Hi,

I'm 5'4" and used to weigh 150 then when I became lacto-ovo vegetarian a few years ago (for compassion; not for weight loss) I got down to 125 lb.  Besides not eating meat, I was doing intense cardio regularly.

Then I became a vegan over a year ago and am now 120 without having to exercise anymore.  Anyway, the reason why I'm no longer running or going to the gym is because I am at my goal weight and no matter how much running and other cardio I was doing, the flab under my arms and around my lower belly would not go away.  So I gave up and am wondering what to do about this flab for over a year now.

I heard the only way to eliminate flab is to get surgery.  Is this true?  I hope not because I don't have the money for that...

Do you think that if I got down to 110 lbs that the flab would disappear?  I could easily do so by avoiding sugar, starting a walking regimen, and or eating a maximum of 1,200 calories daily.  

Also, I have one of those arm exercise dumb bells that are new that a lot of people like to make fun of, you know what I mean...  Anyway I have one, but have only used it a handful of times.  Can anybody share any positive results who have used it regularly?

Thanks.

Hi Ragdolly, sorry you are stuck with that!  Usually people are stuck with extra skin if they lost a huge amount of weight very rapidly.  You were never morbidly obese and lost only 25 pounds (which is awesome!  other people have this when they lose like hundreds of pounds).  The problem with them is that their skin is so overstretched and that it has lost elasticity and the weight loss is super fast.  I don't think you need surgery.  I would say start exercising again, if you don't like running find something you enjoy!  Try kickboxing or something that works your arms and abs.  Definitely start a little weight training, this will definitely help.  For your underarms you can do chair dips, tricep extensions, and military pushups.  Check online for workouts for these areas.  If you belong to a gym, schedule a session with a personal trainer so that they can give you some exercises.  I think you can get changes through exercise, I don't think you have to resort to surgery yet.  Good luck!

Oh yeah, the key to success with weightlifting is to have good form and for the last 3 reps to be very difficult.  Usually for women they tell you to use a weight where your limit is 12-15 reps. 

Hi hi,

You definitely don't need surgery! Maybe pilates or swimming, as both tone all the body rather than primarily the legs?  Like catconsrv says, a good range of different weights exercises would be great too. It's not a question of losing 10 pounds, so much as turning some of it into muscle!

1200 calories sounds too few calories to me.  I am also 5'3 and I eat 2200 a day! I am 108 pounds.  I do exercise a lot (1hr to 1 1/2 hrs 6days a week), mainly running, swimming and a lot of weights but even with a pretty sedentary lifestyle I think someone of our size is meant to eat 1800 a day.

I do sympathise with the belly and back of arms as that is exactly where I tend to put on weight (why is it never my boobs?!) Can I recommend the 10 minute solution blast off belly fat DVD?  It's amazing! If you do 30mins of that every other day (be warned you'll be walking around weeping every time someone makes you laugh for the first few weeks because your muscles will hurt!) then it will really tone up your tummy.  It made such a huge difference to me.

Good luck!

xx

Ps. Also, definitely exercise even if it isn't to lose weight.  My parents run a live-in charity for the active elderly poor (quite a mouthful isn't it!) and so the first 20 years of my life were a kind of extended study of aging and how to do it well/badly!

The people who exercise a lot - in terms of walking and this 'keep fit' class they have weekly, seem to

- have fewer liver spots

- have tauter, less wrinkly skin

- have less water retention and broken veins in their legs.

There is a lady at the site who is 90, walks every day and always has done for several miles, and she looks incredible! She looks about 70

xx

I read what you wrote about working out.  I have been a vegan for a month now and the weight has not really come off as a matter of fact it is creeping up.  I need to start exercising more and watch my portions.  Any more inspiring words?  Susan

Well Susan I'm not sure why (after becoming vegan) the weight is creeping up on you.  I would have to have a detailed list of meals you're having to decide what it could be and I don't want you to have to type all that.  Just avoid these things (or cut back):

Fried foods (some vegans worry about them being cooked in with animal products and others do not)

Sugar (some vegans worry about bone char filter while others do not)

When I became a vegan I did not have to exercise which leads me to believe that you may be experiencing bloat from either beans, pasta, or that time of month.  Sometimes when my period is over with I am relieved because I become 'skinny' again.

More things to consider:

Salty foods cause water retention (weight gain).  Try not salting your foods for awhile.

Diet pops and other diet drinks with sugar alternatives cause swelling.

Plant-based foods rich in protein help burn fat.  Beans burn fat.  Adult women need at least 35 grams of protein daily.

I know a quick tip on how to zap that flab on your arms, hold a gallon bottle by the handle, or half gallon up over your head and bend your elbow so the bottle goes behind your head. Do 4 sets of 15, daily and it should help tone that area. lol. I work out and do this with weights, but recently saw this method on Dr. Oz. lol. Good luck. Exersize is good for your over all health, so if you can try to work out a few times a week. Doing a little muscle training helps you burn calories all day long. It is so important.

I didn't know beans burn fat! I love me some beans, thanks.

Also keep in mind that fried food even if it is vegan will help you pack on unwanted pounds.

A good site to help track your food is Livestrong.com

Pushups are also great for underarm flab. The Livestrong site Jennifer mentioned also has helpful home-gym workouts.