Needing some feedback even if it hurts!!

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  • rheddmobile
    rheddmobile Posts: 6,840 Member
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    superreal40 wrote: »
    do any of you take true rest days or breaks from working out? literally have not had a reast period of more than 2 weeks in about8 years

    I’m 52, if I don’t get at least one rest day a week I start seeing stress injuries. I try to get two days in a row of low-impact exercise whether walking, yoga, or something similar.

    I wouldn’t want to take two weeks off completely but if you are feeling super stressed it might be a good idea to take a couple of cut back weeks - set your calories to maintain so you aren’t having to work out to get enough calories, then just do the minimum lifting and cardio not to lose fitness, instead of pushing it, and focus on sleep and hydration. When you come back you will feel much fresher.

    A lot of people are extra stressed this past year, having to learn new ways of navigating the world to avoid a deadly virus, and basic daily activities such as work and shopping which have changed. Whatever you do, don’t beat yourself up about it, and remember your first priority should be getting through this tough time with your sanity intact!
  • Dogmom1978
    Dogmom1978 Posts: 1,580 Member
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    Take rest days. My rest days usually still include a leisurely dog walk, but I find the walk to be restful and good for my mental health. However, sometimes I have a day where I just want to veg out, so I do.

    Again, put your stats in mfp and set it to lose .5 lbs a week. Eat that number of calories a day. Stop obsessing over every little detail. Stop driving yourself nuts with what you read online ESPECIALLY if you struggle determining what is a valid source of information and what is just some quack posting nonsense.

    It isn’t a sprint to the goal. You CAN take breaks whenever you want. You probably need to eat more (what you posted above doesn’t even sound like it would equal 1000 calories). You NEED to sleep. Your body can’t recover if you won’t let it. Stress causes water retention and reading your posts you sound REALLY STRESSED.
  • nanastaci2020
    nanastaci2020 Posts: 1,072 Member
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    I don't believe you answered this... When you mentioned that you had gained weight, how much did you gain and over what period of time? I'm trying to figure out if you had a trend of gaining weight, or if you had a single weigh in that was + a few pounds or less?
  • superreal40
    superreal40 Posts: 37 Member
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    Thanks to everyone.. super stressed.. dealing with a 15 year old hormonal teenager whose brain is under attack and making many trips out of town to drs for infusions along with living in a hotel and managing the other 2 kids a dog and a hubby IS stressful. After not ever taking breaks and not eating the best, I know it’s time to do something different..

    Thank y’all truly
  • NovusDies
    NovusDies Posts: 8,940 Member
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    superreal40 wrote: »
    do any of you take true rest days or breaks from working out? literally have not had a reast period of more than 2 weeks in about8 years

    I think you will find that most people here take rest days. They are an essential part of a fitness and wellbeing goal. In addition to recovery and repair I am sure I am also not the only one that will tell you that rest days help push past plateaus. I am sometimes amazed at how much strength and endurance improves. Not every time but enough to sell the importance.



  • ashmodz
    ashmodz Posts: 2 Member
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    maybe your putting on mass from lifting too heavy, and adding more muscle mass instead of leaning out. I recently just started doing more cardio same lifting wise, but higher rep lighter weight and that seems to be helping me.
  • superreal40
    superreal40 Posts: 37 Member
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    I do cardio every day plus if the workout is cardio and weights I still do cardio.
  • Beautyofdreams
    Beautyofdreams Posts: 1,009 Member
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    Pick a maintenance calorie number and eat those calories for two weeks while easing up on the exercise. It sounds counter intuitive, but will help you flush water and lessen any metabolic adaptation your body has made in response to stress. Repeat this every six to eight weeks. You will not blow up like a balloon. Your energy level will increase and your body will begin to recover from the long term stress. Dieting is a stress on your body. Taking recovery weeks will make it easier mentally and physically. There is a thread about "Diet breaks and Refeeds" that you might want to search for. I think that it would be helpful for you. Also, check out Lyle McDonald's Body Recomposition website. His advice is science based and geared to fitness athletes.
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 27,950 Member
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    superreal40 wrote: »
    Do 1890 calories sound right? Im just so confused as I have been all over the internet to find the most accurate calculator

    You're making it unnecessarily hard on yourself. You can just use MFP's calculator.

    https://support.myfitnesspal.com/hc/en-us/articles/360032625391-How-does-MyFitnessPal-calculate-my-initial-goals-

    Unlike other sites which use TDEE calculators, MFP uses the NEAT method (Non-Exercise Activity Thermogenesis), and as such this system is designed for exercise calories to be eaten back. However, many consider the burns given by MFP to be inflated for them and only eat a percentage, such as 50%, back. Others, however, are able to lose weight while eating 100% of their exercise calories.

    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/818082/exercise-calories-again-wtf/p1
  • J72FIT
    J72FIT Posts: 5,948 Member
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    NovusDies wrote: »
    superreal40 wrote: »
    I do cardio every day plus if the workout is cardio and weights I still do cardio.

    Can you plan to take a walk outside or at a nearby park one day a week? By walk I do not mean power walking and checking your time and distance. I mean a mile or two at a casual pace.

    I suggest this because I am getting the impression that your exercise regimen is part of your stress management (even though it is highly stressful) and if you still have an activity but not cardio intensity you might be able to rest and still have an outlet.

    Sometimes less is more...
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 27,950 Member
    edited October 2020
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    superreal40 wrote: »
    do any of you take true rest days or breaks from working out? literally have not had a reast period of more than 2 weeks in about8 years

    While I like to be ACTIVE every day (for my mental health, back, and sleep,) sometimes this takes the form of a mellow walk or yoga practice.
  • NovusDies
    NovusDies Posts: 8,940 Member
    edited October 2020
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    kshama2001 wrote: »
    superreal40 wrote: »
    do any of you take true rest days or breaks from working out? literally have not had a reast period of more than 2 weeks in about8 years

    While I like to be ACTIVE every day (for my mental health, back, and sleep,) sometimes this takes the form of a mellow walk or yoga practice.

    Active is good for me. It is not only what I want to be but also where I want to stop in calories burned. It doesn't always work. It is odd on that one day a week if I burn a lot of calories I have to consider it a fail. I do not need to be very active or above though. If I keep my CO activity contained I usually feel very rested on Monday. If I hit very active or above it feels linear. Some good came of it but not as much.

  • PAV8888
    PAV8888 Posts: 13,721 Member
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    Bloated etc can be an indication of why your weight is higher and does not always come from storing excess calories as fat. A doctor's visit to make sure your internal are operating normally (among all the other issues you're already facing) may be in order re the bloating.

    An indication of degree of weight gain and time period (and frequency of weigh ins) may be in order to evaluate the amount of weight gained but to be honest your current setup is not conducive at all to a healthy weight reduction even if such were an appropriate goal.

    You're too stressed, have too many things in the fire, and there is a high potential that your intervention will decrease as opposed to increase your general health level at this time and under these circumstances.... at least that's what it looks like from afar reading what you wrote.

    Take a rest day. Try to eat at maintenance. Relatively healthy. But without seeking perfection.

    And take care of yourself so you CAN take care of those around you. Taking care is not always equal to either being totally strict or totally permissive. But it definitely includes being flexible with yourself! Which it doesn't sound as if you've been so far. Sleep is good too...
  • skinnyjingbb
    skinnyjingbb Posts: 127 Member
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    I am not a doctor, but from personal experience, one of your major problem is lack of sleep. Lack of sleep can lower your immunity, increase stress level, increase your appetite etc. Find a way to get more sleep, even a nap in the afternoon would be good.

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