I have been an athlete much of my life. However, after hitting 36, I find myself more frustrated. About 4 years ago I started running 3 miles a day. I did this at least 4-5 days a week. But, alas I developed plantar faciitis last Jan. and spent a year on-again-of-again with my workouts. I did start some weight training last spring and really liked the results. But, alas my life got in the way and I wasn't diligent. I picked up some Cathe DVD's this Jan. and 3 of Jari Love's. I have seen alot of good results since Jan. and have stayed diligent with my nutrition. I have avoided the scales though as they really frustrate me. I wanted to really focus on how I feel and how I look and not on the number on the scale. However, last night I had to have a physical for a new life insurance policy and of course they had to weigh me. ARGGGGHH! I found I have actually gained 5 more pounds since Jan. I was hoping to lose 10-15. Now, what I want to know from the Vets here is should I expect this with weight training? I am certainly seeing muscle development and I do not feel like I am bulking up. I do feel more trim, except for the junk in my trunk, but I know that will take more diligence. Do I just stick with what I'm doing as I feel good and my clothes are fitting better? Or do I get concerned about a 5 lb increase? I am now 15-20 lbs from where I wanted to be. ARGGGH! Any advice here would be so appreciated!
Need some advice from the veterans here...
- Thread starter GoatLady
- Start date
Let me see if I can shed some light. You say since January you were fairly diligent with your workouts and eating and haven't been on the scale since? Now staying on track can mean different things to different people. Can you give us a general breakdown of your workouts and daily eating since then? It is possible that you may need to tweak some things with your diet and or routine. It really is amazing how much those factors are intertwined, but more than that, how much your eating plays into everything overall. Certainly you can put on some pounds over time from bulking, but it doesn't sound like that is what you were doing to begin with. Let's take a look and maybe we can help you more.
Debbie
Homer: How is education supposed to make me feel smarter? Besides, every time I learn something new, it pushes some old stuff out of my brain. Remember when I took that home winemaking course, and I forgot how to drive?
--The Simpsons
Debbie
Homer: How is education supposed to make me feel smarter? Besides, every time I learn something new, it pushes some old stuff out of my brain. Remember when I took that home winemaking course, and I forgot how to drive?
--The Simpsons
Thanks Debbie,
I have to say I do not count kcal or macronutrients and such. I just "watch what I eat". I have IBS so I am very finiky about what I'll eat. Here is a typical day for me. breakfast: 2 large cups coffee with splenda and no-sugar creamer 2 pieces of whole wheat toast with smattering of Polaner All Fruit or 1/2 c oatmeal- steel cut- mixed with brown sugar Splenda and 1TBSP walnuts. Occasionally have boiled egg whites with the toast. I usually eat this around 7:00 am. Will eat a bit of fruit- banana, or canteloupe mid-am. Lunch varies, but is often skinless chicken breast and boiled or grilled veggies. Sometimes on a salad-but depends on my digestion. I will eat again mid-afternoon and will have 1 oz. nuts or soy yogurt or fruit. Sometimes a kashi bar. Dinner is whatever I'm fixing for everyone else. I fry very little and we stir fry chicken and veggies a lot. Will have red meat 2-3 times a week otherwise it's chicken or lean pork. We grill a lot too.
My workouts are 2 or 3 days a week of Jari Love Ripped to the Core alt. with Ripped Slim and Lean. I use Cathe's Step DVDs that came with the 2 steps I own or run on the treadmill on the other 2-3 days. If it's a good week, I can get 6 workouts in. If it's a tough week, only 4. I alternate cardio days with weight days.
Let me make clear my goals too. I want to be healthy and in shape. I want to wiggle less and want muscle definition that say "Hey, she works out!" I have never been skinny, but have an athletic build. I want to look as tough as I feel some days!
Thanks for letting me offload this!
I have to say I do not count kcal or macronutrients and such. I just "watch what I eat". I have IBS so I am very finiky about what I'll eat. Here is a typical day for me. breakfast: 2 large cups coffee with splenda and no-sugar creamer 2 pieces of whole wheat toast with smattering of Polaner All Fruit or 1/2 c oatmeal- steel cut- mixed with brown sugar Splenda and 1TBSP walnuts. Occasionally have boiled egg whites with the toast. I usually eat this around 7:00 am. Will eat a bit of fruit- banana, or canteloupe mid-am. Lunch varies, but is often skinless chicken breast and boiled or grilled veggies. Sometimes on a salad-but depends on my digestion. I will eat again mid-afternoon and will have 1 oz. nuts or soy yogurt or fruit. Sometimes a kashi bar. Dinner is whatever I'm fixing for everyone else. I fry very little and we stir fry chicken and veggies a lot. Will have red meat 2-3 times a week otherwise it's chicken or lean pork. We grill a lot too.
My workouts are 2 or 3 days a week of Jari Love Ripped to the Core alt. with Ripped Slim and Lean. I use Cathe's Step DVDs that came with the 2 steps I own or run on the treadmill on the other 2-3 days. If it's a good week, I can get 6 workouts in. If it's a tough week, only 4. I alternate cardio days with weight days.
Let me make clear my goals too. I want to be healthy and in shape. I want to wiggle less and want muscle definition that say "Hey, she works out!" I have never been skinny, but have an athletic build. I want to look as tough as I feel some days!
