Group: Beginners to Exercise

Created: 2012/01/01, Members: 970, Messages: 18927

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Discouraged

lynnoakdale
lynnoakdale
Posts: 116
Joined: 2003/12/12
United States
2004/02/19, 09:40 AM
Ok....I thought I had been doing well and really proud of myself until I went and got measured yesterday and weighed myself....come to find out I had lost 1 inch from waist and 1 inch from my hips and lost only 3 pounds and I have been busting my but for a while now and tried to be patient. I had tried to reduce my carb intake and increase my protein intake and come to find out that the reason I wasnt losin ganything was because maybe the meats I do eat pork and chicken (because that is all I can get here)pork being too high in fats and now I feel like I havent gotten anywhere.....so last night I made a salad ate some spaghetti and went to bed................but today is a new day and I will not let this one defeat my so I slept in this morning and got some rest for this afternoon.....Yes I know that I shouldnt feel this way but when I look at myself in the mirror I can see improvment in my body as far as toning and so on but here in a few weeks when I take my Physcial readiness test for the Navy that wont matter however the scales and the body fat measurement will matter......I want to scream.....does this ever end???
any words of wisdom will help here!!!!


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you can lead the horse to the water but you can't make them drink.....

~lynnoakdale
7707mutt
7707mutt
Posts: 7,686
Joined: 2002/06/18
United States
2004/02/19, 09:47 AM
Yeah but do not forget that muscle takes less space so you can loose inches but actual gain weight. Do not let that make you upset that is a good thing!:big_smile:

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LIFT HEAVY! BECOME STRONG, LIKE BULL!
agamble
agamble
Posts: 1,029
Joined: 2003/09/22
United States
2004/02/19, 09:49 AM
Let me see if I have this right. You have lost 3 lbs, 1 inch in your waist, 1 inch in your thighs, you look better, your clothes fit better, you have increased your awareness in fitness (I've read your posts), met a whole lot of like minded people with similar goals and you are discouraged. Hmmm, frankly I don't know how to respond other than to say Congratulations. Stick with your plan. You have proven that it works. Just continue to implement improvements.
Datdanigirl
Datdanigirl
Posts: 452
Joined: 2004/02/11
United States
2004/02/19, 10:07 AM
I second agamble.. You are on the program and seeing results.. they may not be at the level you were hoping for but look at the improvement you've made already : ]

Stick with it.. redouble your efforts.. you still have a few weeks and if you've built up new muscle, it will burn the fat even faster - just think what you can accomplish still!

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: ] ~ Danielle

Firm Butt Thin Thighs Flat Abs - repeat this mantra as needed whenever an unhealthy urge arises.
Shakkai
Shakkai
Posts: 142
Joined: 2003/12/05
United States
2004/02/19, 10:23 AM
I agree with agamble and datdanigril. There are times when I want to skip a day, and I haven't yet because I see the SLIM results I am getting. Yeah, I'd like a smaller butt, thinner thighs and a flatter stomach but this all takes effort. If I quit now, then I won't have what I do have now which is obliques, deltoids and triceps that all turn up to say hello.

Lynn, I might add, "Don't over do it!" Sometimes if we do too much at once it is a shock and hard to fall into. Sounds like you drastically changed your diet, am working out and reading every label you touch. All this is good, but do it in moderation... there is no need to make yourself crazy about this.

Try making a gratitude list every night (or whenever you are down about this). List out the things that you have noticed improvements on... your weight loss, your inches lost and your healthier eating. Then, when you won't have time to get down because you have a list right in front of you that tells you what graces you have received (not to mention your personal life, good weather, etc).

Live well! Live happy! Hocus Pocus, change your focus! :dumbbell:

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The average dog is nicer than the average person. -Andy Rooney
lynnoakdale
lynnoakdale
Posts: 116
Joined: 2003/12/12
United States
2004/02/19, 10:29 AM
Agamble.....you are right I am missing the big picture here......you guys are awesome thanks so much for the words of motivation and encouragement. I appreciate that so much......I am usually pretty motivated and ready to go work out but yesterday that wasnt happening......I needed to purge myself and have that one day where it jsut wasnt happening......today I am looking forward to the gym becuase not only is it a better life but it has become my sanity on this island that I live on.....thanks much for all the good words......:dumbbell:

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you can lead the horse to the water but you can't make them drink.....

