A little help in cardio/strength train :)

elviraluvzu
elviraluvzu Posts: 33 Member
edited November 11 in Health and Weight Loss
Ok so before id eat about 2000-2200cals(breastfeeding) and alternate 3 day interval cardio with 3 day strength training. i NEVER lost the weight but my clothes fit more loose..weird.. My question is:
Now, i eat about 1600cals a day, plus if i were to strength train 3 days a week alternating with 3 days of interval/cardio for about 20 min each, would that help me loose the weight finally?plz help!

Replies

  • bulletprooff
    bulletprooff Posts: 77
    you could be gaining muscle and getting leaner, losing inches but not losing lbs.
  • LovesGG
    LovesGG Posts: 241 Member
    Muscle is more dense than fat. Therefore muscle will take up less space even if it's the same weight as fat. Sounds like you're just losing fat and gaining lean muscle...which is a great thing!
  • elviraluvzu
    elviraluvzu Posts: 33 Member
    Muscle is more dense than fat. Therefore muscle will take up less space even if it's the same weight as fat. Sounds like you're just losing fat and gaining lean muscle...which is a great thing!

    Dont get me wrong, i DO like that im loosing inches, its just that i get told by my doc that im overweight, blah blah blah, and im like, well, how come i look leaner yet weigh the same?..honestly i havent noticed myself leaner but those around me do tell me. So im guessing their not lying to make me feel good hahha...just wondering when am i gonna actually shed the fat?
  • Rayjewls
    Rayjewls Posts: 96 Member
    I would up my cardio to at least 40 min. Still doing intervals and add strength training the same day just alternate day upper body and lower
  • skinnylegs
    skinnylegs Posts: 5
    do your BMI....I think you are on the right track....Its hard to know exactly because I don't know your present weight....You can calculate you BMI on -line with your weight, your age and your activity level...
  • 0RESET0
    0RESET0 Posts: 128
    I think you meant BMR. Body Mass Index has nothing to do with your activity level.

    If you doctor says that you are over weight tell him to take a hike or use a more accurate measurable like Body fat %. BMI and weight are only half indicators of health. Hell, Arnold Schwartz..... would have been "overweight" in his prime Body building days.

    P.S. you could take your cardio up to 35-40 minutes but any more than that and you will be stuck doing that much for the rest of your life. Make the weight training the focus. Lift as heavy as you can. Building lean muscle will help melt the fat away and give you the body you want once you have cut the fat. You will not get huge lifting weights, you are a girl. If you do cardio only, you can become "skinny fat" where you are at a light weight but have no muscle. That is almost as bad as being over weight.

    It looks like you are on the right track. Everything you mentioned will get you where you want to be. With a 28 lb weight loss goal, I would suggest that you shoot for 0.5-1.0 lbs per week loss. This will help make sure that you aren't losing lean mass with the fat. If you do what you think is right and get stuck, then it may be time to look at what you are eating in addition to how much.
  • elviraluvzu
    elviraluvzu Posts: 33 Member
    I think you meant BMR. Body Mass Index has nothing to do with your activity level.

    If you doctor says that you are over weight tell him to take a hike or use a more accurate measurable like Body fat %. BMI and weight are only half indicators of health. Hell, Arnold Schwartz..... would have been "overweight" in his prime Body building days.

    P.S. you could take your cardio up to 35-40 minutes but any more than that and you will be stuck doing that much for the rest of your life. Make the weight training the focus. Lift as heavy as you can. Building lean muscle will help melt the fat away and give you the body you want once you have cut the fat. You will not get huge lifting weights, you are a girl. If you do cardio only, you can become "skinny fat" where you are at a light weight but have no muscle. That is almost as bad as being over weight.

    It looks like you are on the right track. Everything you mentioned will get you where you want to be. With a 28 lb weight loss goal, I would suggest that you shoot for 0.5-1.0 lbs per week loss. This will help make sure that you aren't losing lean mass with the fat. If you do what you think is right and get stuck, then it may be time to look at what you are eating in addition to how much.

    Yes actually i aimed for the 1.0lbs per week loss, i want to loose weight right and safe. So far ive been eating the 1600cals and i feel great. Ive been wanting to start again with my weight lifting(i havent done that since about 1 week ago) Ive been measuring my portions though i might need to add a little bit more of vegetables.
  • LovesGG
    LovesGG Posts: 241 Member
    Is your doctor determining that you are overweight based on the scale or is he considering other things like your body fat percentage? A body builder could easily weigh 300lbs and be 8% fat and a doctor would still consider him "overweight" based on the height and age ratio of the BMI chart. But the reality is, things aren't really supposed to be black and white like that. The BMI chart is supposed to give you a "general idea."

    You asked "when am i gonna actually shed the fat?"
    You could have shed the fat already and not noticed if you're not calculating the difference in body fat percentage. You could have gone from 20% body fat to 15% body fat and not notice if you based it on a weight-scale. Because if you gained muscle weight after losing fat, it's possible to still weigh the same.

