Discouraged

[Sixguns]

I havent seen any weight loss since June. I know I have started putting muscle on which is confirmed my measurements that Ive taken. My legs and arms have gotten really lean and getting that "cut" look by I cant seem to get this gut to slim down. Ive tried so many things to get it going but here it sits. Any tips or pointers on something new to try?

 

[bfdd]

What has your weight loss been like? I went from 250 to 210(roughly) Jan to June, June til now was only about 15-20 lbs and I'm sitting at around 190-195 right now. I still have the little pudge around my belly button, but not much.

 

[HNNstyle]

What are you eating, how many calories, and what is your workout routine?

 

[Sixguns]

Started at 270 oct of 2010 hit 205 around June of this year.

I dont know all the correct names of everything I just know how to do them

Monday-Back and Biceps 3 sets of 10 usually 6-7 back to 4-5 bicep
Tuesday-Chest/Tri 3x10 8 chest 5 tri
Wednesday- Leg/bi 3x10 7 leg 5 bi
Thursday- Shoulder/Tri 3x10 6 shoulder 5 tri
Friday- Cardio will start off with a 5 minute warmup than run a mile at around 6 mph which takes 10 minutes than 5 minute cooldown.

I also do abs/lower back stuff mon/wed/fri

Calories will vary on what the wife cooks for dinner but I believe it will vary from 2500-3100 with ever meal based with protein and limited carbs/suger.

 

[HNNstyle]

Sounds like you're eating too many calories. As SC would say, you need to be calorie deficit if you want to lose weight. With your workout routine and the amount of calories you eat in a day, it would make sense that you are only maintaining weight. The average inactive adult will burn 10 calories per pound. If you work with that, then you can figure out how much you need to cut back.

 

[Sixguns]

I think my calorie count might be a little high also. I might sit down over the next week and really add everything together to get a idea since that as really just a guess.

 

[Sixguns]

Did a quick look at my breakfast which is the same everyday. I have a blueberry/banana smoothie. Calories 735 fat 8 carbs 88( high I know ) protein 75 sugars 49( also high ) didn't look at the fiber though. Most nights for dinner I don't have much more than a protein shake since Jack3d takes away my hunger. That is 340 calories 4 fat 16 carbs 64 protein 13 sugars.

 

[bfdd]

Ah... I have been averaging probably like 1800 calories a day?

 

[HNNstyle]

Ah... I have been averaging probably like 1800 calories a day?

You said earlier that you weight about 190 pounds, so that would mean you are burning at least 1,900 calories a day if you don't do any type of exercise. One full pound is equal to 3,500 calories. With a little bit of math, you can figure out how much you want to lose in a week depending on your goals. Just out of curiosity, where would you like to be?

Did a quick look at my breakfast which is the same everyday. I have a blueberry/banana smoothie. Calories 735 fat 8 carbs 88( high I know ) protein 75 sugars 49( also high ) didn't look at the fiber though. Most nights for dinner I don't have much more than a protein shake since Jack3d takes away my hunger. That is 340 calories 4 fat 16 carbs 64 protein 13 sugars.

If I'm counting that right, it sounds like you are eating about 1400 calories a day. I just did the math and it looks like you should be losing about 2 to 3 pounds a week when you include your exercise routine. Does that seem accurate?

 

[AyashiKaibutsu]

Losing the last of your gut/love handles is brutal. I have to be 125-130 (5'5") and not be bloated on a given day to have absolutely no gut.

 

[Sixguns]

If I'm counting that right, it sounds like you are eating about 1400 calories a day. I just did the math and it looks like you should be losing about 2 to 3 pounds a week when you include your exercise routine. Does that seem accurate?

I know I eat more that 1400 calories. I am going to start taking notes of what I eat for lunch to get a better look at it. Like my other post said, my breakfast and dinner are usually just that. I am guessing around 1900-2000. But I am not really sure what I burn while I am lifting and that should factor into it.

 

[QueBert]

If you have a smartphone I'd say download Myfitnesspal, it's free and really helped me keep track of everything I ate. No smart phone you can use their web site for free too. Before I counted calories and logged them I thought I was close in my head, while it wasn't super far off, a lot of days if I had just winged it I'd definitely have gone over.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

If you have a smartphone I'd say download Myfitnesspal, it's free and really helped me keep track of everything I ate. No smart phone you can use their web site for free too. Before I counted calories and logged them I thought I was close in my head, while it wasn't super far off, a lot of days if I had just winged it I'd definitely have gone over.

I've been using the Loseit app for the same reasons. Pretty handy. Puts what you eat into nutritional perspective too.

Damn perspective. I want my turkey dinner!

 

[marmasatt]

Yeah, I was going to say.... you are looking to be at 2500 calories and you are essentially spending over 1000 between 2 "drinks" lol.... (shake/jacked)....

 

[ViviTheMage]

Sounds like you're eating too many calories. As SC would say, you need to be calorie deficit if you want to lose weight. With your workout routine and the amount of calories you eat in a day, it would make sense that you are only maintaining weight. The average inactive adult will burn 10 calories per pound. If you work with that, then you can figure out how much you need to cut back.

If I don't work out all week, and eat 1800 calories or less, I should technically lose weight? Since I weigh 205lbs?

Is that right? That seems too easy...

 

[Sixguns]

Yeah, I was going to say.... you are looking to be at 2500 calories and you are essentially spending over 1000 between 2 "drinks" lol.... (shake/jacked)....

My post workout shake has like 350 calories and from what I see Jack3d doesnt have any.

 

[imagoon]

If I don't work out all week, and eat 1800 calories or less, I should technically lose weight? Since I weigh 205lbs?

Is that right? That seems too easy...

Actually it is...

