Why Am I Struggling So Much?
Replies
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I will say that I really do not lose weight unless I am exercising. I swear I can eat 1200 calories, not exercise and not lose but I can go for a run, eat what ever I want and lose. Weird, and no, I do not think I am a snowflake.
Give an hour of cardio a chance and see if it helps.
And I know you are a type 1 diabetic, how well are your insulin levels regulated?
Cool, they've been good all month except for week in Mexico.......0 -
Just wanted to add to the cheat day answer. Even if you eat 3500 calories on a cheat day you will not gain a whole pound because you will burn the majority of that off just existing (internal functions, breathing, moving, etc). You may however gain a couple pounds of water weight if you consumed a lot of sodium. Those will fall off after a few days.0
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Do you weigh 155 pounds and you are 5 foot 9?
I have nothing to say.0 -
Do you weigh 155 pounds and you are 5 foot 9?
I have nothing to say.
Thank you.............I weigh 155, but I'm 5'5, and I look average right now (not even chubby)
You don't have anything to lose, that's why the scale will barely move.0 -
The other thing you can try vs. increasing the elliptical time is something like a 15 minute workout on the Nike Training App (free) and then get on the elliptical for 20 minutes after. If you get bored doing the same thing for a while the Nike workouts are great - there are tons to choose from and they require minimal equipment but totally satisfy interval training. You'll build muscle and burn calories.0
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Sweet thanks! Never heard of this free app!The other thing you can try vs. increasing the elliptical time is something like a 15 minute workout on the Nike Training App (free) and then get on the elliptical for 20 minutes after. If you get bored doing the same thing for a while the Nike workouts are great - there are tons to choose from and they require minimal equipment but totally satisfy interval training. You'll build muscle and burn calories.0 -
Do you weigh 155 pounds and you are 5 foot 9?
I have nothing to say.
FYI - not every 5'9" girl looks her best at 155lbs. Remember not all ladies the same height have the same body types and such.0 -
Have you tried interval training? A group of us are going to start Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred tomorrow...you could join us0
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When on elliptical I go as hard as I can for a while then go slow for a bit to catch my breath. So yes I do. As for JM30DS, I've done that a couple times but get board when just starting level 2. It's just not for me.Have you tried interval training? A group of us are going to start Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred tomorrow...you could join us0 -
I think you would see results eating just slightly below maintenance (250 calorie deficit) and strength training.0
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Yes you're probably right, keep struggling and devoting all your time and energy to this, there's nothing else that matters.Do you weigh 155 pounds and you are 5 foot 9?
I have nothing to say.
FYI - not every 5'9" girl looks her best at 155lbs. Remember not all ladies the same height have the same body types and such.0 -
I use this calculator to figure out my TDEE: http://scoobysworkshop.com/accurate-calorie-calculator/
I quickly ran your numbers on there. Your TDEE is closer to 2250-2300 and your BMR is close to 1500, using the moderate exercise modifier. And with a 10-15 pound weight lose goal, your deficit is way too aggressive. 5% off your TDEE is plenty, or around 2150 (this includes exercise, though, so you wouldn't eat those calories back.) I lose at 2500 calories a day and I'm a lot older than you, and you work out more than me, so these aren't crazy numbers.
You can read this thread, as it will save me a lot of typing to tell you the why behind that math:
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/931670-bmr-and-tdee-explained-for-those-needing-a-guide
Oh, logging makes all the difference, too. Scoobys calculator is the closest I've found, but it's still about 100 calories a day lower than my actual TDEE. That is something I only found by logging everything and having all the data to run the numbers with. Or don't log. It's all about how badly you want the results.
Best of luck!
Thank you but you still lose weight even if your deficit is considered too aggressive right?
yes you still lose weight with an aggressive deficit, but there's a danger that what you lose will include muscle and bone density along with the fat.
Plus the fact it's harder to stick to long term, due to feeling tired, hungry and being prone to binge eating.
Fat loss is not a race. The winner is the one who stays at their goal weight for life. Not the one who loses it the fastest. Be patient, go for sustainable fat loss the slow and healthy way, and then maintain it for life without too much difficulty.0 -
Do you weigh 155 pounds and you are 5 foot 9?
I have nothing to say.
FYI - not every 5'9" girl looks her best at 155lbs. Remember not all ladies the same height have the same body types and such.
