So bloody confused?! Not getting any leaner...

nickyfm

So a little history:
I have been a serial dieter since 2009 (i had an unfair metabolism until then. But i guess all good things must come to an end?) So basically i have been known to hang out at around 1250-1300 cals in order to lose weight. This is how i looked at my leanest this time last year. 110 pounds at 5"5


So in order to sustain this once I reached this weight, I could eat no more than 1450 a day on average (obviously) and it took the VLCD to reach it. I was doing 4x cardio and 2x weight training days, so 6 days a week of exercise ot maintain it.

And as you might have predicted, I would eventually get sick of being so hungry, dizzy and sleepy all the time, and gain all the weight back. I have gained and lost the same 15 pounds 3 times now.

Now:
But about a month ago, i decided that i was bloody sick of this. I mean, who can expect to be hungry their entire life and be happy?! So i started looking into eating more and lifting heavy. Now i pole dance 2x a week, and lift HEAVY 3x (Legs day, Back day, Arms & HIIT day). As in, i lift with a male friend, and reach cripple status after every session.
I am still trying to lose a little weight and lean out a lot. I eat 1450 cals on rest days, 1500ish on pole dancing days, and 1600-1700 on lifting days. I eat min 100g of protein on most days, with protein being around 140g on lift days.

But the problem is, i have been doing this new program for a month or so, but it seems like i'm REGRESSING, not progressing! My fat shorts are even tight on me now, and i am looking much more jiggly than when i started. I am confused because there is no way that i am eating in a surplus, so i don't understand how i could be gaining weight?

I am getting a bit stronger, but it's not physically evident, like it used to be when i would eat such low calories.

Any tips or help would be GREATLY appreciated. Thank you and sorry for the long post!

SideSteel

Tagging.

chrisdavey

if you have recently started resistance training (even though I do consider many moves in pole to be high resistance) it's possible that you are in fact building muscle (or at least holding more water in your muscles). Given that this can happen and bodyfat stays the same then actual circumference can initially increase.

And as I have said you are already in the healthy weight range so losing weight isn't the issue just a bit of recomposition which can certainly take time. As you have started from a lean figure already, I'd continue with the current plan and check that the measurements/scales aren't increasing too quickly just because women physically can't can't LBM as quickly as men. And then when you get to your upper limit of BF% that you are comfortable with, continue the lifting but move back into a calorie deficit. Rinse and repeat until you are at your desired BF%. (this could theoretically go on forever as it really is a moving target).

Hope that helps
Chris

SideSteel

if you have recently started resistance training (even though I do consider many moves in pole to be high resistance) it's possible that you are in fact building muscle (or at least holding more water in your muscles). Given that this can happen and bodyfat stays the same then actual circumference can initially increase.

^ Bolded part specifically is the most likely culprit in my opinion.

What has your weight done in the past month, OP?

nickyfm

if you have recently started resistance training (even though I do consider many moves in pole to be high resistance) it's possible that you are in fact building muscle (or at least holding more water in your muscles). Given that this can happen and bodyfat stays the same then actual circumference can initially increase.

^ Bolded part specifically is the most likely culprit in my opinion.

What has your weight done in the past month, OP?

I have had a little trouble with weight-related anxiety etc, so i have chosen not to step on the scale for the time being, but to judge my progress based on measurements and how my clothes fit. Am going to do my first progress measure on Thursday, but as far as clothes fit are concerned, theyre definitely tighter

SideSteel

if you have recently started resistance training (even though I do consider many moves in pole to be high resistance) it's possible that you are in fact building muscle (or at least holding more water in your muscles). Given that this can happen and bodyfat stays the same then actual circumference can initially increase.

^ Bolded part specifically is the most likely culprit in my opinion.

What has your weight done in the past month, OP?

I have had a little trouble with weight-related anxiety etc, so i have chosen not to step on the scale for the time being, but to judge my progress based on measurements and how my clothes fit. Am going to do my first progress measure on Thursday, but as far as clothes fit are concerned, theyre definitely tighter

I understand the need to avoid weighing so good for you for sticking to it, but at the same time I think it's going to be somewhat difficult to give you concrete recommendations, especially regarding caloric intake, without that data.


Generally speaking though I would wait it out since you're very new to lifting and likely just retaining fluids.

nickyfm

if you have recently started resistance training (even though I do consider many moves in pole to be high resistance) it's possible that you are in fact building muscle (or at least holding more water in your muscles). Given that this can happen and bodyfat stays the same then actual circumference can initially increase.

^ Bolded part specifically is the most likely culprit in my opinion.

What has your weight done in the past month, OP?

I have had a little trouble with weight-related anxiety etc, so i have chosen not to step on the scale for the time being, but to judge my progress based on measurements and how my clothes fit. Am going to do my first progress measure on Thursday, but as far as clothes fit are concerned, theyre definitely tighter

I understand the need to avoid weighing so good for you for sticking to it, but at the same time I think it's going to be somewhat difficult to give you concrete recommendations, especially regarding caloric intake, without that data.


