Help With Removing Stubborn Fat and Weight

Simon74

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So a little background, I am 46 years old, and until 10 years ago I had been 12st and 6' from being 18. I was regularly playing competitive sports, and was reasonably fit. At that point during a game I fell and my knee all but dislocated an popped back in, which became a consistent problem. I went into surgery and this put me out of commission for 6 months and every time I tried to come back it would result in injuries. Alongside various other personal things over the next 9 years i put on weight until in Oct 18 i weighed around 16st10. With a young daughter who does competitive swimming, and my knees starting to come back to becoming a problem with them collapsing under me, I decided I need to get the weight off before I couldn't do it (when they did surgery they did say I would eventually need a knee replacement), so that I was fitter and if needed in the future I would find it easier to have surgeries and put less pressure on my body.

I started by trying various things like running, etc, but these types of high impact sports now destroy my knees, so I started going to my nearest gym (about 30 mins away) to do classes in the morning. I now do HIT/cardio classes 4 times a week and have been doing this for 15 months I have come down to around 14st7 ( I decided to bring my weight down slowly on purpose), but have been stuck at this weight for some time (even with restricting/improving my diet).

I can only do the gym classes at 7am as I start work at 9am, and my partner works 6 evenings (so I have to watch my daughter), plus I found trying to add more was killing my knees (it seems my old knackered body can't do training 7 days a week). I am definitely fitter and stronger (with some definition), but have hit this plateau, and carry fat around my "Love handles" and upper chest.

I seem to have hit a a point where pushing below the 14st7 is harder than it has been at other points, I keep coming up a little and going down a little. I am wondering if a supplement would help me push down where the loss would start again, etc.

Thanks for the advice.
 

btothefman

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Just don't eat dude, fast


'edit to increase usefulness'

Quick results: water fast for one week, expect 3-4 kg fat loss and no muscle loss (limit training to walking around only).

Slow and steady results: move to eating in timed windows only, either one meal a day or in a 2-3 hour window. Eat around your workout and try to do big carbs meals on resistance training days only.

Fasting is all about when you eat not what you eat, although eating clean as will speed up the results. Much easier than counting calories/macros etc, you'll get full quicker too and it will get easier over time.

Plenty of info on the net or youtube, search 'intermittent fasting', 'omad' or 'extended water fasting'.

Good luck with it.
 
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Resolve10

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First off, congrats on trying to get things back in order and doing all these things to get you to this point so far, you've obviously made some good decisions and plans to get you to this point that had been working for you.

If you aren't losing weight it is just still a matter of diet.

When you say you cleaned up your diet what does that mean to you? It could still be a matter of portions even if the quality of foods is better.

Have you had any breaks in your dieting over the time since you started losing weight?

Supplements most likely won't help you out of this plateau unless they help you to eat less overall or maybe get you increasing your non-exercise activity inadvertently (that isn't to say they couldn't be of help, but choosing the right thing to help may require a more specific question of what you are looking for them to help with most other than just "lose weight").

Just don't eat dude, fast
This isn't super useful. Fasting can have its place in certain situations for some individuals, but to just tell someone "fast" is about as useful as saying go "workout" or go "diet" and doesn't take nearly anything into account or help set an actionable plan.
 
scoooter

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For your consideration:
You've been going straight for 15 months, how about a deload for a while ?
Try a quick cleanse and reboot.
If your body has adapted to the stresses you do frequently then it's a matter of confusion by switching up both the diet and workout routine dramatically for a short while and then return to what you like.
 

Simon74

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First off, congrats on trying to get things back in order and doing all these things to get you to this point so far, you've obviously made some good decisions and plans to get you to this point that had been working for you.

If you aren't losing weight it is just still a matter of diet.

When you say you cleaned up your diet what does that mean to you? It could still be a matter of portions even if the quality of foods is better.

Have you had any breaks in your dieting over the time since you started losing weight?

Supplements most likely won't help you out of this plateau unless they help you to eat less overall or maybe get you increasing your non-exercise activity inadvertently (that isn't to say they couldn't be of help, but choosing the right thing to help may require a more specific question of what you are looking for them to help with most other than just "lose weight").



