Recently started going to the gym and looking for supportive friends

PhoenyxRising
PhoenyxRising Posts: 68 Member
edited November 2024 in Fitness and Exercise
Hi all! My name is Ruth and I started going to the gym/making healthier eating choices back in January. I dropped 40 lbs just watching what I ate and hitting the treadmill 4 times a week for an hour. I recently met with the trainer at the gym and he's started me on a strength training regimen. I now do 4-5 days a week at the gym - an hour of strength training alternating upper and lower body followed by 30-60 minutes on the treadmill. I'm finding that my weight loss has slowed if not stopped which he said was going to happen and that it's normal (muscle replacing fat plus he bumped up my calorie intake from 1200 to 1500) but it's discouraging. I had never touched a weight in my life before this and I'm still very new to it all. I'd love to make some new friends here who are familiar with this stuff to help guide me on my way. Thanks!

Replies

  • michellesz
    michellesz Posts: 429 Member
    Stick with the strength training! Muscle weighs more but will benefit you in many health aspects over the long haul and burn more calories. Personal opinion~ your calories are way too low around 1,000ish, & not consuming nearly enough protein. Also sodium not listed in food diary, but would suggest listing as sodium is a factor in bloat and retention. Try substituting a protein shake or bar for your peanut butter cup type cravings. Keep at it!
  • hesn92
    hesn92 Posts: 5,966 Member
    Good for you! Take progress pictures so that even if the number on the scale isn't going down as fast as you'd like, you will be able to see the difference it's making.
  • ndj1979
    ndj1979 Posts: 29,136 Member
    it sounds like you have had great progress; however, you are not "replacing muscle with fat." More than likely you have got some good newbie muscle gains from being a beginner to lifting, and that is also coupled with less body fat which makes your existing muscle show more, plus water retention for muscular repair which makes your muscles look bigger.

    also, make sure that your trainer has you focused on the bigger compound movements - squat, deadlift, bench, etc - and then build in some accessory work.
  • TheChaoticBuffalo
    TheChaoticBuffalo Posts: 86 Member
    I've been on the weight-loss wagon for a little over a year in order to get my BMI down enough to have knee-replacement surgery. I told myself my knees couldn't handle working out at the gym, but at the urging of a friend, I tried it for a few days around the end of February. Now I'm hooked. I go six days a week and have only missed four days to sickness in the past three months. I started with weights three days a week and stationary bike every day. Worked up to 30 to 60 minutes a day on the bike. Transitioned to bike and rowing on alternating days while still doing the weights. Now I'm doing different muscle groups on a three-day rotation and rowing every day. My weight bounces around for a week or two before dropping significantly for a day or two. Discovered that by looking at my long-term graph of my daily weigh-ins, but I knew I was losing because of the way my clothes were fitting (actually not fitting) and the way various parts of my body were starting to look. I also measure my body fat percentage at the gym on a regular basis - a couple of times a week - and it's showing a steady decrease. Not dramatic, but steady. I know there are issues with measuring BF% and BMI, but I'm looking for a trend rather than an absolute number on the BF% and I don't even worry about the BMI anymore. Over the past three months, I've tried various weight and cardio exercises. Some I enjoy and some I don't. Some my knees can handle and some they absolutely can't. The key is finding something you love to do so much that you can't wait to get to the gym everyday. For me that's rowing. Find your own "love" and getting fit will become enjoyable for you. It'll never be easy, but you'll enjoy both the journey and the destination.
  • thetrishwarp
    thetrishwarp Posts: 838 Member
    I have been lifting weights for about 2 years now. I have changed up my program a few times, and am just re-committing myself to my diet. Feel free to add me!
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