~lynnoakdale
agamble
agamble
Posts: 1,029
Joined: 2003/09/22
United States
2004/02/19, 11:51 AM
It must be natural to get like that because I find myself feeling the same way and I know I have read the same from many here at ft. Good solid members who have made tremendous progress and yet they too get discouraged. It is an excellent time to sit back and reflect on our accomplishments and refocus our efforts. Just as our bodies need a break, so to our spirits and minds. Good luck to you
asimmer
asimmer
Posts: 8,201
Joined: 2003/01/07
United States
2004/02/19, 01:20 PM
lynnoakdale, are you getting weighed by weightwatchers, or some program like that? I think the sad thing is that programs like that focus so much on pounds lost.
An inch off your waist is awesome, an inch of your hips - great!!
Find someone with bodycomposition calipers and track your progress in a more encouraging way - by seeing how you are gaining that awesome muscle and losing fat. The weight may not change as much, but your percentage of bodyfat will.
Throw the scale away and focus on how your clothes fit.
Stick with the protein foods and vegetables - that spaghetti is no friend to fat loss. You are on track, keep it up!!!!!

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"To be able to go to the gym and train hard is a joy and a privelege, even though the hard work necessitates driving yourself through considerable discomfort. Savor this privelege and blessing, and revel in it."
Stuart McRobert, Beyond Brawn
lynnoakdale
lynnoakdale
Posts: 116
Joined: 2003/12/12
United States
2004/02/19, 02:43 PM
asimmer.............I am getting weighed and measured by Navy Pt coordinators and this is how they determine your body fat. They measure your neck your hips (smallest part) and waist (smallest part) then add your waist and hips together and subtract your neck and look on a chart based on your height and then that determines your body fat. I am not sure if this is the best method but it is one that the Navy has been doing since forever. I know that I am gaining muscle because I can see muscle tone in my arms and who knew I had collar bones. I was eating alot of pork and chicken because those are the meats that I can get here the easiest and the pork may not have been the best for me because of the fat content. I was concentrating more on the protein rather then the calorie intake not to say that I was eating bad but maybe the wrong meats. I told this to my PY coordinator and he told me to keep it light with lots of salad and veggies stay away from the meat with high fats and away from the protein shakes (I happen to be drinking Isopure whey protein at the moment) ...........I do an intense amount of cardio along with weight training and if I eat like he suggests then I will starve to death and I simply refuse to starve. I will try to eat the foods that will continue to give me the fuel for my vigorous work outs.....When I first started and I was eating like a bird I had no energy and I almost always had a headache so I increased my meats and reduced the carbs.......today I am back on the pain train and I will not be defeated.........I know I am improving but it is easy to get disocuraged at times when you work so hard. I just want to say Thank you to everyone on here becuase you guys motivate me and make me want to work that much harder even when I think I have no energy. I just have to keep with the plain and not let a day of badness get me down.......this isnt a hobby for me it is a way of life.........Thanks again everyone!!!!

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you can lead the horse to the water but you can't make them drink.....

~lynnoakdale
myoung6470
myoung6470
Posts: 75
Joined: 2003/10/30
United States
2004/02/20, 06:03 PM
Lynnokdale,

It sounds like besides busting your butt you've been kicking some butt. Way to go! Anytime you can make the scale and the measure go in the negative direction, that is a victory! Rock on!

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Happy trails,

Mike Young
Said the Buddist monk to the hot dog vendor, "Make me one with everything."
lynnoakdale
lynnoakdale
Posts: 116
Joined: 2003/12/12
United States
2004/02/21, 02:58 PM
Thanks myoung.......that is the motivation I need.....I am trying and that is all I can do........when you think you cant do anymore then you do five more or five more minutes.........:dumbbell:

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you can lead the horse to the water but you can't make them drink.....

