It was a beautiful day in Sydney today and you know what that means? Beach time!!
I am lucky enough to live only a few minute walk from the best view in the world! Always inspired to go for a walk or run when this is on my doorstep!
For so many getting into a bikini can feel a little daunting. I know a lot of you from other parts of the world are getting out of your bikinis and into your woolens but feeling good about your body should be a year-long deal.
I am pretty confident about my body (I am probably one of the rare ones!) Even when it’s not at it’s best I always feel good about myself BUT I do still try to get it looking it’s best to showcase my fitness rather than showcase my bikini.
I have been training really hard and eating so clean but I still can’t get rid of my “pooch”. My stomach has always been my weak area and the only area I really gain weight. I have lost quiet a bit off my stomach in the past 6 months but the rest won’t budge. And darn it I want abs! Having this blog keeps me very motivated to get there as I want to show you it’s possible without having to starve yourself. I also want to start moving my career into the health and fitness industry so I really want to get my body to the point where it shows how hard I train.
I was at the gym this morning and my old trainer once again pointed out the fact that I haven’t lost all the weight off my stomach and it needs to go. God love him! I always appreciate and love his honesty! I know most girls would want to hit him but I need that push, so I appreciate it! Now most of you would look at me and think my stomach was totally fine and it is! but I think the reason it’s more noticeable on me is because I am really thin everywhere else.
We talked about what I could do to get rid of the last few inches of body fat and I know it must be something to do with my diet. As you know it most of my posts, I refuse to count calories or cut out carbs or do any other of those extreme things. I know very well that I could do a total carb cut out and it would work but for how long.
What I have decided to do is cut out wheat, mainly bread as I know this has been bloating me and causing stomach pain. I have a very sensitive stomach, as I have had stomach ulcers and bacteria infections in the past so I am very sensitive to certain foods.
I will also slightly reduce my carbs, especially my fruit intake. I think some days I have 4 or 5 pieces and this may be far too much fructose. I am going to make sure I don’t get obsessive with all of this, but I want to make a few changes in my diet to try to get these abs!
I know so many people want a flat stomach and ab definition so I will share my journey along the way and let you know how I am going.
Ok so I am going to be brave and show you my pooch. I know it’s nothing major but as you can see I am skinny but have this weird bulge in my stomach! This was taken earlier in the day and by the end of the day the bulge gets worse! A year ago my stomach fat was worse – about 5 kilos more on my stomach. Once I get the results I want I will show you pics of what I was 6 months ago and my new defined abs!
Much better from the front!
IÂ just want to say if you’re a curvy girl please don’t be upset that I think that I have a stomach! I know what you are thinking! I know it’s nothing, but I just want to be as toned in my stomach as I am everywhere else. And I want to stop feeling so bloated with stomach pain!
So do you want to join me in finding our abs?
This week there will be no wheat products and only carbs in the morning and lunch. There will be also a limit to 2 pieces of fruit a day. If this doesn’t help then I will look at going a little stricter but lets start here for now.
I am going to sit down over the next few days and work out a great diet plan to follow – and by diet I do not mean starvation or calorie counting! I will share this with you as soon as I have worked it out.
An example of one days meal plan will be:
Breakfast: Green Smoothie, 1 hard-boiled egg and organic oats with rice milk, chai seeds and coconut
Snack: Handful of nuts and a banana
Lunch: Large Chicken, Quinoa and Kale salad with lots of other vegies including Avocado and almonds
Snack: Apple with organic nut butter (I normally have organic peanut butter but I think I will swap this with almond butter)
Dinner: Grilled or baked fish with lots of vegetables
Desert: Chia seed chocolate pudding (chia seeds soaked in rice milk with cacao)
And for exercise it will be a lot of interval training and abs workouts like this:
Tatianna’s abs are what I am after! Or maybe not that extreme just more lines and definition! I am pretty certain I will start seeing my abs after a few weeks of cutting out wheat, so I will keep you posted!
What’s the area of your body that you would like to work on?
Stilettos and Green Juice 
I have a similar issue and tend to think that my method of combining the foods in my meals would help but am having trouble committing to that. From what I hear no gluten would be a good start. Have you read Wheat Belly by William Davis? I haven’t yet but heard good things. Good luck!!! 🙂
I have been wanting to try food combining as well. Kimberly Snyder talks alot about it in her book The Beauty Detox. I think first step is wheat. I have been off it before when I had severe stomach pain and nausea and it helped. I have found in the past I can have a little bit of gluten so I think I will just try wheat first. No more bread and pasta 😦 I haven’t read Wheat Belly. I have heard about it but I think I should read it!
