Is my trainer starving me??
NadaHamade
Posts: 30
Hi all 
So let me give background first:
I used to weigh about 190 lbs (size 12-14) and the past three years have been eating healthy & exercising. I had the help of a trainer and also trained myself afterwards. Since then I dropped 40 pounds and 8-10 pants sizes. Before going to my new trainer I was a size 2-4 at around 146 pounds. I am relatively petite at 5'2'' and I have noticed that I gain muscle quite easily.
My wedding is this October and I wanted to get a new trainer because I noticed myself getting a bit out of shape. I started with her in May and she has been good but her diet is VERY DIFFICULT. I did drop 5% body fat with her and 7 pounds.
But I find it extremely hard to stay on her plan. I have huge increases in appetite, especially on days that I strength train and when I do cardio. This often leads to a binge/overeating which is funny because I feel like it is just how a person would normally eat.
Everyone tells me her plan sounds crazy because she initially put me at only 1100 Calories, and she wanted me to "train cardio every day and burn 800-1000 calories." I told her I track on my fitness pal and I asked her if I should eat my calories back. She told me NO, that I absolutely must NOT eat my calories back, and that *in order to raise my metabolism* I have to eat 1100 calories and burn 800-1000 a day.
I thought she sounded crazy (which is probably my fault for sticking with her) but I decided to give it a try. This is when I initially lost the 5% body fat in a month and I believe it was most likely a shock to my system because I hadn't lifted weights in a few months. It took from April to June for me to lose 7 pounds and I know it is fat that I lost, which is good. But I believe if her diet wasn't so crazy strict and her cardio so demanding I would have lost a greater amount with higher calories!
She put me on 1200 for some time because "I was getting hungrier between meals". But every time she assessed me although I was gaining muscle "my metabolism keeps dropping" (which duh, doesn't it drop slightly the more weight you lose?). So the last assessment I had with her three weeks ago I weighed in at 139 and gained more muscle but "my metabolism is still low" so she "put me back at 1100 calories to try to raise it."
Um, something just seems really wrong about this. I want to check with everyone to make sure I am not delusional because I really am thinking about quitting with her and increasing my calories, doing more moderate cardio and sticking with strength training. I feel as if I could lose more weight in a healthy way without having ridiculous binges and spikes in my appetite because there are no calories for me to consume at all yet I burn a crazy amount.
Because of her regimen I honestly have felt burnt out all this week and last and haven't done any cardio or stuck to her diet. I have been eating out and gained water weight (~5 pounds) and feel very down about it. My old trainer used to put me on 1800 calories a day!
I am 5'2'', and now weigh at 139 pounds at 29% body fat. Is 1100 - 1200 calories without net even sensible for me or is she starving me? I am convinced that weight loss should NOT feel this hard, even if I weigh less than I did before.
Any help/advice would be appreciated
I don't think I would like to continue with her anymore but I want to keep losing body fat. I just don't know what to do with calories anymore.
So let me give background first:
I used to weigh about 190 lbs (size 12-14) and the past three years have been eating healthy & exercising. I had the help of a trainer and also trained myself afterwards. Since then I dropped 40 pounds and 8-10 pants sizes. Before going to my new trainer I was a size 2-4 at around 146 pounds. I am relatively petite at 5'2'' and I have noticed that I gain muscle quite easily.
My wedding is this October and I wanted to get a new trainer because I noticed myself getting a bit out of shape. I started with her in May and she has been good but her diet is VERY DIFFICULT. I did drop 5% body fat with her and 7 pounds.
But I find it extremely hard to stay on her plan. I have huge increases in appetite, especially on days that I strength train and when I do cardio. This often leads to a binge/overeating which is funny because I feel like it is just how a person would normally eat.
Everyone tells me her plan sounds crazy because she initially put me at only 1100 Calories, and she wanted me to "train cardio every day and burn 800-1000 calories." I told her I track on my fitness pal and I asked her if I should eat my calories back. She told me NO, that I absolutely must NOT eat my calories back, and that *in order to raise my metabolism* I have to eat 1100 calories and burn 800-1000 a day.
I thought she sounded crazy (which is probably my fault for sticking with her) but I decided to give it a try. This is when I initially lost the 5% body fat in a month and I believe it was most likely a shock to my system because I hadn't lifted weights in a few months. It took from April to June for me to lose 7 pounds and I know it is fat that I lost, which is good. But I believe if her diet wasn't so crazy strict and her cardio so demanding I would have lost a greater amount with higher calories!
She put me on 1200 for some time because "I was getting hungrier between meals". But every time she assessed me although I was gaining muscle "my metabolism keeps dropping" (which duh, doesn't it drop slightly the more weight you lose?). So the last assessment I had with her three weeks ago I weighed in at 139 and gained more muscle but "my metabolism is still low" so she "put me back at 1100 calories to try to raise it."
