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2005/04/22, 10:16 AM
I need to take a moment to vent...:angry:
I know this is probably a given but I would like to say: I'm NOT giving up - I'm just frustrated. I love the nutrition tracker because it makes sense and I've always had a hard time making the effort to track fat, protein, carbs and calories. I'm definitely enjoying my FT workout and abs routine. I :love:LOVE:love: this site and have already convinced several friends, co-workers and associates to check it out.:big_smile:
Anyhow - back to the point. I'm nearing the end of the fourth week of my FT program. I made a decision to make this work and set my goals for weightloss and overall fitness. Problem is that after 4 weeks I've actually gained a few pounds and can't get into my jeans that used to be loose!:( I know it's not strictly muscle gain because the only measurements that have noticable changed are the those relating to my tummy region. :angry:
I'm definitely feeling a lot of frustration and am trying not to be too hard on myself. I'm having a hard time getting adequate calories(2145), carbs(322g) and protein(161g) while keeping my fat low(26g).
I'm looking for 2 things:
1 - can someone please tell me this is normal? People on this site are doing very well losing pound and inches (or gaining if that's the goal>wink wink<) so what's up with my bod? I don't have any abnormal stress issues or other factors like that in my life. Honestly - I don't get it.
2 - Would anyone be willing to offer any nutritional pointers? Specific items that have excellent nutritional value without all the fat? I eat tuna,chicken and game meat, quite a bit of fruit and veggies, fat free yougurt, 1% milk, etc. Actually I feel like I'm eating ALL the time! But at the end of the day it rarely matches up.
Your feedback/input will be greatly appreciated.
Sorry for venting - it's just one of those things! I'm sure this will trun around eventually as long as I stick with it.
Thanks for stopping in to read my whining! Feel free to ignore my ranting - no hard feeling! :laugh:
Erika.
:love:
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2005/04/22, 11:16 AM
Hey Erika, keep your chin up. You're doing great with your diet and exercise. I can totally relate to your frustration..I too am trying to loose that last 10 or so lbs.--have been for quite some time. The first 20lbs were relatively easy, but this last 10 is a bitch!! You have to trust what your doing and just stick with it. Maybe tweak your diet (I have a hell of a time keeping the fat content down...as of today I cut out almonds..didn't realize they were so high in fat!) You may just be experiencing monthly fluctuations in water wieght. You say your tummy measurements are coming down, so you must be loosing fat/gaining muscle--great work!! I haven't got any nutrition "tricks" to offer except keep trying to keep it clean, the healthy eating list by BB1 is my bible! My downfall is typically weekends.
We just have to keep plugging away and I know we'll get there!! BTW I'm a canadian too, actually born in Red Deer Alberta, now in southern ON.
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2005/04/22, 11:24 AM
I really don't have any advice, but just don't give up.
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2005/04/22, 11:33 AM
First of all, keep up that positive attitude. We all get frustrated sometimes. Remember FT is just a guide to get you started in the right direction. You may need to tweak your diet a bit to see what works best for you. Can you give me a detail of what you eat on a typical day? This may help me to help you better.
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Kasey
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2005/04/22, 11:40 AM
cut back on the carbs by maybe 100g ....and up the protein a lil, by 25 or so. Muscle does weird things...one if you build muscle under exhisting fat....its makes the fat stick out more.....this is what looking "bulky" is.
What your excercise program like?
I'd cut back on weight training to 3 days a week.....and do cardio 4 times a week 20+mins.
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" The only true eye, is your minds eye"- plato
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2005/04/22, 11:47 AM
Erika,
Just keep going at it. I know not fitting in your jeans stinks, I am going through the same thing right now. But boy do I look better in the mirror. And my husband is always telling me how fantastic I am looking.
Flyonthewall is correct in saying you must be losing fat or your measurments wouldn't be coming down.
Also, the hardest place to lose seems to be the tummy area and any time I gain weight it is all right there. I notice that if it is near my . I gain 2-3 pounds for a week before then it all goes away.
