BELLY FAT ---> Muffin Top

iowasnowcat · 05-21-2008, 09:04 AM

Hey I am a newbie I am 32 mother of 2. Been working out since April 1st of this year (2 months). 30 minutes cardio and weight training 5x week - no diet yet - I am a meat and potatoes girl that HATES anything else. In other words, hate sweets, hate green veggies, HATE salads, etc. So its been REAL hard to figure out what to eat.

I had thyroid cancer 4 years ago - on synthroid 88 mcg. 2 years ago I started to put on the weight - 20 pounds or so UGH. I find it REALLY hard to lose or even see a spec of improvement, hard to stay motivated.

I have the famous muffin top that I wanna lose, the rest of my body I am ok with, wouldn't mind losing some back fat too. Any tips on how to target that muffin top?

mc4_a · 05-21-2008, 10:50 AM

You can't really target areas of your body. You best bet is to go on a 500 calorie under maintenance diet.

Regardless, you really should be eating a variety of good fruits and veggies. You want to be around for your children.

Huke · 05-21-2008, 11:52 AM

I agree with the above poster.

Increase your weight training, do cardio after weights if you feel it is necessary. I usually do cardio and abs on their own day and do only weight training on the other days. You should continually increase the intensity with which you perform both types of exercise. That's how you'll see the most progress.

You should also start liking veggies. No vitamins = inefficient absorption of macronutrients. Also, try to invest in other carb sources than potatoes. Brown rice and oatmeal are good.

Eat 5-6x per day, moderately sized meals. Try to get in at least 250-300 calories per meal, maybe a bit more depending on your goals and how you feel.

As for motivation, well, that's up to you. You have to want it to get it.

Good luck.

cbrickhouse · 05-21-2008, 11:55 AM

get off the starches and switch your meat to lower fat white meats. the workout is a good start, but in order to really get anything doen you have to change your diet, at least a little

E-M-P-I-R-E · 05-21-2008, 12:11 PM

uuuuuuh ohhhh

someones a hot mom

braddd · 05-21-2008, 12:43 PM

No one really loves veggies until you force yourself to change. Your lifestyle probably isn't healthy.

You can always put some cheese on your veggies to start or something to make them taste better?

cbrickhouse · 05-21-2008, 12:52 PM

not true, i always loved some veggies, but others took some getting used to

Cronos1247 · 05-21-2008, 01:04 PM

It will all come down to diet in the end whenever your trying to drop the last bits especially. Have you tried ground turkey? Or turkey burgers? There's nothing wrong with carbs, it all comes down to calories in vs calories out. I personally tend to keep all my complex carbs at breakfast and post workout. Meats like...

Fish (Tuna steaks, Tilapia, Salmon, etc.)
Turkey meat
Lean Ground Beef
Chicken

Should give you plenty of options to work with food wise. I would suggest picking up a book called Eating for Life by Bill Phillips, it has a huge selection of great meal recipes that are all based around keeping healthy.

iowasnowcat · 05-22-2008, 07:06 AM

Thanks for everyone's help! I know it starts with diet, I am just clueless as what I should eat since I have tastebuds that are a real pain. I can plug my nose and eat!

Since I don't like many foods that are required to do what I need to do, can I drink shakes or drinks with the nutrients in them instead?

stewart3860 · 05-22-2008, 07:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iowasnowcat

Thanks for everyone's help! I know it starts with diet, I am just clueless as what I should eat since I have tastebuds that are a real pain. I can plug my nose and eat!

Since I don't like many foods that are required to do what I need to do, can I drink shakes or drinks with the nutrients in them instead?

I don't really agree with this. Take a multivitamin instead. Drinking extra cals tends to just up your intake because they digest really fast.

You have to get creative. After I had my son...I had some weight to lose and I read cook books and learned what portions I could have of what.

If you don't like salad, maybe try a Chef's Salad, that is just lettuce with deli meat, cheese and italian dressing.

The key to developing a healthy lifestyle that you can stick with is to learn how to manipulate what you eat to fit how you want look/feel.

What's a typical day's diet for you?

cbrickhouse · 05-22-2008, 07:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stewart3860

I don't really agree with this. Take a multivitamin instead. Drinking extra cals tends to just up your intake because they digest really fast.

this is awful advice. multivitamins barely get absorbed at all. research has proven this. get your vitamins from natural sources. drinking a fruit and veggie smoothie is way better for you than starving your body and just taking a multivitamin

stewart3860 · 05-22-2008, 11:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cbrickhouse

this is awful advice. multivitamins barely get absorbed at all. research has proven this. get your vitamins from natural sources. drinking a fruit and veggie smoothie is way better for you than starving your body and just taking a multivitamin

I did not know this. Sorry.

cbrickhouse · 05-22-2008, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stewart3860

I did not know this. Sorry.

not trying to be mean at all...

it's just a fact that multivitamins should only be used to help fill in some of the gaps in your vitamin intake, not replace meals. and depriving yourself of fruits and veggies is insane, you will never have any true energy that isn't given to your by crash supplements

iowasnowcat · 05-22-2008, 01:08 PM

I have to take my synthroid an hour before I eat or 3 hours after (synthroid should be taken in the morning). So I usually don't eat breakfast (I know I am gonna hear it on this one). For dinner (noon) I usually have a tuna sandwich (tuna in water with lite mayo) on white bread (don't like wheat or bagels) with green beans (don't like any other veggies) and a glass of orange juice (no pulp). In the afternoon (4pm) a banana (love them!) before I hit the gym. For supper (6pm) its meat, potatoes and corn (old-fashioned farmgirl supper). I don't eat after supper. I drink about 4-5 .5L bottles of water a day.

