A Sad Realization.

Findekano
Findekano Posts: 116
in Health and Weight Loss
The first time I weighed myself at my heaviest, I was 180lbs, 35%bf.

I lost the weight, but I did it the stupid way - cardio, cardio, cardio, more cardio, and eating - total, not net - between 500 and 1500 calories per day, depending on how idiotic I was being at the time.

Current stats - 117 pounds, 23%bf.

This means I went from having 117lbs of lean mass to having just 90. I lost 27 pounds of muscle being an idiot.

Now I have the difficult task ahead of putting muscle back on, when it probably would have been 1000 times easier to preserve what I had and lose the fat more slowly and sensibly.

Take this as a cautionary tale. If you lose weight stupidly, it doesn't matter how much you lose, you won't look good naked, you won't be strong, and you'll have a hell of a lot more work ahead of you after reaching your goal weight once you realize that you are a pathetic pile of skinny-fat squish.
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Replies

  • Findekano
    Findekano Posts: 116
    The first time I weighed myself at my heaviest, I was 180lbs, 35%bf.

    I lost the weight, but I did it the stupid way - cardio, cardio, cardio, more cardio, and eating - total, not net - between 500 and 1500 calories per day, depending on how idiotic I was being at the time.

    Current stats - 117 pounds, 23%bf.

    This means I went from having 117lbs of lean mass to having just 90. I lost 27 pounds of muscle being an idiot.

    Now I have the difficult task ahead of putting muscle back on, when it probably would have been 1000 times easier to preserve what I had and lose the fat more slowly and sensibly.

    Take this as a cautionary tale. If you lose weight stupidly, it doesn't matter how much you lose, you won't look good naked, you won't be strong, and you'll have a hell of a lot more work ahead of you after reaching your goal weight once you realize that you are a pathetic pile of skinny-fat squish.

    Man, this is the third forum topic I've killed in the last couple of days, and I started it!
  • FlannelMothman
    FlannelMothman Posts: 193 Member
    That's what I'm doing. Cardio, cardio, cardio. I know I should lift... But I'm scared to, I think.
  • emily356
    emily356 Posts: 318 Member
    Wow... so true!!! Everyone should read this!!! It is SO much harder to gain that muscle back. You can certainly do it, though!!
  • DaBossLady24
    DaBossLady24 Posts: 556 Member
    You're not an idiot, you were just ill-informed. I lost weight this way years ago and then my weight ballooned when I went to college. I'm finally back to eating healthily and working out (cardio with weight lifting and other exercises). I have my slip ups every so often, but I've lost quite a bit of weight the "sensible" way this time.

    If you need motivation or just some support, feel free to add me. Good luck with your goals! :flowerforyou:
  • MemphisKitten
    MemphisKitten Posts: 878 Member
    Sorry you had to learn the hard way, I had to do that too. I'm sure a lot of people will benefit from your warning though.
  • reasnableblonde
    reasnableblonde Posts: 212 Member
    My pics in my profile depict a VERY similar story. I could drop weight (by barely eating), but I still didn't look very good and my endurance was total *kitten*. I'm a pretty smart girl, but damn I was stupid.

    I met with a nutritionist (a registered dietitian), eventually got a personal trainer, and started gaining weight.... I managed to gain 4 pounds. I was bummed until I found out that it wasn't 4 pounds I'd gained... it was 14 pounds of muscle! I lost 10 pounds of fat in the process. Noooowwwww we're getting somewhere!

    The number on the scale is something to watch, but the real number to monitor is body fat. My BMI never raised red flags, but my body fat told a completely different story. I was actually obese without ever being labeled "overweight."
  • liznotyet
    liznotyet Posts: 402 Member
    You have time to rebuild. Nutrient dense foods and power yoga. I have the opposite problem - cannot get myself to do the cardio because each time I start I blow my knees out. If you tell me how you got compulsive on the cardio maybe it will help us both.
  • VelociMama
    VelociMama Posts: 3,119 Member
    *hugs*

    I'm sorry you went through this.

