Help for my Girlfriend

[NewBuilder4Life]

Hey, I was talking to my girlfriend and she says that all of her friends say she's gaining weight, not a lot but enough for them to tell a little. Though women are very perceptive of weight change in other people she's still conserned. I want to do whatever I can to help her out. She's not looking to get into any kind of hardcore bodybuilding or anything, but she's willing to work on it. I want to know just some key things she can do. Her main problem, as with a million other people is she wants to work on her abdomen. Any advice would be great. Thanks.

-Dan

[Laurie]

Well, one thing we women have all learned here is....."There aint no sich thang as "spot reducing".....period.

The midsection is where most people (including yours truly) start depositing it first. However, the body takes the needed fat fuel from all over and not from one place. But saying this, since there is always a beginning to this somewhere....the abdomen is where the oldest fat is and where it takes the longest for the body to create the extra capillaries to draw the stores away.

Most increased fat stores can be taken care by looking at her diet and making some changes. That and exercise to burn more calories than taking in. To up her metabolism to burn the fat as fuel, whether by lifting, lifting and cardio or cardio alone. Anything to get her up and about for an hour a day or an hour every other day. Why the "3 day split" in lifting (with some cardio inbetween) is so popular....because it works.

But this does not have to be a "hardcore" lifting program. Just a good basic exercise program, a good diet and give herself some time/patience to eventually see results. At least three to four months.

Oh, and tell her that scales are deceptive and should be locked away in a closest somewhere. Her wardrobe is the best indicator of progress as her body rearranges itself while losing the fat. Inches lost and finding your jeans are looser offers alot more incentive than getting frustrated over what "yo yoing" few pounds the scales will give you.

Three years ago, at age 50, I started a lifting program to lose weight and increase my health. Not a hardcore program by any means but I did find I liked lifting free weights three days aweek for a year. Also changed my diet for the better. Went from 245 to 170. Been the former weight (and more) for over 30 years of marriage. You never know, she just might find lifting empowering. My husband likes the changes too.

Good luck.

[MDC]

As Laurie said, it's not really the weight that should be her concern, but the inches. Probably the best thing she can do is build some muscle, and that will help get rid of the extra fat provided she's not over or under eating.

If she doesn't mind the "toned" look, she should be lifting heavy like a guy would. There's no way someone, especially a woman, that doesn't want to look like a hardcore bodybuilder will accidentally achieve that anyway. :p

Good luck with your bulk! Lift heavy, and eat more food. ;)

[NewBuilder4Life]

Thanks for the tips, i really appreciate it. Oh and my profile is a little old, my bulking is coming along pretty well.