I started at 380 and am at 295 now. I am currently @ 1940 calories a day and basically loosing about 2lbs a week. It varies a bit but over the month average I am right on target. Basically I lose 3lbs one week 1 the next etc but at the end of the month it has been 8 to 10 lbs. I use myfitnesspal at the moment.

EDIT: Also when I workout I mostly eat what I burn. So if I do burn 700 cals on the eliptical at the gym, I eat 550-650 cals. Mostly because I made the mistake of going to low and having my metabolism stall.

 

[HNNstyle]

If I don't work out all week, and eat 1800 calories or less, I should technically lose weight? Since I weigh 205lbs?

Is that right? That seems too easy...

Yeah but you wouldn't be tone, just flabby. You might not even notice an over all change because your body shape would remain the same. You'd basically be a skinny fat guy. On top of that, you're only eating a deficit of 200 calories. It'll take 18 days just to drop a pound.


Most fitness professional articles that I read stress the number of calories coming in must be less then calories going out. Here's one with Jillian Michaels if you'd like to read it. I quoted below, the paragraph most related to this discussion.
http://diet.com/g/jillian-michaels-diet

The diet can be customized to allow a dieter to determine how many calories should be consumed each day based on how many calories are being expended during the day generally, how many are being used through exercise, and what a person’s specific weight loss goals are. A pound of fat is comprised of about 3500 calories. That means that to lose a pound each week a dieter would have to use up 3500 more calories than are taken in that week. Spread evenly thought the week this means that each day 500 more calories should be used than are taken in. So if a dieter calculates that he or she is using 2000 calories a day that person should consume 1500 each day to lose one pound per week.

 

[Wyndru]

Losing the last of your gut/love handles is brutal. I have to be 125-130 (5'5") and not be bloated on a given day to have absolutely no gut.

Yeah it does suck, and it can change quickly if you eat some foods with a lot of salt in them. I'll go from my stomach looking somewhat flat and smaller love handles one day to the next day looking huge again and gaining 3-5 lbs in water weight.

I've just given up caring about what I look like and as long as I'm working out 5-6 times a week. If I'm breaking a sweat during each of those workouts, I'm happy that I'm at least somewhat staying fit. I think I've only lost 15lbs in the last 6 months, but I've gained a lot of muscle.

 

[imagoon]

Yeah but you wouldn't be tone, just flabby. You might not even notice an over all change because your body shape would remain the same. You'd basically be a skinny fat guy. On top of that, you're only eating a deficit of 200 calories. It'll take 18 weeks just to drop a pound.


Most fitness professional articles that I read stress the number of calories coming in must be less then calories going out. Here's one with Jillian Michaels if you'd like to read it. I quoted below, the paragraph most related to this discussion.
http://diet.com/g/jillian-michaels-diet

17.5 days a lbs actually. The numbers are easy 1lb fat = 3500, so to lose a lb a week 3500 / 7 = 500 cals a day. How you get there is up to you though. For example heavy exercise means you can eat more if 1lb / week is a your goal. You have to be careful not to go in to starvation mode though. It sucks, been there and it was a waste of time and I was in a poor mood the entire time.

 

[HNNstyle]

17.5 days a lbs actually. The numbers are easy 1lb fat = 3500, so to lose a lb a week 3500 / 7 = 500 cals a day. How you get there is up to you though. For example heavy exercise means you can eat more if 1lb / week is a your goal. You have to be careful not to go in to starvation mode though. It sucks, been there and it was a waste of time and I was in a poor mood the entire time.

lol thanks. How many calories were you eating in starvation mode?

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

I started eating bigger snacks as I progressed.

need to fix that.

 

[Exodist]

I havent seen any weight loss since June. I know I have started putting muscle on which is confirmed my measurements that Ive taken. My legs and arms have gotten really lean and getting that "cut" look by I cant seem to get this gut to slim down. Ive tried so many things to get it going but here it sits. Any tips or pointers on something new to try?

Weight is a arbitrary number. Measurements is what your should focus on.
Remember you can slim down and never loose a pound, so dont let it get you down. I have barely lost 5 pounds this month but I lost 3/4th an inch around my stomach while my neck size remained the same. I know it can get frustrating. I really wanted to hit 212lbs by then end of this month but I am kicking and screaming trying to get below 220lbs right now.

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

Weight is a arbitrary number. Measurements is what your should focus on.
Remember you can slim down and never loose a pound, so don't let it get you down. I have barely lost 5 pounds this month but I lost 3/4th an inch around my stomach while my neck size remained the same. I know it can get frustrating. I really wanted to hit 212lbs by then end of this month but I am kicking and screaming trying to get below 220lbs right now.

Agree 100%.

Jan 1, 2011:
225-230 pounds
Very snug 38" waist pants (probably needed 40")
Running 90 seconds winded me

Today:
210-215 pounds (about 15 pounds less)
I just bought some 34" waist pants that fit "just right".
Best run was 24 minutes at about 2.7 miles .... non stop.

Misc:
I don't know if I have ever ran a mile non stop in my life
In terms of weights and overall strength, I have never been stronger.
I am 35.
Lowest weight this year was 207.

While my goal was 200 pounds in a year, I can't complain. Didn't have a goal for waist size as it never dawned on me till later that it is a better bar to set than weight when building muscle. Want to bench 200 by years end (1 rep) and I think that is attainable. Might even be attainable now. My eating habits have been much better granted I cheat on occasion.

Advice:
Track more things than weight loss. If you do, you will realize that progress is being made. Your goal should always be health. Focusing on one thing as a goal is not good. It makes people obsess over it to much. But if you loose 5 pounds here, run a little longer and get a little stronger .... those things combined feel like progress.

 

[imagoon]

lol thanks. How many calories were you eating in starvation mode?

1500-1800 when I was 360lbs. Following the 2lb a week rule I should have been up at 2600.