Difficulty losing weight

[StevenR]

I am beginning to wonder if some people like me are just genetically fat. This winter, I was at 5'9" 208lbs. I think the fact that I am a fatass is my single biggest problem right now, and I think it turns off a lot of women.

between then and February I lost 4lbs to be at 204lbs. My weight plateaued at that weight until about May20th, when I stopped taking my allergy medication and started exercising even more. I started riding my mountain bike about an hour a day 3-4 times a week. By late June I was at about 199lbs down from 204 lbs. About that time I started also going to the gym 2-4 times a week. There was also a two week gap where I didn't ride my bicycle much because of the air conditions here in California. I am back to riding my bicycle 3-4 times a week and working out 2-4 times a week for the last couple of weeks again and I have only lost an additional pound if that. So total I have lost since May 6lbs, most of that in the first month and almost none since then.

In the breakfast I typically eat oatmeal and a banana, a snack for lunch, about 1000 calories for dinner, and maybe 500 calories in snacks, mostly youghurt and lowfat popcorn and nuts. I would estimate I eat between 2000-3000 calories a day. I have cut out all desserts, soft drinks, and most alcohol except a very occasional beer, like once a week when I am with friends. And I am still fat.

Any suggestions on what I can do to improve calorie burn? I seemed to used to be able to lose weight faster, even as late as this fall I lost about 10lbs in a month and a half with a similar lifestyle minus going to the gym.

 

[HandyAndy]

Same problem....blah

I doubt you eat more than you burn, with all that bike riding and time at the gym. Cut out all carbs, then your body used fat for energy, but Im not allowed to talk, ive been doing this for 7 months and right there with you

 

[Quagmire911]

List an entire days eating with an accurate calorie measurement and levels of fat/carbs/protein if possible. Provide more than one day if this varies a lot.

Also list weekly activity.

 

[synergy1]

agreed, you are going to have to be more specific. For example, you could be on a bike for an hour, but burn 50 calories if you don't really work at it. Most people I see beginning to go to the gym are there for a long enough time, but burn a lot less than the people who know what they are doing.

To cite and actual instance at the gym when myself and my room mate where riding the bikes. On a bike, I could burn 250 calories in 15-20 minutes. Meanwhile my room mate is on for the same amount of time but burns 70 calories at his leisurely pace. Add that up over the course of weeks and months, and it adds up. From personal experience, dropping weight has been slow, and I am in good shape. Give it time.

 

[StevenR]

After doing some research on the net, I am going to try high intensity interval training and add that and cut out a couple of days on the bicycle. So ride my bicycle 2x a week, go to the gym 3-4 times a week, including a 20 minute interval workout. I have already done this twice and it feels like I get more exercise in 20 minutes than an hour or two riding my bicycle on a flat trail.

Then I will try to cut some carbs out, eat more meals of smaller portions, and eat broccoli with lowfat cheese for snacks. I really hate cutting the carbs out because I love pasta so much, why does life have to be like this? I suppose not getting a heart attack and being able to have sex with beautiful women is better than pasta in the long run.

Has anyone 35 and older gone from having a fat stomach to being fit and in shape and noticed more attention from women? I need some motivation to do this lol.

 

[Davezz]

first of all you eat between 2000-3000 calories. about 2000 is what you should eat

 

[Bible_Belt]

see my post on your other thread in the mm forum

 

[Being_the_Don]

I am beginning to wonder if some people like me are just genetically fat. This winter, I was at 5'9" 208lbs. I think the fact that I am a fatass is my single biggest problem right now, and I think it turns off a lot of women.

between then and February I lost 4lbs to be at 204lbs. My weight plateaued at that weight until about May20th, when I stopped taking my allergy medication and started exercising even more. I started riding my mountain bike about an hour a day 3-4 times a week. By late June I was at about 199lbs down from 204 lbs. About that time I started also going to the gym 2-4 times a week. There was also a two week gap where I didn't ride my bicycle much because of the air conditions here in California. I am back to riding my bicycle 3-4 times a week and working out 2-4 times a week for the last couple of weeks again and I have only lost an additional pound if that. So total I have lost since May 6lbs, most of that in the first month and almost none since then.