This isn't super useful. Fasting can have its place in certain situations for some individuals, but to just tell someone "fast" is about as useful as saying go "workout" or go "diet" and doesn't take nearly anything into account or help set an actionable plan.
Thanks for the responses.

So cleaning up my diet has meant a couple of things:

1. Improving what I eat in general, of course like most people I have days of eating shitty burgers or fish and chips, but mostly I am pretty good with better food, homemade foods, etc. I usually weigh out foods for recipes or eat smaller portions than I would have (for example where its more difficult like in a sunday roast). If I know its likely a bad food day, going to the seaside, I will go for small portions and ensure I account for it. I was aware of portion sizes quite early on as my ex when dieting didnt account for portion sizes.

2. I track calories, and aim for around 2040 calories per day. Other than the cardio I do, I would be honest and say I am reasonably sedentary, part of this is my job and travel time (I work at a PC all day, and travel 3 hours a day to and from work). Part is timing, etc. I have considered doing some stuff at home, but with limited options of things I can do around the house at night (kids sleeping, etc), its finding a way to add more cardio that works in that.

I had a similar plateau at the 15st8 mark, which eventually just shifted, I didnt seem to do much different. I wondered if a supplement may help with Cardio work outs in extending or strengthening the effect of those. I honestly don't know I haven't been around fitness or supplements much in the past, because I was more sports based.
 

Simon74

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For your consideration:
You've been going straight for 15 months, how about a deload for a while ?
Try a quick cleanse and reboot.
If your body has adapted to the stresses you do frequently then it's a matter of confusion by switching up both the diet and workout routine dramatically for a short while and then return to what you like.
Sorry I am not clear on what deload, and quick cleanse would mean in this context. However I can see the concept of what you are suggesting.
 

jrock645

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I think youd be better off with less or even none of the cardio stuff and focusing on weights instead.

Maybe implement protein sparing modified fasting on non training days.

For your diet, make sure youre eating lots of fruits and vegetables. Whole fruit. Not bowls of cut up fruit. Important for the micro nutrients but also fruits and veggies are fibrous and itll help with making you feel full.
 

Resolve10

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Ok well it may just mean that you need to drop calories even lower if you have stalled at 2040. Eventually as you lose weight you'll expend less and have to lower calories.

If lowering more sounds horrible then a break from dieting could be in order. Taking a time with more calories for a bit may seem counter to your goals, but it can potentially help return you to baseline and allow you to return to losing weight again easier.
 
scoooter

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Sorry I am not clear on what deload, and quick cleanse would mean in this context. However I can see the concept of what you are suggesting.
They are 2 different things all together...
You said you do HIT 4 times a week so I suggested a deload

A deload is a period of time in which you take things easier in the gym by lifting lighter weights or reducing your training volume. Deloads typically last a week and encourage recovery before another period of harder training with heavier loading.

During this time it was suggested to try a cleanse, which is a method to clear the digestive track completely and potentially detox as a means to help past your weight loss plateau.

good luck
 
sns8778

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It seems like the diet portion is being discussed and covered well.

First, congratulations on your progress and dedication.

For supplements, if you want a stimulant free fat burner to help control appetite and take off some extra lbs or help get you past a plateau, I would suggest Lean Edge.

If the issue seems to be more problem areas, a lot of people have reported great feedback on Ab-Solved. I haven't tried it yet, but I will be in the near future.
 
Ricky10

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It seems like the diet portion is being discussed and covered well.

First, congratulations on your progress and dedication.

For supplements, if you want a stimulant free fat burner to help control appetite and take off some extra lbs or help get you past a plateau, I would suggest Lean Edge.

If the issue seems to be more problem areas, a lot of people have reported great feedback on Ab-Solved. I haven't tried it yet, but I will be in the near future.
I would recommend similar products for him as well. I have not tried the new lean Edge (just because I am a stim person) - but I think it’s the best non stim profile around. The topical 7-Keto (and more) in Ab-Solved should also yield some notable changes.

With OP’s sedentary job and extended commute, a supplement induced metabolism boost (that actually works) along with cortisol control to target the stubborn areas is motivational in itself. Subtle diet tweaks are nice as well, but when they don’t yield the anticipated results- frustration begins to take over. Sometimes the body just need a little boost in the right direction!
 
sns8778

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I would recommend similar products for him as well. I have not tried the new lean Edge (just because I am a stim person) - but I think it’s the best non stim profile around. The topical 7-Keto (and more) in Ab-Solved should also yield some notable changes.