Good luck this is a wonderful site with tons of help and support. I usually just sit back and read the posts but you sounded so much like me:big_smile:
Good Luck
Leslie
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2005/04/22, 11:49 AM
Erika,
Just keep going at it. I know not fitting in your jeans stinks, I am going through the same thing right now. But boy do I look better in the mirror. And my husband is always telling me how fantastic I am looking.
Flyonthewall is correct in saying you must be losing fat or your measurments wouldn't be coming down.
Also, the hardest place to lose seems to be the tummy area and any time I gain weight it is all right there. I notice that if it is near my . I gain 2-3 pounds for a week before then it all goes away.
Good luck this is a wonderful site with tons of help and support. I usually just sit back and read the posts but you sounded so much like me:big_smile:
Good Luck
Leslie
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2005/04/22, 03:00 PM
Erika,
I had the same issue a little gain at first. Then the weight started coming off. I think the initial gain is your bodys response to new circumstances.
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I am that
which must be feared, worshipped and adored. The world is mine
now and forever.No one holds command over me. No man. No god. I am ANIMAL! and that is enough.
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2005/04/22, 04:07 PM
You guys and gals are officially "The Best".
Unfortunatly I didn't explain the measurement changes accurately - my waist and hips are increasing, not decreasing... :)
I refuse to give up, so thank you all very, VERY much.
Flyonthewall - you mentioned "the healthy eating list by BB1" I'm guessing I can't see for looking, but where is that list?
ksee128 - average day
Meal 1: vitimins and omega oils (I HATE fish and have to get the Omegas somehow!), whey protein shake, high fibre cereal with 1% milk, banana, couple 100ml fat free yogurts.
Meal 2: couple more yougurts, apple, tin of tuna (if I can stomach it) or deer jerkey
Meal 3: deer or chicken stir fry with veggies (no noodles or rice), protein bar with as little fat as possible (Still hunting for good ones)
Meal 4: tin of pear halves
Meal 5: healthy portion of what ever we have for dinner. Homegrown beef (very lean), deer, chicken, lean trimmed pork chop, little whole wheat pasta or rice or potato on the side and peas or corn.
Meal 5: fat free popsicle and often 1/2 cup of boiled yam with cinnamon.
I feel like I'm eating ALL day!! :laugh::laugh::laugh:
Big Andrew - I have trouble getting enough carbs on a regular basis. I think I'm going to have to seek out some form of suppliment. Problem is I can't really afford it... I totally understand the "bulky" thing, that's why i'm hoping this is just an adjustment phase and it'll pass! For working out I'm lifting low-moderate weights 5xweek and cardio for min 30 minutes 5xweek right now.
leslieherr - it's SO reassuring to know I'm not the only one who is dealing (or has dealt) with this! One point that has bothered me is that I'm not having ANY monthly fluctuations. At first that's what I thought it was. but then it never went away. I actually went from 153 to 161 about 1 and a half months before finding FT.
Have I mentioned recently how much I love this site? :big_smile:
mmaibohm - thanks! That's truly what I'm hoping!
Keep it coming guys, this is great. I can feel a renewed surge of motivation! Thanks you all.
Erika.
:dumbbell::dumbbell::dumbbell:
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2005/04/22, 04:44 PM
Erika, the list I was referring to is the "Grocery List for Healthy Eating" and can be found on the "Specific Diet & Nutrition" board. Looking at your diet though, it certainly looks like your on the right track! I'd maybe try cutting your calories by 150-200/day for each week until you start to see a drop in weight/measurements. I've also read that one should stay away from carbs in the evening. Personally, I have found that my weight has not changed in about 6 months(actually hovers from 150-155)- it drives me nuts, but my body comp. has definetly changed and is noticable:). I also have days/weeks where my pants feel snug as well. I am still a slave to the scale, even though I know better. There's something psychological about getting below 150lbs.
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2005/04/22, 07:41 PM
Yay!