It's possible that the changes you want to see in your body come not from losing more weight, but from working out more and firming up your body all over. I know a lot of women on this site who've found this i.e. getting the body they want from lifting weights and eating more, and some actually end up heavier yet fitting into smaller clothes because they're leaner and slimmer.0 -
One: okay i see. That makes sense.Two things:
One, a binge isn't eating 3500 calories. It's eating a few wings at the bar with an extra beer after a low cal breakfast and lunch.
Two, you are asking people for advice, but you have a comeback or excuse for everyone. Stop replying with an excuse for everything and just soak in the advice or people are going to start getting nasty. You asked for help, nobody is being mean to you, they are just putting in their two cents based on their own successes. If you don't want anyone to say you need to change what you are doing, then don't ask people what you need to change.
Side note: I agree that you need to drastically increase your cardio. 20 minutes is just past my warm up - it's the next 20-40 minutes when the good sweat gets going. You'd be better off doing fewer, more intense cardio sessions vs. many short sessions where you get off the elliptical right after you start to sweat.
Two: my replies were not come backs. Just comments and trying to get a better understanding.
Three: yes, I will be increasing my cardio (that was in my original post)
I'm going to disagree and suggest that you do not need to increase your cardio.
You are already losing. Which is fine. Accept the rate and looking at program and goals (fitting into clothes and looking good) a I'd actually reconsider your weight training routine. It's mostly cardio. 10 lb weights and the JM programs (as good as they are) are not progressive weight training in a sense that will best assist you in body composition style goals.0 -
One: okay i see. That makes sense.Two things:
One, a binge isn't eating 3500 calories. It's eating a few wings at the bar with an extra beer after a low cal breakfast and lunch.
Two, you are asking people for advice, but you have a comeback or excuse for everyone. Stop replying with an excuse for everything and just soak in the advice or people are going to start getting nasty. You asked for help, nobody is being mean to you, they are just putting in their two cents based on their own successes. If you don't want anyone to say you need to change what you are doing, then don't ask people what you need to change.
Side note: I agree that you need to drastically increase your cardio. 20 minutes is just past my warm up - it's the next 20-40 minutes when the good sweat gets going. You'd be better off doing fewer, more intense cardio sessions vs. many short sessions where you get off the elliptical right after you start to sweat.
Two: my replies were not come backs. Just comments and trying to get a better understanding.
Three: yes, I will be increasing my cardio (that was in my original post)
I'm going to disagree and suggest that you do not need to increase your cardio.
You are already losing. Which is fine. Accept the rate and looking at program and goals (fitting into clothes and looking good) a I'd actually reconsider your weight training routine. It's mostly cardio. 10 lb weights and the JM programs (as good as they are) are not progressive weight training in a sense that will best assist you in body composition style goals.
Thanks for reply. I wanted to let you know that my current weight training is this from Jennifer Nicole Lee:
Monday is always going to be Shoulders and Triceps
Tuesday is always going to be Legs
Wednesday is Cardio
Thursday is Chest and Biceps
Friday is Back
Saturday is Cardio
Sunday is your OFF-Active Rest Day, and also Food Prep Day (grocery shopping and meal planning)
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
OFF FM Food Plan Prep Shoulders & Triceps Legs Cardio: 25 Minutes Chest & Biceps Back Cardio: 25 Minutes
Start every workout with a warm up. Warm up simply by walking in place, then moving side to side, and then picking up the intensity to say maybe jumping jacks, and then running in place. Aim for a warm up for at least for 5 minutes.
Pick Three Exercises from the detailed list below PER Body Part.
Perform 8-12 reps for 3 sets, at a challenging weight where the last 8-12 are hard to finish. I pick 2-3 exercises for each muscle group. I just started so 10lbs weights it is for now. Will increase when ready and/or add more reps/sets. (still progressive right?)0 -
One: okay i see. That makes sense.Two things:
One, a binge isn't eating 3500 calories. It's eating a few wings at the bar with an extra beer after a low cal breakfast and lunch.
Two, you are asking people for advice, but you have a comeback or excuse for everyone. Stop replying with an excuse for everything and just soak in the advice or people are going to start getting nasty. You asked for help, nobody is being mean to you, they are just putting in their two cents based on their own successes. If you don't want anyone to say you need to change what you are doing, then don't ask people what you need to change.
