Exercising like a madwoman, losing NOTHING
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I'd go to the doctor. I'm 5'9", 48 yo, weigh around 145-147. My waist is 29.
I will say it has gotten harder lately -- my maintenance calories are lower.
But if you're really at that deficit (and it sounds like you are) and not losing, maybe something is up.0 -
Not worried at all about bulking up, and would be very pleased with more muscle. I will take all advice: will increase calories, do more weight lifting and less cardio, chill, and get a medical workup. I started on protein shakes today, which are AMAZINGLY high in calories, but that and eating a bunch of seitan got my protein up to 20%. Not sure what I should be shooting for, but I hear you that I may be failing to transform fat to muscle at least in part because I'm not getting enough protein and possibly not enough calories. Will post in a month, and let you know if things have changed. Thank you each for all of your help -1
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You just look like you're slouching to me.
Strike a pose!1 -
Not worried at all about bulking up, and would be very pleased with more muscle. I will take all advice: will increase calories, do more weight lifting and less cardio, chill, and get a medical workup. I started on protein shakes today, which are AMAZINGLY high in calories, but that and eating a bunch of seitan got my protein up to 20%. Not sure what I should be shooting for, but I hear you that I may be failing to transform fat to muscle at least in part because I'm not getting enough protein and possibly not enough calories. Will post in a month, and let you know if things have changed. Thank you each for all of your help -
For protein for weight training, and macro setting in general, you want .8 to 1 gram of protein per lb of lean body mass. Fats at .35 to .4 per lb of body weight, carbs for the rest. This helps with adequate protein for muscle building/ retention.2 -
Why don't you chill?
I mean that in the nicest way possible. Trying to be in a deficit and not being successful, on top of lots of exercise, causes so much stress. Why don't you log maintenance? It feels good to be successful at something, you fuel your workouts, and hey...body recomp. Get back into a deficit in a couple of weeks if you'd like.
That's what my coach has me do when I go bonkers. Not saying you're going bonkers...8 -
Not worried at all about bulking up, and would be very pleased with more muscle. I will take all advice: will increase calories, do more weight lifting and less cardio, chill, and get a medical workup. I started on protein shakes today, which are AMAZINGLY high in calories, but that and eating a bunch of seitan got my protein up to 20%. Not sure what I should be shooting for, but I hear you that I may be failing to transform fat to muscle at least in part because I'm not getting enough protein and possibly not enough calories. Will post in a month, and let you know if things have changed. Thank you each for all of your help -
what kind of protein shakes are you drinking that are "amazingly high" in calories???? I have a good whey isolate that is about 130 calories for 30g protein - not bad at all!4 -
Also switching your routine up... diing the same thing over and ovef expecting different results is???... I would also suggest checking out a gym for a body composition analysis... fat% vs. Lean muscle mass%... switching your routine up... find other ways of getting your sweat on... ditch the bike... climb some hills... get your yoga on once/ week... buy a 35 lb kettle bell and do some circuit training with it... swim laps... create functional strength and endurance so you can participate in other healthy activities... the body has a way of adapting to routine... stop falling into the rut of complacency...
Ultimately I think you are too focused on a single part of your anatomy and your punishing yourself needlessly...increase calories and work on strength training...0 -
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Muscleflex79 wrote: »Not worried at all about bulking up, and would be very pleased with more muscle. I will take all advice: will increase calories, do more weight lifting and less cardio, chill, and get a medical workup. I started on protein shakes today, which are AMAZINGLY high in calories, but that and eating a bunch of seitan got my protein up to 20%. Not sure what I should be shooting for, but I hear you that I may be failing to transform fat to muscle at least in part because I'm not getting enough protein and possibly not enough calories. Will post in a month, and let you know if things have changed. Thank you each for all of your help -
what kind of protein shakes are you drinking that are "amazingly high" in calories???? I have a good whey isolate that is about 130 calories for 30g protein - not bad at all!
I had the same question. My protein smoothies are only "amazingly high" in calories if I add peanut butter to them.
I eliminate the flax seeds in this one when I need less calories in it. It has the calories of a (small) meal, because it is as filling as a meal:
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You are measuring your waist at your bellybutton, which is inaccurate. You want to measure at the smallest circumference. Here's one definition for taking a woman's waist measurement: "Measure at your natural waist, which is generally located halfway between your belly button and your sternum. The tape measure needs to be horizontal all the way around and the measurement is taken on the exhale."
