Well….EMTWL is working for me. (Picture heavy)
Yanicka1
Posts: 4,564 Member
I am sure you have seen it, people that say eating more to weigh less is bullpoopoo, since eating more is what made them fat in the first place, and swear that 1200 calories or less has no negative impact and it work for them…..end of story.
I am not here to tell anyone how to lose weight and get healthy…..I can only tell you what work for me.
In October 2010, I gave birth to my 4th surrogate baby, a precious little girl, into the arms of her parents. It was a bit of a rough end of pregnancy with gestational diabetes and high blood pressure but she was out and she was healthy. 3 days after giving birth, my blood pressure started being uncontrollable and I was DX with pre-eclampsia. It usually happens before giving birth but I like to do things my way. After spending 5 days in the hospital, hooked to so many beeping machines and scared to death of leaving my own kids without a mom, I was released home and more than ever convinced that I wanted to be healthy. My high blood pressure had nothing to do with my weight but I never feel that sick in my life if I can help it.
IMG_2717 by yanicka, on Flickr
On November 11th 2010, I logged on MFP for the first time. Like everyone else and their cousins, I was put on 1200 calories a day. I also started 30DS and C25K. The results didn’t wait and lost 15 pounds in the first 3 months, I also lost my will to live……ok ok it was not that bad LOL but I was low in energy and high in irritability. The worst part is that, while I lost weight….it didn’t change my shape. I was a smaller version of my fat self. So I was miserable, hungry, irritable and still soft…..that was not good, I had to find a better way.
dan,kids party, liam poop , lucie dogs 037 by yanicka, on Flickr
I started reading and researching, I knew that 1200 calories were not enough so my first step was to up those to 1400-1500 calories a day. It was a lot better but my weight loss was very slow and has been ever since. Then in the summer of 2011, I ordered the book “the new rules of lifting for women” Upped my calories again to 1600 on days I didn’t lift and 1900 on days I did. Let me tell you, that fist day in the big boy part of the gym was intimidating. There was no way for me to blend it!!! But I faked confidence and did my things. It was pretty much love at first rep!!! The first 6 weeks, I lost a total of 6 inches but the scale didn’t move. I didn’t care since I was looking better and better.
For 6 months, I did the program, ate my calories and saw no changes on the scale or on the measuring tape. I do not know if it because I am stubborn or stupid, but even with the lack of results I just did the program…..and I am glad I did. What I learned is that the tools I was using were the problem….not my body. I was also feeling so much better!!!!
By the time February came around, I was done with the new rules and it was time to try to shed my last 10 pounds so I lowered my calories back to 1400…..mistake….bad bad mistake. In that month I had a cold from hell, my lifting got horrible, I had headaches, mood swings, my cycle turned into a 3 weeks affaire. I was not having fun. I also lost 5 pounds but at a very high price. I then went back to maintenance for a month then did another cut cycle. I had plan for a 1 month cut cycle but didn’t last a week. This is when I contacted Kiki because I was very lost and I trust her judgment. I really wanted to lose the last 10 pounds. We calculated my TDEE (2000 calories!!!) -15% (1700 calories!!!!) and to try that.
Try that I did!!!
First…..yay…food!!!!!
Second yay…..food!!!!
My running got better, my lifting got better and best of all, my body was changing.
But but but you ask…..what about the scale? Well it stayed the same. In fact….in the 20 months I have been doing this, I lost 15 pounds in the first 3 months, than 5 pounds in the other 17 months. Let just say that view from the outside, it is hardly impressive!!!!
From my own point of view…… I am in the best shape of my life, I feel sexy, lifting give me strength….muscular for sure but also mental and emotional strength…..and that makes the number on the scale insignificant.
SAM_1657 by yanicka, on Flickr
I am not here to tell anyone how to lose weight and get healthy…..I can only tell you what work for me.
In October 2010, I gave birth to my 4th surrogate baby, a precious little girl, into the arms of her parents. It was a bit of a rough end of pregnancy with gestational diabetes and high blood pressure but she was out and she was healthy. 3 days after giving birth, my blood pressure started being uncontrollable and I was DX with pre-eclampsia. It usually happens before giving birth but I like to do things my way. After spending 5 days in the hospital, hooked to so many beeping machines and scared to death of leaving my own kids without a mom, I was released home and more than ever convinced that I wanted to be healthy. My high blood pressure had nothing to do with my weight but I never feel that sick in my life if I can help it.
IMG_2717 by yanicka, on Flickr
On November 11th 2010, I logged on MFP for the first time. Like everyone else and their cousins, I was put on 1200 calories a day. I also started 30DS and C25K. The results didn’t wait and lost 15 pounds in the first 3 months, I also lost my will to live……ok ok it was not that bad LOL but I was low in energy and high in irritability. The worst part is that, while I lost weight….it didn’t change my shape. I was a smaller version of my fat self. So I was miserable, hungry, irritable and still soft…..that was not good, I had to find a better way.
dan,kids party, liam poop , lucie dogs 037 by yanicka, on Flickr
I started reading and researching, I knew that 1200 calories were not enough so my first step was to up those to 1400-1500 calories a day. It was a lot better but my weight loss was very slow and has been ever since. Then in the summer of 2011, I ordered the book “the new rules of lifting for women” Upped my calories again to 1600 on days I didn’t lift and 1900 on days I did. Let me tell you, that fist day in the big boy part of the gym was intimidating. There was no way for me to blend it!!! But I faked confidence and did my things. It was pretty much love at first rep!!! The first 6 weeks, I lost a total of 6 inches but the scale didn’t move. I didn’t care since I was looking better and better.