Thanks for letting me offload this!
Your eating looks quite reasonable to me. I mean, could it be just bloat and water retention? I don't know a lot about IBS but I can imagine that is challenging at times.Maybe you want to tweak your workouts a bit? Maybe lower the cardio a bit and up the intensity of the weights to better balance out the cardio. In all honesty, the lifting is more important than the cardio, with diet being first and foremost. I would try lifting a bit heavier and see what that does for you - maybe even a different rotation. Small changes can do big things for the body. Nothing revs the metabolism like lean muscle mass 
Debbie
Homer: How is education supposed to make me feel smarter? Besides, every time I learn something new, it pushes some old stuff out of my brain. Remember when I took that home winemaking course, and I forgot how to drive?
--The Simpsons
Debbie
Homer: How is education supposed to make me feel smarter? Besides, every time I learn something new, it pushes some old stuff out of my brain. Remember when I took that home winemaking course, and I forgot how to drive?
--The Simpsons
Thanks again Debbie,
With the IBS I have to really avoid the junk. I can't do sodas, greasy stuff or high sugar. I really am a health food nut. I may need to count the kcal for a few days though to make sure. Need to try and figure out just how much I'm supposed to get anyway.
I know everyone says the weights won't bulk women, but is that really true? I have been using Jari Love as it is high rep/low weight. I don't use over 12 lbs with any of her routines. They really kick my butt as they are tough! I may need to go heavier though to see more results. I have always been so athletically built though that I fear getting thicker. I really would love a more sculpted look though.
I appreciate your replies! Thanks.
With the IBS I have to really avoid the junk. I can't do sodas, greasy stuff or high sugar. I really am a health food nut. I may need to count the kcal for a few days though to make sure. Need to try and figure out just how much I'm supposed to get anyway.
I know everyone says the weights won't bulk women, but is that really true? I have been using Jari Love as it is high rep/low weight. I don't use over 12 lbs with any of her routines. They really kick my butt as they are tough! I may need to go heavier though to see more results. I have always been so athletically built though that I fear getting thicker. I really would love a more sculpted look though.
I appreciate your replies! Thanks.
debbydarestobefit
Cathlete
I can appreciate your frustration. Since everyone's body is a little different, I'd suggest you post this on the "Ask Cathe" forum and see if you get a response from Cathe herself. Good Luck. Deb
kathryn
Cathlete
Forget weight, which just tells you how much effect the pull of gravity has on you. Better ways to judge fitness are how you feel, how your clothes fit, and how you look (muscle-to-fat-wise). Muscle is more dense than fat, so two people of the same weight can look very different if one has a lot of fat on them and the other has a lot of muscle.
One plus: weighing more reduces the risk of osteoporosis (according to "The Myth of Osteoporosis,' weighing under 132 pounds increases the risk).
One plus: weighing more reduces the risk of osteoporosis (according to "The Myth of Osteoporosis,' weighing under 132 pounds increases the risk).
kathryn
Cathlete
>I know everyone says the weights won't bulk women, but is that
>really true?
Depends on what you mean by 'bulk.' Some people seem to think that any visible muscle is 'bulk.'
But taking the defintion of bulk being thick, stocky type muscle, it depends on body type and eating more calories to build more mass. Someone who is a meso/endo might 'bulk,' whereas an ecto would not have much of a chance of it.
Someone with shorter limbs can look 'bulkier' than someone with long limbs.
>really true?
Depends on what you mean by 'bulk.' Some people seem to think that any visible muscle is 'bulk.'
But taking the defintion of bulk being thick, stocky type muscle, it depends on body type and eating more calories to build more mass. Someone who is a meso/endo might 'bulk,' whereas an ecto would not have much of a chance of it.
Someone with shorter limbs can look 'bulkier' than someone with long limbs.
Thanks Kathryn for the comments. I know all you say is true and I have said those words myself. For some reason though, one never does agree with oneself when it comes to your own measurements. I am 36 and for some reason cannot get it through my thick skull that I don't need to weigh the same as I did at 16. Now, if I did that would be fabulous, but I am not overweight and have very few health issues and none are a big deal. I should be grateful for the healthy and strong body God has blessed me with as I certainly could be skinny with much more problems. I just still have this warped mind set at times that the scale counts- this is usually at the time of the annual MD checkup when the office nurse snidely says "looks like you've gained a few since last visit". I am trying hard not only to get over this myself as a 36 year old should no longer care if others think I measure up. I am trying hard to set the right example for my 10 yo daughter so she understand excercise is about strength and health and not skinny jeans.
Anyway, thanks for the rant. I appreciate all the comments. I am burning the scale this weekend and getting out the measuring tape instead. I know the workouts are giving me results and that's all that matters.
Anyway, thanks for the rant. I appreciate all the comments. I am burning the scale this weekend and getting out the measuring tape instead. I know the workouts are giving me results and that's all that matters.
I wanted to add that for women & the 'bulking up' concern, most do not have to worry about that due to the lack of testosterone--thank GOD Of course, as was mentioned, some women do bulk a little because of genetics. I am an ecto', so not a good chance at that, I've tried Good luck!!
Of course, as was mentioned, some women do bulk a little because of genetics. I am an ecto', so not a good chance at that, I've tried Good luck!!