Um, something just seems really wrong about this. I want to check with everyone to make sure I am not delusional because I really am thinking about quitting with her and increasing my calories, doing more moderate cardio and sticking with strength training. I feel as if I could lose more weight in a healthy way without having ridiculous binges and spikes in my appetite because there are no calories for me to consume at all yet I burn a crazy amount.
Because of her regimen I honestly have felt burnt out all this week and last and haven't done any cardio or stuck to her diet. I have been eating out and gained water weight (~5 pounds) and feel very down about it. My old trainer used to put me on 1800 calories a day!
I am 5'2'', and now weigh at 139 pounds at 29% body fat. Is 1100 - 1200 calories without net even sensible for me or is she starving me? I am convinced that weight loss should NOT feel this hard, even if I weigh less than I did before.
Any help/advice would be appreciated
I don't think I would like to continue with her anymore but I want to keep losing body fat. I just don't know what to do with calories anymore. 0
Replies
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Get a new trainer. This one is obviously clueless.0
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Get a new trainer. This one is obviously clueless.
^^^This
(and no one "gains muscle easily". It's extremely hard....for guys, exponentially tougher for women)0 -
time to find a new trainer. the level you are eating at would be appropriate for someone who doesnt exercise at all0
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Thank you! Her exercises are good but I feel like she has no idea what she is talking about as far as nutrition.0
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if thats how you feel then why not stick with her and just ignore her dietary adviceThank you! Her exercises are good but I feel like she has no idea what she is talking about as far as nutrition.0 -
Your trainer has no idea what she is talking about and you should fire her. And if she has a boss or supervisor, you should talk to them and let them know what she is telling people. That calorie count plus exercise and not eating back calories is dangerous.
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1080242-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/819055-setting-your-calorie-and-macro-targets0 -
Of course you feel burned out! That's really low in general, let alone for that level of activity.
How is she measuring your "metabolism"?
It's also suspect that she's telling you that you are gaining muscle. There is no change you're gaining muscle on 1100 calories a day. In fact, you're likely losing it.
I'd find a new trainer if I were you - or, if you like your work in the gym with her, stick with her for that but let her know you are following your own diet plan and are looking to her only for exercise advice and help.0 -
agreed with everyone else, get a new trainer.0
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Get a new trainer. This one is obviously clueless.
^^^This
(and no one "builds muscle easily")
Yeah, I take that part back lol, it is difficult to build muscle.0 -
Your trainer should not be telling you how many calories to eat.
Get a new trainer that is not an idiot
QFT. Trainer = exercise advice and guidance. It is outside of their job description to give dietary advice (unless they are also a registered dieticians--but only if).0 -
Of course you feel burned out! That's really low in general, let alone for that level of activity.
How is she measuring your "metabolism"?
It's also suspect that she's telling you that you are gaining muscle. There is no change you're gaining muscle on 1100 calories a day. In fact, you're likely losing it.
I'd find a new trainer if I were you - or, if you like your work in the gym with her, stick with her for that but let her know you are following your own diet plan and are looking to her only for exercise advice and help.
What she has been doing is measuring my body fat with calipers and then making her own calculations. I honestly don't know what formula she is using for my metabolism. I have noticed more definition but I'm starting to suspect it's loss in water along with muscle or something more realistic like that.
I think I may just quit with her. She kept promising to raise my calories the more "my metabolism increases" but apparently it won't at all on her plan.0 -
It's pretty doubtful you'd have lost more weight by eating more calories, but if you're not happy with your trainer, changing is probably a good idea.0
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Your trainer has no idea what she is talking about and you should fire her. And if she has a boss or supervisor, you should talk to them and let them know what she is telling people. That calorie count plus exercise and not eating back calories is dangerous.
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1080242-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/819055-setting-your-calorie-and-macro-targets
Thank you for the helpful links The funny thing is her boss trained HER originally so I think the entire gym has this stupid mentality towards nutrition. 0 -
finish your sessions with her but ignore her nutrition advice then get out of there. As one guy on here always says, "If you can't do this for the rest of your life then it is wrong!" Eating shouldn't be a diet, it is a lifestyle. Your body is in starvation mode. You MUST have fuel to workout and lift weights. Some trainers truly are idiots!0
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finish your sessions with her but ignore her nutrition advice then get out of there. As one guy on here always says, "If you can't do this for the rest of your life then it is wrong!" Eating shouldn't be a diet, it is a lifestyle. Your body is in starvation mode. You MUST have fuel to workout and lift weights. Some trainers truly are idiots!
Yes! Thank you! I have been thinking of doing this as well. I just can't see myself eating this level of calories for the rest of my life. Her exercises have become difficult and I find myself losing stamina as she increases weights. And she thinks it's because "I'm not eating every three hours." Although I am. It is frustrating.0 -
Is it even possible to "measure" metabolism?
You need to ditch her nutrition advice - if you like her workouts you can keep working with her on that but go with your gut, if you feel uncomfortable with her nutrition plan than don't follow it. She works for YOU - not the other way around.0 -
Grinding a 1000 calorie burn of cardio daily while consuming less than 1000 most days will do precisely the opposite of increase your metabolism.
