I would too. If anyone has some knowledge of the subject, please start a thread about it.

I haven't had much time to read it yet, but I'll pass on any info on that !

I'm finding the diet side of it wonderfully easy to stick to, and despite the author saying that once a week you can have a meal of anything you want, I'm not finding I need too, he insists on a few snacks, so I don't get hungry !

My personal input is that it may be harder for women who've had kids, I've had two, that must have some effect on the strength of the tummy muscles. I'm not putting the guys down here, I'm sure it's hard for us all but for different reasons.

I did recently read this book -
From belly fat to belly flat, Randolph, C. W., : The medically proven diet to reshape your body .

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0091 ... JJ333546CK

This specifies the tummy area more from a diet point of view and explains in depth about hormones, metabolism etc. My book is more a double edged sword, diet and exercise.

Thanks for passing on the tips. Let us know how the diet seems to affect the tummy.

Childbearing does make changes in the body in various ways. Lots of hormone changes and weight gain; all kinds of things. So that battle is ours, but guys have it rough too, having to stand there looking handsome and all.

I've adapted my diet a little and am cutting down a little on carbs, not cutting them out though. My book says that the body has to work at least twice as hard to burn off protein as it does carbs. There's some interesting stuff about adding more calcium to the diet to help with weight loss. I'm trying to eat plenty of good quality low fat protein, some healthy fats, lots of fruit and veg, less starchy stuff. Let's see if that helps. I've lost a little over the weekend despite a few beers on Friday and a few glasses of wine on Saturday, and a Chinese takeaway !

How's the Fit for life going Kescah ? it's a bad time of year, lots of temptation around !

Sigh, know the feeling

My weight has plateaued at the moment, so I've decided to just try and keep it stable until the new year. So long as I don't put any on I'll be happy. The weight loss can start again in January. I lost three stone this year, so I think I can have a rest for a month

Does anyone else find it harder to not snack during these dark months? I seem to be craving sugar and generally naughty stuff much more than I did during the summer.

I think that's a sensible approach Paul, I won't be depriving myself over the actual festive period . Well done on the 3 stone loss !
I agree, these cold dark days make me crave starchy and sweet things. Unfortunately Christmas always brings lots of chocolates into the house !

Paul, up your intake of Vitamin D3 during the darker months. That really does the job! I used to crave carbs and lots of 'em during the fall and winter, but once I started on regular D supplements, that hunger quit appearing. Of course, you do not need it in the summer if you are getting sunshine on your skin. The carb craving comes because carbs help make seratonin, and that ability goes down in the winter.

My hubby just started on D since he was seriously overeating, and he said he has found that it helps him, too.

I have cheated or rather not even been on my diet after losing 4.5 lbs in a week and a half. I'm extremely busy right now and you know how it is when people keep sticking goodies in front of you. The fact is, I am never good on a diet anymore. I diet for a while and then I don't. I really want my will power back. If I lived alone, I could do it, I know. I would have the right foods in the house and I would be plenty satisfied. But my son has a very fickle tummy and must have a great variety of foods in to be able to choose a little something that will work for him. Those foods look at me when I try to find something I should eat. I will get back to it though. And I will get to work on those core muscles. Must do!

I should add; they say that you need 5000 units of D per day. Since they are oil soluble, you can store them in your body, so if you want you can take more one or two days a week and thus if you forget one, you are ok.

Also, B's help to boost metabolism of food and change it into energy.

I'd not thought of vitamin D, good tip. I did some digging around, and there is certainly some evidence that it can help. I even found an incredibly techie paper from the NIH in the US about the possible link between VitD and seratonin, but I only understood about half of it

I'll have to pick some up tomorrow and see how that works.

I'm also going to start taking St John's wort again. I've taken it for short periods in the past and it seems to work quite well. Although you should avoid taking it for long periods or in high doses as there can be side-effects. I tend to find it works best when used in a targeted way. I find it helps regularise my sleeping patterns, as well as making me less lethargic during the day. Given that I'm posting this at 1:25am I clearly need to do something about my sleep patterns

That's really interesting about the vitamin D, I wondered if it was something to do with serotonin and the lack of sunlight.
I've started taking calcium tablets and they have vitamin D with them, so that's handy !

I've taken St John's Wort on occasion, it can be useful. I'm not sleeping at all well at present and that has the knock-on effect of making me tired in the afternoons and has me lurking next to the biscuit tin !

I think we're all entering that 'pre-during-and-post-Christmas' phase when lots of food and drinks are on offer. We're all entitled to a diet/healthy eating break ! I'll just hope to maintain.
I know what you mean Kescah about how easy it would be if we lived alone, my kids and especially my OH are always my downfall, they'll be off school and work over the festive season, this leads to me eating the wrong things at the right time. It also means I can't do so much wii fit, I don't want an audience.

Incidentally, there is evidence to suggest that both calcium and magnesium supplements can help sleep problems, due to a natural sedative effect.
http://www.holisticonline.com/Remedies/ ... rition.htm