Source
r/xxfitness•
ruby_dog

I am a gym-goer, and eat well, but just can't shift my muffin tummy!

This is my first time posting to xxfitness. I looked at the regular r/fitness but a lot of it was about men putting on bulk!

I have been going to the gym since Oct 12, and usually go to 2/3 classes a week. I prefer classes to the machines as I feel its more fun. I usually do spin, body conditioning, total body workout, pump, etc.

Nothing I do can help shift my middle though! I'm 23, 5ft9 and used to weigh around 9st3lb, yet in the last year I've gone up to about 9st13lb, with all the weight on my hips and tummy. What are the best ways to rid this?!

Posted Apr 2, 2013, 4:29 PM UTC

413
danielissima•

If you want to lose fat you need to make changes to your diet. I'm having a go at leangains to get my BF% down, and if that interests you at all I'd highly recommend checking out their FAQ/threads r/leangains

I don't really feel qualified to recommend the program for effectiveness myself yet, since it's only been a month, but it's definitely the EASIEST calorie reduction I've ever done.

When I was starting out, I enjoyed the classes a lot too - I think whatever keeps you going can be the best thing, at first, but I also feel like I should mention the obligatory "I never changed my body with anything as much as I changed it with heavy lifting." Lots of people say it, and it's been my experience also.

13
ruby_dogOP•

I'd love to do lifting, but oh boy, I have some noodle arms!! I'm a naturally skinny girl, apart from my tummy. I'd feel so silly trying any thing at the gym. Any tips at home? I literally have no idea where to start.

I'll definitely look at leangains, thank you!

1
Vanetia•

You have noodle arms so you won't lift, but you won't get rid of noodle arms unless you lift! Onos!

Check out r/bodyweightfitness for some resistance-type exercises you can do at home to start off with. Maybe that can condition your arms a bit so you feel more comfortable starting out.

But really, don't worry about your composition too much. The point of going to the gym is to change that anyways, right? You can pick up the little 5 lb dumbbells and start from there ;)

7
ruby_dogOP•

Thanks!

1
danielissima•

If you are already doing classes that show you some lifts you are at a good starting point! Everyone feels shy and kind of dumb when they start but you won't get past that if you don't try it out. I've never had any gym equipment at my house, so I'm not sure about lifting at home but I'd definitely check out the FAQ on r/fitness it's really informative about beginner lifting programs.

3
iLikeScienceBoners•

Work on body weight stuff at home for starters like push ups and body squats. Can't do push ups yet? No worries! There's a progression that's mentioned a lot on here where you do push ups against a wall and when that's too way go to a counter then to a couch and to the floor, work your way up to it in the comfort of your own home! Once your comfortable with your ability to do push-ups you can try dumbbell bench press at the gym. You'll probably be surprised by how much you can do. Build your confidence up with body weight squats and then try goblet squats at the gym. Dumbbell dead lifts are also good. Once you get comfortable with a few moves at home, take them to the gym and add dumbbells. Pretty soon those noodles will be less noodly

3
ruby_dogOP•

This is fantastic advice, thank you so much.

1
[deleted]•

Cardio is largely irrelevant in terms of losing weight if the diet isn’t correct. Start counting calories after calculating your daily caloric requirements and run a deficit of 2-300 calories per day for a month or two. You will start losing weight.

6
ruby_dogOP•

Good plan. I have the myfitnesspal app but always forget to input the data. I will carry on now though.

2
alicecarroll•

Elimination worked for me. I cut out foods to see which one had the greatest impact. Booze, obviously, but surprisingly for me, grains and pulses were doing me in. Lentils, cous cous, barley etc etc. Once I cut out booze and grains, I dropped my visceral fat by over 30% in 6 weeks.

2
ruby_dogOP•

Thats interesting, I will keep an eye out for what does me in. The weight has snuck up on me so slowly that I'm not sure what has the greatest impact.

1
NecrotizingFasciitis•

There is no particular food that causes you to gain weight. Cutting out booze and grains most likely caused a caloric deficit and therefore weight loss but there is no need to try to find the "culprit" and eliminate it from your diet because that food does not exist. Tracking macros and making sure you are in a deficit is what you should be focusing on.

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Sur_Rebuttal•

Once I cut gluten, I lost the extra fat around my midsection. I didn't lose a lot of weight but it was a noticeable physical change (plus, my digestion greatly improved.)

1