Although most diets are effective, there is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all approach to weight loss.
One method, however, rarely lets people down, and it involves eating in a calorie deficit.
This is how Louise took back control of her weight and shed an astonishing 120lb (around 8st 5lb) in January 2020.
“The main question I get is how did you get rid of that big saggy apron belly,” the slimmer shared in a YouTube clip. “So many of us have that big saggy apron belly and we feel like it’s never going to go.
The slimmer admitted her belly doesn't look flat 100% of the time
YOUTUBE / LOUISESJOURNEYXO
“I used to be morbidly obese, I weighed 269lb. I lost 120lb within 14 months, and ever since then, I have been maintaining, building muscle, and changing my body composition.”
“I have also done a bikini competition. The simplest answer I can give you to how I lost that fat is by eating in a calorie deficit.”
“All I did was I tracked my calories and I put them all into MyFitnessPal. I set myself a goal of 1,800 calories. I tracked my calories, I joined a gym and I walked on the treadmill and I lost body fat by being in a calorie deficit.”
Louise stresses that she did not adopt any additional measures to target her belly fat specifically.
“You cannot target or spot reduce fat,” she added. “When I eat food my stomach isn’t completely flat. It’s only really flat when I wake up in the morning.”
How to safely eat in a calorie deficit?
Put simply, if you burn fewer calories during your activities than you consume, those stores of excess calories will grow and you will gain weight.
Experts at the Mayo Clinic explained: “If you eat more calories than you burn, you gain weight. And if you eat a few calories and burn more calories through physical activity, you lose weight.
“In the past, research found about 3,500 calories equal about one pound (0.45kg) of fat.”
A good rule of thumb for healthy and safe weight loss, according to WebMD, is a deficit of about 500 calories per day.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
Louise credits one dietary change for her weight loss
YOUTUBE / LOUISESJOURNEYXO
This typically puts individuals on course to lose approximately one pound per week if adhered to consistently.
“This is based on a starting point of at least 1,200 to 1,500 calories a day for women", and "1,500 to 1,800 calories a day for men", notes WebMD.
“It can be unhealthy to take in less than that per day. Talk to your doctor about the minimum calories you need.”
Keep in mind that you may not need a calorie deficit, so discuss any major dietary changes with your doctor before embarking on a weight loss journey.