    If it's really bugging you I would also suggest increasing your cardio time and/or intensity as appropriate to your health.
  • huntindawg1962
    huntindawg1962 Posts: 277 Member
    Is your doctor determining that you are overweight based on the scale or is he considering other things like your body fat percentage? A body builder could easily weigh 300lbs and be 8% fat and a doctor would still consider him "overweight" based on the height and age ratio of the BMI chart. But the reality is, things aren't really supposed to be black and white like that. The BMI chart is supposed to give you a "general idea."


    I just heard Lou Ferrigno state on Celebrity Apprentice last Sunday that in his prime he was 300 lbs and 3% body fat. Ya - the charts would have said he was overweight. Remarkable numbers though.
  • elviraluvzu
    elviraluvzu Posts: 33 Member
    Is your doctor determining that you are overweight based on the scale or is he considering other things like your body fat percentage? A body builder could easily weigh 300lbs and be 8% fat and a doctor would still consider him "overweight" based on the height and age ratio of the BMI chart. But the reality is, things aren't really supposed to be black and white like that. The BMI chart is supposed to give you a "general idea."

    You asked "when am i gonna actually shed the fat?"
    You could have shed the fat already and not noticed if you're not calculating the difference in body fat percentage. You could have gone from 20% body fat to 15% body fat and not notice if you based it on a weight-scale. Because if you gained muscle weight after losing fat, it's possible to still weigh the same.

    He did determine that i was overweight based on the height and age ratio on the BMI chart. Way before i use to weigh 130 (im a medium frame so that looked like i was completely skinny) and i recognize i lost the weight the wrong weigh..i was what you call "skinny fat", no muscle, and i was fatigued, dizzy, etc....so when i went for a checkup, ANOTHER doctor told me that if i wanted to loose weight, its gotta involve weight lifting and some cardio. He warned me that i would GAIN muscle weight, but id have that sleek 'toned' figure.
  • LovesGG
    LovesGG Posts: 241 Member
    I just heard Lou Ferrigno state on Celebrity Apprentice last Sunday that in his prime he was 300 lbs and 3% body fat. Ya - the charts would have said he was overweight. Remarkable numbers though.

    Wow, that's insane lol.


    But elviraluvzu,
    The other doctor is right. Don't get too lost in the numbers on the scale because the scale doesn't tell you the whole story. A lot of people get depressed and give up when it only SEEMS like they're not losing the fat when they actually are. I also suggest you ask your doctor (or someone who can accurately use a skin caliper like a personal trainer) to check your body fat percentage so you can compare the before and after.
  • elviraluvzu
    elviraluvzu Posts: 33 Member
    But elviraluvzu,
    The other doctor is right. Don't get too lost in the numbers on the scale because the scale doesn't tell you the whole story. A lot of people get depressed and give up when it only SEEMS like they're not losing the fat when they actually are. I also suggest you ask your doctor (or someone who can accurately use a skin caliper like a personal trainer) to check your body fat percentage so you can compare the before and after.
    [/quote]

    yeah i mean most people around me tell me that i look slimmer and when to the doc(the one who said im morbidly obese) my husband was actually suprised to see i weighed the same. Im re-starting my weight training/cardio again:)
  • LovesGG
    LovesGG Posts: 241 Member
    Good for you. Keep us updated on your progress!
  • bexblonde
    bexblonde Posts: 80
    I've been doing a mix of cardio and strength training 5ish days a week since I started MFP (around 6 weeks or so). I've only lost 3lbs in weight, but I've lost 5 inches from around my waist and can see a huge difference already. If you're burning fat and building muscle mass, it's definitely a good idea to measure yourself as the weighing scales can be a bit misleading.
  • stephl21uk
    stephl21uk Posts: 123 Member
    i would use one of the proper scales that you find in your pharmacy and have to pay to use and keep an eye on ur body fat % and you'll be able to see xx
  • elviraluvzu
    elviraluvzu Posts: 33 Member
    I've been doing a mix of cardio and strength training 5ish days a week since I started MFP (around 6 weeks or so). I've only lost 3lbs in weight, but I've lost 5 inches from around my waist and can see a huge difference already. If you're burning fat and building muscle mass, it's definitely a good idea to measure yourself as the weighing scales can be a bit misleading.

    Yeah im the same way.....well, i guess its true that scales are misleading. Thanks everyone for the info :)
  • elviraluvzu
    elviraluvzu Posts: 33 Member
    Good for you. Keep us updated on your progress!

    Sure will! Thanks!
  • psuLemon
    psuLemon Posts: 38,426 MFP Moderator
    It's really hard to figure out what could be the issue without being able to look at your food diary? Also, do you have any medical conditions like PCOS or a thyroid problem that could affect things? Also, since you mentioned you used to be skinny fat, there is a possibility your metabolic rate is really low since you lost all your muscle.\


    BTW, sometimes it just takes time. You may be losing fat, but at some point, your body will drop the weight.
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