Question about lifting and losing

Schuyler

I started lifting weights about 5 weeks ago. I'm taking an hour long strength class 2x a week. I usually do 25 minutes of cardio after the class. On the days I don't do a class I do 45-60 minutes of cardio on a machine. On the weekends I haven't been getting to the gym, but we try to take a long walk.

I have definitely noticed that my clothes are looser, my body is more toned (under the fat!), and I'm sure I've lost inches. I'm currently losing 40 lbs of pregnancy weight. I have about 7 more pounds before I hit my pre-pregnancy number and then would like to lose an additional 30ish lbs.

Since starting the class, I've only lost about 4 lbs. I'm wondering, when will I start to see the number go down more? I know that the number isn't always the best indicator and that I'm building muscle, which weighs something, but eventually that number has to go down! Should I be doing more cardio? I've just recently started paying more attention to eating the calories I burn. I have a protein bar after class. Do I need to eat more protein? Drink more water? Just looking for suggestions. Thanks!

LadyBarb

Always remember that muscle weight more than fat! I think you are on the right track.. You are losing inches and that is great. Keep it up

erinhale

Strenght training really should be done 3 times a week and maybe changing up your cardio. Cardio machines are easy, there is not much calorie burn with them. Infact your body gets used to the machines the more and more you use them. The HRM on the machines are basically pointless, you should go by what a personal hrm says. Everyone burns so differently in exercise that you really can't compare what one person burns versuses what you would burn.

Inches count, weight is just a number. Inches and how your clothes fit is everything.

Oen your diary to the public and we can see whats going on food wise. Are you replacing a majority of your calories? I tell my cleints to leave no more than 100 on days you exercise. YOU HAVE TO REPALCE WHAT YOU BURN, no matter what anyone else on here says. With food, are you eating good food or "stuff"? You can burn 1000 cal's at the gym but if you are eating chickfila and oreos it doesn't matter. Is the food wholesome like real meat, veggies, fruit, exct...Are you tracking grazing? A few goldfish here and there can really add up.

erinhale

Always remember that muscle weight more than fat! I think you are on the right track.. You are losing inches and that is great. Keep it up

Wrong..... a pound of fat weights the same as a pound of muscle. I swear.

http://www.everydayhealth.com/weight/busting-the-muscle-weighs-more-than-fat-myth.aspx
http://www.onemorebite-weightloss.com/muscle-to-fat.html
http://www.bodyandhealthessentials.com/store/myth-busted-does-muscle-weigh-more-than-fat-page-45/chapter/30

Schuyler

Strenght training really should be done 3 times a week and maybe changing up your cardio. Cardio machines are easy, there is not much calorie burn with them. Infact your body gets used to the machines the more and more you use them. The HRM on the machines are basically pointless, you should go by what a personal hrm says. Everyone burns so differently in exercise that you really can't compare what one person burns versuses what you would burn.

Inches count, weight is just a number. Inches and how your clothes fit is everything.

Oen your diary to the public and we can see whats going on food wise. Are you replacing a majority of your calories? I tell my cleints to leave no more than 100 on days you exercise. YOU HAVE TO REPALCE WHAT YOU BURN, no matter what anyone else on here says. With food, are you eating good food or "stuff"? You can burn 1000 cal's at the gym but if you are eating chickfila and oreos it doesn't matter. Is the food wholesome like real meat, veggies, fruit, exct...Are you tracking grazing? A few goldfish here and there can really add up.

LOL, Erin! Thanks My diary is open for you to see. I'm not eating junk. Sure, I have a skinny cow bar at the end of some days, but I don't eat cookies, fast food, etc or a regular basis. And I am getting better about *not* grazing and what I do graze, I track. Of course, I've only been doing that for a couple of days, so I guess I need to give it time. I don't use the HRM at the gym and when I put my calories in here, I usually take 200 calories off. I have a personal HRM, but it doesn't track calories, so I'm not sure how to know how many calories I'm burning just based off HR.

I totally get that weight is just a number, however, I currently weigh 186. So that number HAS to go down eventually, right?? I'd ideally like to do strength 3 days a week. However, with a toddler and a 3 month old, my time is limited. I only have an hour of free childcare, so I have to use that time wisely. The class is only twice a week, so I figure I'd do that and then use my other days for cardio.

Thanks for the suggestions! And you're welcome to comment on my diary any time

ETA: Oh, I thought it was public, but its not! I opened it!

Schuyler

Always remember that muscle weight more than fat! I think you are on the right track.. You are losing inches and that is great. Keep it up

Thanks for the motivation!