Hi Alfonso,

I’m a 21-year old woman and now I’m staying at home without doing anything. Here’s my problem –recently I finished my studies and started gaining weight. Before this I was around 133 lbs., which was a bit better than now (144 lbs.). I’m 5 feet 3 inch and slightly overweight according to my BMI calculation.

I already did some workouts to get over this but it seems my biggest problem is my belly fat. I really need to get rid of it. I have already cut out carbohydrates from my meal because I read that carbs are the main cause of belly fat.

Could you please suggest some actions that I can do to reduce my weight? My goal is to get to 121 lbs. in the next 3 months because I’m going to further my studies after this and I really want to go back with a new look.

Thanks –

Nurool

 

Hey Nurool!

How are you doing today? I totally understand your problem. My stomach is the hardest area to lose fat from, even now as I get ready to compete in a bodybuilding show.

It seems as though since you’ve finished up your studies that you’ve been a bit lazy! Sorry Nurool but I have to be honest. You’ve gained 11 pounds just hanging out at home which tells me that your activity is minimal and frankly, you’re eating too much. Remember you ONLY gain body fat by eating too much food on a regular and consistent basis. If you overeat continually then your body just turns those extra calories to body fat. What’s really ironic is how fast we can put weight on but how hard and arduous a task it is to lose it!

I know you’ve said you cut out carbohydrates but this isn’t a great idea from my standpoint. Carbohydrates are needed for blood sugar, energy, body processes and above all to fuel your muscles. Our bodies have different fat receptors all over so some areas store and lose fat faster than others. This is the case with stomach fat – it doesn’t mobilize very easily and hence when people lose weight, it seems it never leave the stomach area. However you can’t blame this on carbohydrates and say that they’re responsible for your belly fat alone.

What is primarily responsible for fat gain are sugars and refined carbohydrates. Breads, white flour products, potatoes, white rice etc. And of course anything that’s processed and in a box or can is usually not very healthy. I know many people will disagree with me on this, but I see people get their weight under control and achieve more stable energy levels when they exclude “white” products. The main issue is that we overeat them – who can’t easily eat a bowl of rice that has hundreds of calories? Two slices of whole wheat bread can contain three hundred calories. And white bread – it’s like liquid sugar. These foods are easy to overeat and cause your blood sugar to rise. When that happens you go into a fat storage state and fat burning is blunted. That’s not what you’re looking for.

I suggest, as I always do, a diet similar to the Paleo plan. So that means eat A LOT of vegetables, lean meats, nuts, seeds and occasional fruit. When I’m on this plan my carb count is actually quite high due to all the veggies in my diet, but it’s rich in fiber and complex carbs. So my body is working all day to digest the food, the fiber keeps me fuller for longer and provides me with stable energy levels. In all honesty I think if most people ate this way it would cure obesity and most health-associated issues. I know that’s a bold statement to make, but I believe it.

So Nurool, make sure you’re exercising accordingly – use circuit workouts like the ones featured on my YouTube channel  - and try my dietary suggestions. I bet you’ll soon see results!

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