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2005/04/08, 06:43 PM
Okay, I have been at this "working out" thing for over four months (less a couple of weeks with bronchitis) and I have developed the body that I want. Biceps men at the gym are starting to eye with envy and legs that can crush steel. Unfortunately it is all still buried under a layer of blubber that won't budge. What do I do now? Diet could be a factor, I don't always make the very best choices, but I do keep the calories at an acceptable level. I was doing cardio 5x per week and that wasn't working, so with some advice I received here, I reduced it to 3x per week for the past month. This isn't working either. Should I try upping the cardio again?
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2005/04/08, 06:56 PM
try doing HIIT cardio to a search for it...
also circuit training is good as well i find for lossing weight.. although your main goal if your lossing weight is getting your diet underhand...and that does not mean starving yourself like alot of people take it... just eat clean 5-6 small meals a day if your desperate for junk food or not used to it maybe have a cheat day where you have that food as a treat once every 2 weeks or so.. and overtime decrease your cals by maybe 200 at a time
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2005/04/08, 07:38 PM
Diet is the #1 factor. The training is also important. What are your meal plans like and whats your training routine?
Have the inches decreased where you want and increased in some places? Don't go by the weight scale!
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Scales are for dead weight: We are not dead yet!
Still trying to find out how to do the Hollywood Free Press.
Ivan
carivan@freetrainers.com
Montreal Canada
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2005/04/08, 07:51 PM
Nicolesmom,
You are doing wonderful, just keep it up! 90 % of people would have given up by now. Pay attention to your body type and nutrition, they're what's making the difference to losing fat now. What's your metabolism like? It sounds like you have had no problem at all putting on muscle. Well done. That's the first part. Now clean up your diet of the saturated fats and sugars, and don't worry too much about carbs or calories. You should get them if you eat 5-6 mini-meals and top-load protein. Like timm said, HIIT works wonders. It's less time consuming too. Hope I helped answer some questions. I'm getting to that point myself. I actually realized I needed to eat more! Imagine that:)
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Josh Hollers
hollers2@freetrainers.com
-We get out of life what we put into it. Be thankful we've been given alot more than we deserve.
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2005/04/08, 09:41 PM
Thanks guys! I appreciate your help.
Ivan: Meal plans are hopeless, I have a 12 year old daughter and a 6'3 250# boyfriend that eats anything and everything and doesn't gain an ounce. I cook meals that appeal to everyone and try to only eat the things that are acceptable. For example last night, roast chicken, mashed potatoes/gravy, broccoli and a shrimp salad. I ate everything except the potatoes and gravy. It is difficult to cook different meals for everyone so I try to cook what everyone else wants and try and only eat the acceptable foods myself. Of course this is said while now eating a sugar free fudgsicle. I guess I have only myself to blame, but just thought if I worked my butt off and made a big improvement in my diet (although not perfect) I would see a big change. Training routine: For the last month I have been going to a spinning class three times a week and lift three days a week and throw in a few pilates classes here and there.
Josh: :)Yes, the muscle came easy. At one time in my life I was a competitive figure skater so perhaps some of that muscle was hibernating and waiting for me to get active again. Who knows. I keep telling myself that at least I'm not gaining any longer (Actually I have gained 6 pounds but don't think it is all fat) but I just get frustrated. I feel better physically and mentally and yes, a few inches have come off here and there. I have perhaps the slimmest wrists, ankles and calves in the Pacific Northwest. (Have had my watch sized down twice since Christmas) I guess I get discouraged because I am slimming down in the wrong places, pants are all really baggy in the legs now, but still tight in the waist.
Sorry to carry on like this, but it really feels good to vent. It seems no one else around me really understands the frustration that comes with trying to lose weight. In fact the last two people that I've complimented on their weight loss since I hadn't seen them in months, had gastric bypass surgery. In this day and age it seems that more and more people just get surgery and no one knows how to get in shape naturally.
Okay, I'm done. Thanks for listening.:big_smile::love:
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2005/04/11, 12:21 AM
I think people know how to get in shape-- They just dont like how you have to do it. This being said they look to a surgery to fix their problem. Most of the time the weight come back anyway, and they still have no clus how to eat properly.
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2005/04/11, 06:29 PM
nicolesmom, i know ust what you mean because i lost 92 pounds and was a size 10, very fit, and looked great. i had a baby, and now am a size 16, and have lost 55 pounds. i have 35 to go until i am back to myself. i still have the muscle under there and thats what i am working on getting rid of, the fat. i dont want people to scoff, but i did it through weight watchers ( and the gym!!). they have an at home program, no meetings, weigh ins (i use the boards if i want tips),they have a calculator, and food point bools you receive at home etc, its very easy to calculate how much food you eat when it is in a points system.i did a no carb plan 8 years ago, and decided to try ww 3 years ago when i was going to spend the money getting all my no carb food! i cant live without carbs! on ww you can eat what you want (obviously not how ever much you want, because you are given a point limit for the day), you can add to your points you eat by working out! i earn 7 activity points everyday i work out, which is 6 days a week. i am only suggesting it because it works, and you dont feel deprived, and with your situation (i have kids and a hubby who can eat what he wants) you can still have what they have. i tend to usually just cook for myself though, like i make a big pan of extra lean ground turkey with black beans and corn and make tacos for a few days, you can have certain unlimited vegetables, fat free popcorn. filling healthy stuff like that. i have just found that other diets make you suffer by feeling you cant have this or that, and thats usually when people "go off" their diets, because they feel like they blew it!!
anyway, i am living proof that it works, and would be happy to give you any information!! i believe the key is working out AND a good diet, you do need caloric boundries, you cant just work out, IMO :love:
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had baby may/2004-lost 55! 35 to go!!
www.thesoulcharmer.com
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2005/04/11, 10:31 PM
Nicolesmom, you are making great gains. Have you thought of increasing your weights? Is there a way you can drop an easy 100 calories per day? Try thinking along those lines.
