Done too much?

sengalissa
sengalissa Posts: 253 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Hi
I am disappointed right now and don't know where to turn :(
I lost 30lbs over the past 8 months (on-off, calorie-deficit only), and 6 weeks ago I added 3x/week of lifting and 3-4x/week running 40min. I got a fitbit and in my normal day, I walk around 9000 steps on top of exercise (homeschooling mom of 5 :)).
During those 6 weeks, I lost maybe one pound or so. Was thinking, ok, I am losing inches (I think I am), and weight loss will start picking up soon. Did not happen so far. I eat 1500cal plus I eat most of my fitbit calories (on very active running days - like 15000 steps total, fitbit gives me another 500 cal). I give myself between 100 and 200 cal for lifting 40min. Yes, I weigh/measure my food.

Now two days ago I was beginning to be TIRED, did not make it out of bed at my usual time at 5.30 - the only time I have for my workout. My leg muscels hurt, although I rested yesterday and today.

Is this just a phase? Am I eating too much?

I am eating a lot of veggies and protein. I am still hungry. I work out. I drink enough water and tea. I move. I TRY to sleep enough (as good as possible with a baby). But it is all in vein, and I am ready to … well, not give up. I felt so good, and I used to wake up excited to time to myself to workout.

So, my husband says, I should take a break. Might be true. But he also says I should be happy the way I look now. Which is NOT true. :noway: (I weigh 138 at 5'3).
Bottomline - I don't know if I should take time off. (But during that time, eat maintenance or deficit?) Or maybe do a little? Is fitbit overestimating my activity and I eat too much? Or am I just too impatient and a plateau of 6 weeks is fine when you start exercising?

Help :indifferent:

Edit: I do feel like my cycle kicks in (11.5 months postpartum)… maybe that adds to it? But that cannot be all, and cannot account to 6 weeks of nothing.

Replies

  • ctkimmie
    ctkimmie Posts: 21 Member
    You might consider going to the Doctor, and have your Iron, Vitamin D and B levels tested. Sounds like you are "burning the candle at three ends". Have a good day.
  • shortstuff17
    shortstuff17 Posts: 86 Member
    I'm not anywhere close to being as active as you, but it sounds to me like your body needs a break. you should be resting at least one day a week especially as active as you are. if you are hungry then your body might be trying to tell you something. I usually don't eat my fitbit calories back because you should be accounting for that in your activity level. Listen to your body...have a rest day and remember just because you only lost a pound doesn't mean you're not burning fat and gaining muscle. Keep it up! It sounds like you are doing great!
  • 12by311
    12by311 Posts: 1,716 Member
    If you are a new mommy, you are experiencing a whole new level of tiredness. Nothing compares to it.

    My advice is listen to your body and don't feel guilty for resting.

    Try to find balance.

    I lost 5 lbs really quick when I started counting calories again and trying to actively lose weight (7 months postpartum)...Since then nothing. BUT I feel better when I exercise and have that balance in my life.

    So, I am trying not to focus on the scale.

    Good luck to you and congratulations on the baby :)
  • froeschli
    froeschli Posts: 1,292 Member
    Uh, you added lifting and running at the same time? Wow, talking of shock to the system!
    Anyhow, try adding an extra rest day here and there, and examine your calories. I am taller and heavier than you, but 1500 with that amount of running and lifting doesn't sound like a lot. Especially if you say you are HUNGRY. Extra protein after lifting helps with muscle recovery. Magnesium & calcium help with muscle cramps.
  • sengalissa
    sengalissa Posts: 253 Member
    "You might consider going to the Doctor, and have your Iron, Vitamin D and B levels tested. Sounds like you are "burning the candle at three ends". Have a good day."

    Funny, that exact same idiom my doc used (but only two ends) when I saw her for my physical 3 weeks ago.

    But, where is the line between "pushing yourself" and "being too hard on yourself"?!
  • sengalissa
    sengalissa Posts: 253 Member
    If you are a new mommy, you are experiencing a whole new level of tiredness. Nothing compares to it.

    My advice is listen to your body and don't feel guilty for resting.

    Try to find balance.

