Hi, everyone! I need some guidance and since so many of you are BRILLIANT in this area I thought I’d come here for help. I have joined a weight loss challenge at work (started two weeks ago). I paid $50.00 and the winner gets $500 (the woman with the highest PERCENT of weightloss in 12 weeks, there is also a guy winner as well).
My problem. I have already lost 14 pounds since February (prior to the challenge) and now my weight loss has plateaued. I have really done a great job up to this point- but haven’t been able to get the scale to move in 2 weeks (perfect timing- right? Just in time for the CHALLENGE! ARGH!). Now- I know- muscle weighs more than fat. and- I do have fair amount of muscle. Even with a higher body fat percent (don’t know it but can SEE it) you can see the muscles in my arms. I LOVE to lift. I have been doing some serious strength training since January- and not much cardio. I usually lift 3 days a week, pretty heavy and do cardio twice (maybe). Sometimes I’ll do an upper and lower split and then the 3rd day that week I’ll do a full body cardio and weight circuit. As for how much I have to lose, well, realistically… I weigh 172 right now and 160 is the lowest I’ve ever been in my adult life. I was a very comfortable size 10 at that size (I am 5’9”) and would be THRILLED to be there again. 12 more pounds might not be enough to win (there are people who have 40+ to lose in this challenge) so I’ve got to lose EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THOSE POUNDS to have a chance!
I’m thinking to really get my weight loss back on track I am going to have to up the cardio quite a bit and maybe switch from the heavy weights to more endurance based- just so I’m not putting on muscle weight to compensate for the lost fat weight. What do you all think? I own ALL of Cathe’s workouts, btw. I just started doing Fitnessfreak's updated Get in Shape for Summer rotation (Ok- not sure if this is the title exactly- but it is one for summer that she updated last year to include Cathe’s newer workouts- THANK YOU SO MUCH DEBBIE!!) but this is pretty heavy on lifting and light on cardio (I think there are three strength days, one circuit day and 2 straight cardio days if I’m remembering correctly- the sheet is at home and I'm not). Is this right for me or should I do something else??
I know I need to eat clean and am trying REALLY hard. I could definitely improve in this area and work on it everyday. It is the working out that isn’t hard for me. I LOVE IT! As for calories- I am trying to eat around 1900-2000 a day because I work out 5+ days a week (my goal is 6 days but I rarely hit that) and try to walk for 20 minutes 2-3 times a week on TOP of working out. I also do Yoga 2 times a week. I saw somewhere that Debbie (Fitnessfreak) recommends eating 30g carbs, 30g fat and 40 g protein to lose weight- aren’t those too few carbs for how much I workout?? I know how to eat clean but putting it into practice is WAY easier said than done. I know that’s what is going to make or break me! I am logging everything I eat on Sparkpeople.com so I know what is actually being consumed.
$500.00 is on the line (which will go toward the Cathe roadtrip if I’m lucky enough to get my registration in before it is sold out) so please- HELP!!! Any recommendations at all? I’ll take anything! Workout advice, nutrition advice, ANYTHING! I need to get this scale to move.
TIA!
Denise
My problem. I have already lost 14 pounds since February (prior to the challenge) and now my weight loss has plateaued. I have really done a great job up to this point- but haven’t been able to get the scale to move in 2 weeks (perfect timing- right? Just in time for the CHALLENGE! ARGH!). Now- I know- muscle weighs more than fat. and- I do have fair amount of muscle. Even with a higher body fat percent (don’t know it but can SEE it) you can see the muscles in my arms. I LOVE to lift. I have been doing some serious strength training since January- and not much cardio. I usually lift 3 days a week, pretty heavy and do cardio twice (maybe). Sometimes I’ll do an upper and lower split and then the 3rd day that week I’ll do a full body cardio and weight circuit. As for how much I have to lose, well, realistically… I weigh 172 right now and 160 is the lowest I’ve ever been in my adult life. I was a very comfortable size 10 at that size (I am 5’9”) and would be THRILLED to be there again. 12 more pounds might not be enough to win (there are people who have 40+ to lose in this challenge) so I’ve got to lose EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THOSE POUNDS to have a chance!
I’m thinking to really get my weight loss back on track I am going to have to up the cardio quite a bit and maybe switch from the heavy weights to more endurance based- just so I’m not putting on muscle weight to compensate for the lost fat weight. What do you all think? I own ALL of Cathe’s workouts, btw. I just started doing Fitnessfreak's updated Get in Shape for Summer rotation (Ok- not sure if this is the title exactly- but it is one for summer that she updated last year to include Cathe’s newer workouts- THANK YOU SO MUCH DEBBIE!!) but this is pretty heavy on lifting and light on cardio (I think there are three strength days, one circuit day and 2 straight cardio days if I’m remembering correctly- the sheet is at home and I'm not). Is this right for me or should I do something else??
I know I need to eat clean and am trying REALLY hard. I could definitely improve in this area and work on it everyday. It is the working out that isn’t hard for me. I LOVE IT! As for calories- I am trying to eat around 1900-2000 a day because I work out 5+ days a week (my goal is 6 days but I rarely hit that) and try to walk for 20 minutes 2-3 times a week on TOP of working out. I also do Yoga 2 times a week. I saw somewhere that Debbie (Fitnessfreak) recommends eating 30g carbs, 30g fat and 40 g protein to lose weight- aren’t those too few carbs for how much I workout?? I know how to eat clean but putting it into practice is WAY easier said than done. I know that’s what is going to make or break me! I am logging everything I eat on Sparkpeople.com so I know what is actually being consumed.
$500.00 is on the line (which will go toward the Cathe roadtrip if I’m lucky enough to get my registration in before it is sold out) so please- HELP!!! Any recommendations at all? I’ll take anything! Workout advice, nutrition advice, ANYTHING! I need to get this scale to move.
TIA!
Denise
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