Thanks so much for your comment 🙂
Lyn x
First: best of luck on your journey to rid the pooch and find your ultimate healthy self! Second: Wheat Belly is worth a read as highlights some relevant info about how wheat has become intolerable (thanks to how it is grown, processed and manufactured these days). I’m a believer of everything in moderation, but I’ve been off of dairy for years (intolerant), which led to a moderate weight loss. My diet has been quite ‘clean’ since then, but the big surprise came when I cut back drastically on alcohol and wheat products (and I don’t miss wheat all that much…brown rice noodles rock!) as it caused extra/hidden weight to melt away.
Thanks for the comment. I think I will be buying wheat belly today as you’re the 2nd person to mention it. Going to go out and find some brown ricwe noodles too!
I have a feeling I can get rid of my pooch pretty quickly once I am off wheat!
Thanks! Lyn xx
Love her book! I bought a Vitamix because of her 😛
Oh gosh I desperately want a vitamix! I was watching it on the home shopping the other day and I was glued to the TV! I am saving for one for sure!
Oh do it for sure! I saved up for mine too but was a great decision. Green juices/smoothies taste a million times better now! I used to hate green smoothies because of the texture from my regular (but good) blender and after buying it I just love them. Kim’s green smoothie recipe is my fav!! Have you tried it yet?!
I HIGHLY recommend Wheat Belly. I good, quick read and very informative. Wheat is killing us.
Thanks Pam. I will be reading it this week seeing everyone is talking about it! I have been researching gluten free recipes so am about to experiment in making bread. Wish me luck!
there’s a good chance this is not fat (since you look toned elsewhere) im super skinny too and had the same problem. detoxing (juice fasting, enemas, cutting out all refined sugars, gluten, caffiene, alcohol, anything refined and processed and going totally organic helped me so much) however, it may sound intense but i was severely ill and my naturopath helped me with all these things this past year (he noticed my stomach right off and said that my intestines are most likely damaged and that its not fat thats sticking out). now, it turns out i had celiac disease :(( and i will be forced to eat super healthy for the rest of my life (mostly a good thing I think). Hope this helps and I urge you to look into detox.
Thanks for your advice. I agree I don’t think it’s fat. I have been diagnosed with IBS but I think thats what they say when they don’t know what else is wrong. I had a really bad day this week where my stomach blew up so much it scared me! I looked 5-6 months pregant! I am going to investigate and try different eliminations. I have been tested for Celiac and don’t have that but it may just be intolerances.
I am glad to hear you got to the bottom of what was causing your stomach issues! Celiac is difficult and frustrating to live with but I am sure you will be much healthier for eating healthy and gluten-free.
Lyn x
I’m also wondering how you got tested for celiac? I had false negatives a few times; the only true way is through a biopsy (or so they say). But I wouldn’t do that as the first thing. Try going 100% GF for a month and if you see great positive changes, stick with it. 🙂 I also recommend The Liver Cleanse (forgot the author) but you could google it if you want. 🙂
It was a few years back but I think it was through a blood test. I have had a gastroscopy but I am assuming the celiac test biopsy is when they do a colonscopy? Is that right? I will just try sticking to gluten free for a while. I did have some wheat today though! Went to a kids birthday party and wheat was everywhere and I was hungry! I think giving it up is harder than giving up sugar!
“First, a critical component for restoring your abs and the development of core strength is learning to control the shape of your abdominal wall during exercise. To do this, you need to train your abs to pull back in toward your spine during exertion. The quickest and safest way to develop a flat abdominal wall after pregnancy is to perform special postpartum exercises that specifically develop this essential skill.”
Hi Lyn,
This quote is from befitmom website. I know (or assume) you haven’t had a baby but I still think this “essential skill” ie pulling your abs (or your belly button) back towards your spine DURING exertion, combined with correct diet etc could be the key to getting a flat stomach! If you do a standard sit up, then try one with your abs pulled back you can really feel the difference, and maybe even understand why some of us end up with a pooch despite loads of sit ups, crunches etc. I also gave up wheat after reading Wheat Belly & it made such a huge difference!
Good luck & thanks for a great website! Love it!
Thanks so much Lisa for your advice. Yes you’re right I haven’t had a baby but it’s probably the same advice. I have also heard that women get lower belly pooches from there hips being out of alignment pushing their pelvis’ forward. I regulary stretch my hips to try and avoid this happening. You’re advice seems similar to what they teach in pilates that you need to really work the inner core not just the outer layer of ab muscle. I really need to do more pilates!
I am going to work hard at trying to pull my abs towards my spine!
Thanks again for your comment. I appreciate everyone’s advice and feedback!
Lyn x