~lynnoakdale
Carivan
Carivan
Posts: 8,542
Joined: 2002/01/20
Canada
2004/02/21, 03:02 PM
Keep up the good work. Be patient.
And of course....AGamble said it all.
CONGRATULATIONS on the body changes!:big_smile:

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"A will finds a way"
Ivan Montreal Canada
KJWalsh
KJWalsh
Posts: 4
Joined: 2004/03/03
Canada
2004/03/05, 02:45 PM
I'm a newbie here but you sound like you're on the right track there so keep on pumpn'.
lynnoakdale
lynnoakdale
Posts: 116
Joined: 2003/12/12
United States
2004/03/18, 06:46 AM
Ok UGH!!!!!! I want to say that the past few days have been a struggle for me to say the least. I have started doing aerobics and will do them 4 times a week along with weight training and the cardio in the morning. I got on the scales yesterday and to my shock I was 1 pound heavier then I was a few days ago. I am so frustrated right now because I seem to be going the other way and I know everyone says dont look at the scale but man when it goes the other way it doenst help and I feel like what am I doing here.......Last night at aerobics our instructor ran a 5k before she taught the class can I jsut strangle these people........I have been lifting for a few months now and am starting to really push my muscles to where I cant do anymore but then when I got to aerobics and we are doing squats and lunges I am hurting because my legs are still hurting from the pwer squats a day before and I feel like an idiot because I cant hang in with the class. This morning I got up and had a spoon ful of lite yougurt and off to the gym and ran 4 miles and then after I had a whey protein shake with skim milk and to slices of peaches mised with it. How am I to tell if my gain is muscle or fat. I am sorry but I just have to vent.....in a few weeks i will get measured for my PRT and I was 1 percent over body fat and now I am 10 pounds over the weight......I have worked out more here then I have my entire life and have only began to take it serious since I moved to this deserted Island and now it seems like working my butt off in the gym and eating nothing but chicken tun and salad (yes I do have a tuna sandwich wheat bread at lunch) isnt enough.......did my metabolism slow down that much when I turned 30.........I am thinking of starting cardio 3 times a day instead of 2 times because the weight just isnt coming off.......This is so frustrating. I see what you guys eat and there just isnt the means for me to eat the way you do so I try to stick with it a much a possible but fresh vegatables are foreign here so I try to eat more salad (when they have it....I am sorry you guys thanks for listening this is just frustrating for me..............I dont know what else I need to give up.......I dont eat sweets although I do sometimes keep chocolate milk (when they have it) in my fridge and when I have a craving I can take a drink of that and that satisfies any craving I have and keeps me from eating something that is totally bad for me.......Once again thanks for listening to a frustrated soul on this cycle of fitness......:angry:

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you can lead the horse to the water but you can't make them drink.....

~lynnoakdale
Kyrah
Kyrah
Posts: 251
Joined: 2004/03/11
United States
2004/03/18, 08:37 AM
Military measurements are very outdated and not always a reflection of how truely in shape a person really is, the AF just started a new system to take that into consideration, so sorry to hear you stressing over it! HOWEVER, koodos to you on keeping up the good work!!! You are a motivation to people like me who are just now starting out! :dumbbell:
lynnoakdale
lynnoakdale
Posts: 116
Joined: 2003/12/12
United States
2004/03/18, 10:39 AM
thanks Kyrah....I know the navy has the oldest method of determining body fat....it amazes me that we can spend so much money on certain new technology but still be in the stone age with other technology.........last time I got measured there was a 10 inch difference between my waist and my hips and the nurse who was observing said that is usally a sign of a woman who is good shape.....but the Navy doenst take these things into condsidertation.....I cant give up (although right now I feel like it) becuase I have worked so hard to get where I am.....thanks for the support....:big_smile::love:

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you can lead the horse to the water but you can't make them drink.....

~lynnoakdale
asimmer
asimmer
Posts: 8,201
Joined: 2003/01/07
United States
2004/03/18, 10:47 AM
lynn,
I had a friend in the military and when she informed her pt officer (or whatever they are called) that she was training for bodybuilding, he cut her a little slack on the measurements and all. She could outdo everyone for pullups and pushups and could do all the running, etc.
Don't overtrain yourself trying to lose weight, that won't work. stay with your previous amount of cardio and eat as well as you can. it takes time for your body to change.
i would venture that you are putting on muscle, and that will register as weight gain.
How do your clothes fit? Do you look leaner?
Unfortunately, the military is very outdated in measuring body composition. The other thing you have to consider is that the military wants more endurance type strength than bulk and force. A big, hungry muscular person isn't too useful in a survival situation where food supplies are low and endurance is needed. I am not knocking muscle or bodybuilders, as I aspire to both, but I am the first to admit that I would suck on Survivor because I would eat the other competitors. I just can't go long without food.
Theres an idea - you could eat that oficer...just kidding!
But sriously - cut yourself a little slcak and ease back a little. Overdoing it won't do you any good.