With OP’s sedentary job and extended commute, a supplement induced metabolism boost (that actually works) along with cortisol control to target the stubborn areas is motivational in itself. Subtle diet tweaks are nice as well, but when they don’t yield the anticipated results- frustration begins to take over. Sometimes the body just need a little boost in the right direction!
Very well said.
 
booneman77

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I would recommend similar products for him as well. I have not tried the new lean Edge (just because I am a stim person) - but I think it’s the best non stim profile around. The topical 7-Keto (and more) in Ab-Solved should also yield some notable changes.

With OP’s sedentary job and extended commute, a supplement induced metabolism boost (that actually works) along with cortisol control to target the stubborn areas is motivational in itself. Subtle diet tweaks are nice as well, but when they don’t yield the anticipated results- frustration begins to take over. Sometimes the body just need a little boost in the right direction!
This is very much what I was thinking as well... Something like SNS Reduce XT could be the little nudge to help out. Especially if your life is stressful and or hectic, pairing that with training, HIIT, and general family stress its easy to get out of whack here.

If you want a fat burner, SNS offers both stimmed (Thermagize XT - which is a HEAVY stim) and non stim (Lean Edge). Also, somehting like SNS Yohimbine 2.5 (pure yohimbine HCL) could be helpful for those "stubborn" fat areas
 

Simon74

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Thanks for the great advice I have taken bits of everything here:

1) reducing calorie intake to 1850 to see if that kickstarts again
2) Changing my "eating profile". This just means when I eat, I am unlikely to over eat, etc. Its not so much fasting as it is windows when I can/should eat. I am also adding a lot more fruit/veg in than before. I have been pretty good on this front, but there is always room for improvement!
3) I will take a look at those supplements to add to my training, my expectation is not for it to be a "fat destroyer" per se, my whole approach really is long term to be fitter, lighter and stronger.

Thanks for helping a new forum member and being so friendly with it!
 
LeanEngineer

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This is very much what I was thinking as well... Something like SNS Reduce XT could be the little nudge to help out.
Agreed on the SNS Reduce Xt! Another great supplement that would be worth trying is true shred by hard rock supplements.
 

Simon74

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Can't see ab-solved anywhere it can be shipped to the UK at the moment, I know strong supplements look like they are on preorder, anyone have a supplier who does ship international.
 

Simon74

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Should I choose between reduce XT and Lean Edge, what about yohimbine, are there any that should not be used together?
 
HIT4ME

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Some good advice in here.

OP - good job so far and I am glad to see you are cooking at home and actually weighing your food. Also good to see you hit a plateau and kept plugging and saw that sometimes it just takes longer than you expect. To often people hit a plateau and start taking breaks, changing things, etc. And the next thing you know, a plateau becomes the end if their diet because with all the changes they get so far away from what was working and give up.

One thing that I noticed - you mention a few times you are eating "off diet" (burgers, fish and chips, days of bad eating) - these can wipe out a diet pretty quickly.

Not sure this applies to you, but it applies to me and most of the people I see dieting - I can eat in a 500 calorie/day deficit for 6 days and then have one cheat meal with 3000 calories at the end of it (eating out can get out of hand and still seem "normal")... And I just replaced the deficit that took me 6 days of work with one meal.

And you don't have to totally eliminate that deficit to stalk either. If you have a 2000 calorie meal 1/week in this situation you go from a pound if fat loss per week to 1/3 or a pound. This is such a small change it can feel like you are suffering for nothing when it takes 3 weeks just to see 1 pound lost.

Eat out twice a week though...and good luck. In order to make that work you would have to be so diligent it is easier to just not eat out. It you need such a huge deficit the rest of the time that you have room. To some degree I agree with larger deficits for this reason, but it can be taken too far where you are starving and then eating junk and you should be eating healthy foods more regularly.
 

Simon74

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Yeah its not something I do once a week tbh, probably at most once a month, and even then its not a blow out of 1000s, for example if we had a chinese takeaway, i would share one meal between two of us. Or I would go for a McDonalds Cheeseburger but no fries (as I am not a big fan anyway). I have got better at not "giving up on a week" for one bad day, etc, which used to be a problem at the start.