One way to find your natural waist is to bend over to the side, and find the natural crease. That's always going to be above your "muffin top."6 -
Woah, you're taller than me and have the weight I want. Good job!0
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I suffer the same weight loss issues as you. I'm a female 52 year old woman. Last week I weighed in at 173.5 pounds. This week I kicked into gear. I have been doing 45 min to an hour of weights and 35 min of cardio, and I am eating VERY clean. Organic, whenever I can. I take very good supplements and a fat burner morning and night. I have had great success this week, having a good regimen, and have lost over 10 pounds on my 6th day. Today I weighed in at 164.2 For my body, it's all about proper supplements, food combinations, and exercise. When I leave one element out, I gain weight. Happy to be on track. Good luck to you!17
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I suffer the same weight loss issues as you. I'm a female 52 year old woman. Last week I weighed in at 173.5 pounds. This week I kicked into gear. I have been doing 45 min to an hour of weights and 35 min of cardio, and I am eating VERY clean. Organic, whenever I can. I take very good supplements and a fat burner morning and night. I have had great success this week, having a good regimen, and have lost over 10 pounds on my 6th day. Today I weighed in at 164.2 For my body, it's all about proper supplements, food combinations, and exercise. When I leave one element out, I gain weight. Happy to be on track. Good luck to you!
eating clean and organic means nothing for weight loss. if you arent in a deficit you wont lose.fat burners do anything,aside from maybe an appetite suppressant because all they are is caffeine pills basically.if you are losing you are in a deficit and that is also whats needed to lose fat. you can get the same effects from drinking beverages with caffeine in them.8 -
Food diary is open if you care to look. Note that it is refusing to show my exercise calories on Friday and Saturday, but the exercise shows on the activity page. Also, this was "recovery week" in P90X, so I did more yoga and less cardio than in past weeks (and I totally disagree that deathcamp yoga with Tony Horton isn't a workout, but MFP insists it's worth very few calories).
As for the protein shake being high in calories, the one I tried Saturday was 160 calories for 30 grams of protein, and I drank it with oat milk, so, it was almost 300 calories. That's a lot of calories IMHO. Still, going for it, since you all advised increasing cals and protein. Had one today that was less, but also had lower protein. Have also added a scoop of protein powder to the morning green smoothie - adding 10g to each smoothie.
Thanks to all of those who know body comp stuff, I did shift from more cardio to weights, and will hope that helps too. Thanks very much for help on knowing how much protein to eat - that helps a lot.
And I am doing my best to chill, bbell1985. Honest. ;-)2 -
I suffer the same weight loss issues as you. I'm a female 52 year old woman. Last week I weighed in at 173.5 pounds. This week I kicked into gear. I have been doing 45 min to an hour of weights and 35 min of cardio, and I am eating VERY clean. Organic, whenever I can. I take very good supplements and a fat burner morning and night. I have had great success this week, having a good regimen, and have lost over 10 pounds on my 6th day. Today I weighed in at 164.2 For my body, it's all about proper supplements, food combinations, and exercise. When I leave one element out, I gain weight. Happy to be on track. Good luck to you!
Thank you ksyrnyk for inspiring me. I'm 5'10" and 195, age 58. I made the mistake of quitting smoking while going through menopause -- while at the same time my thyroid was starting to go (runs in the family). 30 lbs. later.... In my defense, I have a lot of muscle so that at 165 I look fit & trim. Would like to get back there & your post inspired me. I used to be able to lose 10 lbs. even when I didn't want to (I actually got "too thin" a couple of times back in my 20s & early 30s). Now I must wait for the metabolism to "kick in." (I cycle 1.5 & sometimes 2 hrs. a day; weight lift a couple of times a week.)0 -
Thought these might help.
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You have had loads of good advice from some very knowledgable people.
Try your protein shake with water. Mine is 150 cals for 35g. Because I am petite my maintenance cals are even quite low, so I save the mixer cals for food.
Eating at maintenance and doing a recomp using one of the progressive compound lifting programmes in the link above will work wonders resculpting your body, and slowly adding some muscle.
Note the slowly, this isn't something that happens over night, or even in 6 months.
I am only chiming in to reenforce the advice you have been given and to let you know changes can be made.
