I quit smoking 5 months ago, and gained weight all in my belly. it looks like im pregnant. help? -
hi, i-m a tall female (5-10-), never had real problems with weight. i smoked heavily for almost 20 years. i quit cigarettes 5 months ago, and gained weight. unfortunately, the weight seemed to go only to my stomach area, making me look like i-m pregnant. what can i do to even out the weight distribution? why is it just going to my stomach area??
Woah! well done on giving it up.
Trust me, if you can quit smoking of 20 YEARS, you can lose the -quit smoking weight- of 5 months eeeasy! It won-t happen overnight, but not wanting ciggies didn-t either I bet.
For the meantime, try to make yourself happy even with the weight because you don-t want to be stressed out about feeling fat all the time. That-ll just get you down and motivation will be even harder to find. Make yourself feel beautiful in other ways, get a professional tan, buy some nice -maternal- (lol, aka, --baby-doll/empire line--) tops and dresses, get a flattering change of hair, and get some nice comfy work-out-out-fits.
Next, simply replace your old smoking habit with new health habits. Learn how many calories you need, then take off about 5% and excersise every day or two. Even though it-ll be really shet for the first few times, after about a week- you-ll actually get used to it... After about three- it-s going to be a habit... Then give it three more, and it-ll be your new, favorite, brilliant addiction.
The reason it-s gone to your stomach is simply because that-s how you-re made. Everyone accumilates fat in different areas at different rates. Some patterns are racial, genetic, or just random. For example- my mum and I have similar --shapes-- even though our frames are different because we have more weight in the same areas (chest and bums). A lot of indigenous people where i come from have massive bellies and chests, but pin-thin legs. You just happen to get it on your tummy first. Consider yourself lucky though, many clothes are designed for you in mind- and by going a size up in your tops you can cover it automatically. If your fat was somewhere more visible like your face or arms though- you-re pretty much buggered untill you lose it.
Spot reduction IS non-existant, all you can do is increase the muscle-mass, and lower your energy intake (muscles burn fat by just BEING THERE.) All you have to do is research how to lose weight. There-s SOOO much info around (use sights like -ehow- rather than product-promoting sights like the answers above.lol.) Google motivation, thinspiration, etc (although you-ll have to sift through all the -pro-ana- cr@p) and make use of tips like;
~getting your excersise gear ready in advance
~varying your excersises; run, swim, hike, bike, skip, gym, yoga, etc.
~keep track, make a jornal
~DEFINATELY invest in an ipod with a good work-out-playlist, and if applicable... get a hypo dog that needs walking.
~find times to chose the -excersise- choice in your daily routine... like taking the stairs over the elevator, park/get off the train a street/stop early, bike to the shops instead of drive, etc.
~ALWAYS ALWAYS drink water over eating as a first choice.
~Shop after a meal, so you-ll be thinking clearly and not stocking up on chocolate and other instant energy that youfeel like eating at the time.
~etc. etc. etc. (see google) :)
Anyway, all the best... and CONGRATULATIONS!!!!
All the doctors and dieticians say targeted weight loss is impossible, specifically in the waist and belly zones, but I managed it with colon cleanse. I acknowledge they say that pills will not work, but they sure worked for me, and they have been shown on the Rachael Ray Show too. There is a free trial happening right now at http://serads.mykeepfitforyou.info , try it, why not?
The reason for weight gain is because you eat more. To lose the belly fat try this; lay flat on your back with your legs up. Start bicycling and keep going as you lower your legs. It will work on the saggy belly. Good luck.
May be you should join a gym to make yourself fit.
Do exercises and don-t eat fatty food.