I think what I am now wary of some issues is around small things like milk and butter, and being aware of those portions. I think it is a multitude of little things, added to my reduction in weight has meant it levelled out and needed me to get tighter on everything, where I could afford to be a little slack on it previously. I think adding a supplement to make the best of the workouts I am doing is a bonus rather than "important" as such.

I have also been in discussion with my young daughters swimming club about becoming a "masters" swimmer at the club, it would bring back my competitive edge, fits in with her swim times, and is low impact.

I think a little bit of renewed focus and thinking was what I really needed!
 
rugger48

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I think your starting to get down to a lower weight so you have to adjust your calories. I beam 6 ‘. At around 200-205ibs isnt exactly fat, I’m guessing another 15 lbs should get you to nice fit looking weight.
 
sns8778

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Should I choose between reduce XT and Lean Edge, what about yohimbine, are there any that should not be used together?
No, you don't have to choose between them. They make for a great stack.
 
sns8778

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Can't see ab-solved anywhere it can be shipped to the UK at the moment, I know strong supplements look like they are on preorder, anyone have a supplier who does ship international.
Strong Supplement Shop either has it in stock or is temporarily sold out with more in transit to them. I'll email them and double check. They should definitely have it listed again for shipment soon I think.
 
booneman77

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Should I choose between reduce XT and Lean Edge, what about yohimbine, are there any that should not be used together?
You could choose or stack... theres nothing common in them and the yhcl will be a perfect stimmed addition to the two non stims. And the reduce will help mitigate the stress response of a harder cut (lower cals, higher stims)
 
sns8778

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Can't see ab-solved anywhere it can be shipped to the UK at the moment, I know strong supplements look like they are on preorder, anyone have a supplier who does ship international.
Strong Supplement Shop is just out of stock. They have more in transit to them and will have it listed back up for sale as soon as it arrives. Probably Monday, Tuesday at the latest :)
 
sns8778

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Add Capsimax if you can tolerate it and you will see the fat burns day by day.
Caspsimax is a good ingredient. If he does Lean Edge, he would already be getting that in there. Some people could add extra if they want but we dosed it the way we did in Lean Edge bc that seems to be the dose most people can tolerate; going up higher can cause GI distress and acid reflux in some people.
 
LeanEngineer

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Can't see ab-solved anywhere it can be shipped to the UK at the moment, I know strong supplements look like they are on preorder, anyone have a supplier who does ship international.
Sounds like if you wait til early next week it should be back in stock at strong!
 

Simon74

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Whats the difference between suppress and Absolved?
 
sns8778

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Whats the difference between suppress and Absolved?
Suppress-C contains B-Androstenetriol and works through suppressing cortisol. B-Androstenetriol has poor oral bioavailability which is why using it in a topical form is superior.

Ab-Solved is localized and can be applied to problem areas. Here's a link to the thread on Ab-Solved for anyone that hasn't seen it. Great feedback. https://anabolicminds.com/community/threads/xtreme-performance-gels-ab-solved.315268/?view=date
 
ndiguy

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Caspsimax is a good ingredient. If he does Lean Edge, he would already be getting that in there. Some people could add extra if they want but we dosed it the way we did in Lean Edge bc that seems to be the dose most people can tolerate; going up higher can cause GI distress and acid reflux in some people.
A few weeks into a bottle of Lean Edge and can happily report abolutely no GI / acid reflux issues... In fact, it's a great thing for me, being as I've had acid reflex / heartburn issues for years. No problems lately!
 
sns8778

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A few weeks into a bottle of Lean Edge and can happily report abolutely no GI / acid reflux issues... In fact, it's a great thing for me, being as I've had acid reflex / heartburn issues for years. No problems lately!
That's great to hear. Thank you for sharing. I have horrible acid reflux issues as well and it doesn't bother mine either.
 
booneman77

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That's great to hear. Thank you for sharing. I have horrible acid reflux issues as well and it doesn't bother mine either.
my wife also confirmed this (no bother to existing issues) as she has had horrible AR issues the last couple years too
 

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