progress so far! 215 to 166

rugbyphreak

I'm still not quite there, but I've come so far that I figure I should post this to make a point that anyone can do it. I would love to lose another 15-20 pounds/ 5% more in body fat and build some muscle. If anyone has any suggestions on how to achieve this, they would be highly appreciated. I seem to be stuck lately.



Let's hope this picture post thing works!

DominiqueSmall

Fantastic job! Keep up the great work!

Elizabeth_M

Way to go!!! You are looking fabulous!

SteffieMark

Nice loss! Congratulations!

G5beauty

Great job! Our start weight is pretty close. What did u do? How many calories did you eat , how much exercise are you doing? Im just starting out. Want to make sure im on the right track.

Keep up the good work;)

rugbyphreak

I eat between 1200 and 1400 calories a day before adding my exercise calories in. I try to eat back as many of my exercise calories as possible, but sometimes I'm just too full. I do cardio 5-6 days a week, moderately heavy weights 3 days a week, and stretching, ab work, and push ups everyday.

I only eat meat 3-4 days a year, so that probably has something to do with it.

The most important tips I can give are to never deny yourself something that you're craving. If you want that cookie, have one, just don't eat the entire box. And don't give up. I've been stuck at 166 for 2 months, but I know that as soon as I "give up", the game is over and I've lost. As long as you stick with it, you're winning.

Kayley

What a difference! You look really good~ :flowerforyou:

broox80

Wow!!!! Sorry to be all pervy but how did u lode everywhere but your boobs!???! You look awesome girl!!!!

cbl40

Great work! Keep it up!

G5beauty

Thanks so much! This really helps. I appreciate the encouragement! I wont give up:)

cat50cando

Wow, congrats on all the hard work : )

broox80

Wow!!!! Sorry to be all pervy but how did u lode everywhere but your boobs!???! You look awesome girl!!!!
[/quote
Lose not lode!!!!!^^^^^^^

rugbyphreak

Wow!!!! Sorry to be all pervy but how did u lode everywhere but your boobs!???! You look awesome girl!!!!

HAH! Not pervy at all. My bra size went from a 40DD to a 34/36DDD, so I don't know if they actually grew or the muscle I'm building from all the pushups is pushing them out or if I was just wearing the wrong bra size, but now I'm up a cup size. I really hope they decide to leave soon. I'm starting to look really disproportionate...

ChitownFoodie

Great job!!

sma83

You look great! I wish I had your legs! lol I started at 285, am currently at 247. I get discouraged sometimes but I try to focus on how far Ive come instead of how far I still have to go. I cant wait til its my turn to post of up progress pics! lol

cnkorthanke

Hey great job, girl! You're rocking it! Something that I've read from people who have great results is that women shouldn't be afraid to lift weights and do weight training. Some women are afraid of bulking up, but women don't build muscle like guys, so it should help you burn more calories after you leave the gym and build some muscle. Also, make sure you're switching it up so your body doesn't get too used to the same routine. Even if that means getting a bike to ride this summer or joining some different classes. You look great, keep up the good work!

rugbyphreak

Hey great job, girl! You're rocking it! Something that I've read from people who have great results is that women shouldn't be afraid to lift weights and do weight training. Some women are afraid of bulking up, but women don't build muscle like guys, so it should help you burn more calories after you leave the gym and build some muscle. Also, make sure you're switching it up so your body doesn't get too used to the same routine. Even if that means getting a bike to ride this summer or joining some different classes. You look great, keep up the good work!

I lift weights 3 days a week and always alternate those so I don't build up too much of a routine. I get bored and my muscles don't grow if I do the same thing every day. I have been looking into dance classes though. I've always wanted to learn some sort of dance, but I have no rhythm and am super self conscious...

PtownKween

If you don't eat meat, im guessing you don't eat eggs either and that is fine. but if you want muscle, you must must must must eat protein. So you'll have to go buy whey protein shakes from GNC. They have so many flavors and brands. Try to find one with more than 20g or protein per serving and less than 130 calories per serving. Protein feeds your muscles, so you have have protein. Have you done any lifting at all? A lot of women just do cardio and skip the weights bc they feel they will bulk. In order to bulk, a woman would have to increase her protein intake by like 5 times that amount. Lifting weights and comsuming enough protein makes your muscles burn the fat right off of your bones. You would have to reallllly over do it to get bulky. Weights are a must to burn fat. When you don't lift, and all you do is cardio, you end up with a flat chest and flab. (unless you are extremely obese, then you'd have lose skin either way) Just wait, when you start lifting it will be hard at first, but i promise when you go from lifting 10 pounds to 15 or 20 you'll feel amazing!