For 6 months, I did the program, ate my calories and saw no changes on the scale or on the measuring tape. I do not know if it because I am stubborn or stupid, but even with the lack of results I just did the program…..and I am glad I did. What I learned is that the tools I was using were the problem….not my body. I was also feeling so much better!!!!
By the time February came around, I was done with the new rules and it was time to try to shed my last 10 pounds so I lowered my calories back to 1400…..mistake….bad bad mistake. In that month I had a cold from hell, my lifting got horrible, I had headaches, mood swings, my cycle turned into a 3 weeks affaire. I was not having fun. I also lost 5 pounds but at a very high price. I then went back to maintenance for a month then did another cut cycle. I had plan for a 1 month cut cycle but didn’t last a week. This is when I contacted Kiki because I was very lost and I trust her judgment. I really wanted to lose the last 10 pounds. We calculated my TDEE (2000 calories!!!) -15% (1700 calories!!!!) and to try that.
Try that I did!!!
First…..yay…food!!!!!
Second yay…..food!!!!
My running got better, my lifting got better and best of all, my body was changing.
But but but you ask…..what about the scale? Well it stayed the same. In fact….in the 20 months I have been doing this, I lost 15 pounds in the first 3 months, than 5 pounds in the other 17 months. Let just say that view from the outside, it is hardly impressive!!!!
From my own point of view…… I am in the best shape of my life, I feel sexy, lifting give me strength….muscular for sure but also mental and emotional strength…..and that makes the number on the scale insignificant.
SAM_1657 by yanicka, on Flickr
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Replies
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You look fabulous!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And what dedication! I loved your story, and it's very inspirational and motivating.
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fabulous story, well done to you for giving up....am super impressed
you look amazing by the way xx0 -
great story and very inspiring You look fantastic and your mood is infectious:) Thank you for sharing!!! 0
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What he said.0 -
Nice work!! I've over the past few months done pretty much the same thing. I stopped with the crazy 3 hours a day cardio gym party, trying to eat few calories, and switched it up. Heavy lifting, no calorie counting, and eating pretty much paleo. My body has changed so much, I feel amazing, and eat plenty of delicious food (lunch was lots of chicken and avocado salad). Heres to eating more to look awesome :drinker:0
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Love this!! Thank you so much for sharing b/c I am doing the same as you...Lifting but not seeing the scale move & your story helps me to know that I am doing the right thing here!!
You look Fabulous!! Congrats to you on all of your hard work!!:flowerforyou:0 -
Yes, yes aaaannd yes! Love this. You are super awesome.0
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You stole my story.
Great job! You're looking awesome!0 -
Very nice, as always. Well done.0
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Thank you so much for this post. I've been at a plateau for a little while. Started at 1200, did 30DS, bumped to 1320 because I was so hungry! Been doing lots of cardio, haven't done much lifting yet. Just bumped to 1500. Hoping for good results!0
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Thank you so much for sharing! You look amazing! :flowerforyou:0
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Awesome progress there.Congratulations.Eating more is the best thing i have done to myself.Im still in the reset phase,going good for me so far.Will wait to see the cut results.:drinker:0
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Great story, I am in the same boat. Scared to eat more, have upped it some but need to more. Will try to do better after reading your story, I also have trouble keeping my sugar levels up. Thank you again......0
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hummm you have made me think...... i was also on 1200 cals and was doing 430 min cardio and 30ds. my loss has been super slow. 20 lb goal and now have hit 17, started back in Nov. I like you think i look like a smaller version of myself and would like to have more definition. I am not sure how to go about it. my maintance is 1600 and i am eating between 1400-1500 now. any suggestions? oh and i won't have access to a gym, i have a simple home gym machine that i will start to use.0
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Thank you. I posted this so that people don't get discouraged by the scale.0
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You look amazing! Thanks for sharing your story!0
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You are amazeballs..!0
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It may seem slow, but your results are amazing. Who's this Kiki?0
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WOOHOO! I couldn't agree more with the Eating More thing! Look at you, you're living proof! Congrats!0
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Great work, fantastic results.0
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Great job, everybody is different, I too lose weight when I eat more for some reason, as long as it is the "right' foods and it's all about getting healthy and fit in my opinion
Great job!! 0 -
I'm in week 2 of NROWLFW and I can't believe I love deadlifts and squats on the smith machine!!! I'm only using the bar right now but think I will add (oooohhh) 5lbs to each side this week.
Thank you for posting this. I'm having a really hard time with upping my calories and I've gained 3 lbs this week and I'm discouraged. But hey I really haven't lost anything in 9 months so I'll just keep trucking.
You look amazing and hope to start losing inches too!!!0 -
Agree 100%! I had my cals at 1600 (while breastfeeding and working out) and was actually gaining weight! I upped my calsto 2000+ and I am slowly losing weight and gaining muscles. I think it is important to stress that the same thing does not work for everyone and you have to find your own path to health.0
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Thanks for sharing! You look healthy and beautiful!0
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You look strong and fabulous! Love it!0
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:drinker: You rock. Plain and simple.0
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Amazing!0
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First, you did AWESOME! and you look beautiful.
What you did was perfect. You found what worked for YOU. You put health first. That is key.
I so the same and a different process worked for me. The key is to listen to your body and find what works for you. Constantly listening to your body.
You can always adjust your calories up or down by 100 gradually to find what works.
I hate it when people tell others here to EAT MORE. That may or may not be the answer. For some it might be eat less, for some it might be eat more. The bottom line is that people have to experiment and find what works for them. No tool or chart is going to give you the exact correct amount of calories.
For me eating less works, and still need less and people are surprised when they see my diary how little I eat. But the diary does not tell you my height. This is a huge factor. I am short, I am pretty small.0 -
Very inspiring! I'm seriously considering altering my calories for a while to see what happens. And that NROL book has been mentioned so much lately that I can't ignore it anymore. XD0
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