At a standstill...help with diet and workout...

[sassylifter]

This is my story..Currently, I am 5'5", 30 yr old fm, weigh about 150..muscular build(yes I mean muscular, not a polite way of saying fat) I am a single mom with an 8 yr old son. I am constantly on the go!!! About 6 years ago I went through a traumatic event(my husband died when I was 23 and our new son was 6 mo. old) I gained MAJOR weight!! I finally had enough and(this is embarrasing to say)but in 16 months I lost 110lbs!!! I have managed to keep most off, fluctuating 10-12 lbs throughout the years. This is what led me to the gym, teaching, and working out. I teach aerobics twice a week, 1 hr each day, do 15 minutes cardio before and after my class. I lift the other 3 days and do 30 minutes cardio as well. I tried cutting cardio and I gained weight, I tried 6 meals a day, gained weight..(I sit behind a desk from 8-4) No activity till I hit the gym at 4:30...I have done ECA's, clen cycle, clen/cyto cycle...I am so good about working out till I let stupid stuff like boyfriend sagas depress and discourage me. I have worked so hard to get where I am and hate myself when I allow this to distract me. I finished a clen/cyto cycle about a month ago...on it for 3 weeks and lost about 12 lbs. I was so happy, the compliments from people wouldnt stop. Then..Boom..major boyfriend saga..my cycle ended, my diet went to to hell..and beyond if that is possible, I was drinking majorly, and I have never ever done this before but I cut the gym for almost 2 weeks. People thought I had died. I am like the plant in the corner..always there. I didn't teach my class or anything. I gained everything I had lost plus 2 more lbs, lost alot of muscle definition I was seeing..all in a matter of 3 weeks!! Now I am trying to get back on the wagon. I am in need of major encouragement and advice. I am hoping to start another cycle of clen soon, but I need help with diet advice. What do you recommend??? Remember I sit behind a desk all day. My body fat I am sure is around 25%, I am guessing..I do have good legs, a good ass, good shoulders and back-I could do so much with myself! I gain all my weight in the middle...stomach and hips!! I crave carbs to no end!! I have tried a low..low..carb diet and I am ravenous, cranky, and tired! How many carbs, fat grams, calories a day should I be eating and not exceed?? Oh and I do drink water....One gallon at work throughout the day and One gallon at the gym..(hey, I should get props for that right??)PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE Someone answer that!! My problem areas are at night....I like to come home and have a few drinks...Yes, I know this is sooooo bad and I am trying, but when the depressing things in my life arise...I grab them. Being depressed makes me eat. I never get home till 7:30 at the latest. I have my son to feed(he eats different than me)help with his homework and get to bed. By the time I eat it is 8 or 9. Normally my dinner is good..nothing really bad. I watch fat, claories, and carbs. I see what people in here eat and on a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being the best..my diet is probably a 6 or 7. I have trouble sleeping, so I am notorious for getting up in the middle of the night and grabbing pretzels, rice cakes or some snack. I know..all these things are bad. I know how it feels to be the fat person walking down the street...that used to be me...I was once 260..I am afraid of becoming that again. That is why cardio is more of a mental thing with me. When I tell people I weigh 150 they can't believe it. I know it is because I have a pretty good bit of muscle. They think I weigh much less!! So, I know I could be much, much worse..but I also know I could be much, much better. Anyway, I am rambling...Please anyone ofer any suggestions, comments, encouragement..anything! I just need major feedback from you guys out there. And for goodness sake..someone who knows what they are talking about answer the carbs/calories/fat gram question!! Thanks for listening!!!

 

[Mr BC]

The best advice i can give is to do cardio for say 60 minutes on an empty stomach at least 5 times per week.I would mutiply your weight in pounds by 12 to get my calorie level for a day and try to eat 6 times a day with a40-30-30 split(40 being carbs)and continue doing your weight workout.Stick with it and results will come.Also maybe an ECA stack can help.

 

[sassylifter]

Even though I sit at a desk from 8-4 all day..you think I should still eat that many calories?? 6 meals a day..3 of those most likely at the office!!! Isn't that counterproductive to eat that much and sit??? It reminds me of sitting in front of the TV eating a snack.

 

[SJMustangGT]

First make a commitment to yourself that you will do all what it takes to reach your goal. I think that's the biggest obstacle in losing weight. I'm no expert on dieting but from what I read you need to eat 6 meals a day to keep your body in a state where it's metabolicaly optimum for losing weight. If your eating clean foods I'd think you will be ok. Research a nutrition plan. I'm on day 3 of a 6 meals a day nutrition plan. I also sit in front of a computer all day which I think it's an advantage, just walk to the fridge and eat.

 

[chayseme]

Sassy

Have you tried training first thing in the morning? Either cardio or weights on an empty stomach? It is the best way to burn excess fat. Do it on an empty stomach and even have a cup of coffee beforehand. When your body goes for fuel there won't be any, so it will turn to fat stores for fuel, in turn, burning fat. This way is more effective to burn fat than midday or afternoon workouts...

 

[sassylifter]

I cant...I am a single mom with an 8 yr old son to get up and get to school. We have a good bit of a drive to school or the gym, so that is impossible. After work training is my only options except for the weekends.