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Irish · Guru

RE: Let's get on with it!

summerlove · Senior Member

Thank you Irish! I really hope so!

FitAgain · Veteran Member

You did great, Sophie.

summerlove · Senior Member

Thank you, Amelia!

Astrid · Veteran Member

13 kilos, that's really great!

summerlove · Senior Member

Hi! Weighed in last February 26 and I lost 2 kg in 4 weeks! 11 kg to go.. Still doing the usual Zumba, walking and skip rope. Anyone here who has tried hoola hoops? I don't think it helps with weight loss, but is it effective in helping with tummy flab? I've noticed my arms and thighs get smaller. My belly has definitely shrunk too. But I still got some flab on my lower abdominal area. Any tips on how I could tighten up that spot while I lose the remaining 11 kilos?

Belle · Guru

Well done on losing 2kg Sophie...with regard to your stomach area...I have found the older you get the harder it is to lose weight around the stomach. I wish I could help but I am suffering from the same problem.

Solana88 · Senior Member

That's great for you, Sophie! I tried Hoola Hoops for 3 months, I can say it effective only if you do it 4-6 times a week for 30-45 mins. Combine it with sit ups. It's good for your thighs as well.

summerlove · Senior Member

Thank you, Belle! You are definitely right about how hard it is to have a flat/small tummy as we grow old... Oh well, let's just see if it could get smaller as I lose weight.

30-45 minutes, 4-6 times a week?! Isn't that a little intense? Will I still be able to move my body after that? :lol: Maybe I could try doing that gradually. What do you think? It might take a while, but could it work?

Solana88 · Senior Member

Yes, start with maybe 2-3 times a week in 15-30 minutes. Then increase it gradually until your body gets used to it.

It will work, claim it. :)

FitAgain · Veteran Member

Hey! you are consistently doing great, Sophie. Good job!

Lizzie · Guru

11 kilos to go. Keep at it, Sophie. Won't be long now. smile

summerlove · Senior Member

@Solana: I will try that! Thank you!

Thank you FitAgain and Lizzie!

Erika · Senior Member

Here Sophie I found some info on getting rid of lower abdomen fat.

To lose stomach fat you first need to understand the cause. The major cause of body fat accumulating around the abdomen or stomach area, and a major cause of insulin resistance, is refined processed carbohydrates. Therefore, you can stop fat from accumulating around the abdomen by eliminating or strictly limiting refined processed carbohydrates (apart from the occasional treat). Replace these foods with 'fat burning' foods. Examples are: peppers, eggs, green tea, skim milk, beans, oatmeal, olive oil, salmon, tuna.

To help lose stomach fat it's is important to drink enough water to flush toxins from your body, to remain hydrated, and to enable the fat burning foods to work properly for you. Drinking plenty of fresh water daily helps your body to process fat burning foods.

Contrary to popular belief, doing ab exercises does not target the fat around your mid-section. Doing ab exercises will define stomach muscles but you must first get rid of the fat that is hiding them. Doing cardio 3-5 times a week with combination the of weight training 2-3 times a week is a great way to burn body fat. Make sure your posture is good. Posture is important because you use many core muscles to hold yourself up with good posture. In addition, back muscles are often overlooked. The back helps you hold yourself up from behind. You may wish to talk to a fitness expert to find out proper ways to do back muscle exercises.

Burn more body fat by moving your body in a cardio way. Go jogging, biking, brisk walking, until you're starting to feel exhausted, take a break, perhaps one or two minutes, then repeat. Do that every second day, not every day (that would be over-training). More than two days break will cost you success (though two times per week is better than nothing). You should get your first results after one or two months if you keep it up.

Hope this helps!

summerlove · Senior Member

Hi Erika! THANK YOU SO MUCH! What you just shared is such a big help! Maybe I'll try to ask a fitness expert on what routine exercises I can do. But I'll continue doing my cardio exercises and really watch what I eat.. Thanks again!

Has anyone here ever tried doing the burpees? They really get your heart rate up. :)

summerlove · Senior Member

Hello! Weighed in last 26 March and I lost 2.2 kg in 4 weeks! Would you believe that I am only 4.8 kg away from my goal? AHHHHHH! I am so happy! 17.2 kg weight loss in 7 months! And it's huge thanks to the pills!

Lizzie · Guru

Congratulations, Sophie! Brilliant job there. Congratulations! I see that you're nearing the finish line. Well done! P.S. What are burpees?

Erika, I very much appreciate the tips. They're fantastic. Thank you.

Irish · Guru

Wow! Great job, Sophie! You are on a roll! Congrats! :)

summerlove · Senior Member

@Lizzie: Thank you! Burpee or squat exercise is a full body exercise used in strength training and aerobic exercise. It is performed in four steps:

> Begin in a standing position.
> Drop into a squat position with your hands on the ground. (count 1)
> Extend your feet back in one quick motion to assume the front plank position. (count 2)
> Return to the squat position in one quick motion. (count 3)
> Return to standing position. (count 4)

There are different variants to this. There's a Burpee Pushup (push up after the plank position), Knee Push-up Burpee (bend knees and rest them on the ground before push up), Jump up Burpee (jump as high as you can at the end of the movement and before beginning the next Burpee) and a lot more. Burpees are used to measure one's fitness, agility, coordination and strength.

