building muscle (yay) but not losing fat (ugh)-Help!!

[LeanneM]

RE: building muscle (yay) but not losing fat (ugh)-Help...

Carolyn's idea of the "happy weight" seems so true!

A few days ago I was reading something, too, about how your weight will tend to plateau after you lose about 10-15% of your body weight. The article I was reading recommended letting yourself stay at that plateau for a few weeks so your body can re-adjust to your new weight, before then shocking it again and trying to lose more.

Not helpful, of course, with that short deadline, but it might help others!

 

[tneah]

RE: building muscle (yay) but not losing fat (ugh)-Help...

I agree with the happy weight thing as well. I never deviate more than 5 or 6 pounds away from my own happy weight. Even when I got my bodyfat to 13 percent. Weird. Frustrating, I sometimes think I would just have to lose muscle mass in order to see the numbers on the scale drop alot lower than that.

 

[Dela]

RE: building muscle (yay) but not losing fat (ugh)-Help...

The workouts in the Jillian Michaels book are great fat burners with the added benefit of toning, they are about 1 hour 4 days a week of circuit weights mixed in with bursts of cardio, and 1 day of 1 hour steady state cardio. Since you have a limited amount of time, adding in some more cardio might help.

I'm not as familiar with all of the Cathe videos yet, but I would think your idea of 2-3 full body workouts with lots of cardio is the way to go for the short term. Some other videos if you have them come with these 10 day or 6 day jump start diets, that are generally 5 meals a day, good amount of protein, some healthy fat, and lower carbs.

And of course, you could bring the dress to a seamstress to have it fitted better instead of stressing yourself out for the next 2 weeks!

I'm in a very similar place, all my waist bands fit, but my pants hug my legs now, I used to be completely the opposite before I started losing weight and toning up. Same thing with the arms, right after work out, I feel all ripped, then a little later, I just see these soft arms.

Good luck, and have fun at the wedding!

 

[janiejoey]

I use to get very frustrated as well. What I found that works for me is zigzagging. Not only your exercise routines, but also the calories you intake. One day lower calories, stay on that for 2 or 3 days, then a higher calorie day then begin again. With both the exercise and the calorie zigzag, my body gets very confused and I lose weight.

Janie

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The idea is to die young as late as possible.

 

[catwoman88]

Fitness and losing weight is 80% dietary, 10% exercise, and 10% genetics, so I'd look at your diet.

What works for me as a quick fix is eating only chicken breast and fruits & veggies. I put a little seasoning and gluten-free (I'm gluten-intorant) flour on those thin-sliced chicken breasts by Tyson and saute them up in a little olive oil (I can't say I'm frying them, because there's not that much oil and they cook in a snap because they're so thin). Then, I will either saute some veggies or steam them (broccoli, zucchini, carrots, celery, mushrooms, summer squash, onion) with a little seasoning and/or crushed garlic. Add a little brown rice or some salsa on the chicken and you've got a meal. If I eat that kind of food for lunch and dinner for 3-4 days, I feel like my body drops about a size. I feel so skinny!

Here's the other suggestion I'd make: Try going wheat & gluten-free. I had struggled with losing weight, predominantly in the lower body, for a couple of decades and couldn't figure it out, because I exercise like a fiend! Someone suggested I go gluten-free, and when I did I dropped almost 10 pounds in a month. I actually lost over 3 inches in my hips! I lost about an inch everywhere else. I was apparently gluten-intolerant and it was wreaking havoc on my body and keeping me in a state of inflammation all the time. If you do go gluten-free, you WILL likely have withdrawal (most people do). I felt flu-ish (aches, fatigue, a little dizzy) for a couple of days the first week, then just felt tired after that for a couple of months. Now, I feel great and feel like my body is finally working the way it should. There's a lot to learn about going gluten-free, but there is a ton of info on the web and a few good books you can buy on the topic (Wheat Free Worry Free is a good resource). Celiac.com is also a good website to check out.

 

[olexa17]

That is so interesting about your gluten free comment - I am just now incorporating gluten free/wheat free as I have lactose intolerance and wondering how going gluten free will help me....I have been stuck at my last 10lbs FOREVER!! I'd love more recommendations!


Kelly Olexa
www.olexa.myarbonne.com