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"To be able to go to the gym and train hard is a joy and a privelege, even though the hard work necessitates driving yourself through considerable discomfort. Savor this privelege and blessing, and revel in it."
Stuart McRobert, Beyond Brawn
hecdarec
hecdarec
Posts: 2,457
Joined: 2003/12/16
United States
2004/03/18, 10:49 AM
Lynn what branch of the service are you in?

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My gym dues are not paid with money.
lynnoakdale
lynnoakdale
Posts: 116
Joined: 2003/12/12
United States
2004/03/18, 10:59 AM
Asimmer.......thanks for the encouragement and you know I would suck on survivor because I would eat them too....I guess I look leaner then before because I can see bones I didnt think I had (collar and breast bone who knew) I have started and this is a slow process to lift heavier and increase me weight working my muscle to failure....working out alone kind of makes this hard but I do as heavy as I can concentrating on my form and once my form starts to suffer and I can no longer do it I stop take a break and then do as many as I can in the next set. My last set is always a lighter weight and burning out at the end....is this an ok method for me to use since I work out alone... I do track my weight (by carrying a pad a pen with me to the gym) and try to increase by at least 5-10 pounds each time I work that muscle.......I think you have an amazing body and that is how I want to look.........:big_smile::love:

Hec I am in the US Navy.......:love:

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you can lead the horse to the water but you can't make them drink.....

~lynnoakdale
hecdarec
hecdarec
Posts: 2,457
Joined: 2003/12/16
United States
2004/03/18, 11:01 AM
I am in the Marine Corps. According to the way that they check for bodyfat I am 19%. I refuse to believe that. Anyway keep pressing along shipmate!

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My gym dues are not paid with money.
asimmer
asimmer
Posts: 8,201
Joined: 2003/01/07
United States
2004/03/18, 11:06 AM
lynn- if you want to look like my photos - less is more. I did 1/2 hour cardio in the morning (after a whey protein shake), lifted heavy, one bodyparta day usually, for about 45 minutes, and did 1/2 hour low-moderate intensity cardio in the evening.
I rotated my carb intake weekly (high on sunday and progressively lower throughout the week, til basically no carbs on Fri/sat) ate more fat than you can imagine on low carb days, ate more protein than you can imagine and ate about 6-8 small meals a day towards the end.
Lots of fish and veggies. If you can't get a lot of veggies - eat what fruit you can in the am and rice in small amounts or black beans (I am not sure what they do have in the Bahamas).
Give us a list of what is available to you - we can try and figure out a way to eat around what you have available!
lynnoakdale
lynnoakdale
Posts: 116
Joined: 2003/12/12
United States
2004/03/18, 05:48 PM
instead of fresh fruits and veggies I have opted for can veggies such as green beans corn and mixed veggies.....I do tend to eat alot of apples because that is mainly what is in the store but I tend to keep the fruits mainly in the morning and my family does send me some can fruits but use them as a last resort because of all the sugar. I do eat alot of chicken for lunch I had a nice sald with oil and vinegar dressing and half of a chicken breast followed by a small amount of rice and a few green beens with some sauerkraut on the side. i jsut got done working out and just finished my whye protein shake and now for dinner it will be small portion of chicken with a salad and can of green beans (half a cup) I have done 2/12 hours of cardio today followed by weight training and I lifted heavier then the last time I worked that muscle. I am trying to cut out the carbs as much as possible and it is hard........alot of times even at the chow hall there isnt fresh veggies so I was suprised to see they had green beans. I have decided to cut my chicken portion down ( I think I was eating too much of it in the pm)...so instead of eating a breast I have cut it in half and it half of that. We dont get alot of fresh things here because it comes over on a barge and if the weather is bad then no good veggies.....we have alot of can and frozen veggies and fruit here so I am shifting to that.....anything has got to be better then no veggies at all.........the reason for so much cardio was not because I went overboard it was just because there wasnt really anything else for me to do and a friend asked if I wanted to go to aerobics and I said sure.......By the way I got the sports bra things you recommended and OH MY GOD it made a world fo difference granted I stil wore the 2 but the 3rd one helped alot......kind of just kept everything inplace........no jiggles.....thanks amy you have been so helpful to me and I apprciate all your wisdom maybe one day I will get a pic posted of me so you guys can see what i look like.......I hope this helped........thanks again...:love:

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you can lead the horse to the water but you can't make them drink.....

