How to get rid of the 'barrel'

[henshaw11]

More exercise/less pies I'm afraid
Some people tend to put weight on the midriff, some on the legs/hips, which doesn't help.

Doing situps will build up the external muscles, but that's about all. Stuff like the plank, where you pull your bellybutton back to your spine to engage the deeper postural/core muscles, ought to help a bit.
(Depending on who you listen to or want to get into an argument with, the abs aren't strictly core muscles, as I now I gather from a minor p*ssing contest on another forum )

This sounds like a funny question - but most blokes seem to have a tendency to pot-belliness to at least some degree. Is it a postural thing ? About 20 years ago I noticed a mate - with a similar physique to me - was starting to get one, so I've always held a certainly amount of tension in the belly - not pull it in, more just not letting it slouch out. So it's kinda in the same place it's always been.
Any thoughts ?

 

[pshore]

I've been experimenting with my commute over the last few years. What I've worked out is that option 2 seems to burn fat more efficiently over a week.

1) Morning commute 30mins quick, Evening commute 30mins quick. 5 days a week.
2) Morning commute 60mins quick pace, evening 30 mins average pace. Rest day the next day. (I do three days a week like this plus something at the weekend (doesn't have to be cycling).

I don't know why exactly, perhaps the warm up period just isn't efficient exercise. Option 2 seems to keep me losing weight on the rest day too.

The same routine every day is an easy pattern to plateau on. Mix it up a bit, longer commute, intervals etc. Endurance ride, speed ride.

Having said all that, I still have more fat than I want. It's a hard battle keeping it off when you like the occasional beer and curry - they undo all the good work so easily.

 

[515mm]

Okay, I don't want to worry you, but you sound like the sort of shape the medics get a bee in their bonnets about,

so try this out.......................

http://www.nutrition.about.com/library/bl_nutrition_guide_men.htm


and be honest! On the days I exercised for an hour or more, I allowed myself 500 calories more than the days I didn't exercise.

On my commute I had a 10 min warm up, then flat out for 30 mins, then a 10min cool down on my morning ride to work. Took it steady on the way home, but still riding for at least 45mins. Do this hard, flat out effort only a couple of times a week at first.

You'll get fitter and you will lose that tummy. I lost 25kg of fat and gained 6kg of muscle.

Good Luck

 

[nightoff]

It sounds like you have hit a plateau. The only way you will lose the extra weight is to burn more calories than you consume.

I have hit my plateau at 13.5 stones and still have a stubborn spare tyre I can't shift. I need to either up my game on the bike or stop grazing at the fridge or both.

You don't say if you drink much alcohol. Cutting back on the booze is a great way to lose weight. There are about 220 calories in a pint of lager.
Just one pint will replace the calories you used on your 6 mile ride.

Try not to get demotivated if you don't get fast results. The fitness you get from cycling will be doing you the world of good.