I'm 37 and fighting to lose the very last of my stomach fat after giving up smoking a few years back. I'm almost there but this last mile is a nightmare.

I drink only water, no refined sugar (only natural sugars) and a very healthy (so i think...) diet with reduced portion sizes. I do at least 30mins cardio (bike riding) 5 days a week and an hour long yoga session every other day.

Here's a typical day's diet:

* Quarter - half bowl muesli (no nuts though)
* Apple or Pear mid morning
* 2 carrots, apple and a pear, piece of rye bread and some lean ham for lunch
* Apple or Pear x2 during the afternoon
* Some kind of lentil/brown rice or chicken dish. Low fat, small portion
* Muesli or fruit again sometime midway through the evening

I don't seem to be making progress and wonder if it's the sugar in the fruit? I have low-blood-sugar so need to eat little and often. Is to much fruit stopping me from reaching my flat abs goal, or is it something else?

I don't know what I weigh unfortunately, but im 5'8 and slim built all but being able to pinch an inch and a half on my stomach


thanks for any help and advice!

How many calories a day are you getting and are you keeping track of them?

Programs like FitDay - Free Weight Loss and Diet Journal can help out with that info -

You might be eating healthy -but I can speak from personal experience if you're going over calories -you aren't going to lose weight...

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That sounds ridiculously low in protein, but I don't know.

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I'm not really tracking them apart from roughly in my head. That typical day looks to be about 1500 calories to me?

Hi. It doesn't seem to me like you are eating enough. Like a previous poster said, you need more protein.

You should only have TWO servings of fruit a day. Also, where is your dairy? You need a serving, at least, of dairy in there.

Maybe it's worth trying something like this:

1/2 c Fiber One cereal with strawberries and/or blueberries (I do 1/2 c strawberries and 1/2 c blueberries OR 1 c strawberries)

Mid morning: FF yogurt or cucumber with FF Greek yogurt or orange with some trailmix, granola bar (I eat the Luna bars), etc.

Lunch: Salad with tomatoes, cucumbers, beets, lentils, basically anything but add 4 oz of lean protein.

Mid day: Piece of fruit

dinner: 5 oz protein and steamed veggies or veggie burger on fiber One bread or bun with side salad

Of course this is just a sample menu, but I definately think you are not eating enough.

Good luck!!!!

Why can't you have more than two servings of fruit per day?????

As long as you fit it into your calorie range surely you can eat more.

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Starting Weight: 62kg - Current Weight: 57.4kg - Goal Weight: 52kg

Yes, I'm a bit confused about the fruit also. I have started eating more, because it was making me as bad tempered as when i gave up smoking. Trust me, no one in my family want's to go through THAT again!

There is so much conflicting information to be found. But from what I can gather, I should be aiming to eat only a few less calories that I need to sustain my current weight/fat ratio right?

Is there a good percentage combo / equation for fat / protein / fibre (or whatever) that I can try to follow?

many thanks!

I eat tons of fruit in amongst a balanced diet. I have also lost plenty of weight in the process. I am also interested to hear why the poster proposes that fruit should be limited to two portions.

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Hello,

Have you considered changing your workout schedule at all? Adding just a few extra (10-15) mins of cardio a day can help burn more fat. It seems to me that you are on track with your diet and maybe a slight tweek to your exercise routine will do the trick.

Well I certainly have to do something. All this healthy eating and exercise is making my belly EXPAND! Sheeesh..

I swear I'm getting bigger not smaller..

it sounds like you have been doing the same workout routine for a while. if you continue to do the same exercise for long periods of time your body will eventually hit a plateau and the exercise will stop being effective. i would increase your cardio to at least 60 minutes and mix in different activities, such as swimming or jogging. interval training is also a great way to burn calories and raise your metabolic rate. also, don't forget about the important anaerobic (muscle building) exercises that help tone your body and build muscle, which in turn will increase your body's metabolism.