HELP! Gaining Weight

[kidsleepdoc]

First of all, does anyone notice they are up a couple of pounds after heavy weight lifting? OK, now that said, I need suggestions from people/Cathe to help me out.

1. I like food!

2. I really try to keep healthy eating, but slip a little every couple of days.

3. Some think to add protein, others think to add non animal substances, what works? Also, you have to be able to live with it.

4. I am on 2 medications, each cause weight gain for me. The Pill and a very small dose of Prozac and make it very difficult (except for starvation) to lose the weight once I have gained it.

5. I workout 5-6 days a week, depending on my work schedule. I have to leave my house at 6:30 am the days I work, so it's hard to get a workout on those 2 days unless I start late.
So, in the last week,I did 40 minutes of cardio (mostly step)for 4 days, 1/2 of slow and heavy yesterday (legs, shoulders, chest and abs) and really lifted heavy for me, and will do the other half tomorrow. Core/abs traing 4 days per week. I HATE running, so other than that I will try anyting.

6. Starting Dec. 17, my son begins his ski race season and I spend 5 hours/day on the weekends on the slopes (1 hour off for lunch) I NEVER lose weight skiing! Why is that? It also makes it difficult to get a workout in. We need to leave here at 6:15 am so he can be on the snow by 8 am.

Unfortunately, I am now becoming obsessed with ways to find an eating plan to fit into my lifestyle.

So, I would appreciate any thoughts or suggestions on eating, changing workout patterns, adding them on ski days and what to add. THANKS!

 

[dandygirl]

I CAN REALLY RELATE TO YOUR WEIGHT GAIN ISSUE. IWORKOUT 7 DAYS A WEEK 1 TO 2 HOURS A DAY. I HAVE 2 SMALL CHILDREN AND WORK PART TIME. SO LIFE IS BUSY. lIKE YOU I HAVE BECOME VERY OBSESSIVE OVER GETTING MY WORKOUTS IN. iF I DONT I GO STIR CRAZY. AND ANY DIET SLIP UPS AND I PUT ON 5 POUNDS IN A MATTER OF A WEEK. I THINK WE HAVE TO BE A LITTLE MORE FOREGIVING OF OURSELVES . I KNOW THATS NOT EASY TO DO , BUT I THINK THAT STICKING TO IT IS THE BEST WE CAN DO. ONE THING THAT REALLY WORKS FOR ME WHEN I GAIN A FEW IS THE SOUTH BEACH DIET AND LOTS OF CROSS TRAINING AND ADDING A POWER WALK IN THE EVENING 3 DAYS A WEEK. I KNOW FAD DIETS ARE FROWNED UPON BUT FOR A TWO WEEK SHOCK TO THE SYSTEM IT REALLY WORKED FOR ME AND THEN I RETURNED TO MY GOOD EATING HABITS AND EXERCISE . GOOD LUCK IN YOUR EFFORTS . :*

 

[onedayatatime]

I'm not Cathe---but what has worked for me is to monitor eating more closely AND maybe more importantly is to look at my activity level when NOT exercising. I got a pedometer (New Lifestyles Digi-Walker SW-701) and tracked my activity level throughout the day. I found that despite length of workout, some days I was more sedentary and that impacted my weight loss goals. Now I try to get an average daily step rate at a level that leads me to either maintain or lose weight, depending on my goal. It helped me feel be less hard on myself and see that it's a total lifestyle change (sitting around too much at my job) is not cancelled out by an intense workout. Now I do a lot of little extra activity to keep my energy up and step count high.

Hope this helps!
Barb

 

[ldy_solana]

dan,welcome to the boards

your weight gain may be from not ENOUGH rest actually. 2 hours a day 7 days a week is excessive imo. you NEED 1 to 2 days of rest(even active rest like yoga is OKAY on those days off) to let the body repair itself from all the hard work. you actually put small tears in the muscles from working out with resistance and it needs 24-48 hours to heal. i am not saying don't do anything on your days off from exercise but choose something that is not so vigorous like walks with the family,yoga, or pilates, or keep moving with lots of housework. its functional calorie burning. but for regular exercise you really do need a break. and its been mentioned over and over again is to watch diet to make sure you are not eating to many calories then taking in.

welcome again

kassia



When they discover the center of the universe, a lot of people will be
disappointed to discover they are not it -- Bernard Bailey

 

[honeybunch1]

Good suggestions, Barb! Watch your diet, and MOVE more. I noticed a difference when I did both, and lost 14 lbs. after hanging at the same weight for years. I also got a pedometer, and try to get a minimum number of steps every day, and the includes weekends.

Don't blame your weight gain on weight training before you take a serious, close look at your eating habits and overall activity level!
Just Do It!

 

[mspeace]

WOW! I can totally relate to the gains... I am so stressed about my gains. I workout and try to eat right but when I see gains I get stressed and eat something I should have made a better choice about. I want to lose about 20 pounds but can't seem to get back on track. I was doing so well, I am on the WW Program which has worked in the past but I just can not get the swing of things. I work full time and go to school and have two teens at home. I was doing so much better before I start going to school to pursue my degree in Exercise Physiology. I lived in the gym after work and was able to workout as I pleased. Now I have to workout on a tight schedule. I workout now about 4 - 5 times a week combining cardio and weights. HELP!!!!!

 

[mspeace]

The pedometer idea is great. I have one but after I wore out the batterie I never replaced it. I am going to replace the battery today! I love Cathe's Workouts!

 

[mspeace]

Also... Honeybunch, that was well said because I know my eating habits are not that great. I will definately take all of your suggestions into consideration. I will be successful in my weight lose!!

 

[onedayatatime]

I first started using the pedometer during a rest week-- and I was amazed that on that week, I was more active in activities of daily living than I thought. I started keeping track of steps, getting an idea of a baseline activity level that works for me energy-wise and I have worked with it from there. The pedometer has helped me be lessed obsessed with workouts -- and more committed instead-- and less fearful of rest days, when I see that rest doesn't have to be lying in bed collapsed from overtraining.

Anyhoo--this has worked for me and I hope it helps. But different things work for different people and the important thing is to keep trying and don't give up!

Barb

 

[singinggoddess]

I had been gaining a few pounds here and there and working out 7 days a week like a maniac. Well, I got an pneumonia and was sick for 3 weeks and couldn't do anything. I actually lost 6 lbs and felt a lot better. I am not doing power yoga every other day and cardio on the days I am not doing yoga. My body looks so much better and I feel a lot more balanced and less obsessed. I definitely enjoy my food also and am not dieting. I really think there is a lot of truth in that you do need to take a few rest days a week either with yoga or a walk or something a lot more calm. Just my thoughts.

Susan

 

[lisaannjam]

Susan...sorry about the pneumonia but so happy you had a good outcome from it! Glad you're feeling good.