1 lb away from weight goal, but unfortunately not body composition
colingibb
Posts: 31 Member
Well, I thought I would be over the moon by now... I've lost 40 lbs this year and am now down to what I thought my goal was (went from 205 to 165).
When I started, I had a huge bar in the basement with clothes that were too small to fit since I used to be 165 a few years ago. So my interim rewards were trying on clothes, bringing clothes that fit up from downstairs, and retiring clothes that were too big now (took to Goodwill, don't ever want to fit them again). I had a "staging" area for clothes that almost fit so the next time I tried them on they would most likely fit. This helped me have something to look forward to.
Anyhow, now that I've hit what I thought my goal was, I'm not happy with my body composition, still have more fat around the mid-section that I'd hoped for.
So, I'm hoping to find the motivation to keep going.
Anybody else reach the phase where you thought you would be done, but actually were quite far away from where you were hoping to be?
When I started, I had a huge bar in the basement with clothes that were too small to fit since I used to be 165 a few years ago. So my interim rewards were trying on clothes, bringing clothes that fit up from downstairs, and retiring clothes that were too big now (took to Goodwill, don't ever want to fit them again). I had a "staging" area for clothes that almost fit so the next time I tried them on they would most likely fit. This helped me have something to look forward to.
Anyhow, now that I've hit what I thought my goal was, I'm not happy with my body composition, still have more fat around the mid-section that I'd hoped for.
So, I'm hoping to find the motivation to keep going.
Anybody else reach the phase where you thought you would be done, but actually were quite far away from where you were hoping to be?
2
Replies
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It is extremely common to end up where you are. I would venture to guess that the majority of people who lose a large amount of weight feel the same way once they hit their goal. That's why when people ask how long it will take to lose weight, I usually answer that it will likely take X-Y months to lose the weight and another few-several years to work on body composition. That's even if you've been lifting weights along the way. I'm not sure how long you were overweight but I was for around 10 years. I repeatedly remind myself that I can't expect to make a 1 year recovery from a 10 year decline.7
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Almost in the same boat as you are. Im down 53 this year and 5 away from my goal, but I'm not happy with the fat still around the mid section. I just have to keep going, and try to build some more muscle as I burn off the remaining fat0
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Which poses yet another question. Can you lose fat and add muscle at the same time? I see a lot of disparaging answers around this. I don't want to have to start adding calories and gaining muscle and fat and then go back to "cutting" mode again...
I have been lifting as I've been losing weight, which definitely helps me lose weight faster. I'm hoping that also helps me to maintain muscle.
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Take a look at body recomposition - eating at maintenance or slightly below while weight training. It's a very slow process, so there is a great deal of patience required, but it works.1
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And make sure to hit your protein goals...0
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Which poses yet another question. Can you lose fat and add muscle at the same time? I see a lot of disparaging answers around this. I don't want to have to start adding calories and gaining muscle and fat and then go back to "cutting" mode again...
I have been lifting as I've been losing weight, which definitely helps me lose weight faster. I'm hoping that also helps me to maintain muscle.
Yes. Here is the link to the ongoing recomp thread.
http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10177803/recomposition-maintaining-weight-while-losing-fat/p11 -
Cool, thanks! Seems like that would take lots of patience... seeing progress on the scale is definitely a big motivator.
My Gym offers free monthly body composition tests. I just may have to start doing that.
1 -
YES. Time and time again. I feel like that's a huge part of fitness, getting to a goal and then wanting more and wanting to improve. I thought I wanted to be 100 lbs. Hit 100 lbs. and then wanted to be toned. Started lifting. Now I'm bulking. I'm 118 lbs. could be 122 lbs. by the end of bulk and then am cutting to 115 lbs. or so. Next year will probably be an even more significant bulk, but I really just go by how I feel and look, not so much by the number. Good luck achieving your goals! Stay dedicated and don't give up. Recomp is the fun part!0
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Which poses yet another question. Can you lose fat and add muscle at the same time? I see a lot of disparaging answers around this. I don't want to have to start adding calories and gaining muscle and fat and then go back to "cutting" mode again...
I have been lifting as I've been losing weight, which definitely helps me lose weight faster. I'm hoping that also helps me to maintain muscle.
Read this by Eric Helms to see if burning fat and adding muscle (recomp) is possible.....
(It's not just possible by the way it's normal. It's what virtually everyone did before bodybuilding went mainstream.)
http://muscleandstrengthpyramids.com/calorie-deficit-gain-weight/1 -
Yes, you can burn fat and build muscle at the same time. Keep yourself a very slight deficit (100 cals or so) while in maintenance....watch for a week or two and see if you need to adjust that deficit. It's doable, but takes a bit more time and patience. But hey, you've come this far, and the time is just going to pass anyways!0
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Well, I thought I would be over the moon by now... I've lost 40 lbs this year and am now down to what I thought my goal was (went from 205 to 165).
When I started, I had a huge bar in the basement with clothes that were too small to fit since I used to be 165 a few years ago. So my interim rewards were trying on clothes, bringing clothes that fit up from downstairs, and retiring clothes that were too big now (took to Goodwill, don't ever want to fit them again). I had a "staging" area for clothes that almost fit so the next time I tried them on they would most likely fit. This helped me have something to look forward to.
Anyhow, now that I've hit what I thought my goal was, I'm not happy with my body composition, still have more fat around the mid-section that I'd hoped for.
So, I'm hoping to find the motivation to keep going.
Anybody else reach the phase where you thought you would be done, but actually were quite far away from where you were hoping to be?
When I went to maintenance my composition wasn't close to where I wanted it to be...I just went to maintenance and continued to lift and let time do the rest.2 -
Which poses yet another question. Can you lose fat and add muscle at the same time? I see a lot of disparaging answers around this. I don't want to have to start adding calories and gaining muscle and fat and then go back to "cutting" mode again...
I have been lifting as I've been losing weight, which definitely helps me lose weight faster. I'm hoping that also helps me to maintain muscle.
Yes. Here is the link to the ongoing recomp thread.
http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10177803/recomposition-maintaining-weight-while-losing-fat/p1
I came here to give you a link to the awesome recomp thread, but it looks like @jemhh beat me to it. Take the time to read the whole thing - it's really good. If you decide you want to give it a go (and you aren't already lifting weights), get yourself on a good progressive lifting program. Great programs to try are Strong Lifts 5x5, Starting Strength, Ice Cream Fitness, or New Rules for Lifting. Follow the programs as designed, stick to your maintenance calories, and BE CONSISTENT. You will see results over time. Good luck!1 -
Eat enough protein
Lift weights
Mild calorie deficit
This will increase or preserve muscle and result in body fat loss. That's what you need to get the physique you want.0 -
I found that once I hit my goal I still had more weight to lose. So I am working on losing another 7 pounds. I also have been reading on this forums that your body continues to change overtime, especially for things like skin tightening. You have lost a lot of weight so celebrate and be proud! And like others advised, start thinking recomp.0
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Cool, thanks! Seems like that would take lots of patience... seeing progress on the scale is definitely a big motivator.
My Gym offers free monthly body composition tests. I just may have to start doing that.
Patience is what this process is all about! I think it's awesome that I can be at my goal weight range and keep improving my body &strength & abilities. I've lost inches but no lbs for 2 months now.1
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