The FastDay Forum

Hi everyone,
posting here because I would like to ask people who've obviously been successful on 5:2. I'm 5ft 6", size 10, about 9 stone 4/5/6 pounds I think (don't weigh myself). I'm on the fast diet for health reasons (cholesterol) and one specific weight related reason, I have, and have always had, tummy fat. In every other way you could say I'm quite slim. But my stomach is covered in a tyre of soft, jelly, picky-uppy fat. My dream is to be able to get into a bikini at some point without feeling really uncomfortable, or to be able to wear a nice fitted dress without the sweaty spanx rolled up to my chin. While the diet has certainly improved things so far, I couldn't possibly say that I am at the bikini wearing stage and, as happens with all diets I've ever tried, things have stalled out good and proper (or that's what it seems to me). It's at this stage I always ask myself if it's actually physically possible for my body to lose anymore weight from my tummy, is this simply where genes and body shape take over? Should I throw in the towel and just do maintenance now or is it really a case of slow and steady wins the race. What I'm asking is, are there any apple shaped people out there who achieved a flat tummy that never thought they would, or had never done before? Does it just become an exceptionally slow process for people who struggle with this part of their bodies? I know some people may look at my stats above and roll their eyes, but I genuinely have a considerable amount of fat located around my upper and lower tummy in particular and over the years I've gone from a size 14 with a fat belly to a size 8-10 with a fat belly! Would just love to zap this once and for all!
Thanks so much for any anecdotes, tips, advice or comments.
Kiki

I'm still in the early stages of 5:2 WOE and never wear a bikini, although the moobs might look good if I shaved the chest area

I've lost 9 lbs over 7 and a bit weeks but have not lost anything for the last couple of weeks since we've been away!
But what I can say is I am changing shape wife has commented about the change of shape, the gut has shrunk and the 'love handles' (if that's what they're called) are shrinking, so hopefully it'll be the same for you girls, the weight might be slow to shift but the shape, especially around the equator is certainly shrinking

still not getting a bikini though ........... a mankini

now that would really give everyone a laugh

No. No good. It's an alluring polka dot number for you or nothing my good man!

You can't spot reduce but you can tone. In the gym I go to, the coaches talk about it - "skinny fat", people who are size 8 or whatever but appear flabby. I have no idea if you are, just it's possible.

You're looking at getting into weights and serious "midline" stability stuff with some serious metabolic conditioning to get really solid. I only lost 200g in April but I changed shape and I'm starting to get a really good shape (despite being 13 stone and 160 cm) with better posture.

Probably not what you want to hear...but diet is only part of it...though a low-carb/paleo approach will help with being bloated.

Hi Kiki,
The belly bulge is a tough one to shift but I think it can be done. No magic formula I'm afraid just boring toning exercises..try callanetics stomach exercises, you'll find some on the net. It doesn't take long, just a few minutes every other day, and imo well worth the effort. My cooking apple has shrunk to a smaller cox's pippin!

At least my sense of 'yuma' hasn't offended

Certainly as a bloke (and an old one at that) I'm rather aware that I'm not quite the sex god that I was 30 years ago .... OK then.... 40 years ago

But this WOE really does reduce the equatorial line, typically today, we went out and I got smarted up a bit for Mrs Nog, a smart pair of trousers were dragged out from the depths of the Nog wardrobe and when I put them on the belt was four .... yes people FOUR full notches 'tighter' than it was and .... AND round the waist as opposed to a bit lower down with a substantial overhang whats more I could breathe, no strangulated 'look at me I'm thinner' strangulated hanging on and hope the belt holds
So hopefully it's the same for you girls, your gentle muffin tops are disappearing at the same rate as the Nog beer/good food belly, which is the result of much pillaging over the years and the pinkies (toes madam) are once again visible south of the Nog equator
No doubt it is a little different for you lasses, but the scales don't always tell the truth !

Old nog, it's great to hear that you can see your toes, my husband can also see his, but he has to sit down first.

Kiki, what can I say, I'm an apple and I started with a spare tyre that could best be described as tractor sized and it has reduced to what I suppose is now bycycle sized. An improvement, I know, but like you I would love to get rid of it once and for all. I am now a few pounds under my target weight so for me, losing more weight is not the answer. I am thinking of getting a hula hoop, I had one of those in the middle of the last century for goodness sake, can't believe I'm regressing to that extent but I am at my wit's end. The thing is, I suspect I still have handfulls of visceral fat that is very attached to me and it seems to be hanging on for grim death. Oh well, might as well just have another glass of wine, cheers,

Ballerina x

I too have a large abdomen. All the women in my family do. I guess we are called "apple shape" as we all carry our fat in different spots on our body. I have been on 5 2 8/9 weeks and lost 15 pounds and have lost 4 inches around the waist. However I still have the inner tube above the navel. Dr Oz suggests us apples should eat a low glycemic diet, lentils and some good fats like avocado, olive oil. It's a process of trial and error I think but so far I am happy with 5 2.

oops! Forgot to add eat low carb. Hi carb bloats me right up!

