Lose Weight With Grapefruit?

Email from Anonymous:

Does grapefruit make you lose weight?

Lisa's Response:

I think you're referring to the "grapefruit diet fad" that was started some years ago.

It's not the grapefruit that causes you to lose weight, it's the fact you're only consuming 800 calories per day (according to this particular diet plan). With that kind of caloric intake you'd lose weight no matter if it was grapefruit, apples, oranges, or pears.

Any kind of fab diet where they instruct you to lower your caloric intake down to an extremely low number is nutritionally deficient and not healthy. The best way to lose weight is to eat a wide variety of protein-rich, high-fiber and lower fat foods regularly and exercise 3-4 times per week.

Read this article: http://www.surebaby.com/grapefruitdiet.php.

How Long to Tone My Stomach?

Email from Anonymous:

I would like to know how long it would take (approx) to tone up my stomach, I feel I eat quite well.

I have about 2-3 glasses of red wine a week and anjoy a good chocolate bar or 2 once a week. and for the last 10 months, I have notice that I have cellulite on my stomach...I find this digusting, and I always bloat and feel 4 months pregnant after I eat a solid meal...was just looking up stomach exercises on the internet and found this site. Any information would be great.

Lisa's Response:

First of all your stomach won't be toned until you go back to the size you were when your stomach was its flattest. It's impossible to tone the stomach without losing weight all over and doing some strength training. You have to do lower back exercises, side bends, side crunches etc. in order to tone up your middle section. Crunches alone won't get it.

You want to go on a low fat diet and add lots of protein (egg whites, baked fish, almonds, lean meats, chicken) and cut out bad starches and carbs such as white breads, potatoes, white rice, etc.

Exercising is another important factor. Jogg/walk at least 4 times a week.

I can't tell you how long it will take to lose your stomach because it depends on your body's metabolism, your current weight, how well you stick to your diet/exercise, etc. There are soooooo many factors that it would be impossible for me to even predict a time for you.

For bloating, drink water - 8 glasses per day. That helps a lot because water aids digestion. You also may want to take a fiber supplement like Metamucil in case you're not regular. Irregularity and indigestion are two things that also cause your stomach to swell a lot!

Breakfast and Lunch Ideas

Email from Anonymous:

I've put to practice some of your suggestions already. But I am having a little trouble with the whole breakfast and lunch deal. So do you have any suggestions on what is a good lunchtime meal? To be honest, I'm getting a little tired of tuna fish and salad. :-)

Lisa's Response:

Tell me about it! lol Remember to treat yourself a couple of times a week. Unless you are extremely overweight and are on a strict diet you don't want to wear yourself out because you'll run the risk of returning to your bad habits.

Even if you have to cheat just try to stay away from starches/carbs like pasta, white bread, white rice. I know that's hard 'cause those are very popular lunch time foods.

You could do stir fry with brown rice, grilled chicken (lots of protein there), vegetable soups and stews with lean cuts of meat. And if you crave a burger, just take the bun off. The meat isn't as bad for you as the bun....contrary to popular beliefs.

I have a hard time with lunch too because I am used to eating grilled cheese, french fries, burgers, etc. lol Those are fine every once and a while, just remember MODERATION.

Breakfast is easier than lunch in my opinion because there are a lot of stomach friendly options. It also may be because I'm just a breakfast person. Here are some options: egg whites (make a sandwich with whole wheat bread), bowl of oatmeal (add honey and raisins/fruit for flavor), 15/handful almonds (that's almost 300 calories alone and could be used as an entire meal if you want) Drink water with your almonds and you'll fill up and it will last! That's a very good thing to do if you're in a hurry. I keep a can of almonds for those mornings I don't have time to make breakfast. Fruits, low fat yogurt, whole grain cereals with skim milk are also good choices.

Hope that gives you some more options. :)

Raising Metabolism is KEY!

Email from Anonymous:

Hi!

My name is **** and I have recently found that your site is very encouraging and informative. I have recently decided to lose weight and tone up my body. For about two weeks now I have followed the routine of running, weight lifting, and watching my diet. I am 6'2" and weigh about 183lbs.

I'm not overweight by any means but I would like to cut so-called "baby-fat" around my abdominal. In my workouts I usually run for aout 30 min., weight lift for about 1hr and a half three times a week and I'm on a 6-meal high protein diet.

My question is through these efforts will my metabolism rise and will I begin to see toning of my abs, because I know a full blown 6-pack is almost 100% genetic?