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Scales are for dead weight: We are not dead yet!
Still trying to find out how to do the Hollywood Free Press.
Ivan
carivan@freetrainers.com
Montreal Canada
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2005/04/11, 10:35 PM
Thanks Lilacdawn! I would never scoff at Weight Watchers, I have known many people that have had great results. I'm not much of a meeting person, prefer to keep my eating problems private (or at least fairly anonymous, like FT). An at home program might work for me, don't know if they offer it here where I am or not. I think I will look into it though because I obviously am not doing something right. I've also thought of doing something like Slim Fast where I don't have to make any choices. I do fine until I start trying to eat "real" food. (Just hate those cute little brownie scouts and their thin mint cookies!:big_smile:)
BTW, congrats on your success! I know it is not easy with a man and a baby to take care of to take care of yourself. So, besides the WW, what kind of training are you doing to get rid of the flab so successfully?
I wish you continued success, and thanks again for the advice.:big_smile:
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2005/04/12, 12:19 AM
well i had my son 7 years ago. i gained 100 pounds and kept it on for 4 years, i was at 278, a size 22, just depressed and first time mom crazy. my sis in law started it and i decided to try. i did only ww for the first month to get started. THEN i started walking 3 miles a day 3 days a week. then i started going to the gym. in 14 months i lost 92 pounds like i said, and was a size 10, and hot!! lol
anyway i had a baby, gained alot of weight again, but still had my muscle so i think thats what is helping me now, i am more narrow,stronger, and used to working out-more so than i had been when i just started.
i did start on a treadmill (the prior weight loss) walking as fast as i could without getting overly tired, for 2 miles. then i switched to the elliptical (which is what i do now) for 35 minutes (when i started back in june again, i was at 2 miles 300 calories in 33 minutes, today i am at 400+ calories and almost 3 miles! in 33 minutes!) followed by inner and outer thigh machines,hamstrings,tricep,crunches (manual and machine),leg presses, and shoulder rows.
as my signature states, i have lost 55 pounds in almost 11 months, not as successful as before, but i plan on losing the rest by december, which i will. at 174 i was a size 10, so if i want to go lower i could, but i was pretty happy there. a junior 13 is pretty small ;)
about the at home, i too didnt want to have to go to meetings and weigh-ins, i like to go at my own pace. they send a calculator which helps you keep track of your points, as well as calculating the points for any food (by putting calories,fat and fiber content from the mutritional information listed on food packages). it also calculates activity points you earn through exercise, which you can eat!! and you get a book with 17,000 store bought food items !! and a dining out guide with lower point choices for favorite restraunts! there are also several online sites with every place you can think of to eat. and with the calculator and most restraunts offering their nutritional information online, you always know what to eat! and like i said they have message boards where you can get recipe tips and support if you need it, just cause people understand ;)
i reccomend it to everyone (no one does it though) and plan on continuing the personal training corses i started (then got pregnant), so i could help moms realise they dont have to feel lost after a baby, or think surgery is the only answer. i am very enthusiastic about my success, and proud i have done it on my own.
here is a link to the at home plan. its 33 bucks for 3 months, then its yours! i believe anyone would spend 33 bucks for groceries in one week! http://www.weightwatchers.com/Templates/Marketing/At_Home_2col.aspx?athomepid=1009041&, please let me know how it goes with you!! if you do ww or not, i am here to support you!! :love:
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had baby may/2004-lost 55! 35 to go!!
www.thesoulcharmer.com
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2005/04/12, 12:21 AM
sorry i forgot to say thanks so much for your kind words..:love:
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had baby may/2004-lost 55! 35 to go!!
www.thesoulcharmer.com
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2005/04/12, 12:38 AM
Ivan ~ Do you mean increase weight of weights or frequency of weights? I'll assume increase weight of weights, and yes, I increase almost every time. If you mean frequency, I do as much as I can, but three times a week is the best I can do right now, for a while I was doing 4, sometimes 5x, but can't keep that up for long. I found myself with bronchitis and a sinus infection twice since I joined the gym, and I am never sick. I really think my diet is the big problem and even though I try to journal everything I eat during the day, I must be missing something and I think I am going to have to reduce my calories even more as you suggested just to be sure I'm not omitting anything. :(
BTW - Do you think more cardio would be good?
Thanks again for your help. It must get a little tedious anwering the same questions over and over, but it is greatly appreciated.:)
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2005/04/12, 03:28 AM
Thanks Lilacdawn! You give me hope. Lord knows I need it desperately. I'll keep at it and the worse thing that can happen is I'll be in great cardiovascular condition and know that under my blubber the body of a goddess is waiting to emerge if I can ever get my diet under control. Take care.:)
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