Kiki,
I know of what you speak! By many standards, I'm not overweight at all, but I still have not budged one iota on my waist. I am trying some exercises from the web. I DO think my waist fat is holding on for dear life, and telling my boobs and arms to give it up instead! My waist is still not less than 1/2 my height, so I'm going to keep working at it. I doubt I'll ever be bikini matter again, but that's because of age.....
mikita

My OH has this problem but is in total denial. From the back he's very neat but when he turns round he's like an egg on legs! Trouble is he's Type 2 diabetic and loves his food!! How do I convince him he needs to be cutting back....any ideas Old Nog or anyone?

Sorry Mikita to have sidetracked a bit, welcome to the forum and good luck with your quest....I can see there's been a lot of good advice already. Let us know how you get on.

I have a memory when I was 5 where I look down and saw my bulging tummy. That tumme has been with me ever since. I have come to realisation that due to my huge ribcage, my tummy will never be able to be flat no matter how hard or skinny I get and I got so small as to fit into a US size 2 jeans.

I have learnt to accept it as a part of me for better or worst. I accentuate my other features instead and concentrate on being greatful and happy for cute tiny hips and muscular legs.

Life is too short to worry on the things that I am sure people dont notice about us anyway!

I can't really lose anymore weight now and for the first time have no real 'tummy', but still some loose flesh. I think it would firm up if I bothered to do my situps everyday but I haven't had the time of willpower to test this theory yet...I prefer running in the morning to sit ups but that does nothing for my tummy!

My OH has this problem but is in total denial. From the back he's very neat but when he turns round he's like an egg on legs! Trouble is he's Type 2 diabetic and loves his food!! How do I convince him he needs to be cutting back....any ideas Old Nog or anyone?

Granny it'll only work when he decides to do it

I was 'advised' by nursey and the medical profession for years, but they gave up and said it was my choice, which it is. But last year I decided I needed to lose a bit of the old gut, I'm 6ft tall and built like a brick outhouse, very broad across the shoulders and chest, but began developing a gut and I'm not getting any younger, very nearly 60 and some days feeling it. Gardening was becoming harder work and I was starting to feel tired easily.

Made a concerted effort last year and went on a calorie counting type diet, did OK and lost weight, but hated it, could not be bothered with the constant hassle of can't eat this/that/'tother Was always hungry and looking for food all the time to take me up to the calories I was allowed for the day and basically bloody miserable needless to say after a couple of months gave up, physically feeling a bit better but mentally the calorie counting was doing Old Nogs noggin in

Beginning of April saw something about 5:2 diet ....
read up a bit about it and decided that I'd give this a go, 2 days a week, even I can do that, surely

First and foremost, this is not a diet, well I don't look at it as a diet, as often quoted, its a way of eating. Now I like my food .... and a drink or three, so on 15th April I weighed in and thought here goes.

Well 7 weeks and 4 days later 9 lbs lighter, the belts gone in 4 notches, I don't touch alcohol 4 days a week (unless it's an occasion, but I do tend to manage not to) I find the fast days easy and the other weekdays cut back a bit. However, went on holiday for a week and filled my boots, came home and was very surprised to find I'd only put an odd pound on, but this went by the next weigh in

I feel tons better, blood pressure readings are the best they've been for years, I can still eat pretty much what I want and have a few scoops of beer/wine or whatever else I fancy, but come the weekdays I flick the switch and have my fast days and leave the booze alone!

As for exercise, well I don't, well no gym sit ups or anything, I walk more often, I enjoy gardening and have simply become a bit more active 'cos I feel better.

I still say he (like me and most blokes) will only do it when his time is right or something (or someone) gives him a nudge and he's prepared to give it a try! But if he decides and finds it as easy as I have done he'll get the results.

I reckon this WOE is the 'diet' for most blokes, only have to think about it a couple of days a week, the rest, you find you automatically cut back a bit, but can still have the goodies you like, ie the Saturday morning toasted bacon butty, which is the law you understand

good luck

Old Nog,
Great to hear how well you are doing but why did you have to mention TOAST?

Ballerina x