How to lose fat???

[Hack&Lube]

I'm not trying to lose weight, I already only weigh a paltry 140 lbs but since I was a 12 year old and had the most lazy inactive junk food eating year of my life right during my early growth spurt, I have had this annoying huge chunk of belly fat I have desperately wanted to get rid of for a very long time but have never been able to lose. I'm a very scrawny thin skin & bones person already and the beer belly that I've had since I was about 6 years too young to drink beer has always bugged me and looks very odd, not to mention it gives me stomach problems when I sit down for too long because it compresses my digestive tract.

How do you get rid of this stuff? I get out and try to run a kilometer about once every 1.5 hours daily. I do minor weightlifting. A ton of sit-ups. I try to eat right, more protein than carbs if I can help it, heck I eat very minimally already. I don't drink or eat sweet things at all. I drink a glass of water every hour.

Is it better to run a distance slowly (ie, take 15 minutes to run a klick) or do it all in 5-6 minutes at around 11 KPH (which is what I mostly do on the treadmill if I am short on time - also because I get really really really really bored running).

[troutman]

Reduce calorie intake/ exercise longer (40 min at least cardio, three or more times/week)

Or, go backpacking in South America or Asia for 5 months (when I came back from South America ten years ago I weighed 135 lbs - today I'm closer to 200)

[Flash Walken]

If you want to speed up your metabolism, eat smaller portions more regularly. I eat up to 6 times a day.

Building muscles burns fat faster than cardio, but you don't want to abandon the running.

Edit: If you get bored easily working out, it's best to do a series of exercises that work all or the majority of muscle groups simultaneously. Pushups, 'tables' and cross-legged pull-ups are some examples of these.

Things like Pushups don't have to be the same either, simply moving hands apart/closer, or tucking your arms into your sides can turn one workout into many.

Results do not happen over night.

[CaptainCrunch]

Not to sound like an egomaniac, but I'd like to lose some muscle. If I even look at a weight, I put on muscle.

Yes I still have some fat issues, but I've reduced that by a lot, but I'm no means ripped.

But I'm too bulky for my age, I shouldn't look like a offensive lineman.

[albertGQ]

Go on the two finger diet

[Sylvanfan]

Than you need to basically abandon the weight room in favor of running and swimming and slowly get your daily calorie intake down. I haven't seen many fat marathon type runners. Sure people with a ponch or some extra bulk can run up to 5 kilometers...but can they run 15?

[Hack&Lube]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

Not to sound like an egomaniac, but I'd like to lose some muscle. If I even look at a weight, I put on muscle.

Yes I still have some fat issues, but I've reduced that by a lot, but I'm no means ripped.

But I'm too bulky for my age, I shouldn't look like a offensive lineman.

let's trade, at my age, I shouldn't look like I'm 12 years old (half my age)

[Traditional_Ale]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

Not to sound like an egomaniac, but I'd like to lose some muscle. If I even look at a weight, I put on muscle.

Yes I still have some fat issues, but I've reduced that by a lot, but I'm no means ripped.

But I'm too bulky for my age, I shouldn't look like a offensive lineman.

Lose muscle eh...

You could electrocute yourself.

[LChoy]

If running is boring, play a lot of energetic sports. Floor hockey, basketball, volleyball...etc. While it wont' concentrate on any specific part of your body, by playing a variety of sports, you build up muscle in a variety of places while increasing your cardio output. Better idea, join a competitive Dragon boating team. They'll whip you in shape in no time

[GoinAllTheWay]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

Building muscles burns fat faster than cardio, but you don't want to abandon the running.

Seriously? Hmm, that's good to know. I was told the best way to burn fat is to go hard on the weights to burn off your primary energy reserves and then hit the cardio to start burning off the stored energy reserves (fat).

[Hack&Lube]

I can't figure out how to get myself to do 30-40 minutes of cardio aside from running or by myself. I never really played sports in my life, much less team sports so I wouldn't be any good on a team. I was that kid that couldn't even dribble 5 steps down the gym in phys ed. I still can't. Any sports you can just join that don't have so many requirements of skill or knowledge or even just being good at it?

[Machiavelli]

Burns more fat to exercise at a lower intensity for a long period of time.

[Hack&Lube]

Originally Posted by Machiavelli

Burns more fat to exercise at a lower intensity for a long period of time.

Damn, I really liked my run for 5 minutes really fast once every hour routine to get the adrenaline pumping and ignore the boredom factor. I'm one of those people that can't stay interested or focused on something for more than 5 minutes

[prarieboy]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

I can't figure out how to get myself to do 30-40 minutes of cardio aside from running or by myself. I never really played sports in my life, much less team sports so I wouldn't be any good on a team. I was that kid that couldn't even dribble 5 steps down the gym in phys ed. I still can't. Any sports you can just join that don't have so many requirements of skill or knowledge or even just being good at it?

What about Swimming? It's an excellent way to stay in shape, easier on the joints as well.

Maybe you could meet up with Wookie and he could intoduce you to some lifeguards

[CaramonLS]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

Damn, I really liked my run for 5 minutes really fast once every hour routine to get the adrenaline pumping and ignore the boredom factor. I'm one of those people that can't stay interested or focused on something for more than 5 minutes

Well, personally I reduced by Body fat % significantly by doing a high intensity cardio workout for 35-45 mins 4-5 times a week (wear a Heart rate monitor) combined with a lot of weights (almost a powerlifting type regime - high weight/low reps) 3x per week. Really upped my strength too.

[Hack&Lube]

Originally Posted by prarieboy

What about Swimming? It's an excellent way to stay in shape, easier on the joints as well.

Maybe you could meet up with Wookie and he could intoduce you to some lifegaurds

The point of all this is so that I can take my shirt off and go swimming without sucking in. The lifeguards can come after.

[GoinAllTheWay]

Badminton is another pretty good one. Gets you running around but unfortunatley not the coolest sport really. I prefer it over running or riding a stationary bike any day of the week though.

[Hack&Lube]

What kind of speed is it average to be able to maintain for running 30 minutes? I'm not really a stamina/endurance kind of guy. Terrible lung capacity. I was also that guy that puked all the time in track in highschool. Hell, I got light headed and puked two years ago trying to play street hockey running down the length of the rink.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

Any sports you can just join that don't have so many requirements of skill or knowledge or even just being good at it?

Dodge Ball.

From the sounds of it, it'll be just like Jr. High all over again for you.

[LChoy]

hmm...if no sports, perhaps simple lifestyle changes such as biking to work or on weekends. Taking the stairs if going up or down less than 4 floors. As hard as it may be, cut back to 1 pint of beer a week.
Eating healthy: 2/3 of your plate should be fruits and Vegetables and whole grains. Reduce fatty or fried foods. Hydrate. Oh and allow time to digest before sleeping. Midnight snacks aren't good. (I work for Health....)

The genetists side of me will also point out that we are all genetically pre-disposed to a certain level of core body fat.
Oo, consult a nutritionist or fitness consultant at a gym as well for more personal assessment and tips (family doctor as well)