What to do?

bridget67
bridget67 Posts: 4 Member
in Motivation and Support
I've been watching what I eat (thanks to MFP) and have consistently been under my calorie goal to lose weight for months . I workout consistently about 3-4 days a week for an hour. All of that to say, I'm not losing any weight. My workouts consist of bootcamp style classes with cardio and weights. Should I be doing more straight cardio like running for an hour to get some lbs off? Should I be working out 5-6 days a week? I really am looking to lose the excess flab on thighs and arms. Ugh.

Replies

  • sbjmorgan
    sbjmorgan Posts: 158 Member
    I don't know how low your calorie goal is (thus if you're eating under it, how low you're really eating) but you're probably not eating enough to build muscle since it seems a lot of your workouts are muscle-based. Try mixing up your workouts if you feel you are eating enough - sometimes doing the same workouts keeps us at the plateau.
  • bridget67
    bridget67 Posts: 4 Member
    My calorie goal has been about 1390 and most times I'm under it, if I'm good. The good thing about the workouts is that they vary every day and every week. I also try to throw in a 60 minute jog/run about once a week with my dogs. I should also add that I'm 46, in full blown menopause because of breast cancer and am on Tamoxifen & Effexor XR for hot flashes. I wonder if that has anything to do with things...
  • sbjmorgan
    sbjmorgan Posts: 158 Member
    Lol I actually lost weight on Effexor before but I had so much more energy with it, maybe that's why!

    I think you're eating too low. 1200 calories is like the base to live. If you're under 1300 cals most days and you're working out hardcore 3x week, you're just asking for your body to start using your lean muscle mass to fuel you and your workouts, rather than the fat you need to burn. Try eating all your normal calories and part of your exercise calories on days you exercise. Like you might exercise monday, so eat 1600 then, but on Tuesday you don't so only eat your 1390 but NOT significantly less.
  • bridget67
    bridget67 Posts: 4 Member
    That sounds like a good plan. I often feel guilty eating more than the 1390 calories, though. Possibly because I don't eat the right foods?...hmmm. Ice cream, popcorn, chips and salsa are not the best choices! ;) I've been thinking about working with a trainer, thinking that might help me but I'm so cheap! Maybe I'll ask my husband to give me a gift certificate for personal training for my b-day, early, since my b-day is in March. Any thoughts about using 24 Hr Fitness trainers vs. independent trainers?
  • jfarnden
    jfarnden Posts: 27
    It may help to grab some motivation buddies from on here that know what they're talking about. Then you can open up your food diary and they can suggest improvements. If you're adding the exercise to the site too they can help advise on that. From what the other threads have said you should be eating to your goal, then eating back a bunch of the exercise energy (in proteins mainly) in the 3 hours after to build up muscle.
    I've only just started so i'm no expert but everyone that says they're eating to a really low goal seems to make threads about having trouble.
    The 24 hour fitness places often don't have trainers available so make sure you know what you're getting before signing up to any of those places. If it doesn't offer what you need its a big waste. If you find an independant trainer that you like workign with it can be very motivating.
  • bridget67
    bridget67 Posts: 4 Member
    Thanks for the advice and the information. It's helpful and "You go girl!" Whether your new or not, it helps to hear things that might have been forgotten.
    I'm going to increase my calorie intake and watch the empty calories that I eat when I'm bored. I'm also going to eat protein prior to working out so I'm not burning lean muscle or just carbs.
    I also learned a good lesson from Gweneth Paltrow's blog "Goop". She works with Tracy Anderson and she talks about exercise and foods on todays post. If you're interested, here's the link.
    http://www.goop.com/journal/do/210/tracy-anderson-15-minute-workout?utm_source=goop+issue&utm_campaign=d9dd741a11-Goop_Issue_210_31_01_2013&utm_medium=email#readmore

    Best of luck and I'll check in soon!
  • jfarnden
    jfarnden Posts: 27
    Thanks for the advice and the information. It's helpful and "You go girl!" Whether your new or not, it helps to hear things that might have been forgotten.
    I'm going to increase my calorie intake and watch the empty calories that I eat when I'm bored. I'm also going to eat protein prior to working out so I'm not burning lean muscle or just carbs.
    I also learned a good lesson from Gweneth Paltrow's blog "Goop". She works with Tracy Anderson and she talks about exercise and foods on todays post. If you're interested, here's the link.
    http://www.goop.com/journal/do/210/tracy-anderson-15-minute-workout?utm_source=goop+issue&utm_campaign=d9dd741a11-Goop_Issue_210_31_01_2013&utm_medium=email#readmore

    Best of luck and I'll check in soon!

    Protein is excellent and the more protein you get the better. It really helps get your muscles building rather than storing energy as fat If you have carb cravings i was just reading an article that says the best time to eat carbs (from healthy foods though, not junky things) is in the hour directly after a hard workout. Link: http://www.schwarzenegger.com/fitness/post/exercise-carbs-a-game-changer
    They also offer another structured 1% body workout (the ones that are meant to take 15 minutes and doesnt need any equipment):
    http://www.schwarzenegger.com/fitness/post/your-body-is-all-you-need-the-worlds-oldest-training-method-and-a-1-workout

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