In the breakfast I typically eat oatmeal and a banana, a snack for lunch, about 1000 calories for dinner, and maybe 500 calories in snacks, mostly youghurt and lowfat popcorn and nuts. I would estimate I eat between 2000-3000 calories a day. I have cut out all desserts, soft drinks, and most alcohol except a very occasional beer, like once a week when I am with friends. And I am still fat.

Any suggestions on what I can do to improve calorie burn? I seemed to used to be able to lose weight faster, even as late as this fall I lost about 10lbs in a month and a half with a similar lifestyle minus going to the gym.

Have you checked out the stickies in H & F? You might also read through some entries in the workout threads, diets are listed there most of the time.

 

[Throttle]

Has anyone 35 and older gone from having a fat stomach to being fit and in shape and noticed more attention from women? I need some motivation to do this lol.

I am not over 35, but of course being in better shape makes you more attractive to women. Just don't kid yourself. Losing bodyfat & keeping it off requires (for most people) not a new diet or exercise program, but a permanent change in lifestyle. It is very do-able. And it is also hard as hell, and the numbers say that most people fall off the wagon sooner or later. So you sure as hell had better be doing it for yourself, your health, and your own satisfaction long before you do it for women, sex or the approval of others.

 

[kingwilliam]

You need to do intensive cardio for at least 45 minutes everyday.

If you have problems running on a treadmill, try walking at about 3.5 mph at a slight incline. The goal is to maintain a hearbeat above 120 beats per minute for as long as possible. The fat burning will not kick in until after the first 20 minutes of exercise........ so if you are walking uphill for 45 minutes, you will be burning fat for the last 25 minutes. Try to eat LESS than 60 grams of carbs per day. Do you cardio in the morning if possible.

If you really wanna kick things into overdrive, try to find some Clenbuterol...............


If you do your intesive cardio every day and stick with a LOW carb diet, you will lose the weight.

 

[nmartinez12443]

Run

First off 5'9 200 is not terrible, your goal is probably to get around 180, so thats about 20 pounds.

First off 3000 is too many calories per day, get it down to 2,000.

My recommendation is to start running tempo runs 20 minutes outside (jog 2 min sprint 30 seconds) , not on the treadmill but outside. Build up to about 30 minutes max. 5 days a week. If you eat right i promise you, you'll lose 10 pounds in a month doing this.

You also want to start a weight lifting program because that muscle burns fat as well. Go to the gym three times a week and focus on free weights, NOT MACHINES, Do these excercises mon, wed, fri = bench press, incline dumbbell press, squat, overhead dumbbell press, leg press, barbell curl, dumbell curl, row.

The key is diet and cardio and ACTIVE rest. Don't work out for 1 hr, then sit around for 14, be as active as you can walk around, go to the park, play frisbee go swim, walk around the mall, work out at the beach.

GET A TAN= makes you look thinner.

 

[StevenR]

If you have problems running on a treadmill, try walking at about 3.5 mph at a slight incline. The goal is to maintain a hearbeat above 120 beats per minute for as long as possible.

120? I have measured it at about 85-90 doing a brisk uphill hike.

If you really wanna kick things into overdrive, try to find some Clenbuterol...............

what is that? I'll look it up on google

My recommendation is to start running tempo runs 20 minutes outside (jog 2 min sprint 30 seconds) , not on the treadmill but outside. Build up to about 30 minutes max. 5 days a week. If you eat right i promise you, you'll lose 10 pounds in a month doing this.

You also want to start a weight lifting program because that muscle burns fat as well. Go to the gym three times a week and focus on free weights, NOT MACHINES, Do these excercises mon, wed, fri = bench press, incline dumbbell press, squat, overhead dumbbell press, leg press, barbell curl, dumbell curl, row.

I have been pretty much doing exactly that. Before I was riding my bicycle 3-4 times a week and losing about 1 pound a week, then I added weight lifting and am losing nothing! In fact I think I gained a couple of pounds since really hitting the weights:-(
So I added the interval training just like you described actually. Afterwards I feel completely winded and feel like I got a lot more exercise than I actually did. I have done this type of interval exercise 4x now so I am just getting started with it.
It is funny, I went on a hiking trail with this gal I met off the online thing, and she has a nice body and is thinner than I am. In spite of my 20-30 pound tub of lard on my belly I was in better shape than she was! I don't get it why that fat won't come off any easier. At least lifting weights makes it look a little better and tighter even when it is still there. I may be a fatass but at least I will be a muscular fatass.

