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2002/08/30, 04:33 PM
This is the end of my fourth straight week, five days a week of cardio mostly on the bike, some on the elliptical, and weight lifting on machines every other day, all areas. The scale has only gone down a few pounds and my clothes are still snug. I am also down to eating 1000 - 1200 calories a day.
Is there a time that I can use as a goal? A little discouraging after four straight weeks and no results.
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2002/08/30, 05:33 PM
Woa there tiger, you should never go below 1200 calories a day, 1000 calories or even 1100 is way too low. When you eat like that your body goes into starvation mode and begins to hold on to everything that goes in your mouth storing it as fat! If you bring it up to 1200-1300 cal a day thats safer but again, 1200 should be the bare minimum! You sould also take into consideration how much your body needs and burns during the day there are some calculations that you can get your hands on to figure that out. Keep in mind,if you burn 3,500 more calories than you eat, whether by exercising more or eating less, your body converts 1 pound of its stored fat into energy to make up for the deficit, (meaning you will loose 1 pound). So, if you would like to see the weight come off and you are wondering why its taking so long, EAT MORE! And try to eat several small meals during the day, it helps increase your metabolism! Good luck and dont give up, it all comes with time and effort!
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2002/08/30, 05:42 PM
I don't know how big you are or how long your cardio sessions last, but it sounds like you're doing an awful lot on only 1000-1200 calories a day. Also do you mean you're doing a full body weights workout every other day? My guess is you're undereating and overtraining... most people need 1200 calories a day just to keep their bodies functioning properly, plus adequate nutrition (and rest) to build new muscle tissue. I'm no expert so by all means see what everyone else has to say, but you might find if you switch to a weights split, eat a little more, and make sure you get at least one total rest day a week, you may give your metabolism a kick in the butt. :)
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2002/08/31, 04:15 PM
yea, make sure you eat more, I suggest going up to atleast 1,500 calories a day. And also, find out your "Resting Matabolic Rate", this will help you out alot! Just do a search engine and look up fitness calculators
Also, if your having 1,500 calories a day, make sure its healthy! And also make sure that a good sum of it is coming from protein. This will make your muscles more efficient which will boost up your matabolisim which will cause the effect of burning more calories which eventually burns FAT (not weight)
Next, throw your scale away! This doesn't mean anything! lol the scale takes in your weight amount not your ratio of muscle to fat intake.
I'm glad to see that your weighlifting, many people don't get the idea that weighlifting and help you loose fat. But, make sure you give enough time for your muscles to rest. Every other day may be enough time for smaller muscles, like the arms, but for legs and back,(THe muscles that take the most time to fuel up again) Should rest alteast 5-7 before working them out again.
If your training about every other day, your probably over training, which can lead to muscle loss (This could be why you lost weight on the scale)
So i suggest eating about 100-200 calories les based on ur calorie intake rate, then a good cardiovasculaor workout 3-4 times a week, and continue lifting weights.
And make sure if your doing cardio do it AFTER your weightlifting program or in the morning(if you dont have a weightlifting for that day). DO NO do it before your workout program.
During your weightlifting workout, your body is burning off all the glucose (a source of energy) To keep the homostasis in line. Thats why you heart pumps at a higher rate to keep pumping the blood for oxeygn flow. About 30 minutes of weightlifting, you will eventually loose all your glucose energy, this is when you should do cardio
You burned all your carbs, used all the glucose, and your muscles are all tired, what only other source of energy will it use now for you to preform your cardio? thats right, FAT!!! Yes, it's true, fat is the last thing that the body wants to burn off, but if you already ran out, or in use of those other three energy sources, (carbs, glucose, muscle tissue) It will have to use fat
So, goodluck!! best wishes to ya!
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Tiffany Der #10
"You have to make it through the rain in order to see the Rainbow........."
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2002/08/31, 08:39 PM
At the first three months, I almost gave up, too. Scale showed the same, while I almost 'died' seeing all those chocolate bars (and I was here eating veggies, sigh..:)) But, I stick to the plan. After three months of healthy eating and moderate exercise (I like eating a lot and hate heavy exercise :)), the pounds melted away so fast that I really should buy new clothes. Spent a lot of money in the shopping mall each month.. It's okay to feel sad ONLY in the first weeks, but NEVER EVER GIVE UP...
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