A lot of gyms just want to gratify their customers so they'll continue to do business. The majority of their clients don't realise how daft it is.0 -
It's pretty doubtful you'd have lost more weight by eating more calories, but if you're not happy with your trainer, changing is probably a good idea.
It wasn't really eating more but it was more of eating my net calories I think. I haven't been eating net at all because she told me not to. So I think I will change to someone that would actually encourage me to eat my calories back 0 -
Can I eat at a 20% deficit to TDEE for the rest of my life? (Not counting dying from lack of food.) Does that mean it would be wrong for me to do so for some period of time?finish your sessions with her but ignore her nutrition advice then get out of there. As one guy on here always says, "If you can't do this for the rest of your life then it is wrong!" Eating shouldn't be a diet, it is a lifestyle. Your body is in starvation mode. You MUST have fuel to workout and lift weights. Some trainers truly are idiots!
Her body isn't in starvation mode.0 -
Get a new trainer. Most trainers only have the basics in nutrition and this one didn't pick up enough of the basics to help you, just enough to be dangerous.0
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I barely work out (but am going to the gym tonight - yay!) and I'm pretty darn hungry at night with only 1200 calories... Like everyone else seems to say, I'd say this trainers's nutrition advice is full of bologna. I have been losing weight (slowly) at 1300-1500ish net calories on average. I usually eat exercise calories back.0
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Get a new trainer. This one is obviously clueless.
^^^This
(and no one "builds muscle easily")
Yeah, I take that part back lol, it is difficult to build muscle.
Awesome response.
I'm piggy backing on what everyone else has said. You really should report this somewhere, it's not only bad advice but could be deemed as dangerous (especially with someone who has less than 10lbs left to lose). They're telling you to have an intake of 1100 calories - 800 to 1000 calories leaving you with a net of 100 to 300 calories. I'm not sure if there are infants that sustain on that. A woman you're age and with that kind of activity level should probably be in the 2000's somewhere. If anything it will slow your metabolism, not raise it.0 -
Is it even possible to "measure" metabolism?
You need to ditch her nutrition advice - if you like her workouts you can keep working with her on that but go with your gut, if you feel uncomfortable with her nutrition plan than don't follow it. She works for YOU - not the other way around.
Yeah, I don't really know how she comes up with that formula. I think I am going to kick her plan and calculate a more reasonable calorie count0 -
Some people eat back exercise calories and some don't, but if doing what she suggested was making you that hungry, especially at those calorie levels, a change sounds like the way to go. Congrats on the upcoming wedding.It's pretty doubtful you'd have lost more weight by eating more calories, but if you're not happy with your trainer, changing is probably a good idea.
It wasn't really eating more but it was more of eating my net calories I think. I haven't been eating net at all because she told me not to. So I think I will change to someone that would actually encourage me to eat my calories back0 -
This sounds pretty crazy, and not healthy, as your body seems to be telling you already with your severe hunger/binges. If you were eating over 2000cals a day, I could see the burning 800-1000 being reasonable and not terribly bad for you. Only getting a net of a couple hundred calories a day though? That's bonkers.0
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Get a new trainer. This one is obviously clueless.
^^^This
(and no one "builds muscle easily")
Yeah, I take that part back lol, it is difficult to build muscle.
Awesome response.
I'm piggy backing on what everyone else has said. You really should report this somewhere, it's not only bad advice but could be deemed as dangerous (especially with someone who has less than 10lbs left to lose). They're telling you to have an intake of 1100 calories - 800 to 1000 calories leaving you with a net of 100 to 300 calories. I'm not sure if there are infants that sustain on that. A woman you're age and with that kind of activity level should probably be in the 2000's somewhere. If anything it will slow your metabolism, not raise it.
Thank you. And yes! I feel the same way. I thought I didn't have a clue and this was the way to go because I was overweight and my trainer was in better shape than me. But I definitely think I need more calories. And she is actually puzzled that my metabolism is slowing down. She told me it was because "I'm not eating every three hours" (though I have been and have tried to follow her diet to a T).
With the trainer I had before her I was always at around 1800 calories. It may have also been due to the fact that I weighed more at the time, but it wasn't nearly as difficult, and my stamina was much better.0 -
Yes, actually it is, you can get a good indication from a metabolic analysys if you are lucky enough to be in a location that has a Metabolic Cart and a trained proffessional to interpret the results. We utilize the Metabolic Cart.Is it even possible to "measure" metabolism?
You need to ditch her nutrition advice - if you like her workouts you can keep working with her on that but go with your gut, if you feel uncomfortable with her nutrition plan than don't follow it. She works for YOU - not the other way around.0 -
Your trainer is giving you insane advice. Is her 2nd job working as dominatrix?
Does she have a degree in nutrition? If not, it is unscrupulous to be giving nutritional advice. She's not licensed to do so.0 -
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