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n8sgurl
New Member
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Posted: 9 April 2008 04:12 pm |
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I am really frustrated, here is my story, during my second pregnancy I was put on 6 months bed rest, I do not know what I weighed before she was born, I can tell you that after she was born I weighed 208, and when she was 6 months old, I weighed in at 227!!! First, I visited my doctor, then I got a nanny, a gym membership and a trainer. I have lost 45 pounds (down to 182) It has taken me 18 months. I eat alot of fresh fruits and veggies, lean protein (fish and chicken), and protein shakes. I am about 95% whole grains. Daily my calories range between 1600 and 1800 depending on my level of exercise for that day. I eat 5 to 7 small meals. I go to the gym three to four hours a day, five to six days a week. My workouts are weight training three times a week I take 5 spin bike classes a week, I run on the treadmill, I run around my neighborhood at 5a.m. when it isn't too cold. On the weekends I go mountain biking or hiking with the family if the weather permits. After all of the sweating and weight lifting and running and biking and depriving myself of sweets and greasy cheeseburgers and milkshakes, should I not have seen more progress by now? Even my trainer was asking the same question. But remember I saw my doctor when this all begin and had continued to see him about every 6 months, there is nothing medically wrong with me. And then it all stopped, nothing, not one pound lost in 5 months. Talk about a plateau!
The new thing that I am being told by the same trainer who was trying to run me into the ground is that my heart rate is going too high in my workouts (anaerobic) thus not providing me with the maximum fat calorie burn (aerobic). So I get a heart rate monitor, and I start the Maffetone Method of base building, I am so bored in my workouts, I still go to the gym the same amount and take the same classes I just go alot slower than everybody else, and still no results as far as weight. It is still a good workout, I don't get the adrenaline rush like with the all out runs or rides but I still sweat. I have also noticed an overall improvement in my ability to maintain the same or similar speed for a longer period of time. So it has it's advantages, but I'm not training for a marathon, I want to be less fat... So I am frustrated...
My stats are as follows: 29 years old, 5'5" tall, 182 pounds, my body fat percentage as taken three months ago and was 24.7% I have always been freakishly strong, muscular, not like manly, but strong, so 145 or 150 would be ideal for me. I don't know what else I can do... Any advice would be graciously welcomed... Thank you in advance for taking the time to read and help.
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nevd
Distinguished Member
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Posted: 9 April 2008 04:23 pm |
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I'd be interested to know how your body fat % was measured. A lot of these machines measure impedance through the body, but from foot to foot (scales) or hand to hand (the other type). Depending on where your fat is stored, that can give a skewed reading.
On top of which, 24.7% isn't the end of the world, but a fairly healthy reading. I'm assuming you have some specific stubborn body areas that are driving your efforts to lose more?
If I were you, I'd buy a skinfold calliper and check your body fat % regularly. You may find that your 'plateau' has been caused by an addition of muscle at the same time as you lost body fat.
Even if that's not so, you still need to monitor body fat more often. Checking weight only is a self-defeating approach because you're only analysing partial results.
Good luck with your quest, but use better tracking info...
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trimB
Moderator
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Posted: 9 April 2008 05:57 pm |
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n8sgurl wrote: I go to the gym three to four hours a day, five to six days a week.
WOW that is a giant chunk of time every day! What do you think about trying the activity calculators on this site to get a better idea of how many calories you burn in a typical day? What if you are burning WAY more calories than you are eating?? Then your plateau could be explained by your metabolism slowing down to match the lower level of calories that you have been eating for an extended amount of time.
Just a theory!!
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zenobia
Moderator
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Posted: 9 April 2008 09:55 pm |
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yeah, i would suggest that, even though it sounds couter intuative, to up your calories. you may want to consider cycling your cals- a few days below mantenance, then a day at mantenance... and repeat. or, slowly begin to increase your cals over a period of time- you could be going through a sort of starvation mode. maybe add about 100 a week for a little while, then start to cycle. i severly cut cals, but when i would take a day or two and eat more, i would drop weigtht a day or two later. it really seems to work. and it really can't hurt to try something new! shake your metabolism up a bit!
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n8sgurl
New Member
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Posted: 15 April 2008 08:18 pm |
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In response to nevd my BFP was measured with callipers. I GOT PINCHED. ;) The thing that is driving me to lose more? Bikini!! I don't want to have to wear a "mama bathing suit" anymore. I want my old (or young) body back and I am convinced that I can do it without surgery. I will check my body fat percentage again, and repost when I do. How often do you suggest that I check? How often would you think I would see a change? Are there any other measurements of lose that you suggest, other than my clothes fit better?
In response to trimB and zenobia, during the course of working with my trainer and doctor they have always suggested cutting my calorie intake more, never raising it, so it worries me to even think about eating more. However, I do feel like maybe I am bordering on the low side. I do like the idea of cycling my calories. At this point I think that this is worth trying and I appreciate the advice.
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nevd
Distinguished Member
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Posted: 15 April 2008 10:27 pm |
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If you measure weight and body fat, you'll have a good picture of where you are. That's important before you decide what to do next.
It's best if you measure yourself with the calliper, as otherwise you can't be sure it's always done the same way. Once a week should be enough, but more often while you're practicing.
it worries me to even think about eating more...
You, and just about everybody else in the world! However, it's important to change something if you're stuck. Eating a few calories too many is easily reversible. Losing muscle by undereating isn't.
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