rugbyphreak

If you don't eat meat, im guessing you don't eat eggs either and that is fine. but if you want muscle, you must must must must eat protein. So you'll have to go buy whey protein shakes from GNC. They have so many flavors and brands. Try to find one with more than 20g or protein per serving and less than 130 calories per serving. Protein feeds your muscles, so you have have protein. Have you done any lifting at all? A lot of women just do cardio and skip the weights bc they feel they will bulk. In order to bulk, a woman would have to increase her protein intake by like 5 times that amount. Lifting weights and comsuming enough protein makes your muscles burn the fat right off of your bones. You would have to reallllly over do it to get bulky. Weights are a must to burn fat. When you don't lift, and all you do is cardio, you end up with a flat chest and flab. (unless you are extremely obese, then you'd have lose skin either way) Just wait, when you start lifting it will be hard at first, but i promise when you go from lifting 10 pounds to 15 or 20 you'll feel amazing!

I do lift 3 days a week, but I agree with the protein thing. I'm under my protein everyday. I play rugby though, so looking cut really isn't my goal. I just want to be stronger and faster for my team.

monstergirl14

You always need protein to build muscle. If you're vegetarian (which I'll just assume seeing as how you barely eat meat) then you must find another source, i.e. protein. And it must be compound weights, such as deadlifts, try to avoid machines. Machines put stress on your joints and there's no such thing as targeting muscles.

mynewlife_my_motivation_Anna_

omg great job

cloud2011

If you don't eat meat, im guessing you don't eat eggs either and that is fine. but if you want muscle, you must must must must eat protein. So you'll have to go buy whey protein shakes from GNC. They have so many flavors and brands. Try to find one with more than 20g or protein per serving and less than 130 calories per serving. Protein feeds your muscles, so you have have protein. Have you done any lifting at all? A lot of women just do cardio and skip the weights bc they feel they will bulk. In order to bulk, a woman would have to increase her protein intake by like 5 times that amount. Lifting weights and comsuming enough protein makes your muscles burn the fat right off of your bones. You would have to reallllly over do it to get bulky. Weights are a must to burn fat. When you don't lift, and all you do is cardio, you end up with a flat chest and flab. (unless you are extremely obese, then you'd have lose skin either way) Just wait, when you start lifting it will be hard at first, but i promise when you go from lifting 10 pounds to 15 or 20 you'll feel amazing!

While I appreciate what you're saying, it's not true that you must lift weights to burn fat and build muscle. You can do all sorts of exercise using your own bodyweight. The point is we all need weight bearing exercise to keep our bones and muscles healthy. But there's no one size fits all.

And a vegetarian can get plenty of protein without animal protein. You have to combine the right foods for complete protein. Protein shakes are unnecessary unless you're trying to build incredible bulk.

Finally, some women (like me) can easily build bulk without eating so much protein. Just like fat distribution has a genetic component, so does your natural muscle mass. Some of us simply have more to start with and can build it more easily.

mewaybright

Resistance training and zig zag your calories (up on day and down a few days then back up) so your body can’t get a fix on what you are going to eat from day to day. Beyond that... you are doing an amazing job...

lkapcar

congrats

rugbyphreak

BTW, my diary is open, so feel free to make comments on that too. I know I eat a lot of carbs, but I just can't seem to get enough. They're the only thing that makes me feel full.

rugbyphreak

*bump*

speediejane

amazing well done

jsapninz

Wow!!! Congrats!!

Also, I don't know but your post seems to indicate it took you a year or so to lose what you have lost. However, if you have your goal set right, you CAN lost 1-2 lb per week healthily. So by making this assumption, I am assuming your goal was/is too high. I would have to see your numbers to know for sure; but your BMR may be lower than average.

And/or it could be your burns. I see on your diary that you burn a lot of calories and eat them back (which is good). But I am wondering what you use to gauge your burns; if you have a HRM to be accurate or you are using average estimators like treadmills of MFP, which are notoriously inaccurate.

Building muscle is easy in philosophy (if not in practice), just keep your activity level up and keep pushing yourself.

maiibeloved41

you look awesome, congratulations!

mermx

Well done you!

We look a little similar in shape (apple) and I have been doing a lot of reading on low glycemic foods to help apple shapes.

As you eat a lot of carbs maybe you should take a look at low glycemic carbs to help with your journey?

Good luck x

smesch

Nice work! As far as building more muscle, you should check out StrongLifts (http://stronglifts.com/) and Starting Strength. The exercise section of this FAQ is great too: http://www.reddit.com/help/faqs/Fitness#Exercise.