How to get rid of the 'barrel'

[Cheule]

I'm 5' 9" and 14st. I'm thin faced, thin arms, thin legs, but literally look like a beer barrel in the centre. I have dieted before and got down to 12st 12, but crept back up again.

What's the best way to eliminate the barrel? I cycle a six-mile round trip to work each day and work in a physically demanding job, but they train you not to bend your middle to cut the risk of back injury (and the chance of being sued I'd say). But still I look like a weeble-wobble.

 

[blubb]

How about working out a bit and getting some muscles, that way you would look less out of proportion. If that is an option for you.

 

[Cheule]

How about working out a bit and getting some muscles, that way you would look less out of proportion. If that is an option for you.

My workplace requires that I lift and move objects of up to 19.5kg 1000 times a night or more, it kind of tuckers me out for the rest of the day!

I do have a set of weights but haven't gotten around to using them.

 

[montage]

targetting areas to lose fat doesn't happen, so it's a case of losing more weight I guess

 

[ianrauk]

a 6 mile round trip is not much exercise in the scheme of things. Certainly not enough to burn the calories unless your commute is sold climbing. Try and extend your commute to last at least 45 minutes if you can. Eat sensibly, cut down on the booze if you drink and the weight should start coming off.

 

[zacklaws]

My workplace requires that I lift and move objects of up to 19.5kg 1000 times a night or more, it kind of tuckers me out for the rest of the day!

I do have a set of weights but haven't gotten around to using them.

If you move that amount every night and have not developed any muscles then something is amiss because obviously weight training will not help either, the weight your shifting is up to 19.5 tonnes.

Unless your using a forklift.

 

[Moodyman]

You can tone your stomach by doing situps and their various incarnations.

As IanraUK says, cut down naughties and lengthen your commute

 

[montage]

You can tone your stomach by doing situps and their various incarnations.

As IanraUK says, cut down naughties and lengthen your commute

You can gain muscle by doing situps and their various incarnations, but if there is still a layer of flab then said muscles will remain hidden.

"Toning" is a word designed by those pricedrop TV ads selling ab crunchers and other excersize machines. In reality, toning just means losing fat.

The stomach and abs tends to be one of the last places for fat to bugger off from for most people, just takes that final push of effort to get rid of it!

 

[accountantpete]

I'm sure someone will come up with how many calories you burn on a 12 mile trip but it's probably less than a half a bar of chocolate.

Upping the mileage is the only answer.

 

[Tigerbiten]

I took up cycling ~18 months ago and weighed in at ~85 kg.
Since then I've lost about 4" of my waist .......
But I still weigh ~85 kg .........
I've just shifted the weight into my legs.

 

[mcshroom]

I'm sure someone will come up with how many calories you burn on a 12 mile trip but it's probably less than a half a bar of chocolate.

I know it's only a very rough guess but my commute today was 12.66 miles and the computer says 341 calories. Dairy milk has 525 calories per 100g.
(edit: also just under two creme eggs)


Not really a lot then

 

[buggi]

your body has stabilised because the amount your eating sustains what you do, and as you are able to lift those weights at work, you won't build any more muscle, because your body copes with what it has already got. the only way to build more muscle is to weight train with higher weights.

have you thought about taking up swimming? that will tone your torso, tummy, arms and shoulders and back and burn the calories. I know you are whacked at the end of the day so try it in the morning. Again, the fitter you become, the less tired you will be so be afraid to try the extra exercise. For instance, if you increase your commute to 12 miles by extending the route and then went back to 6 miles, the 6 miles would be easy peasy. So it's the same with weights. If you can lift more, what you do at work will become easy peasy. and the more exercise you do, the more energetic you'll become. and the barrel will become thinner.

 

[fossyant]

Extend your ride - it's easy to do, and pick the roads - I do - just add a few miles extra loop. Don't just ride to work, ride it as fast as you can. Get there sweating and out of breath. It works - quality, not quantity.

 

[Dayvo]

I seem to always recommend a sensible diet (and to be maintained, not just for temporary weight-loss) and the use of a Swiss ball (http://www.thinqfitness.com/video.asp?6nt=P14r&gclid=CNXjmZul4qYCFZINzAodaVfN6A) for strengthening, and skipping (
View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epZjMuRRXLo
) for toning and burning the fat off!

Good luck!

 

[Klaus]

I took up cycling ~18 months ago and weighed in at ~85 kg.
Since then I've lost about 4" of my waist .......
But I still weigh ~85 kg .........
I've just shifted the weight into my legs.

Same here, started April 2010 at 85 kg, basically for fitness rather than anything else. Still weigh 85kg but feel better, still got the bit in the middle (belly) but hey who cares, just done 23 miles today and not a bit out of breath!!