@Irish: Thank you!

summerlove · Senior Member

And I am back for another update... I lost 1.6 kg in 4 weeks. That's a little drop from my usual weigh in results, but it's alright.. I am just 3.2 kg away from my goal! I can't believe it's been 8 months since I started taking the pills. Oh, how time flies!

Solana88 · Senior Member

That's just great, sophie! One thing I learned from this journey, no matter how big or small a loss is, as long as it's more than zero grams, it's still a loss. So you are doing great there! Just hang on, you'll get to your wieght goal soon.

UglyBetty · Guru

That's just the way it is. Some weeks are good and some are better. You still did very good, Sophie. Well done!

summerlove · Senior Member

Thank you Solana and UglyBetty! Yeah, no matter how small a loss is, it would still be a great one! Let's do things well!

summerlove · Senior Member

Hello! I'm here to give you an update. A month has passed and my weigh in showed a 1.8 kg loss. Only 1.4 kg left to lose!

Lizzie · Guru

Thank so much for explaining "burpees" to me. Hahaha! I feel so dumb. That seems like a very rigorous form of exercise...it would take a lot of getting used to, personally. hmm But I really would like to try it...it's a full body workout...lovely.

By the by, you are doing incredibly well. I should say congratulations to you as soon as now so, Congratulations!

Belle · Guru

Well done Sophie.

summerlove · Senior Member

@Lizzie: No problem. I didn't know about that, too, when I first heard the word. :lol: Anyway, thanks!

@Belle: Thank you, Belle!

Astrid · Veteran Member

So happy that the familiar names here are almost on their way to success of losing weight. Without really noticing, well we do notice and loving the changes,

I still can't believe I shed off all of my unwanted weight. Congratulations in advance.

summerlove · Senior Member

Thank you Astrid! Losing this much weight feels amazing!

summerlove · Senior Member

Hello everyone! Sorry if it's a little late... I just wanted all of you to know that I HAVE REACHED MY GOAL! My last weigh in, which was done on the 18th of June, showed a 1.5 kg loss! I was over by 0.1 kg.. :lol:

It feels awesome to have reached my goal. [I've taken the pills for 10 months and I have lost a total of 22.1 kg! This is amazing But now, I've accepted another challenge.. And that is to maintain my weight. I gotta continue eating well and I probably shouldn't stop with my exercises. Thank you for all the help! Wishing everyone the best!

Solana88 · Senior Member

Wow! That's a great one Sophie! I can't wait to reach my goal too! I am just a few kilos away..

Good luck to you and I hope you get to maintain your current weight...

summerlove · Senior Member

Thanks Solana! I'm sure you will reach your goal SOON! Best of luck!

Lizzie · Guru

That's amazing but not at all surprised. smile Congratulations to you, Sophie! You are right about the next step...it is a challenge to maintain your weight but I know you'll do just as great.

summerlove · Senior Member

Lizzie wrote:
That's amazing but not at all surprised. Congratulations to you, Sophie! You are right about the next step...it is a challenge to maintain your weight but I know you'll do just as great.

Thanks Lizzie! And thanks for believing in me! So far, I am doing great. Diet is a little hard, now that the effects of the pills have worn off. It's a good thing I got used to small meals already. :lol: I gain a few grams and able to lose it after a couple of workout.. So, it's all good. I hope I get to keep this up.

Lizzie · Guru

I wouldn't say it has worn off, then...that's the long lasting effect. Happy to see that you're in control. Keep at it.

summerlove · Senior Member

Thanks Lizzie! How are you doing? So far, I am still doing great!

cammie · Senior Member

Hi Sophie! I just read your thread and may I just say that you had one amazing journey towards your goal! Now that you are off the pills, how's your diet?

summerlove · Senior Member

Oh, thank you cammie! My diet is great. I have a few minor setbacks at times, but doing good in general. Cravings are back, but I am able to restrain myself most of the time. I still eat a lot of healthy foods. And I try to have salad almost everyday. :)

Lizzie · Guru

You are most welcome, Sophie. I, too, am doing pretty much the same as you. Thanks for asking. I slip but stand right back up. Recovering right away is very important. Otherwise, you'll fall too deep.

Stephie · Guru

your discipline is certainly admirable. keep it up, Sophie. smile

summerlove · Senior Member

>Lizzie: You are right about that, Lizzie! We can't be too lax or we might not be able to lose the weight if we gain too much again.

>Stephie: Thank you! It's a little hard sometimes, but I try to do my best!

cammie · Senior Member

By the looks of it, you pretty much learned how to have discipline. Amazing! But did the pills have anything to do with that?

summerlove · Senior Member

Hi cammie. Thank you. I think the pills pretty much helped me A LOT! If not for the appetite suppression, I would not be able to get used to having less food with each meal. I think my body's gotten used to it already. And the added energy helped me be more active. Now, I'd feel more comfortable in everyday if I exercise, even for a while. Just enough to keep my heart rate up and sweat it out. And one of the reasons why I am maintaining my discipline is because I wouldn't want to go back to how I was before. I think that's enough motivation for me to do my best at maintaining my weight. :)

cammie · Senior Member

That's great Sophie! All the best!