Side note: I agree that you need to drastically increase your cardio. 20 minutes is just past my warm up - it's the next 20-40 minutes when the good sweat gets going. You'd be better off doing fewer, more intense cardio sessions vs. many short sessions where you get off the elliptical right after you start to sweat.
Two: my replies were not come backs. Just comments and trying to get a better understanding.
Three: yes, I will be increasing my cardio (that was in my original post)
I'm going to disagree and suggest that you do not need to increase your cardio.
You are already losing. Which is fine. Accept the rate and looking at program and goals (fitting into clothes and looking good) a I'd actually reconsider your weight training routine. It's mostly cardio. 10 lb weights and the JM programs (as good as they are) are not progressive weight training in a sense that will best assist you in body composition style goals.
Thanks for reply. I wanted to let you know that my current weight training is this from Jennifer Nicole Lee:
Monday is always going to be Shoulders and Triceps
Tuesday is always going to be Legs
Wednesday is Cardio
Thursday is Chest and Biceps
Friday is Back
Saturday is Cardio
Sunday is your OFF-Active Rest Day, and also Food Prep Day (grocery shopping and meal planning)
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
OFF FM Food Plan Prep Shoulders & Triceps Legs Cardio: 25 Minutes Chest & Biceps Back Cardio: 25 Minutes
Start every workout with a warm up. Warm up simply by walking in place, then moving side to side, and then picking up the intensity to say maybe jumping jacks, and then running in place. Aim for a warm up for at least for 5 minutes.
Pick Three Exercises from the detailed list below PER Body Part.
Perform 8-12 reps for 3 sets, at a challenging weight where the last 8-12 are hard to finish. I pick 2-3 exercises for each muscle group. I just started so 10lbs weights it is for now. Will increase when ready and/or add more reps/sets. (still progressive right?)
Sounds progressive, if you are progressing.
It would seem then that you have a program (quite a load, actually) that you started during vacation in Mexico. That you are currently training with lo-ish weights and should be advancing to greater weights, or more complex movements along the way.
Whatever it is, it seems that you have not been at it for very long. Or have you?
Give yourself 6 months of consistent workout. Consistency is the key. Then adjust, if needed.0 -
I don't mind eating 1200-1500 a day. It's good enough. And I wasn't eating 1200-1500 for a long time. This has just been 7 weeks. I could very well be losing weight I just don't know because clothes don't fit different and i won't step on the scale til May 1st.I use this calculator to figure out my TDEE: http://scoobysworkshop.com/accurate-calorie-calculator/
I quickly ran your numbers on there. Your TDEE is closer to 2250-2300 and your BMR is close to 1500, using the moderate exercise modifier. And with a 10-15 pound weight lose goal, your deficit is way too aggressive. 5% off your TDEE is plenty, or around 2150 (this includes exercise, though, so you wouldn't eat those calories back.) I lose at 2500 calories a day and I'm a lot older than you, and you work out more than me, so these aren't crazy numbers.
You can read this thread, as it will save me a lot of typing to tell you the why behind that math:
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/931670-bmr-and-tdee-explained-for-those-needing-a-guide
Oh, logging makes all the difference, too. Scoobys calculator is the closest I've found, but it's still about 100 calories a day lower than my actual TDEE. That is something I only found by logging everything and having all the data to run the numbers with. Or don't log. It's all about how badly you want the results.
Best of luck!
Thank you but you still lose weight even if your deficit is considered too aggressive right?
To an extent, and then you stall out. Which sounds like what is happening to you right now. Trust me, I did a VLCD for a long time, messed up my hormones and gained weight month after month netting 1200 because of that. It took me over half a year to recover, but when I started eating enough to fuel my body, it realized it didn't need to hang on to all the fat it was storing. I shed just under 10% body fat in five months eating 2000+.
Why wouldn't you want to feed yourself well when you can?
I really can't believe that u gained weight eating 1200 calories a day. Im sorry.
Don't feel too bad. I lost quickly and consistently, with a huge drop in body fat percentage, on 2400 and I'm maintaining (for a few months now) on 2600. I think I'm doing alright.
Best of luck to you, though. Let us know how it all ends up.0 -
One: okay i see. That makes sense.Two things:
One, a binge isn't eating 3500 calories. It's eating a few wings at the bar with an extra beer after a low cal breakfast and lunch.
