Help! Gaining in hips and abs

deanie

deanie

Cathlete
Okay, I must be doing something wrong.:0 I have been working out to Cathe since April. During the summer I did Imax 2 and C&W. The past 3 months(including Nov.) I have done Intensity series rotation, BB rotation and CTX rotation in that order.(Doing CTX now). I have changed my eating to eat more protein and then changed back to a more balanced diet. I already eat pretty clean- about 90%- and I like carbs and they like me so I eat about 2200ish calories a day(don't count but guesstimate). I know I need a recovery week and next week I take it. I'll be doing LM one day, 3 days yoga and 1 day eliptical. Here's my problem: I am gaining either weight or inches- not sure which and don't care because I can no longer fit into my jeans comfortabley(spelling?). I am gaining in my hips and abs and I don't know how to fix it. I did just turn 40 in April, but I don't think I can blame it on that:), nor do I want to. I am not hung up on how much I weigh, but I have been a size 4 ever since I can remember, even after 3 preqnancies. And I worked really hard after my last son was born to take it off!! Any way, now I'm just rambling... Any suggestions on what I can do?? The August rotation is not an option for me. I only have an hour, sometimes 80 min. tops to workout in the morning, and quite honestly that's the most I want to do. What I don't understand is, in Sept and Oct. even the begining of this month I would also walk 2 miles- just walk- because it was a nice day -one day a week and I still am gaining. I read so many people have lost weight with CTX why am I gaining?? I am really frustrated. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I don't want to actually lose weight, I think, just the inches in my hips and abs. Thank you in advance. Deanie:)
 
Hi Deanie,
I don't have much time to answer right now, but what jumped out at me was the # of calories a day that you consume. I'm 47, 5'2", 119 lbs. and also a size 4 or 6 (depends). However, the # of calories I consume and have been able to maintain is between 1300-1500 a day (for 3 days, then I jump to 1900 for the 4th day, and repeat). I also try to keep at 40% carbs, 40% protein, 20% fat, don't always achieve that, but shoot for it anyway. I track my calories on www.fitday.com. Really works for me. I was amazed at how much I was eating before, caloriewise, and the % of fat I was consuming without even knowing it. Fitday is free and so useful. Lots of ladies on here use it. Since tracking my calories and sticking to this, I haven't really lost a lot of weight, but the fat layer on top of the muscle is much thinner, so I'm happy about that.

I, too, only work out for 1 hour a day, with a rest day a week.

Hope this helps, I will be checking back to see what other advice is given. Hang in there and try something different! I personally think that you will start seeing results if you change the eating.

Jeanette
 
Thanks Jeanette, I was concerned that I wasn't eating enough and maybe I'm eating too much!:) I am headed off to fitday.com- I like that its free. This is probably the wrong month to start tracking my calories:) but i'm going to try.
Thanks, Deanie:)

Editing to say THANK YOU! I love the fitday website!!!!!:) I already entered my breakfast and lunch and soon to eat snack and wow does it put things in perspective when you see it all in front of you.
 
I agree that you MUST take a close look at what you're eating - most of the time when you gain weight it's because you're taking in more calories than you need to maintain your weight. Counting points, calories, or whatever IS a drag, but that's how you can get a handle on your food intake.

Just Do It! :)
 
Okay, I just got back from Fitday.com and logged all my eating this week, I keep a journal like from weight watchers-just food, not calories- and apparently I am at roughly 1500 calories a day. (I guessed before about calories because I've never counted them before). I think that's what I should be at.? Am I eating enough or not? Do you think I need to try a fat loss rotation?- after my recovery week? I'm soooo confused.:)
Deanie:)
 
Hi Diana,

I think you probably are eating enough.I've used fitday before and sometimes the cals aren't totally accurate.I use to write things down and use fitday and when I would calculate what I wrote down, it would add up to more that fitdays.This is me going by the labels.
Why not try cutting your cals some and start doing more cardio?
I know its a pain.I am only 27 but I am starting to see little changes that weren't there 2-3 yrs ago:eek: I use to be able to cut back and do more cardio and the scale would drop in no time.And in the last 6 m I have gained weight and before this I was at a weight that I could maintain without watching everything that went into my mouth. I have tried getting rid of my 5 lbs gain but it is taking alot more out of me then is use to:eek:
Have you ever tried running? I have been doing more cardio lately and less weights, and the weight is starting to come off.
Good luck,
Lori:)
 
Lori,

More cardio sounds good. I could do running on the treadmill, I just find that boring. I do have an eliptical and could do that or cathe cardio more. I bought the PS series on vhs and was thinking of doing that after my recovery week for 3 weeks with 3 days of cardio inbetween. Maybe I could combine upperbody on one day, lower on one day and cardio for 4 days. The thing is, then, do I always need to do 4 days of cardio or just till the inches come off? Or would it be better to do PS 3 days, cardio 3 days, and add a 2 mile run in the afternoon 1 or 2 days a week? I don't want to cut out too much weight lifting because I really like the results I get from Cathe, with definition.

Also, I liked the fit day and seeing the calories I've eaten. Also I like seeing my percentage of carbs, protein, etc. So maybe I will just use that as a guide. I already write down what I eat anyway, it helps me stay on track. It seems I am okay with my calories intake. My concern is my calorie intake vs. my working out and how many calories I need.

Deanie:)
 
Deanie,
If I want to lose a couple of pounds, one thing that really helps is not eating at night. Not even a snack, I'll eat dinner of course but I won't have anything after that and it makes a difference. Sometimes I'll drink hot tea.

You might want to try doing some of the cardio w/ weights workouts as you get the best of both worlds. I have High Step Challenge and I like it alot. I've noticed a difference (in a very short amount of time) doing a variety of workouts (all Cathe: kickboxing, step, cardio&weight mixes, and of course weight lifting). I haven't lost any weight (well maybe like 2 lbs. but that's probably shot after yesterday x( )but my clothes fit different. I've just started doing Cathe's workouts at the beginning of October.

I also try to include some form of protein at every meal. Oh, and from what I've read and from my own experience, 4-5 days of cardio is essential if you want to LOSE weight, 3 days to maintain. Just be sure and mix it up. It keeps it fun and I think you'll see more results.

Good Luck,
Ashley
 
Oh I can so relate. i just started going to a trainer b/c of the same reason. Well...first thing he did was up my wt big time! He asks me what weight I am using for that exercise and he literally doubles it! He said my big problem is I am not pushing myself enough.

I think you should do a combo of Fitday w/watching eating, try something different and maybe really step it up! Increase your wts, increase your cardio and do something different. maybe your body is getting use to your workouts? I am also trying not to eat at night too.
 
See, that's where I am confused. I did IS rotation, then changed the next month to BB rotation and then this month I just completed 4 weeks of CTX rotation. So I am mixing it up and I was doing 5 days of cardio. And apparently my caloric intake was okay. I also was using mostly the same weights as Cathe on CTX (except bicep). So now I'm trying to change what I'm eating and still staying with the same calories and not eating after dinner( which I always had a fiber bar at night)- I do eat at 5:30 but I'm trying not to eat afterwards. And I am doing my recovery week of yoga and pilates and eliptical. Next month I am either doing Nov. 05 rotation or Jan 03(fat loss) rotation and see what happens. This way my cardio is an hour instead of half and hour 4 days a week. Also, I was using an 8in. step for CTX and maybe that's why my hips got so big. I usually only use that for Cathe's classic step and Low max.

I'd like a fat loss rotation using PS series(got it at the vhs sale) but I don't know of one. That would be a change in workouts for me too. I think.:)
 
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