~lynnoakdale
asimmer
asimmer
Posts: 8,201
Joined: 2003/01/07
United States
2004/03/19, 09:37 AM
lynn,
i am printing this out so i can look at it and plot it out clearly.
I still think you are actually undereating. Have you added up how many calories you are getting in?
Even if it is because you are bored, 2 1/2 hrs of cardio is too much. No wonder your legs can't recover and you burn out in the lunges and all in class.

About a cup of cut up chicken breast is a good portion, half a breast may be a bit small. Depends on if you get the big, bone-in breasts or the smaller boneless breasts.

I am going to reread you post and see what jumps out. Itr sounds like you are obsessins and overexercising. You won't get the body you want that way.


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"To be able to go to the gym and train hard is a joy and a privelege, even though the hard work necessitates driving yourself through considerable discomfort. Savor this privelege and blessing, and revel in it."
Stuart McRobert, Beyond Brawn
lynnoakdale
lynnoakdale
Posts: 116
Joined: 2003/12/12
United States
2004/03/19, 10:38 AM
Thanks amy,
I try to follow this diet that I found that allows me 1200 calories a day.......is this too less for the amount of exercise I do......I try to eat every 2 hours and follow it as healthy and best I can......I drink lots of water and once a week I have a small gatorade to replace salt that I may have lost becuase I dont salt my food. It wasnt until maybe a few days ago that I could see a difference in the way my uniform fit.....the pants hang to the waist and they are bigger in the legs. I do agree that 2 hours of cardio is alot but I set in a office all day with not amount of activity during my work hours I figure I need to make up for the lack of somewhere else. I believe I will trim the cardio down to once a day from now on because I noticed this morning at aerobics that my legs were tired and killing me.
The chicken breast I buy some are the really big ones and the others are small....I will try and cut it up to a cup am I using the measuring cup the you measure liquids in??
I have one of those and is it ok to use that? Thank you so much for being patient with me and taking the time to help me. When I go to aerobics and see the other girls in there I think to myself I would love to have there body but then when I am lifting in the gym I dont see any of them there. I am finally getting comfortable with myself and the way I am trying to sculpt........My legs are a little more firmer and stronger then before.:dumbbell:

I do have a question for you?
When you squat (and I am only doing 60 pounds on the smith machine) at what weight should you begin using a weight belt???
Amy once again many thanks goes out to you and all the people here who have helped me.:love::love:

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you can lead the horse to the water but you can't make them drink.....

~lynnoakdale
asimmer
asimmer
Posts: 8,201
Joined: 2003/01/07
United States
2004/03/19, 06:12 PM
1200????? Your body is starving!!!!!!!!!!!!
How much do you weigh? Multiply it by 14, that is a beginning amount of calories for you. I am sure it will be more than 1200.

When you squat, learn to stabilize with your core - you do not need a belt. Belts may be useful for some people doing extreme amounts of weight, otherwise they are, IMO, useless and actually can cause your spinal erectors to get weak because they don't have to work. This causes an imbalance. If you have time, do a search on fit buddy for weight belts or belts and see what comes up, we have argued it back and forth a lot here. (i squat up to 195 on a good day and I don't use a belt. I used to squat a lot more, and I never used a belt).
Switch to weights before cardio, if you can. If you need a reason why, look through the posts, it has recently been explained in pretty good detail.
Eat some oatmeal or fiber type cereal for breakfast. That will help bring your calories up in a good way.
Basically, right now, your body is in a state of famine and probably panic because you are doing so much exercise and eating so little.

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"To be able to go to the gym and train hard is a joy and a privelege, even though the hard work necessitates driving yourself through considerable discomfort. Savor this privelege and blessing, and revel in it."
Stuart McRobert, Beyond Brawn
Relique
Relique
Posts: 187
Joined: 2004/03/17
United States
2004/03/19, 06:28 PM
Corect me if I am wrong, but when it comes to calories, you need to try and up your Protine calories and lower your Carb calories to loose weight? was just a thought, but just wanted to say WTG on loosing the inches, that is awsome, and hey, the weight will follow (off you that is) At least that is how it went for my wife so far. keep it up and good job!

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Sean \"TBAR\" Johnson -USAF-