Generally speaking though I would wait it out since you're very new to lifting and likely just retaining fluids.

Fair call! I will weigh in as well on Thursday to assess. Should I be expecting a gain on both the scale and measurements because of water? I just need to be mentally prepared for the worst, lol

SideSteel

if you have recently started resistance training (even though I do consider many moves in pole to be high resistance) it's possible that you are in fact building muscle (or at least holding more water in your muscles). Given that this can happen and bodyfat stays the same then actual circumference can initially increase.

^ Bolded part specifically is the most likely culprit in my opinion.

What has your weight done in the past month, OP?

I have had a little trouble with weight-related anxiety etc, so i have chosen not to step on the scale for the time being, but to judge my progress based on measurements and how my clothes fit. Am going to do my first progress measure on Thursday, but as far as clothes fit are concerned, theyre definitely tighter

I understand the need to avoid weighing so good for you for sticking to it, but at the same time I think it's going to be somewhat difficult to give you concrete recommendations, especially regarding caloric intake, without that data.


Generally speaking though I would wait it out since you're very new to lifting and likely just retaining fluids.

Fair call! I will weigh in as well on Thursday to assess. Should I be expecting a gain on both the scale and measurements because of water? I just need to be mentally prepared for the worst, lol

It's hard to predict because you're looking at a gain in fluid weight vs any losses or gains in tissue weight/etc. In other words you could be losing fat and retaining fluid and have no change in weight, you could be maintaining non-fluid weight and gaining fluid weight which would mean a gain on the scale/etc...

I have my doubts that you would actually gain fat at that intake level, assuming you are actually eating near that intake level (estimation/intake errors can be quite large).

chrisdavey

Fair call! I will weigh in as well on Thursday to assess. Should I be expecting a gain on both the scale and measurements because of water? I just need to be mentally prepared for the worst, lol

yep.

just remember it's just a number and that is all! Don't stress

Will_Thrust_For_Candy

So in my experience, there is a good chance that that the bish scale is going to not show you what you want on Thursday. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE don't take it for gospel! as chrisdavey said, it really is just a number and the changes that you have made are what are going to make you healthy and will help you to achieve your goals!

The mental part of this is going to be a lot harder than the physical part....especially for us ladies that have done the whole VLCD and cardio for hours......it really is a journey but I promise that if you push through you and work hard you will see that the results are SO worth it :happy:

Sarauk2sf

Tagging to follow. The others have expressed what would have been my thoughts so far.

nickyfm

UPDATE: So as predicted, not much has changed. I lost 2cm off my hips (No doubt water loss, because when I took my measurements a month ago, it was the morning after eating a huge pizza) and haven't lost from anywhere else.

I am unsure as to where to progress from here. My natural instinct is to cut calories a bit further. Maybe stick to mid 1400s on all non lifting days (Including 2x pole dancing) and then do 1600 on lifting days, and see what happens?

This would be cutting roughly 350 cals extra per week, which isn't all that dramatic.

Thanks for your time, guys xxx

SideSteel

Can you reply with your current stats please? (weight, bodyfat% if you know it)

mustgetmuscles1

I am sure the others are going to give you great advice but i have to mention that 1 month is hardly enough time to restore your calorie levels to normal. Especially after years of VLCD. You may need to change your mindset to include some weight gain if you really want to fix this.

Just staying relatively the same weight/size while increasing calories is a great accomplishment.

nickyfm

Weight is 56.5kg/125 pounds

Waist 70cm (sorry I lost 1cm from my waist now that I look again)
Hips: 88cm (lost 2cm)
Thigh: same, 56cm

Height: 5"5. Don't know my bf %.

My stats at my thinnest at 110 pounds were waist: 64cm, thigh: 53cm, hips: 84cm

My build is extremely petite, hence why my weight seems fairly low for my height, but it doesn't translate that way on my stature

I was losing, on average a cm a week off my hips and/or thighs when I was doing VLCD, and about 5 pounds a month. Just for a reference.

darrensurrey

I think you need to be looking at results after 3 months. Progressive weight lifting seems to be the slowest way of losing weight/changing your body but the most beneficial if you can stick with it. Looking at short term results will have you experiencing all the negative aspects (increased weight, soreness) without the long term benefits (athletic, lower BF%, stronger). That's my understanding of things, anyway.

A loose analogy: VLCD is like a speedboat, it'll dart about at ease, changing direction - you can lose weight quickly initially, but it'll run out of fuel quickly and then you are dead in the water. Weight lifting is like a massive ocean liner, taking ages to change direction but you can get from NY to London. Should I go easy on the cider so early in the day?

Sarauk2sf

On looking at your diary, you averaged 1,510 over the last 4 weeks, 1,449 the 4 weeks before that and 1,370 the 4 weeks before that.

Before we suggest anything I just want to double check with you how accurate you are logging. Are you weighing all your food and recording everything including condiments etc.

Sarauk2sf

Locking so we can keep track of active threads. If you wish for the thread to be unlocked so you can respond to the questions posed, please feel free to PM either myself or SideSteel, including a link to this thread and we will unlock it so you can.