Yes, what I'd really like to do is go ahead and get a tummy tuck. But unless I hit the lotto that is just not happening. I gained a ton of weight (about from late thirties to early 40's) and last year I began a very rewarding journey getting anxiety driven eating under control and sticking to a very moderate and consistent work out program.
I lost 55 lbs and look a LOT better and feel much better. I still have more to go though. However, I'm not building enough muscle and don't intend to go out of way to do it because it is something I won't stick with. On the other hand, realizing that tummy is a hot mess I did go ahead and add a light ab routine 3-4 times per week.
Give it to me straight, am I doomed to have an upside down smile as a button for the rest of life or is there hope without a tummy tuck? I am not willing to kill myself with grueling workouts to do it. Just not happening. I would be open to some moderate, doable changes though. Please give me some suggestions.
PS: The ab workout I am doing is a floor routine that lasts about 10 minutes going through a series of exercises such as leg drops, windmills, russian twist, starfish crunch, mountain climbers, Spiderman planks, single leg drops, double leg circles. I've only been doing this for about 3 weeks. I was thinking that about 6 weeks in to do the routine twice. But right now this routine kills thighs and abs so I am hoping its enough. Feedback is appreciated.
Thank you and warm regards,
Jen - new here
What I REALLY need is a tummy tuck but that ain't happening
Moderators: Boss Man, cassiegose
Re: What I REALLY need is a tummy tuck but that ain't happening
Hi Jen, good to talk to you and WELL DONE one what you've done so far.
This kind of system might work for you. It's something I've posted before which includes and eating and workout plan.
Breakfast
Option 1.
Bowl of Whole-grain Cereal and 1 rasher of Bacon, fat trimmed off and scrambled Eggs, (2 Egg Whites + Yolk)
Option 2.
Protein shake, small portion of Nuts, (excluding higher carb ones like Cashews, Chestnuts and Grapenuts), + Apple. Give the Apple 10-15 minutes to digest to improve digestion.
Snack
Option 1.
Portion of Turkey + Orange
Option 2.
Small Portion of Peanuts, some Chicken + Raw Carrott.
Lunch
Option 1.
Large Beef Sandwich with trimmings, I.E. Tomato, Lettuce, Cucumber etc.
Option 2.
Bowl of Chicken Soup, + Pot of yoghurt.
Snack
Option 1.
Turkey + Cashews
Option 2.
Ham + 2 large Tomatos
Dinner
Option 1.
Pork with mashed Potato.
Option 2.
Chicken and Rice
Option 3.
100g Halibut + Broccoli
Snack
Option 1.
Beans on Toast
Option 2.
Ham Sandwich, no trimmings.
Easy on the bread with both options.
You could add a few things to certain meals, like Sea Salt, Cracked Black Pepper, Parsley, Mustard, Herbs, Garlic.
As for the training you could do a schedule something like this.
Squats, 2 sets, 10 reps
Lunges, 2 sets, 10 reps
Deadlifts, 2 sets, 10 reps
Bent over Rows, 2 sets, 10 reps
Bench press, 2 sets, 10 reps
Shrugs, 2 sets, 10 reps
Planks 30 seconds.
You would do that 3x a week every other day.
In relation to what to use, go for the second smallest barbell on the squats and deadlifts and the smallest on bent over rows.
Use the second smallest dumbbells on bench press and lunges and the smallest ones on shrugs.
Then every 2 weeks increase the weight a little bit and then after around 6 weeks, you'll be ready to lift close to max lifting for reps, bearing in mind you don't need to do failure training, as it's not necessary and wastes more energy.
This is how your schedule could look per week
Day 1. Weights
Day 2. Cardio
Day 3. Weights
Day 4. Day off
Day 5. Cardio
Day 6. Weights
Day 7. Day off.
This prevents you doing 5 days straight and 2 days of nothing, as I think that's allowing too much consecutive taxation and 2 days of your body doing nothing, slowly starting to adjust to it, before 5 days of grind again, which might take the edge off progress potential, so the 5 split days should be better for you.
How does that seem?
This kind of system might work for you. It's something I've posted before which includes and eating and workout plan.
Breakfast
Option 1.
Bowl of Whole-grain Cereal and 1 rasher of Bacon, fat trimmed off and scrambled Eggs, (2 Egg Whites + Yolk)
Option 2.
Protein shake, small portion of Nuts, (excluding higher carb ones like Cashews, Chestnuts and Grapenuts), + Apple. Give the Apple 10-15 minutes to digest to improve digestion.
Snack
Option 1.
Portion of Turkey + Orange
Option 2.
Small Portion of Peanuts, some Chicken + Raw Carrott.
Lunch
Option 1.
Large Beef Sandwich with trimmings, I.E. Tomato, Lettuce, Cucumber etc.
Option 2.
Bowl of Chicken Soup, + Pot of yoghurt.
Snack
Option 1.
Turkey + Cashews
Option 2.