I HATE lettuce, dressings, oatmeal, grapefruit, yogurt, milk, sweets, pork, salmon, and almost every green veggie. HELP.

I LOVE hamburger, chicken, tuna, corn, green beans, cheese, deli meats....

Any suggestions for a morning shake? or a better diet regimen?

cbrickhouse · 05-22-2008, 01:19 PM

how can you not like any other veggies? i find that bizarre. veggies are full of nutrients and great energy sources.

iowasnowcat · 05-22-2008, 01:53 PM

Trust me brickhouse... I WISH they tasted good to me but they taste like liver does to others as green veggies taste to me. My mom told me once that I used to eat grass outside when I was young lol - maybe thats why lettuce tastes terrible to me now as well as aspargus, brocilli, etc. The texture of it just grosses me out.

Do you guys eat stuff even though it tastes terrible to lose fat?

My problem is I am not a big eater to begin with, I eat when my tummy growls and its usually meat or a banana. Food to me is annoying (not in a anorexic or bulemic way) but its needed so I eat if you can understand that and take it the right way. I eat twice a day mostly noon and 6, I'm not hungry any other part of the day. I force myself to eat a banana before I hit the gym. I'm just not a big eater... never have been.

This whole diet thing is soooooo new to me. I've always been able to hit the gym and do cardio and some weights and the tummy goes no matter what my diet was, but for some reason - that's not happening this time. Age, thyroid meds, and diet must be a factor now.

ericcasas · 05-22-2008, 02:16 PM

I had to plug the ol' nose in order to start eating cottage cheese, but now I down tubs of it by choice!! It's super high in protein and low in fat. It's great for breakfast or right before bed! It releases protein slowly since it's hard for your body to process so it keeps you feeling full longer. It's great for rebuilding muscle while you sleep and it's a great way to kickstart the day (recent reports say a good protein breakfast jumpstarts your metabolism for the day.) Grab some Daisy brand 2% Cottage Cheese and ENJOY!! =D

-E

stewart3860 · 05-23-2008, 06:29 AM

If you want a different body, you're going to have to make some sacrifices. You know what? I use to hate most foods. I lived on pizza, garlic bread and pasta. But I looked like sh*t. If you want to change your body, you're going to have to eat some foods you don't like. You will learn to like them, or learn to flavour them so they are at least somewhat palatable. Being lean isn't easy, and it takes effort and commitment.

P.S. If you don't like veggies, then don't eat them. Instead of potatoes, eat sweet potatoes. Instead of steak, have chicken. You're just going to have to force yourself to eat better. Liking vegetables will come in time.

stewart3860 · 05-23-2008, 06:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cbrickhouse

not trying to be mean at all...

it's just a fact that multivitamins should only be used to help fill in some of the gaps in your vitamin intake, not replace meals. and depriving yourself of fruits and veggies is insane, you will never have any true energy that isn't given to your by crash supplements

I didn't think you were being mean. I really didn't know that. I'm not a big veggie fan either, but I'm going to make sure I get more in.

triplemmm · 05-23-2008, 08:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iowasnowcat

Trust me brickhouse... I WISH they tasted good to me but they taste like liver does to others as green veggies taste to me. My mom told me once that I used to eat grass outside when I was young lol - maybe thats why lettuce tastes terrible to me now as well as aspargus, brocilli, etc. The texture of it just grosses me out.

Do you guys eat stuff even though it tastes terrible to lose fat?

I've been on and off keto for a while now (big lurker here....thanks everyone for the info). Somewhat like you, when I started I HATED veggies. Have my whole life. Never ate them. But pizza and double cheeseburgers got me to this point, and I knew I'd have to do some things different to turn it around.

I started by experimenting with small amounts of different veggies. I still hate most of them, but the tolerable combo salad I created was:

50% Romaine Lettuce
50% Baby Spinach
olive oil
fresh ground pepper (and I hated pepper too)

I started off with just a little, usually drowned it in the oil, and was able to get it down without gagging. After a few weeks though, this became a staple of my diet. Less oil over time to where it wasn't drowned in it.

Early on I'd add diced chicken, hide it under my steak, put deli meat in it, etc. And yeah, it didn't take long to actually start liking it by itself.