I had never exercised in my life until I was losing weight at 54. Then I started doing things like aqua fit, Pilates, belly dancing, core classes, swimming, walking. Some did include enough resistance work for my overall musculature to improve slightly, heck anyone's would going from no exercise, but it could only improve so far.
By then I was in maintenance. I had read all the talk of heavy lifting, it scared me, I was 105 lbs and still skinny fat, there was no way I could lift anything heavy. I did body weight (nerdfitness.com) and dumbbells (HasFit on YouTube) for a year and saw some progress in strength.
Fast forward a year, the penny dropped- heavy lifting meant 'lift what is heavy for you'. Aha! I can do that.
I found a programme that works for me, AllPro and started to follow it.
I have been following it for about 18 months now, with breaks.
And all that was said to post this pic below to show you that someone with most of their fat in their abdomen, and skinny fat can make a change during matintenance.
You look like a apple like me, I am also a B belly meaning when I sit or bend the crease is right at my belly button.
The pic is my progress over 3 years, I think.
(For those who know this pic, don't bother clicking
)
Cheers, h.
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@middlehaitch I always click on your pics, they are such an inspiration. I wanna look like you when i grow up
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Yes, those are AWESOME pics. And again, great advice. Thanks!1
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Have you asked your doctor specifically about Cushings and other cortisol related issues? Like you I have a large weight circumference and mine was at least partly caused by cortisol coming from a benign ovarian tumor. The tumor and ovary were removed and my waist is coming down, but slowly compared to the rest of me. I am 5'8" 187 and 38" waist. My legs and the rest of my body are pretty muscular, I just have a giant fat pad on my stomach - which is specifically caused by cortisol, that is what excess cortisol does.1
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BTW collectingblues - you had a great idea to measure somewhere other than my tummy. I looked back at my start measurements for P90X (they have you measure EVERYTHING!), and while it's true that around my tummy hasn't shrunk at all, my chest and thighs have. So evidently I am changing some fat to muscle, just not the fat I was hoping for!3
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BTW collectingblues - you had a great idea to measure somewhere other than my tummy. I looked back at my start measurements for P90X (they have you measure EVERYTHING!), and while it's true that around my tummy hasn't shrunk at all, my chest and thighs have. So evidently I am changing some fat to muscle, just not the fat I was hoping for!
you dont change fat to muscle you can lose fat and gain muscle but you cant change one type of tissue to another6 -
@middlehaitch what kind of protein shake do you buy? Or do you make your own?0
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It's the Costco kaizen vanilla powder mixed with water. It is palatable. Oh and it isn't bad mixed with a cup of cold black coffe either.
I don't use it every day. Before bed I just do a rough estimate of of my protein for the day and throw back the amount of grams I need to make up if I am short.
I worked out the weight per 25 and 30 gram drink so I wasn't always sloshing a 35g drink down. That (35g) can leave me still feeling satiated at breakfast.
NB: I am older and protein absorption in amounts between 25-35 g is said to work best for my age.
(Please realize I have been in maintenance so long I am quite laksidasical about most things, adequate protein is the only thing I even mentally track )
Getting protein through diet (I like food) is still the best, drinks are good for topping up- just the way I look at it.
Cheers, h.
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I know this sounds counter intuitive, but cut down on cardio and replace it with heavy lifting. Cardio defeats a lot of the lifting work you're doing.
Also, my body has trouble digesting meat - so I do 30-60 day spurts of fish only.
These are the most abstract things I've tried which have worked during severe plateaus. Hope this helps!3 -
deannalfisher wrote: »at 5'8", 146 you are in the normal range for your height - maybe focus on recomp rather than weight loss (building lean muscle, while losing fat)
^^THIS. I'm 5'8", 46, and 155lb is as low as I can really go. You are well within normal. If you don't like your appearance, work on the recomp (build more muscle to look trimmer).1 -
I'm concerned that you may have a medical issue, such as fibroid tumors, if your waist is that large at your current weight. You should get a complete checkup and discuss this with your doctor1
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I'm concerned that you may have a medical issue, such as fibroid tumors, if your waist is that large at your current weight. You should get a complete checkup and discuss this with your doctor
I agree with this as Im shorter at 5'6 1/2 and atm weigh 170 lb and my waist is 27 1/2 inches.im about to be 43 and going through perimenopause and have fibroid cysts that I get from time to time.0
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