Ham + 2 large Tomatos
Dinner
Option 1.
Pork with mashed Potato.
Option 2.
Chicken and Rice
Option 3.
100g Halibut + Broccoli
Snack
Option 1.
Beans on Toast
Option 2.
Ham Sandwich, no trimmings.
Easy on the bread with both options.
You could add a few things to certain meals, like Sea Salt, Cracked Black Pepper, Parsley, Mustard, Herbs, Garlic.
As for the training you could do a schedule something like this.
Squats, 2 sets, 10 reps
Lunges, 2 sets, 10 reps
Deadlifts, 2 sets, 10 reps
Bent over Rows, 2 sets, 10 reps
Bench press, 2 sets, 10 reps
Shrugs, 2 sets, 10 reps
Planks 30 seconds.
You would do that 3x a week every other day.
In relation to what to use, go for the second smallest barbell on the squats and deadlifts and the smallest on bent over rows.
Use the second smallest dumbbells on bench press and lunges and the smallest ones on shrugs.
Then every 2 weeks increase the weight a little bit and then after around 6 weeks, you'll be ready to lift close to max lifting for reps, bearing in mind you don't need to do failure training, as it's not necessary and wastes more energy.
This is how your schedule could look per week
Day 1. Weights
Day 2. Cardio
Day 3. Weights
Day 4. Day off
Day 5. Cardio
Day 6. Weights
Day 7. Day off.
This prevents you doing 5 days straight and 2 days of nothing, as I think that's allowing too much consecutive taxation and 2 days of your body doing nothing, slowly starting to adjust to it, before 5 days of grind again, which might take the edge off progress potential, so the 5 split days should be better for you.
How does that seem?
Re: What I REALLY need is a tummy tuck but that ain't happening
Boss man, thank you thank you thank you. You certainly took a lot of time to post that reply. It makes sense it really does. (The nutritional part I've got wrapped up, trust me, I'm on clean, organic portion controlled, 3 meal/2 snack a day plan w/ Sat night being anything goes night but still with restrictions such as NO junk, NO fast food, still NO soda, etc)
With that said, the workout is a concern. You see, I've been running, inclining and ellipting butt off for 30 mins a day, 5 x's per week for the last year. Quite frankly, you're plan scares the bejeezus out of me!
I trust you, don't get me wrong, but please just for peace of mind, can you honestly back up that after doing that much cardio I can drop down to that little cardio and not gain weight back AND continue burning fat yet build muscle?
Also, what about HIIT, tell me if I should be doing this now that I've gotten to where I am? Should I be doing 2-3 mins all out run, then [power] walk 4-5 mins and if so, how long each session?
Things have changed drastically since I was a young, super fit health nut lol. It is all so different! And at 44 do I need to have any concerns about little heart and the HIIT?
I already [naturally] have a high heart rate, suffer from anxiety and have ADHD and yes I can be high-strung and hyper. I suffer from occasional panic attacks AND heart palpitations which ALL run in family. Is HIIT for me? Thank you so much for your help! Sorry it took so long to get back on and respond to your post, started a new job.
Also, how can I post pic for profile?? I'd love to get own before/afters up, I looked at the posts with the instructions and had no idea what anyone was talking about.
Warm regards,
Jen
With that said, the workout is a concern. You see, I've been running, inclining and ellipting butt off for 30 mins a day, 5 x's per week for the last year. Quite frankly, you're plan scares the bejeezus out of me!
I trust you, don't get me wrong, but please just for peace of mind, can you honestly back up that after doing that much cardio I can drop down to that little cardio and not gain weight back AND continue burning fat yet build muscle?
Also, what about HIIT, tell me if I should be doing this now that I've gotten to where I am? Should I be doing 2-3 mins all out run, then [power] walk 4-5 mins and if so, how long each session?
Things have changed drastically since I was a young, super fit health nut lol. It is all so different! And at 44 do I need to have any concerns about little heart and the HIIT?
I already [naturally] have a high heart rate, suffer from anxiety and have ADHD and yes I can be high-strung and hyper. I suffer from occasional panic attacks AND heart palpitations which ALL run in family. Is HIIT for me? Thank you so much for your help! Sorry it took so long to get back on and respond to your post, started a new job.
Also, how can I post pic for profile?? I'd love to get own before/afters up, I looked at the posts with the instructions and had no idea what anyone was talking about.
Warm regards,
Jen
Re: What I REALLY need is a tummy tuck but that ain't happening
Jen, you honestly don't need to apologise for anything, so I'll politely decline what I see as an unnecessary apology from a Lady 
.
Yes, trust me the system should work and the cardio days you can do HIIT if you wish, but I'd take it at a low level first of all, to see how it feels.
The only change you need to make is switch the rows and bench press around, as that was a slight error on part.
.Yes, trust me the system should work and the cardio days you can do HIIT if you wish, but I'd take it at a low level first of all, to see how it feels.
The only change you need to make is switch the rows and bench press around, as that was a slight error on part.