Do diabetics have slower metabolisms?

[Arkitech]

I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes about 2 years ago. I've been trying to lose weight since then but its been REALLY difficult. At one point I changed my diet to mainly meat and vegetables (very low carbs) for about 3 weeks and worked out doing cardio and weights about 6 days per week (sometimes more than twice a day) and at the end of the 3 weeks I think I lost maybe 2 or 3 pounds tops.

During the summer of last year I wanted to get active so I started playing a lot of basketball afterwork and on weekends (4-5 times a week) and I still could'nt lose any weight. So I'm really at the point of not knowing what to do. Anyone out there experience similar problems?


Edit: Just for bio purposes about 9 years ago when I was 21 or 22 I used to lift a lot of weights. I maintained a body weight of about 195-205 and my body fat was less than 7 or 8%. I had a really nice muscular frame then and a impressive set of abs. I was under the impression that people who used to work out before can usually lose weight a little easier later on in life. Apparently this is a lie.


God I need help, maybe I should start smoking crack

 

[kami]

At one point I changed my diet to mainly meat and vegetables (very low carbs) for about 3 weeks and worked out doing cardio and weights about 6 days per week (sometimes more than twice a day) and at the end of the 3 weeks I think I lost maybe 2 or 3 pounds tops.

But I bet you were losing inches since you were building up muscle mass the same time you were losing fat.

 

[Arkitech]

Originally posted by: kami

At one point I changed my diet to mainly meat and vegetables (very low carbs) for about 3 weeks and worked out doing cardio and weights about 6 days per week (sometimes more than twice a day) and at the end of the 3 weeks I think I lost maybe 2 or 3 pounds tops.

But I bet you were losing inches since you were building up muscle mass the same time you were losing fat.

Maybe you're right, I was just so disappointed that my weight did'nt change I gave up and stopped the diet and training. I started up a low carb diet and some light training again earlier this week (Tuesday). I hope I can see some good results this time. I'm going to buy a digital camera and take periodic pictures of myself.

 

[kami]

Originally posted by: Arkitech

Originally posted by: kami

At one point I changed my diet to mainly meat and vegetables (very low carbs) for about 3 weeks and worked out doing cardio and weights about 6 days per week (sometimes more than twice a day) and at the end of the 3 weeks I think I lost maybe 2 or 3 pounds tops.

But I bet you were losing inches since you were building up muscle mass the same time you were losing fat.

Maybe you're right, I was just so disappointed that my weight did'nt change I gave up and stopped the diet and training. I started up a low carb diet and some light training again earlier this week (Tuesday). I hope I can see some good results this time. I'm going to buy a digital camera and take periodic pictures of myself.

Good plan. And 3 weeks isn't enough to see serious change. you could even lose a boatload of weight and it might not show right away cause your body has to adjust. Don't rely on the scale, but the pictures and a measuring tape.

 

[radioouman]

Good plan. And 3 weeks isn't enough to see serious change. you could even lose a boatload of weight and it might not show right away cause your body has to adjust. Don't rely on the scale, but the pictures and a measuring tape.

That's true. It takes a couple months to really notice much of a change. Basically you need to train your body to get your metabolism up and keep it there. I lost 30 lbs in 5 months by running and working out. Of course I felt fantastic, but it took a while to have a noticable weight loss. (Running 2-3 miles per day, and lifting)

 

[Arkitech]

Thanks for the advice guys, I think I'm going to hit the gym again in about 2-3 weeks. I'm going to focus more on lifting this time around. Lots of upper body training

 

[Rudee]

Forget weighing yourself on the scale... It lies. The scale doesn't tell you body composition. I always go by the mirror. When I have a crisp line running down the center of my abdominals, I'm usually in single digit bodyfat levels.

 

[Arkitech]

Originally posted by: Rudee
Forget weighing yourself on the scale... It lies. The scale doesn't tell you body composition. I always go by the mirror. When I have a crisp line running down the center of my abdominals, I'm usually in single digit bodyfat levels.

I think I'm some kind of freak, when I was in the 250s - 260's I had that line and I was no where near being in the low body fat levels but I had very pronounced abs. I don't have that look anymore, but I still have a little bit of muscle left. It just bewilders me that I lose weight so slowly.

 

[Rudee]

Originally posted by: Arkitech

Originally posted by: Rudee
Forget weighing yourself on the scale... It lies. The scale doesn't tell you body composition. I always go by the mirror. When I have a crisp line running down the center of my abdominals, I'm usually in single digit bodyfat levels.

I think I'm some kind of freak, when I was in the 250s - 260's I had that line and I was no where near being in the low body fat levels but I had very pronounced abs. I don't have that look anymore, but I still have a little bit of muscle left. It just bewilders me that I lose weight so slowly.

I'm a fairly large guy myself. I can build muscle extremely easy, and I attribute that to genetics passed onto me by my parents. The longest absence I have had from the gym in the 17+ years I have been bodybuilding was 1 year. In that timeframe I went from 235lbs at roughly 11% BF to 220 at the same bodyfat percentage. When I want to get shredded for the summer I normally add 2 extra meals, double my protein and triple my fiber. Try adding some (small) extra meals and increase your fiber. Eat tons of green veggies

 

[radioouman]

Originally posted by: Arkitech
Thanks for the advice guys, I think I'm going to hit the gym again in about 2-3 weeks. I'm going to focus more on lifting this time around. Lots of upper body training

If you want to lose weight, I suggest more cardio than lifiting. Keep that heart rate high for 20-30 minutes, and the pounds will come off fast.

 

[Rudee]

Originally posted by: radioouman

Originally posted by: Arkitech
Thanks for the advice guys, I think I'm going to hit the gym again in about 2-3 weeks. I'm going to focus more on lifting this time around. Lots of upper body training

If you want to lose weight, I suggest more cardio than lifiting. Keep that heart rate high for 20-30 minutes, and the pounds will come off fast.

Better yet, do your cardio first thing in the morning when your glycogen levels are low. You'll tap into your fat stores much quicker.

 

[FlashG]

I went on a low carb diet (60 carbs per meal and a 30 carb snack) and stopped using table salt and sugar. So far I have lost over 30 lbs since last July.

All that plus I don't really exercise that much and I'm probably much older than you guys (56).

And I really miss chocolate (sigh).

 

[Rudee]

Originally posted by: FlashG
I went on a low carb diet (60 carbs per meal and a 30 carb snack)

Congrats. However, 60 grams carbohydrate per meal is technically not "low carb". One tenth of that would be considered "low carb".