[milvushina]

Okay, my problem is that I have been putting on a few pounds around the waist area. I'm lucky enough to not really have a problem with the thighs and butt area. My measurements are 34b, 28, 37. I barely have much of a waist at all right now, and I have kind of a baby beer belly looking thing going on. I have fat that sits on top of my hip bones (I think that is what they call the "saddlebags") as well. So, it's not that bad at all yet, but I think I am about 14 pounds too heavy and I would like to take at least 4 inches off of my waist.

I know you have to reduce overall body fat to do that; I have practically no fat on my arms, legs, face. I have a little on the hips and thighs. So here are my questions:

I have started exercising, and I go for a jog in the early morning (about 15 minutes alternating running very fast and walking briskly) then I take a break at work and spend 10 minutes climbing stairs, 20 minutes walking very fast. About how many calories can you expect to burn per 15 or 30 minutes walking, jogging, and climbing stairs?

Also, is it true that exercising and eating a low fat diet will reduce boob size? I don't see why it wouldn't since they're fat tissue, but I don't have much to spare ...

And, how long does it take to get results, or am I not doing enough? When can I expect to see a reduction in fat around the waist and belly?

I'd love to hear any and all advice, thank you in advance for the help, I'm a beginner at managing my weight but I guess we can't all stay at our teenage weight forever. Heh.

[destination_unknown]

My weight is exactly the same - was a rake all my life until about 23 and birth control put some on! Just started working out the last two months and I'm seeing results, slowly but surely. I use the treadmill for about 15 mins, going 8k & put the incline up, then the rower for another 15, followed by the cross-trainer at an incline for about 10 mins. So, that takes care of the cardio, you have to make sure you are doing over a certain level on each machine to really get the benefit out of it.

Then I do regular crunches, and crunches with legs laying to the side. Then lift your legs up, crossed at the ankles and rock them back and forth slowly, great for the tum!

If you have very little fat on your arms like me, thats great but using hand weights I've seen a nice improvement in my arms - they are more toned and shapely.

I do some other leg lifts & girlie push ups to. The leg lifts are great for the saddlebag thing - I had some really tiny ones developing but they seem to be going away now.

Its got to the stage its so not about weight for me now - i just love the hormonal buzz from exersize and having much more energy!

I think it depends on your metabolism & diet how soon you see results & also how much you are actually exerting yourself. You want to be working up a good sweat and feeling a little pain, just make sure your warming up before hand and stretching out after. The stair climbling is a brilliant way to incorporate the exersize into your day as well. If you have a fairly fast metabolism I think you will see improvment in a couple of weeks. My diet is awful (very partial to french toast, milkshakes, french fries etc!!) so I think I will lose slower though trying to improve the diet - its just too tempting!!

[blind_otter]

I was unhappy with how my body was looking. Nothing major but my clothes were a little tight, so I went back to doing yoga practice regularly and I keep a food journal as part of my regular daily journal I write in which helps me keep track of my caloric and nutrional intake.

Food journals are good because you have a record of how you consciously change your eating pattern and you become more aware of what you are taking in to your body. I write down everything, even "2 peanut m&ms" or 1/4 c. ice cream. I measure everything now, too, which helps.

You want to see the results come on gradually, though. That way it's more likely to be a lifestyle change rather than a quick fix. And it's good to get into a routine with daily exercise so you can just keep moving on up into old age and not get all stiff and crotchety and not even be able to touch your toes!