P90X3 and stubborn fat loss, is my nutrition right?

lv1977

Frustration: Difficulty losing stubborn fat and trimming down the last 10lbs since having 2 kids, ages 6.5 and almost 4 yrs now.

Exercise routine over the last years: 4 x/week on average, if I’m lucky 5x, consisting of 2 runs 6-10K (one hilly trail, one flatter road), and 2 x 1-hour sessions of HIIT /cardio/strength with personal trainer with weights (mainly 15lb dumbbells).
 
In an effort to switch things up and hopefully get over a hump, I started P90X3 Classic 6.5 weeks ago (weights 15lbs on average). Following program every day and enjoying the variation (so 6 workout days, 5 p90x3 doubling up one day, to allow for 1 PT HIIT training session and 1 rest day with Dynamic stretching), and 1-2x a week adding an extra workout in to make an hour. Also doing 1-2 runs in addition, hilly trail 9K, and/or road 6-9K.
 
Progress: seemed to lose 2.5 lbs in first 2.5 weeks on P90X3, 123 lbs to 120.5 lbs, so was pretty excited, but then went up to 121.5 lbs and stayed around here. Been reading around for nutrition advice, for everything I read there is something to slam it – try low carb, try high fat, try more protein, more carbs ….. so confusing. I realize there is a diet for everyone but real extremes would be almost impossible for me to manage shopping, cooking and managing with a travelling husband, two small children, and full time work – and I’m not convinced that this is the answer as for as many people that say it works, there are as many that say it doesn’t. I don’t eat junk food, home cook almost everything, rarely drink more than one glass wine per week and exercise hard so its very frustrating.
 
Age: 37 (just), height 5 ft 1, (initial weight 123 lbs) weight ~121.5 lbs, TDEE ~2,000, so from previous posts taken advice and been eating 1700 calories(tracking on MFP) and playing about with carb/fat ratio but keeping protein at 30%. I eat every 2.5-3 hours with protein 25-30g every sitting. I have recently in the last week put this up to 1800 calories (35% carbs, 30% protein, 35% fat) wondering if I need more calories instead but no change still. When I ate less, about a year ago, people said I wasn’t eating enough to lose the fat and the body was storing it. Trainer says fat should be 10-20% of diet, and carbs much higher, …. But from what I also read its better to have more fat and less carbs.
 
Anybody else been stuck in a similar situation and any advice that might work? It seems I can’t win despite trying so hard. Husband made less effort than me and lost 25lbs in the last 18 months, doesn't track calories or nutrition and drinks quite a lot of booze, grrrrr!

Thanks for your advice, I do realize there are many posts just like this :-)

StaciMarie1974

How do you measure/count/track your calories? Food scale, measuring cups, estimation?

Fat loss is about consuming less than you use, though some like to follow one strategy (such as low carb) vs. another.

porscheparcher

Hey!!

Awesome that you're doing P90X3!! I hear it is a great program How did you hear about it?

I want to encourage you that every BODY is different! What you lose and what someone else loses varies for SO many reasons!!

How far are you along in the program??

It is common to gain weight even when starting a new program as your muscles swell. After the first few weeks the pounds will come off so easily!!

I encourage you to focus on what progress you ARE making! Are you getting stronger with the workouts? Do your clothes fit differently, are you having more stamina? Enduring more?

So many options!! Will add you so I can personalize your help more

lv1977

Hi. I use a food scale or cup measurements. I'm wondering if my TDEE and therefore estimations is different than what the calculator says it is.

I am noticing progress with strength which is great but not the visible progress I want ;-) I've been doing weight/cardio programs for 2.5 years so it's not a new concept to me. Usually in our training sessions we have once a week with our trainer the exercises are more difficult as they are 1 min long, so switch up less often than p90x3

MagnumBurrito

It looks like you're doing to much cardio.

If I was you, I'd eat at maintenance, start a progressive heavy lifting or body weight routine which would make up at least 80% of the weekly exercise.

Take pics and pinch fat. Don't worry about the scale. Adjust your calorie intake by 100 calories each time based on your fat pinch and how clothes are fitting.

You probably will end up weighing more, but having more muscle and less fat.

lv1977

The beauty of the workouts I do now and the p90x3 is that I can fit them in at home. They are also 30 mins, or 60 mins a few times a week, so manageable. I'm not having to find an hour six days a week which just want happen. Preferably working out 5:30am in the morning before packing lunches and getting kids out the door or once they are in bed in the evening. And then the runs I fit in mainly at the weekend when I have the husband back in town. I can't afford time wise to get to a gym for heavy weights. We have 5 to 30 lb weights at home and a TRX. Do you mean like barbell work in a gym? Most of the workouts, minus the running and no weight p90x3 ones, use dumbbells and high intensity for 30-60 seconds an exercise.

Are you suggesting I decrease my calories? Thanks

MagnumBurrito

The beauty of the workouts I do now and the p90x3 is that I can fit them in at home. They are also 30 mins, or 60 mins a few times a week, so manageable. I'm not having to find an hour six days a week which just want happen. Preferably working out 5:30am in the morning before packing lunches and getting kids out the door or once they are in bed in the evening. And then the runs I fit in mainly at the weekend when I have the husband back in town. I can't afford time wise to get to a gym for heavy weights. We have 5 to 30 lb weights at home and a TRX. Do you mean like barbell work in a gym? Most of the workouts, minus the running and no weight p90x3 ones, use dumbbells and high intensity for 30-60 seconds an exercise.

Are you suggesting I decrease my calories? Thanks

10 years ago I did the original p90x. While good for losing fat and getting a little stronger, it was mainly cardio. Maybe it's changed, but it's ads look like the same program.

Since the gym and barbells aren't an option for you, I'd eat at maintenance and do Convict Conditioning. A progressive BW program.
Doing those two combined, while getting enough protein, will recomp your body. Lose fat, gain muscle while remaining the same weight.

lv1977

Thanks, I'll read up on it.

pstanos

I'm on day 30 on P90X3 and I was having a similar problem. The problem is that I wasn't taking in enough calories and eating too much fruit. Once I made that adjustment, the scale started moving.

If you read the nutrition guide that came with P90X3, it will explain how much you need to eat. There is also a P90X3 nutrition FAQ on the Team Beachbody website.

http://www.teambeachbody.com/connect/message-boards/-/message_boards/message/358874555