be so I shouldn’t worry about losing a little more if I want to.

However.....

I haven’t lost any weight since Jan. I haven’t put on either but still. Not the point!

So I’m feeling rather flumped as if I don’t do anything I will only have myself to blame.

My H2B loves me no matter what my size but I’m not happy with myself hence wanting to do something about.

So this week I am trying this thing where I only eat when I’m hungry and stop eating when I’m full.

This may sound like common since but it isn’t to me.

I feel rather positive with this as when I think about how much I ate for no reason ... its a wonder I’m not bigger than I am.

I also got a push bike for this first time since I was a teenager!!!

That was a shock to my system. I rode it home last night (just under 3 1/2 miles. I had to walk it up a really steep hill and thought I was going to vomit when I got to the top. I didn’t! An achievement in itself if I’m honest!

I rode to work this morning (just under 2 miles). Admittedly it is mostly downhill - which I was grateful of as my bottom is killing me from yesterday, and I will have to ride home afterwards.

I’m hoping that it will get easier and that I will get healthier in the process.

I’m dreading it the but I really want to love it as it is low impact (I can’t really run as I hate it and I have a bad knee)

Has anyone else gone from nothing to quite allot of exercise? How did you find it?

And most of all, what pulled you through the hard times when you wanted to stop?

Thank you in advance

A very hopeful bride to be J

Hey.

First off, well done on getting started and taking some action towards you goal!

In answer to your questions....

Q. Has anyone else gone from nothing to quite allot of exercise? How did you find it?

I would always build exercise up gradually as you are with keeping it low impact and taking it at a steady pace. Give your body chance to get used to it and soon you will be able to push yourself much further.

Q. And most of all, what pulled you through the hard times when you wanted to stop?

The biggest thing to pull you through always has to be an emotional link to your end goal. Starting your journey to simply 'lose weight' probably won't be enough in its entirety to pull you through. You need to go deeper than that.

A much better goal for example would be to lose weight so that you can feel fit, be much healthier, and feel 100% comfortable and confident on your special day in front of your guests.

That has a little more behind it and is a stronger driver to keep you going. I like people to use vision boards to keep their goal at the top of their mind during a process like this.

Matt

Hi Matt,

I have ages to go til my wedding but have been trying to shape up over the last few months. I don't have loads of weight to lose, but I'd feel happy if I was more toned and compact. I have been calorie counting with myfitnesspal and am finding that makes me think about the food I eat. I often don't meet my goal of 1200 a day but I'm close during the week; at the weekend I tend to relax a bit more! I go to the gym about 5 times a week for different classes (pilates, circuits, LBT, zumba, and core) and I enjoy that a lot. It's just that I'm not losing any weight! I wondered if it's because I am building muscle? If so, do you have any idea when I might see myself losing weight? I feel like I'm putting in a lot of effort and the exercise is great, but it would be nice t see some results. Any other tips you might have about losing would be great. I feel like I am on a plateau.

Thanks!

I'm not Matt, but I would say if you're struggling to eat 1200 calories a day and doing high intensity cardio up to 5 times a week, then you may not be eating enough / enough of the right things.

I train 2-5 times a week, normally just an hour a time at the minute, and I eat between **** a day, but I try not to count calories too much and focus a bit more on the macros in each meal / snack.

Hey.

I agree with JenCTR. You could be eating too little for the amount of activity you are doing.

You are also right when you say you could be gaining a little muscle, that's why I like to use circumference measurements as a way of tracking progress as they signifies a change in shape much more than weight does.

It would be interesting to hear where the calories you are eating are coming from. You need to make sure you have plenty of high quality protein in your diet and essential fats before the body will happily drop weight. I imagine that your diet is lacking in these two areas with your calorie count being so low.

Matt

I havent go to the gym.. just live normally like usual.