 

[I-tallionStallion]

Want something extreme lol Do this - http://www.t-nation.com/readArticle.do?id=1150209

 

[StevenR]

I don't want to look like that guy, I just want to look like Brad Pitt in fight club(well, body, obviously I will never be as good looking face wise). Basically, at 180-185 I start looking not quite so fat, 155 or so and I will have a very low BF percentage, add some more muscles to that and I should look like Brad Pitt in fight club(body wise). Easier said than done unfortunately, did it once in my 20's. I just wish they had Myspace and Plenty of Fish back then lol.

 

[I-tallionStallion]

EDIT to save post

Don't worry about it. I strongly suggest you weightlift, do plenty of low intensity morning cardio, add fish oil and green tea to your regime, and start eating 2500-2700 calories a day filled with lots of protein, fats, fruits, veges, complex carbs only to midday (no carbs at night) also watch this so you better understand weightloss. This guy knows his stuff - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IP8Iwq5Akf4&feature=related

 

[StevenR]

okay I started reading it, sorry. I think I have closer to 20% bodyfat right now though. I will try my own way and if that doesn't work I will give it a try, thanks for the info.

 

[StevenR]

This is really terrible, I just don't know what is going on with my non-responsive body. I gained 3 pounds since yesterday. After 10 days of HIIT cardio in addition to weight training, I feel drained and my muscles sore so I took it easy and walked 4 miles for light cardio. Out of 10 days I ate pizza one and had some macaroni and cheese another, other than that I at least think I am eating fairly healthy. Yesterday I had my oatmeal and banana in the morning, chicken and rice with a side of roasted vegetables for an early dinner, some yoghurt in between, and a can of beans later. This is typical and similar to what I was on before.
I should be down to 185-190 from 200 by now but I am still at stubbornly the same weight. I lost 3 pounds, or thought I did over the last 10 days but it reappeared on the scale this morning! The only positive is that I THINK I may look a little better, less fat on the face, slightly better defined body but It think it is my imagination, either that or all the weight training I had been doing is holding the fat a little better, like when you suck in your gut the muscle holds it there better instead. But it doesn't matter because I still weight the same dammit!

 

[wolf116]

You can do it, you are just doing a few things that need changing.

-Cut that cheating with the junk food as soon as you can.
-Cut all the simple carbs from your diet including the banana and yoghurt.
-Cut out all carbs after midday like Stallion said. This includes rice and potato.
-Try to eat smaller meals more often. Six small meals a day is what you want.

I can help with low carb after 12:00 meal ideas if you'd like.

Or you could go hardcore and go no-carb like KarmaSutra did, with stunning results.
http://www.sosuave.net/forum/showthread.php?t=132951&highlight=karmasutra

 

[Quiksilver]

Good god man, it's been little over two weeks. To lose 10lbs without losing any muscle, it will take at 15-20 weeks. I repeat, FIFTEEN TO TWENTY WEEKS. Reality check bro, get off the damn scale and start using the mirror.

If you take a **** you'll weigh less. If you drink 1L of water, you'll weigh more. The scale is useless. If you're really serious, then go get some body fat calipers and measurement tape. Take pictures of yourself every sunday, front/side/back view, and compare them over weeks and months.

Or... Or spin your wheels and obsess over what the deceitful scale is telling you. Get frustrated and give up, even though you were doing everything right except for applying the key ingredient: patience.

 

[StevenR]

Bananas and yoghurt are bad for you? That is the first time I have heard of this one. I am interested in diet suggestions, I am going to do whatever it takes to get the ball rolling.

Good god man, it's been little over two weeks. To lose 10lbs without losing any muscle, it will take at 15-20 weeks. I repeat, FIFTEEN TO TWENTY WEEKS. Reality check bro, get off the damn scale and start using the mirror.

I started trying in May. When I did the same thing last Sept.(minus the weight lifting) I was steadily losing 2lbs a week. That is why it is so frustrating that I am losing basically nothing now, and this is with more exercise(weight training) than just the cardio I was getting before.