    I lost 5 lbs really quick when I started counting calories again and trying to actively lose weight (7 months postpartum)...Since then nothing. BUT I feel better when I exercise and have that balance in my life.

    So, I am trying not to focus on the scale.

    Good luck to you and congratulations on the baby :)
    This is my 5th baby ;)

    I DID feel better. Maybe a break is just what I need.
  • sengalissa
    sengalissa Posts: 253 Member
    Uh, you added lifting and running at the same time? Wow, talking of shock to the system!
    Anyhow, try adding an extra rest day here and there, and examine your calories. I am taller and heavier than you, but 1500 with that amount of running and lifting doesn't sound like a lot. Especially if you say you are HUNGRY. Extra protein after lifting helps with muscle recovery. Magnesium & calcium help with muscle cramps.
    Well, I wanted to do something and make it a habit. So I started getting up early every morning. Since you cannot lift every day, I but cardio in the days in between. I might be a shock, yes. But I ran before I had No 5. So I am back to running and new to lifting.

    Extra protein - I tried to do that, but then I'd have to go hungry because the protein uses up too many calories. And no, protein does not make me feel satisfied. (I know it does for the rest of the world, but only carbs do the trick for me.)

    Magnesium is a good hint though.
  • froeschli
    froeschli Posts: 1,292 Member
    Extra protein - I tried to do that, but then I'd have to go hungry because the protein uses up too many calories....
    Ah, but there is my point: I think you need more calories. Not that I am an authority on the subject. Maybe read the nutrition parts of 'the new rules of lifting for women' or maybe even 'you are your own gym' (I think the latter had some things on nutrition).
    Calculate your TDEE and compare it to your total calorie consumption.

    When I ran and lifted, I ate 2500 calls net. And was losing weight. Yeah I am 5'7" and was 150lbs at the time, but it's a big difference.

    As for pushing yourself vs overdoing it - I'd say that's tired vs exhausted, sore vs in pain etc.
    there is a questionnaire on overtraining, one big indicator is bad moods :wink: the others I don't remember right off the bat.
  • Kadoober
    Kadoober Posts: 289 Member
    Are you nursing your baby?
  • Katgratien
    Katgratien Posts: 2
    If you are a new mommy, you are experiencing a whole new level of tiredness. Nothing compares to it.

    My advice is listen to your body and don't feel guilty for resting.

    Try to find balance.

    I lost 5 lbs really quick when I started counting calories again and trying to actively lose weight (7 months postpartum)...Since then nothing. BUT I feel better when I exercise and have that balance in my life.

    So, I am trying not to focus on the scale.

    Good luck to you and congratulations on the baby :)
    This is my 5th baby ;)

    I DID feel better. Maybe a break is just what I need.
  • Katgratien
    Katgratien Posts: 2
    Sorry I messed up on my reply. I was going to say, I think by "new mommy" she meant mom to a new person. We all know it's impossible to get normal sleep with a baby, not to mention your other 5 kids. It sounds like you are doing everything right, and maybe just reached a plateau for a bit. PLUS you started lifting and running, which is creating more muscle. You are most likely still losing inches, but the actual weight isn't going down still because muscle weighs more than fat. I'd stop focusing on the scale and focus on how your clothes fit. I'd kill to be 138 lbs!!! I am sure you look great! :-)
  • MeanderingMammal
    MeanderingMammal Posts: 7,866 Member
    ...and 6 weeks ago I added 3x/week of lifting and 3-4x/week running 40min.

    Suspec that this is your issue, going from no additional training to six/ seven sessions per week is a lot. I note that you ran before having this child, but you're still talking about a years gap.

    It may be that your base activity level is a bit low as well, with five kids 1500 cals seems a bit low.
  • sengalissa
    sengalissa Posts: 253 Member
    ...and 6 weeks ago I added 3x/week of lifting and 3-4x/week running 40min.

    Suspec that this is your issue, going from no additional training to six/ seven sessions per week is a lot. I note that you ran before having this child, but you're still talking about a years gap.