    You CAN get some of that lean mass back with time and a solid bulking and lifting program though so don't give up just yet. I wish you all the best and thank you for your bravery in posting this.
  • bumblebums
    bumblebums Posts: 2,181 Member
    :)
    And yet I see this all the time--people say they want to lose "weight" first, then gain muscle. Glad to see others agree that it should be about fat loss, not weight loss.
  • EstiloPanama
    EstiloPanama Posts: 245
    This is a very honest post...
    Thanks for sharing your story. I too lost weight stupidly when I was about 18. I think I completely jacked up my metabolism by not eating and doing lots of cardio as well. It was ridiculous and I gained it all back.

    Strength, good heart, pliable lungs, and healthy muscle mass/fat ration is essential...Finally at 27 I understand that ! Well don't worry, don't let your past dictate your future.....do what you need to do the right way to get to where you need to be. You can do it : )
  • mituk
    mituk Posts: 3 Member
    Your story sounds much like the beginning of this inspirational tale, which I've seen linked elsewhere in the forums. She is where I'd love to get to, and her story might offer you some hope too. :)

    http://www.nerdfitness.com/blog/2011/07/21/meet-staci-your-new-powerlifting-super-hero/
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    I truly hope others that are netting well below their BMR will read this and take heed. I don't really understand it, but it seems to be pretty common, particularly with women.

    Net between your BMR and TDEE people and you will lose...if you're doing a gagillion hours of cardio, you really are going to need a lot more food to lose weight in a healthy way and protein, protein, protein to preserve that lean muscle.
  • Aviva92
    Aviva92 Posts: 2,333 Member
    meh, i lost weight the same way. i'd rather be 115 pounds than the 140 i was. i don't really look at it as losing muscle. my body looks the same, only smaller. that's fine. i could still gain muscle. it's not as though i looked much different before i gained the weight in the first place.

    i was never muscular.
  • Yanicka1
    Yanicka1 Posts: 4,564 Member
    What is done is done.

    Now I would suggest eating at maintenance and lifting heavy. It will take work but you can do it. Ditch the scale for now.

    Good luck
  • onyxgirl17
    onyxgirl17 Posts: 1,722 Member
    It's sad that you realized it when it was late in your weight loss journey but better late then never. I certainly hope you will start strength training, upping your calories, and eating the appropriate protein to gain some muscle.
  • Aviva92
    Aviva92 Posts: 2,333 Member
    oh and 23% body fat is fine for a woman.
  • Mighty_Rabite
    Mighty_Rabite Posts: 581 Member
    It is definitely tough to gain back, but personally.. I think if you had enough determination and grit to go from 180lbs all the way to 117lbs the cardio/light eating way, you most certainly can get some muscle put back on!
  • cmriverside
    cmriverside Posts: 34,458 Member
    Such a great post! Sometimes they just get shuffled down the list quickly, and "A Sad Realization" could have been a real downer, if you think about it. :wink:

    You can recover, good for you for caring enough to try to do something about it and for bringing it to the attention of the community. I'm sure you will help a lot of people.

  • Aviva92
    Aviva92 Posts: 2,333 Member
    http://www.builtlean.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/body-fat-percentages.jpg

    according to this you're in the fitness range. not sure why that is considered bad.
  • Aviva92
    Aviva92 Posts: 2,333 Member
    also, before you gained the weight in the first place were you actually a lower body fat percentage than you are now? this is assuming you were 117 pounds at some point in the past. i'm not completely convinced that you did any real damage.
  • Aviva92
    Aviva92 Posts: 2,333 Member
    body-fat-percentages.jpg

    according to this you're in the fitness range. not sure why that is considered bad.

    That's a good chart. There are some other ones that say different numbers. To post pics you type link but IMG has to be lower case "img"

    thanks. couldn't figure out how to do that.
  • BusyRaeNOTBusty
    BusyRaeNOTBusty Posts: 7,166 Member
    Some muscle loss is inevitable. Building muscle while difficult is fun.
  • s07civic
    s07civic Posts: 50 Member
    The first time I weighed myself at my heaviest, I was 180lbs, 35%bf.

    I lost the weight, but I did it the stupid way - cardio, cardio, cardio, more cardio, and eating - total, not net - between 500 and 1500 calories per day, depending on how idiotic I was being at the time.

    Current stats - 117 pounds, 23%bf.

    This means I went from having 117lbs of lean mass to having just 90. I lost 27 pounds of muscle being an idiot.

