Ditching body fat...

lesliemk

Ditching body fat. I think this is where I'm stuck, b/c under my fat I see muscle definition. In my legs, my arms, my abs, but I'm not getting that truly sculpted look, b/c of my higher body fat percentage (26% or so right now). I weight train 3x/wk and I try to shoot for interval-based cardio usually. I'm still a nursing mama though (she's a year old and we're down to 3x per day), but I'm wondering if this is part of the reason my body is still hanging onto the fat.

My scale also hasn't budged in a few weeks. I'm doing a new weight routine though (heavy weights) and can really see a difference in my shoulders/legs/butt, so that's good. I'm sure to an extent I'm swapping fat for lean muscle, but um... I have about 15lbs to go and I'm stuck. I eat pretty clean and don't deprive myself of calories with still nursing (about 1800+ a day), but I'd really love to shake things up. Any insight for me??? More cardio? Less cardio? Eat more? Oh and I eat about 100+ grams of protein a day.

MamaGraves2

Hang in there! I have felt your pain! My lil man is 19mo and I am on my last 4-8 pounds.
With the help of Chalean extreme/Insanity hybrid, running a few times a week and clean eating I have dropped 12% BF in 3 months! I took my measurements this am and was blown away.
My scale didn't budge, than fluctuated the same +/- 4 pounds for almost 2 months. Now I'm following the TF guidelines to eating and trying to do the best I can each day. It seems to be working.

BMR
BMRx.20
add together, add your calories burned during exercise, subract 500 and that is your goal in calories for that day.
If you work out in the am or have a pretty good idea of what you burn it's a good plan. I like it because it changes everyday so it is almost like calorie cycling. (or is calorie cycling.) I am NO EXPERT, just wanted to share what has helped me.
There are days I eat less than my goal, ex today I am allowed 1689 but will try to stay close to 1500.
My beachbody coach recommends 1 gram of protein per pound of GOAL weight and that has helped to. The cleaner the fuel the better the fill

I'm sure nursing plays a huge roll into it as well like you said. The most important thing is a happy healthy baby & mama so you are doing AWESOME!

Hope that helps Leslie.

kdiamond

Ya know what, I wear I dropped 5 pounds the week my last stopped nursing when he was 10 months old. And he was only nursing once a day, I was already at a pretty low weight (120 I think), exercising, eating healthy. I really think the body holds on to that last bit of fat reserve.

Hang on! It will come off! You're doing great.

MamaGraves2

Ya know what, I wear I dropped 5 pounds the week my last stopped nursing when he was 10 months old. And he was only nursing once a day, I was already at a pretty low weight (120 I think), exercising, eating healthy. I really think the body holds on to that last bit of fat reserve.

Hang on! It will come off! You're doing great.

I agree with kdiamond. Sometimes the body knows best

lesliemk

I'm sort of with you girls on this one. As much as I want to ditch the weight and the fat I'm sure my body is hanging onto this, b/c I am still nursing a wee one. It's my body's way to ensure I have enough to provide for me AND baby. I just have to be patient, although I will say it makes me question continuing to nurse for another 6-8 months. I really wanted to keep up even with only 1x per day through this next winter if I can. Just passing along those antibodies to Finley while Audrey is in school seems so beneficial.

Anywho, I also came across an interesting article about body fat and mostly retained body fat in the hip/thigh/abdomen area as it relates to increased levels of estrogen production due to breastfeeding. I guess that sort of explains a bit of it to me.... just gonna have to keep plugging along knowing that when I'm done nursing I'm going to look HOT. Well, minus the deflated ta ta's!

mamareese

I see how hard you are working and eating so healthy! I agree with the girls above...