    It may be that your base activity level is a bit low as well, with five kids 1500 cals seems a bit low.
    I think this is my question… I was not sure how much I actually move during the day. That's why I got the fitbit. Then I figured, my activity level fluctuates a lot (there might be inside days reading books with the kids and bike rides and cleaning days…). So I'd set my acivity level to lightly active and DO eat the extra calories fitbit gives me when I go over like 7000 steps a day. That made sense to me. But is that right?
  • MeanderingMammal
    MeanderingMammal Posts: 7,866 Member
    So I'd set my acivity level to lightly active and DO eat the extra calories fitbit gives me when I go over like 7000 steps a day. That made sense to me. But is that right?

    I have to say that I don't really see the point of Fitbit or it's various equivalents. As it's an overenthusiastic pedometer there are lots of things that it doesn't account for. It almost sounds like by fudging it, the issues become more pronounced.

    From what you've said it sounds as if this level of fatigue is more related to the sudden increase in exercise. I know that for a couple of weeks after I step change my training I feel more weary, even if I'm eating back a chunk og my calories, it may be that it's just caught up on you and winding back on the extra training would be a good idea. As you're experienced in running you'll appreciate the idea of training cycles as a method of consolidating your progress.
  • 12by311
    12by311 Posts: 1,716 Member
    If you are a new mommy, you are experiencing a whole new level of tiredness. Nothing compares to it.

    My advice is listen to your body and don't feel guilty for resting.

    Try to find balance.

    I lost 5 lbs really quick when I started counting calories again and trying to actively lose weight (7 months postpartum)...Since then nothing. BUT I feel better when I exercise and have that balance in my life.

    So, I am trying not to focus on the scale.

    Good luck to you and congratulations on the baby :)
    This is my 5th baby ;)

    I DID feel better. Maybe a break is just what I need.

    Uh, you have 5 kids! That's why you are extra tired! haha

    But seriously, you are probably more active than you think and 1500 calories *may* be too low. I can't remember how much you need to lose, but when we get closer to our healthy weight we need less of a deficit.

    If you've been a runner and very active before baby, even with a year's gap you can usually get back into the swing of things fairly easily if you are fueling your body enough.
  • sengalissa
    sengalissa Posts: 253 Member
    If you are a new mommy, you are experiencing a whole new level of tiredness. Nothing compares to it.

    My advice is listen to your body and don't feel guilty for resting.

    Try to find balance.

    I lost 5 lbs really quick when I started counting calories again and trying to actively lose weight (7 months postpartum)...Since then nothing. BUT I feel better when I exercise and have that balance in my life.

    So, I am trying not to focus on the scale.

    Good luck to you and congratulations on the baby :)
    This is my 5th baby ;)

    I DID feel better. Maybe a break is just what I need.

    Uh, you have 5 kids! That's why you are extra tired! haha

    But seriously, you are probably more active than you think and 1500 calories *may* be too low. I can't remember how much you need to lose, but when we get closer to our healthy weight we need less of a deficit.

    If you've been a runner and very active before baby, even with a year's gap you can usually get back into the swing of things fairly easily if you are fueling your body enough.
    That's the other thing. I am basically always tired, overwhelmed and exhausted. Whether it comes from homeschooling fours kids and entertaining a baby or from exercise it hard to tell.
    But I took it easy today, cut back on calories though (since I did not have any extra calories to eat) and I feel a little better.
  • sengalissa
    sengalissa Posts: 253 Member
    So I'd set my acivity level to lightly active and DO eat the extra calories fitbit gives me when I go over like 7000 steps a day. That made sense to me. But is that right?

    I have to say that I don't really see the point of Fitbit or it's various equivalents. As it's an overenthusiastic pedometer there are lots of things that it doesn't account for. It almost sounds like by fudging it, the issues become more pronounced.

    From what you've said it sounds as if this level of fatigue is more related to the sudden increase in exercise. I know that for a couple of weeks after I step change my training I feel more weary, even if I'm eating back a chunk og my calories, it may be that it's just caught up on you and winding back on the extra training would be a good idea. As you're experienced in running you'll appreciate the idea of training cycles as a method of consolidating your progress.
    Training cycles… Thank you, I will look into that. So far I have not been a sophisticated athlete. But lifting is a cool new experience, and that I do in a structured way (stronglifts). So why not running as well!

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