    Now I have the difficult task ahead of putting muscle back on, when it probably would have been 1000 times easier to preserve what I had and lose the fat more slowly and sensibly.

    Take this as a cautionary tale. If you lose weight stupidly, it doesn't matter how much you lose, you won't look good naked, you won't be strong, and you'll have a hell of a lot more work ahead of you after reaching your goal weight once you realize that you are a pathetic pile of skinny-fat squish.
    Wait, I'm confused. Are you saying that cardio alone isn't enough to lose weight and keep it off? How much lifting is considered enough?
  • BigGuy47
    BigGuy47 Posts: 1,768 Member
    I waited too long to start strength training and lost some muscle as well.

    Hey, stuff happens. Make adjustments and train hard or feel sorry for yourself and do nothing (losing even more lean mass).
  • Bobby__Clerici
    Bobby__Clerici Posts: 741 Member
    Forget the past.
    It's DONE!
    Just start working now on the body you want, and enjoy the journey as you engage the right actions to reach all your health and fitness goals. In time you will look on this whole episode and be thankful for the strength you gained in character.
    All Is Possible :flowerforyou:
  • laserturkey
    laserturkey Posts: 1,680 Member
    I just recently started lifting, myself. Seems like I have a long way to go before I have the muscles I want. Slow and steady wins the race.
  • pspetralia
    pspetralia Posts: 963 Member
    It is definitely tough to gain back, but personally.. I think if you had enough determination and grit to go from 180lbs all the way to 117lbs the cardio/light eating way, you most certainly can get some muscle put back on!



    ^^^this!!! You can do it. Throw the scale away and focus on how much better your body looks month after month of weight training.
  • luvs2teachincali
    luvs2teachincali Posts: 207 Member
    I wish my husband would read this thread. He is down 50 pounds (around 163) and he looks GREAT, in clothes. He says he can't stand how he looks naked and he doesn't know what to do. People are cautioning him not to lose much more or even any more weight because he is starting to look too thin. He wants to go for 10 more pounds in hopes that he will lose all the belly fat. My husband is VERY stubborn though, sometimes to a fault, and he THINKS he knows this or that and doesn't like to research things or try things out. For instance, I just went through and did all the calculations on my BMR and TDEE to set my calorie intake correctly... I was feeling LOW ENERGY and OVERLY TIRED all the time on 1200/day. Come to find out, my BMR is just under 1400 and my TDEE is 2100... based on my calculations I should be eating about 1600/day, but of course I'm afraid to go up to that level from 1200 so I've baby stepped my way up to 1400.... time will tell...

    Anyhow...
    Thanks for sharing!!
  • shaynooth
    shaynooth Posts: 10
    Thanks for the advice. Anyone have tips for maintaining muscle?
  • SanteMulberry
    SanteMulberry Posts: 3,202 Member
    The first time I weighed myself at my heaviest, I was 180lbs, 35%bf.

    I lost the weight, but I did it the stupid way - cardio, cardio, cardio, more cardio, and eating - total, not net - between 500 and 1500 calories per day, depending on how idiotic I was being at the time.

    Current stats - 117 pounds, 23%bf.

    This means I went from having 117lbs of lean mass to having just 90. I lost 27 pounds of muscle being an idiot.

    Now I have the difficult task ahead of putting muscle back on, when it probably would have been 1000 times easier to preserve what I had and lose the fat more slowly and sensibly.

    Take this as a cautionary tale. If you lose weight stupidly, it doesn't matter how much you lose, you won't look good naked, you won't be strong, and you'll have a hell of a lot more work ahead of you after reaching your goal weight once you realize that you are a pathetic pile of skinny-fat squish.

    I did the same thing to myself a number of years ago---and because I did not exercise or lift weights, I never gained the muscle back. But I sure did gain fat! And along with the loss of LBM, (and the gain in body fat) came a host of illnesses, which I just this last year started to reverse. Yes, you can bring your body fat, blood pressure and blood sugar down without medication and you can arrest your arthritis with diet, exercise and herbs. But it is better not to go there in the first place. Please folks, lose body fat in a smart and healthy way. I was fortunate to get the right info at the right time and it has not been too late for me to regain my health. Not everyone is so fortunate.

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