Help (but be kind)!!

skrentz

Gave this a try on EM2WL, but no one is awake on that one....so...here goes again

I am really at a loss. I am getting VERY frustrated and in need of advice and encouragement.
A bit about me. I am 39, 2 kids (C-section). I am 4'10" and weight about 132 with a body fat of 31-35 depending on how I test. I have been on MFP for a couple years and have really seen no change. I have been tracking my food, though most weekends I don't get to log much and frankly cut a bit loose -adult beverages etc but not going NUTS. I have been working out regularly for about 2.5 years beginning with treadmill, eliptical and then Body Pump. This year in January I started lifting heavy, doing Strong Lifts 5X5 and most recently Mad Cow for the last month or so. I do HIIT 2 days a week (Dana Lynn Bailey's 5 for 5) and Lift 3 times a week. I ride my bike to and from the Y (6 miles total) 2 times a week and usually walk the dog, ride bike w/ kids another day or 2 a week. Recently upped my cals to 1700 and sometimes don't eat my cals back....... blah blah blah (sorry) so here is the real question.
I know EM2WL makes a ton of sense and I plan on changing my lifestyle soon, BUT I am going on a beach Vaca in 31 days!!!! I can't even think of gaining weight eating TDEE until after I am back. So your thoughts please. What can I do to improve my figure for vacation and what should my plan be when I come home??
My diary is open if you want to peak, but please be kind!
Sorry for the ramble and Thanks in advance.

tameko2

Ummmm. hmm. In terms of something that will get you changes in 30 days, the only thing I can really think of is going low carb as that will at the very least cause some water weight to drop. I'd also ditch the alcohol for the next 30 days - I know, super sad but if you're looking for quick results (Even if they are only temporary water loss and de-bloating) then I think that's what you have to do.

actually, I can't believe I'd even mention this as I am not a proponent of what I call "magic food" diets (I know a lot of people do really well on them but I do not believe they are necessary for success and many people do POORLY on them) but you might look at Whole30. Its basically a 30 day paleo challenge - I think some people do better by framing a diet in terms of magic food lists (list of foods you can eat, list of foods you CAN'T eat) than in counting grams of carbs, plus it DOES eliminate most of the common food intolerances so if there is something which causes you to bloat up you'll end up eliminating it. http://whole9life.com/category/whole-30/


In terms of LONG term things you can do (and you can start them now, certainly) I'd say:

1) Stick with madcow as long as you feel like you are making strength progress with it. If you aren't increasing weights when expected, look for another program that might be more effective.

2) Start logging your weekends - yeah, sorry. You just have to. You can have 1 day per month that you don't log, but otherwise, start logging them. You *don't* have to start restricting them - I'd actually recommend you not do that, to see what your average caloric intake looks like on a normal week (normal meaning when you weren't logging) - but you have to write down what you eat, drink, and how much. You may find that if you log them in MFP its stressful or makes you restrict becuase you see the calories climb up - try just writing down what you ate in the notes and then you can go back at the end of the month and actually log the calories.

3) Check your measurements - for non-liquid things weigh your most commonly used and highest fat foods at least once, to see if your estimates are on track.

4) consider rebalancing - try eating slightly higher protein, or ditching low-fat/reduced fat substitutes, or changing how often you eat and when. To the population at large these things to not matter that much but to you SPECIFICALLY you might find you get better results (maybe just feel less stressed, or deprived, or more energetic, or anything) if you eat more often, or less often, or skip breakfast, or WHATEVER.

I wouldn't do number 4 til you got desperate or unless you've been struggling to stick with your diet. I'd check the other 3 things first.