Force yourself to try small changes early on. Set a goal and say you'll do it for a week. If it's still intolerable after a week then change it up. I've done this with adding tomatoes, etc. and found I still can't develop a taste for fresh tomatoes...though I like almost everything that's made with tomatoes...weird huh?

redneckfatty · 05-23-2008, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by triplemmm

... I've done this with adding tomatoes, etc. and found I still can't develop a taste for fresh tomatoes...though I like almost everything that's made with tomatoes...weird huh?

I was the same with tomatoes but I found it strange that slices on pizza or a burger were delicious and I could even do extra tomatoes on a burger and still be good. I learned that the different types taste different and the big, not so reddish ones mainly used for slicing for a burger are the easiest to eat, since they really dont have that strong flavor. After a while you can graduate to the vine ripped ones which have the best flavoring of all, in my opinion.

Eagle8708 · 05-23-2008, 11:41 AM

I hope this helps, but my wife had the same problem.
When I started to loose weight and she wanted to do the same we had problems. She is a meat and potatoes girl and hated all sorts of greens.

So what i did was took the flavor out of the greens and added stuff i know she likes. Now she does it and actually likes it, it took some time though.

Try steaming your veggies, then adding stuff like Mrs Dash to it. Dont take away your main course, but where you would have French fries, or a baked potatoe, replace it with steamed brocoli with mrs Dash on it.

My wife does that now with everything, her favorite is steamed spinach salad with sun dried tomatoe vinigerette dressing with a small amount of almonds on it.

Greens are very important, but i promise you after you take away your starches, and replace them with greens you will notive at least some difference in your body.

Like that one person said earlier. ( 5 year of pharmacy school here) Multivitamins cannot replace greens or fruits. Your body will absorb only what it can take and you will pee the rest out. Which is why your pee is always like a neon yellow after you taken them. Its the B vitamins.

So start to replace your starches with greens, still take a multivitamin to help augment what your not getting, and just exercise. eventually you will find some form of modivation to change. For me it was relizing that i had horribly strech marks that will never go away. Once you find your modivation, you WILL find a way to eat greens.

Eagle8708 · 05-23-2008, 12:30 PM

I hope this helps, but my wife had the same problem.
When I started to loose weight and she wanted to do the same we had problems. She is a meat and potatoes girl and hated all sorts of greens.

So what i did was took the flavor out of the greens and added stuff i know she likes. Now she does it and actually likes it, it took some time though.

Try steaming your veggies, then adding stuff like Mrs Dash to it. Dont take away your main course, but where you would have French fries, or a baked potatoe, replace it with steamed brocoli with mrs Dash on it.

My wife does that now with everything, her favorite is steamed spinach salad with sun dried tomatoe vinigerette dressing with a small amount of almonds on it.

Greens are very important, but i promise you after you take away your starches, and replace them with greens you will notive at least some difference in your body.

Like that one person said earlier. ( 5 year of pharmacy school here) Multivitamins cannot replace greens or fruits. Your body will absorb only what it can take and you will pee the rest out. Which is why your pee is always like a neon yellow after you taken them. Its the B vitamins.

So start to replace your starches with greens, still take a multivitamin to help augment what your not getting, and just exercise. eventually you will find some form of modivation to change. For me it was relizing that i had horribly strech marks that will never go away. Once you find your modivation, you WILL find a way to eat greens.

devil_duck · 05-24-2008, 01:24 AM

I am pretty much a newbie so forgive me but I didn't notice anyone comment on the fact that Iowa doesn't eat breakfast. Your body is hungry after fasting all night. Think of the time frame , in hours , between dinner and breakfast. I read posts all the time that say to eat 6 meals evey so many hours to keep metabolism up. By not eating breakfast your body thinks it is starving and then starts storing food in the fat cells to combat starvation. It is a built in survival mechanism. Somebody please tell me if I am wrong.

cbrickhouse · 05-27-2008, 07:32 AM

sometimes you have you keep trying stuff until you do develop a taste for it. i am 28 and hated green peppers, tomatoes, and onions until just this year. but i kept trying them until i liked them. now half of my salad is green/reg/orange peppers. i love the different tastes they add to my lunches, keeps me from getting bored.

iowasnowcat · 05-28-2008, 08:28 PM

Such great advice and I really appreciate it! I love cheese so I have been experiementing lately. It's working! I want to slowly diminish my cheese though, that might take some nose plugging lol! It sure drowns out the brocolli and lettuce taste.

I am also eating breakfast! Well a banana but I think its probably better than nothing at all. I also tried the V8 Fusion Strawberry Banana - WOW is that good can't even taste any tomato, hopefully its really full of all those veggies and fruits it says it is.

For dinner - Lean Cuisine meals. This is REALLY helping me with portions. Just pop one in and thats enough dinner.

For supper - still working on smaller portions and STAYING CLEAR OF MY POTATOES, but I eat my green beans every night!

Snacks - carrots, love them! Celery - yummy! Beef sticks - great protein! Baked Doritos are pretty good too but I feel guilty eating them. Of course I always have a banana before I work out.

Thanks again - I am really getting alot out of the replies to my post.