Don't know why I didn't see that before...:cool:
Must be a blonde thing! :laugh:
THANK you!!
Only concern I have with calories is that the nutrition tracker says I should have 2145 and most days I don't get to 2000.
And it's true - that 150 mark is a self induced head-game! Funny.
Thanks again!
:love:
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2005/04/23, 05:06 AM
Quite a few people have found the calorie goals a bit high on this site. If you find thigns are turning out as planned after a couple of weeks, then try reducing your calories by 250 and see what happens.
I know that the only time I can eat the amount of calories suggested for me and lose weight, is if I have no cheat meals WHATSOEVER and if I do at least 5 cardio workouts a week.
I personally prefer to cut my calories a little and keep the cheat meal once a week.
Good luck
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2005/04/23, 10:39 AM
I would suggest cutting out the protein bar (lots of sugar in disguise) and cut out the rice, potatoes, peas and corn in "meal 5". Try and have those earlier in your day. These are more carbs that we don't need late in the day. just havr the yam and perhaps some broccoli.
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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
Montreal Canada
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2005/04/23, 03:29 PM
Thanks again!
E.
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2005/04/24, 12:37 PM
Erika,
I am concerned with your absent menstrual cycles. Did you know not getting enough "good" fats will mess your cycles up and even cause them to stop? Has this started since you have started dieting?
Here is a snippet from healthyrecipes.com
A diet rich in essential fats and oils works to increase metabolic rate and improve the entire system of energy production. With this increase in metabolism, weight loss is not only possible but also inevitable. Blood sugar levels are balanced and food cravings become a thing of the past.
Besides hindering weight loss, dramatically reducing your fat intake can bring on additional health problems. Low fat diets can increase your risk of heart disease by decreasing HDL's (the good cholesterol) and boosting triglycerides. It can also raise your risk for gout and gallstones.
For women, cutting back on fats will wreck havoc with your hormones. A healthy hormonal system relies on "fats". When you are experiencing things like, missed or irregular periods, menopausal symptoms, pre-menstrual syndrome, dry skin, and oily skin. your hormones are not functioning as they should. You need fat.
However, (this is really important, so listen up) all fats are not created equal.
Saturated fats should be avoided. They create all the problems we just discussed. These would include fatty meats, whole milk, cheese, ice cream, and chocolate (that one hurt). saturated fats tend to be solid at room temperature.
I don't know what your fat intake is, but you should make sure you are eating enough healthy fats.
Anyone else have ideas on this? I am not an expert and this very well could be old info.
Leslie
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2005/04/24, 04:21 PM
No no no... :) I'm still having a menstrul cycle - just no weight/water-weight fluctuations. I've modified my eating habits for about 2 years now with no effect to my cycle. To tell the truth they missing info that I hadn't disclosed is that I've gone off the pill (as of the end of January).
As for my cycle: I started my cycle really young and never had a regular cycle so my doctor had me go on and off the pill to try to regulate it. It didn't work so I've been on the pill consistently for over 10 years. While on the pill my cycle is perfect.
It's just me! My doc says it's a normal adjustment due to the subtraction of the regular hormone provided in the pill. My last cycle had a 5 day light menstruation, my cycle before that 2 days and it was minimal. I'm just ticked because pre-cycle in Feb I gained about 10 pounds and haven't been able to make it GO AWAY!! :angry:
:laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
Regardless, I want to thank you for that GREAT snipit. Terrific info. I do take an Omega 3-6-9 suppliment each day to ensure I'm getting the good fats. I've seen a cardiologist (heart doc) since I was born. Had a heart cathater at 4-months, open heart surgery at age 4 and a pacemaker in 2002 (age 27) so fortunately my specialist have always preached of the importance of balanced diet (including "good" fats) and a healthy lifestyle.
Thanks for the info, but more than that - Thank you for being concerned. That makes me feel all warm and fuzzy knowing that someone cares!
:) :love: :)
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