Snowfalling, I've just recently read a book called Abs Diet (for Women ... but's there's also an Abs Diet which is for men.) It promises no hunger, which so far I have found to be the case. The premise is to eat 6 times/day (3 snacks, 3 meals). Both the meals and the snacks are simple to prepare, and there are also exercise recommendations given in the book (which I haven't started yet ... but should/will!) The book lists 12 types of food, and a person is supposed to try to incorporate at least 2 foods into each meal/snack. Just thought this might be helpful for you, with the being hungry all the time thing. Being hungry is a terrible way to go thru life :) Anyway, maybe you can find the book in your local library, if you think this might be for you. Best of luck. PuttPutz

---

No way that I can fake it
this times got to be real - JC

Thanks. I may look that book up. One of my problems is getting my abs pulled in. My lower abs suffered during some recent medical issues.  *%@&*!!!!   I did weeks and weeks of crunches, only to discover that they build the upper abs. Popped some great muscle, in the wrong place.

I eat 6 times a day already, all healthy snacks, and I'm beginning think life is lived in the kitchen. Tired of peeling things. Constant eating's bad for gainful employment too. Sigh.

---

borderline useless from hanging around

Well goodness knows I'm no expert, but maybe more protein and good fats are needed, to keep you feeling satisfied? This book is big on almonds, smoothies (with whey), lean protein, whole grains, etc, etc., and it talks about the 5 different sections of abs, and suggests different exercises for each. It's tough, but it sounds like you've really made good progress, so I hope you're able to stick with it.

---

No way that I can fake it
this times got to be real - JC

I've kind of stagnated as well.  I was down 20, but I've gained back 5, but I think it's muscle.  Before I got this job, I had no muscles to speak of.  Now when I flex, I'm feeling some nice definition, especially in my arms and calves!  I'm going to focus on size rather than what the scale says.  I'm back to wearing the pants I used to wear before I went to my biggest size, so I think that's quite good for me.

---

Yesterday is yesterday. (This Town)

It's only heaven descending. (Black Ribbon)

Just remember, if the world didn't suck, we'd all fall off.

That's great, Marnie! Muscle does way more than fat!

---

...then curl up by the fire and sleep for awhile,
it's the grooviest thing, it's the perfect dream ~ The Cure

One man's 'ridiculous' is another man's 'Yabba-dabba-doo' ~ Charlie on Two & a Half Men

Keep it simple

Sure does!!!

Its all about how you feel and if your feeling good, then its working!

 

---

"There's one in every crowd, for crying out loud,
why was it always turning out be me"

It is completely gratifying to put on pants from a previous size and have them fit, isn't it?

It's even more exciting to begin contemplating new lingerie styles. 

Scales lie. Lingerie doesn't. 

---

borderline useless from hanging around

Very true!! LOL

---

...then curl up by the fire and sleep for awhile,
it's the grooviest thing, it's the perfect dream ~ The Cure

One man's 'ridiculous' is another man's 'Yabba-dabba-doo' ~ Charlie on Two & a Half Men

Keep it simple

Well, it looks like my main exercise today will be shovelling. Jack is away until late tonight & left VERY early this morning, so I'm going to have to do it all. There's a lot of shovelling, so I may have to break it up into two workouts.

---

...then curl up by the fire and sleep for awhile,
it's the grooviest thing, it's the perfect dream ~ The Cure

One man's 'ridiculous' is another man's 'Yabba-dabba-doo' ~ Charlie on Two & a Half Men

Keep it simple

Oh I hear ya there Sammie, my arms are sore

SnowFalling:

It is completely gratifying to put on pants from a previous size and have them fit, isn't it?

It's even more exciting to begin contemplating new lingerie styles. 

Scales lie. Lingerie doesn't. 

It's totally gratifying to fit into something I wasn't 100% sure I'd ever get into again.  As for the lingerie.....I'm gonna hold off for a while.  I've never worn any and I don't have anyone to wear it for! *tries not to seem bitter and jaded* lol

---

Yesterday is yesterday. (This Town)

It's only heaven descending. (Black Ribbon)

Just remember, if the world didn't suck, we'd all fall off.

Hmm. I had a whole post going here, but have decided to take it to a PM, lest the modest (and possibly the male) take exception.

Don't put your back out, Sammie!

Gah. Hard dieting starts by Saturday. I'm getting impatient. 

---

borderline useless from hanging around

PuttPutz:

Snowfalling, I've just recently read a book called Abs Diet ... It promises no hunger, which so far I have found to be the case. .... Anyway, maybe you can find the book in your local library, if you think this might be for you. Best of luck. PuttPutz

Hey PuttPutz, I finally managed to extract this book from the library. It was so popular, I had a long wait.

Did you have much luck with the abs diet and workout?

I'm a little intimidated. I started reading and realized, oh my freaking dog, interval workouts. I'm not sure this will work for me, but I think there's a lot I can modify to fit.

Anyways, I've been cycling around in maintenance for a while, sorting out information, and making choices, and I think I'm back on track. Thanks for the book recommend.

---

borderline useless from hanging around

I once tried whey protein, not realizing where it came from...and just a tad of advice for anyone who can suffer from lactose intolerance....it can make you very sick...it did me. I have to stick with a soy protein or just try and make sure I eat proteins which is hard since I don't eat a lot of meat sources. But protein intake is mandatory for building any muscle at all and some sort of cardio (fat burning) is mandatory to reduce fat anywhere, especially the tummy area. But the 6 times a day eating would be really tough...but if you can do it...that's awesome!

Crunches don't work the lower abs, but the old standard bicycle does....or lay on you bed and do leg lifts with your legs hanging a bit over...another good one is put your self into a sorta "v" where your upper torso is elevated a bit and your legs a bit and bring yourself together....you can do this one centered and then alternating sides to work the sides out too.

I swear by walking....I've been walking for a couple of weeks and its made a huge difference. I put on a pair of capri's yesterday that I bought a while ago and couldn't even pull them up. Well they went right up and then I spent the rest of the day pulling them up cuz they kept falling down. Someone once told me or I read that muscle has memory, so if you used to work out and had great muscle tone, it will come back quickly if you had stopped. I think its true since I used to be an absolute exercise junky before my daughter was born and as I have gotten back to it, things are happening extremely quickly and I never really eased back in, just did what i used to and haven't had much trouble with muscle aches or anything...but I think great quantities of water and stretching really help that too.

 

---

"There's one in every crowd, for crying out loud,
why was it always turning out be me"

I used to walk miles every day, but my feet give me grief now. Bunions, nice hereditary bunions. Thanks, mom. Hoping to have them fixed this year.

Walking never really did a lot of fat burning for me in any case. This "abs" book is interesting because it has ten different exercises for each muscle group, just to break up the boredom and suit different settings. I think the one you describe is in there. 

Sounds like you're making a lot of progress. Congrats. Isn't it fun to put on an old pair of pants and have them fit? 

---

borderline useless from hanging around