Fat - Muscle - Weight Loss????????

Question
Hello,
I am a 59 year old male who has gone on basically the South Beach Diet since June 6th of this year. I started off an over-weight 167 pounds, and I am now at 139, just 4 pounds short of my goal. I exercise with the total gym working on abs, legs, arms, etc., and I also power walk for cardio about 3 miles a day.
I JUST CAN'T SEEM TO LOSE THE "BELLY FAT"! I take fish oil and flax seed, green tea extract, and I eat what is suggested on the South Beach Diet, Phase III, and I also drink 100% whey protein after workouts. I basically have given up my pasta and rice and most carbs. Good news is I am off all my meds for High Blood Pressure and High Cholesterol. Bad news is my belly fat, and also I have a lot of joint pain. ( knees, toes, lower back). Don't know if this is nutrition related? I guess what I would like to know is how to get rid of this belly fat, and is what I am doing unsafe? Suggestions????
Thanks

Answer
Hi Joe

I am a firm believer in diet modification not dieting. I have found this out through my own personal experiences. The trick to subtracting pounds from your waisted line is to eat properly using the guidelines provided by the American Medical Association and the USDA. At usda.gov you can find the my personal pyramid page where you can customize your own plan. Cutting to much of any of the essential vitamins and minerals for long periods of times can cause big problems. All the Diets that I have seen and read about out there are mostly quick fixes to a life time of poor eating habits and when you get off them you revert back to your former self and most gain more.

As for your joint pain I would suggest a foot doctor first to check how your bodies foundation is grounded. If your feet are not right everything above them will be out of alignment. If the foot doctor does not find anything wrong then I would see your regular doctor and see what tests he may suggest to find out what your specific issues are. You may have some wear and tear that you have developed over the years that is now showing is ugly head. As for the belly fat, that will require you to be near the bottom of your BMI and most likely at a lower body fat of maybe 13 to 16 %. Your abs require a lot of work and multiple types of exercise to work all four quadrants and the oblique's.

General Suggestion:
Have your physical and blood work done if you have not within the last year.
Work with a personal trainer if possible
work with a nutritionist if possible
stay motivated!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Good luck and congrats on getting off your medicine that is a big hurdle that you have jumped over.

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