Hi everyone! Newbie here!

[Puddles]

Welcome!

Fat Loss Order of Importance...

DIET

WEIGHT TRAINING (INTENSE...NOT THE PADDED DB's)

CARDIO (HIIT AND ENDURANCE COMBO)

...cardio is overrated.

I agree with Spatts on the above.

DIET is number one to loosing fat...forget everything you were ever taught about eating and learn from the boards here. About a year ago I started following a diet that my husband got at the gym...high protein, lower carbs and a small amount of healthy fats, like most of the diets suggested here on the boards. Then I found Spats cutting diet and bookmarked it many months ago and altered it for myself and my lifestyle. Prepared and processed foods will kill ya if you're trying to loose weight...stick with wholesome foods and you will FEEL much better...you'll notice a difference within a week. I've spent a year with healthy dieting and lost about 60 lbs...still have 15 or so to go.

WEIGHT TRAINING...I only started lifting a few months ago. Although I haven't lost much since I started lifting, my body has had huge improvements. My husband is my trainer and we work it HARD.

CARDIO...I don't do it much, but when I do, I always do a high degree of incline to make it tough. I lower the incline instead of lowering speed when I can't continue, then I push it back up...for me this works well.

Welcome and best wishes for your success, OKMeow!!!

 

[makedah]

MrsPuddlesFL - You look fabulous! What body fat percentage do you think you're at these days? And have you had a problem with loose skin?

 

[Puddles]

BF percentage...not sure...I haven't measured in about 3 months and I'm NOT gonna say what it was then! LOL We'll be taking new measurements within the next couple of weeks...I might tell ya then where I'm at. I'm only 5'3" and currently weigh 144 lbs., medium build with a fair amount of muscle development underneath, especially in my legs.

Loose skin? Uh huh. That's why I'm planning for a tummy tuck and boob job (lift and implants) in Feb. I want to get to 130 lbs before surgery. Reaching 130 is my first goal...then surgery, and then refining what's left. All in all, I figure it will be a 2 year battle to get to where I'd initially like to be...the first year is over...the second is coming along nicely.

 

[makedah]

Thanks for the reply. Please share when you get your new measurements. Good luck on the surgery!

 

[Puddles]

22% as of last night. I had hoped it to be a little lower by now but the number keeps getting lower each time we measure so I shouldn't complain. This is also PMS week...does water retention affect the measurement at all?

I did have one cool thing happen last night...when we were doing bicep curls I noticed the beginning indications of a vein running across my right bicep! That made me happy.

 

[makedah]

Thanks for the update, MrsPuddles! You sound like you want to get lower than 22%. Good luck to you! But I think you already look fantastic.

I don't have the desire that it would take to fight my genes all the way down to a low BF% like many of the lovely ladies have here. Plus, I love food! In the low 20s would be nice. I looked at your black-shorts and black top avatar and thought - what a BOD! There's "goal" for me.

 

[Intenceman]

Welcome.
The key is getting into a caloric deficit-burning more calories each day than you take in. Since aerobic exercise only burns 150 calories or so- depending on intensity, at best it is an aid to fat loss. As stated above diet is the key. Intense resistance training wil boost your metabolism both during the workout and for hours afterwrd, thus making it the primary workout choice. Add the aerobics in after or on days off. Good luck.

 

[nikkita]

It is very good that you want to look better, you have received good advice on the other posts. I can tell you that the key of everything is the diet. It is what you eat what gets reflected in your body.

I would say that your diet needs to be balanced. You can do this by substituting certain foods. Personally I love tortilla, but it has high carbs, try eating one tortilla instead of three... avoid flour tortillas at all cost. Salsa you can eat, but cheese try it only on cheat day.

Try that all your meals have a protein source... for the 4-6th meals try to vary, let it be chicken with veggies or meat. If you have sweet tooth issues, try peanut butter but only a teaspoon, helps for the cravings, eat some nuts or almonds.

You may buy a protein shake, there are ones that have good taste and according to what you need cover for your protein requirements.

As you see, to look good you must change some eating habits. It may be hard at the begining but if you are constant you will pass that stage and adapt to a new regime.

Good luck!