Lisa's Response:

First of all, congrats on your workout routine! You're on your way. While six packs may come easier to some, I believe they are attainable for most people if they trim the fat around the middle.

But you MUST do this first. I read somewhere that you need to get your entire body fat percentage down to less than 10% before you six pack starts showing. So if you still have a considerable amount of weight around your mid section, you probably won't begin to see any results until most of the fat is gone.

That's why I stress on my site, Flat-Stomach-Exercises.com, that an ab workout is really a full body workout (which is what you're doing). You can't just trim 30% of your regular weight but expect to lose 90% of your stomach fat.

Yes, your metabolism will definitely begin rising as a result of the cardio workouts (running, walking) In other words your body will burn fat a lot faster and more efficiently. Hopefully that makes sense. Good luck and keep on truckin!

Stomach Hanging After Surgery

Email from Anonymous:

Hello, I had a hysterectomy 2 years ago, and now I have this flab that hangs. Could you please help me to get rid of this. I hate my body since the operation. I didn't have the flab before the operation. I am desparate.

Lisa's Response:

Keep in mind that I'm not a doctor, but some people's only resort after a hysterectomy is surgery because it sounds like you may have more excess, sagging skin than actual fat.

BUT if abdominal fat is the problem, you can still firm that area up by doing some double leg lifts. That's where you lay on your back, head off the ground, arms behind your head. Raise and lower your legs (keeping them as straight as possible). Try to get your legs as close to the floor as possible and lift them up. You'll feel your lower abdominals working.

Have you asked your doctor about it?

Your body's make-up will depend on what will work best for you. If it's fat you're dealing with then you'll need to load up on proteins: almonds, egg whites, fish, beans and those kinds of foods but it sounds like to me your body was morphed by the surgery. Exercising will help but it won't eliminate all excess skin. Age also plays an important factor since skin tends to sag the older we get.

You really need to talk to your physician about what will work best.

Good luck to you!

Thin With Stomach Flab

Email from Anonymous:

I'm 27 yrs old and only recently have I been at war with abdominal fat. I, like you, am naturally thin, 5'2" 112 lbs. Yet, it's all in my stomach! I don't want to be 100lbs again! Yet, I do need to get rid of this stomach. I'm going to utilize all of your advice and I truly believe this time I will succeed.

Lisa's Response:

Good for you! As I've been going thru this process, I've learned that a lot of my problem is not fat....it's bloating. So I've been cutting out bad carbs like white breads and french fries and I've been eating more protein and fiber (almonds, eggs, fish, etc.)

I haven't loss but about 3 pounds but my stomach is a LOT fatter. So perhaps that is your problem too. I've learned you don't necessarily have to lose all your weight...especially if your problem is bloating.

Also remember to drink 8 glasses of water a day. That helps sooooo much!Fennel or Pepperment tea is also great for keeping out the bloat.

Motivation Comes FIRST

Email from Anonymous:

I am a young obses woman at risk for many health risks if I don't already have them. I have tried dieting before even going as far as hiring a personal trainer, but it all seemed so expensive. I am having trouble getting over that mental hump that comes with trying to lose weight. I have read many statistics and I am quite intelligent but for some reason would rather sit on couch instaed of exercising. Do you have any starter exercises that one could do before doing an all out routine?

Lisa's Response:

I'm no psychologist but it sounds like to me your issue is more mental than physical. You said yourself you're having trouble getting over the mental hump that comes with trying to lose weight. You have to work on that first.

I could give you every exercise in the book but they won't give you the motivation. Until you mentally decide this is something you want to stick to then it will be difficult. I have the same issue sometimes. I'm not overweight but I know I should workout for health reasons. Many days I just can't make myself do it. It's not that I can't do it physically but I have to mentally remind myself that I care about my physical well being enough to make my butt get up and exercise. :)

As far as starter exercises. Make it simple. Go buy a simple jump rope and jump for 10 minutes per day. Or walk around your neighborhood. A simple walk is one of the best exercises you can perform and it's something you can always do. A lot of my friends go to the mall and power walk. That's another good place to go because you can people watch. If you don't want to do that get a treadmill and walk in your home.

You don't have to have an all out routine to lose weight, you just need some consistent heart-moving exercises that you perform 3-4 times a week. AND you have to convince yourself mentally that you want to do this. Don't do it for anyone but yourself.Most people don't realize it, but losing weight is much more a mental process than physical. Sure you have to physically move to do the exercises BUT your mind has to decide FIRST that you want to do this.

Good luck to you, girl! You can do it!!