Stubborn pooch - considering a product to help..

[HammerTech]

For the past 4+ months, I've been doing a really good job of what I would best classify as "cleaning house" in my diet and I've been in the gym faithfully as possible with a push-pull-legs routine (check the log section) with 2 nights of cardio a week as well. When I started (and if I remember correctly) I was somewhere between 206 and 210 lbs, and weighed in last night at 193.6. So I've dropped between 13-17 lbs in 4 months, which is good (albeit not rapid) progress. I can see that I've slimmed down and others around me notice it too.

Diet's pretty clean. I load up on proteins (lots of poultry, fish, etc.), keep the carbs to a minimum and watch my timing of carbs (not a lot of carbs before bed, stuff like that). It's not classified as a "cut" diet...probably best classified as "clean bulking".

I still have a "pooch" of fat at my midsection...and am trying to decide if I should add a fat-burner product, if even for a short cycle, to help me accelerate some fat loss. I know I can't spot-lose it...but this one area seems to be problematic.

Is this a good decision, or would I be better served to up my cardio some more (30 min, 2 nights a week) and tweak something else in my diet first before getting into a product?

[ktinspired]

yeah...you do have room to up the cardio. IMO you could do cardio 4 times a week if you ae trying to loose fat.
My personal opinion on the fat burner is it doesn't really fit in a "healthy" lifestyle...i mean that stuff doesn't really classify as "clean" or natural.

[jlozan84]

I'm not sure what your bf% is or anything, but you can spot-reduce with some topical products out there.

I have used it with success in the past, as well as other people I have trained with.

[HammerTech]

Any specific products you'd recommend checking out at all, jloz? Just curious.

KT - I've given that some consideration and I guess it would have to take some careful planning...I don't want to jeporadize muscle gains that I'm making either. I would presume you mean cardio AFTER lifting?

[mitchcumstein]

The midsection is usually the last place you lose fat. Just keep on eating the way youre eating and up the cardio a little and youll get there. Throw in a fatburner if you want.

[jlozan84]

Avant Labs LipoDerm
TargeX TDS

Seem to be the two most popular. You can also make your own with Yohimbine HCL Powder powder.

[jennyd]

Well, what kind of cardio are you doing?
Maybe it would be good to switch your cardio, change the intensity, adding another day, etc.

I think that if you're doing everything right, and you just need that extra push to get you to where you'd like to be, then you can add some type of fat burner in there. (Which is what you seem to be leaning towards).
I'm just not in agreement with people that use fat burners as their way of excusing a poor diet and training program, thinking the fat burner will be some sort of miracle pill.

Jlo's right though, there are some topical creams that can be used to spot reduce, but I've also heard that with them, it works best if your body fat is already fairly low (around 10 or 11%, if I'm not mistaken...but please correct me if I'm wrong). I don't know what your bodyfat is at right now, but take a look around for some threads...I think there are a few about Lipoderm, which is one of those topical spot reducers.

[HammerTech]

jenny...yeah, you hit it on the head as to what I'm looking at. I've got things together and need a push, and my debate is between additional cardio or using a supplement to get there.

I am NOT in the 10-11% range...but truthfully, I don't know exactly what it is (thinking more like 18% or so...I can find that out at the gym next time I'm in as they have means to tell me that). But I will give these things some thought...thanks you all for the input.

[jlozan84]

Great post Jen.

Originally Posted by HammerTech

my debate is between additional cardio or using a supplement to get there.

Why not both?

Originally Posted by MC Hammer

I am NOT in the 10-11% range...but truthfully, I don't know exactly what it is (thinking more like 18% or so...I can find that out at the gym next time I'm in as they have means to tell me that). But I will give these things some thought...thanks you all for the input.

I wouldn't use a topical spot-reducer yet until you get closer to 10%.

Good luck dude.

[HammerTech]

Originally Posted by jlozan84

Why not both?

Hmmmmm.....You have a good point there too. I'm presuming you're talking at that point about a product like HH, CLA, stuff like that?

I'm a bit stupid in this subject, so this has been a good discussion...much more knowledgeable in the area of lifting.

Originally posted by Darth Vader:
Originally Posted by MC Hammer...

How'd you know I just signed a new record deal?

[GetFit]

WTF where is my post, it should have been like first in this thread. I said Avant Labs makes Lipoderm product that can help spot reduce. Boyd used them and I thought he was very positive on the product.

[HammerTech]

I remember Boyd saying about that, as well as the other comments in this thread...but I'm not in a place to use the topicals really (not around 10% BF ) so I'm headed in a different direction. I'm looking at a 3rd cardio session somewhere and perhaps introducing CLA (or a similar product) to help me get past this hump.

[GetFit]

Well if you are like you say you are around 18% a couple months of diet and cardio should help.

[Weee]

At 18% I'd just up the cardio. I always monitor my heart rate on those things and after two weeks of frequent cardio sessions, if I do the same incline and walking speed as the first day, my heart rate is something like 15 bpm lower now. I think cardio requires steady progression much in the same way that weights require steady progression to see results.

It unfortunately just takes time, and the lower stomach is definitely a problem zone. I'm seeing veins start to pop out in the legs and arms, lost about 3" of waist, but the lower tummy is still holding on strong.

I'm in the 15-16% range now based on the cheapo 1 point caliper measure, which is definite progress for my original estimated 26 or 27% a year ago, but it definitely takes time.

As long as you're making progress, don't get discouraged, just keep kicking butt!

[HammerTech]

Appreciate the encouragement, Weee..thanks. I've tried (and not always done a good job of it) to vary my cardio between ellipticals and treadmills, and for what little it may be worth I bust @$$ when I lift too. I see progress, much like yours (although no veins are popping out or anything), but this one thing just bugs me to no end...lol. I am definately going to ask this evening if they can check me out on the BF% so I know a little better where I am.

[jlozan84]

Originally Posted by HammerTech

Hmmmmm.....You have a good point there too. I'm presuming you're talking at that point about a product like HH, CLA, stuff like that?

I'm a bit stupid in this subject, so this has been a good discussion...much more knowledgeable in the area of lifting.

Yeah, I mean up the cardio and add a fat burner.

Here is a pretty good review from AM on many different things.....
Fat Burner Review

Outside of Nite from here, I haven't heard a single positive thing about HH.

[Sir Savage]

As others have pointed out, diet and exercise must be in check, first and foremost.

Once you get to around 12% bodyfat, though, Lipoderm-Ultra can help you loose that pooch that doesn't want to go away.

Now understand that it doesn't burn the fat itself- it simply helps your body remove the fat from that area and metabolize it. However, if your body is not in a thermogenic state using diet and exercise, the fat won't go anywhere or it'll just be re-deposited.

If you want to kick your Lipoderm-Ultra up a notch, consider adding capsaicin. But be warned- this burns like hell.

A less harsh alternative is to add in raspberry ketones.

Or if you can wait a few weeks, something new will be on the market.

[GetFit]

Originally Posted by Sir Savage

If you want to kick your Lipoderm-Ultra up a notch, consider adding capsaicin. But be warned- this burns like hell.

So you just rub the capsaicin creme on your stomach? Or in combination with Lipoderm?

[Sir Savage]

Cap cream first, then the Lipoderm.

Be sure to read the threads here and elsewhere on this, though.