Two, you are asking people for advice, but you have a comeback or excuse for everyone. Stop replying with an excuse for everything and just soak in the advice or people are going to start getting nasty. You asked for help, nobody is being mean to you, they are just putting in their two cents based on their own successes. If you don't want anyone to say you need to change what you are doing, then don't ask people what you need to change.
Side note: I agree that you need to drastically increase your cardio. 20 minutes is just past my warm up - it's the next 20-40 minutes when the good sweat gets going. You'd be better off doing fewer, more intense cardio sessions vs. many short sessions where you get off the elliptical right after you start to sweat.
Two: my replies were not come backs. Just comments and trying to get a better understanding.
Three: yes, I will be increasing my cardio (that was in my original post)
I'm going to disagree and suggest that you do not need to increase your cardio.
You are already losing. Which is fine. Accept the rate and looking at program and goals (fitting into clothes and looking good) a I'd actually reconsider your weight training routine. It's mostly cardio. 10 lb weights and the JM programs (as good as they are) are not progressive weight training in a sense that will best assist you in body composition style goals.
Thanks for reply. I wanted to let you know that my current weight training is this from Jennifer Nicole Lee:
Monday is always going to be Shoulders and Triceps
Tuesday is always going to be Legs
Wednesday is Cardio
Thursday is Chest and Biceps
Friday is Back
Saturday is Cardio
Sunday is your OFF-Active Rest Day, and also Food Prep Day (grocery shopping and meal planning)
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
OFF FM Food Plan Prep Shoulders & Triceps Legs Cardio: 25 Minutes Chest & Biceps Back Cardio: 25 Minutes
Start every workout with a warm up. Warm up simply by walking in place, then moving side to side, and then picking up the intensity to say maybe jumping jacks, and then running in place. Aim for a warm up for at least for 5 minutes.
Pick Three Exercises from the detailed list below PER Body Part.
Perform 8-12 reps for 3 sets, at a challenging weight where the last 8-12 are hard to finish. I pick 2-3 exercises for each muscle group. I just started so 10lbs weights it is for now. Will increase when ready and/or add more reps/sets. (still progressive right?)
Sounds progressive, if you are progressing.
It would seem then that you have a program (quite a load, actually) that you started during vacation in Mexico. That you are currently training with lo-ish weights and should be advancing to greater weights, or more complex movements along the way.
Whatever it is, it seems that you have not been at it for very long. Or have you?
Give yourself 6 months of consistent workout. Consistency is the key. Then adjust, if needed.
This is what I'm following. It's a Fitness Models workout plan:
Weekly Workout Exercise Plan (Jennifer Nicole Lee)
The program is as simple as this:
You workout with weights 4 days a week, and if you have some fat you need to blast, you add 2 days of cardio, no less than 25 minutes and no more than 45 minutes.
Below you will see a sample week. This is an outline I highly suggest you follow and stick to, as with a solid plan, you won't be lost, you'll know what you are doing and what to do next, taking out all the guess work!
Monday is always going to be Shoulders and Triceps
Tuesday is always going to be Legs
Wednesday is Cardio
Thursday is Chest and Biceps
Friday is Back
Saturday is Cardio
Sunday is your OFF-Active Rest Day, and also Food Prep Day (grocery shopping and meal planning)
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
OFF FM Food Plan Prep Shoulders & Triceps Legs Cardio: 25 Minutes Chest & Biceps Back Cardio: 25 Minutes
Start every workout with a warm up. Warm up simply by walking in place, then moving side to side, and then picking up the intensity to say maybe jumping jacks, and then running in place. Aim for a warm up for at least for 5 minutes.
Pick Three Exercises from the detailed list below PER Body Part.
Perform 8-12 reps for 3 sets, at a challenging weight where the last 8-12 are hard to finish.
As for progression, I will be buying some 15lb dumbells soon then 20lb then prob 25lb. Also I do 2-3 exercises per muscle group for that particular day. And if I don't have heavier weights by the time I need them then I will just add more reps/sets to get to failure. Sound okay? It will be awesome once Im able to join a gym!0 -
Sounds fine, keep at it.
As you go forward and you are adding more reps and get to the point where you are able to do 20+ per set, the effectiveness, in terms of strength and body composition (ie building LBM) will go down. You'll be spending more time doing less.
If along the way you decide that a different program is what you want, stick to it at least 12-24 weeks.
It's less about the program - it's more about being consistent and doing it.0
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