I'm at my wits end! Please Help

[ladygie]

Wt 178.6-181.2
Ht 5'5
Bf% 16.5
Age:33
Gear:anavar 20mg, clen 120mg taking it for the past 2 weeks off of the clen today and using a OC for the next 2 weeks
Weight train 6 days a week
Cardio 7 days a week twice a day 5 days a week 45-60 in the morning premeal and 30 minutes post workout
I practices posing every other day.
Because The scale was not going down when I was on a very low carb (30grams) high protein(body weight) so l did a little research and decided to try carb cycling with the grams as follows: 200,100,50,50,-50,-50,100.as far as the high carb days i increase the amount of oatmeal for that day. I also lowered my protein intake to 150grams per which consist of 5 meals with chicken and one protein shake (post workout). Because of this cycling my caloric intake ranges from 1800 to 1000. I posted a pictures from January and this past Wednesday. I also took pics in a old suit today(embarrassing)as you can see i am very bottom heavy. I really really have been striving to compete in my first competition in 7 weeks but the scale is not going down. I have not cheated which is why this is so disturbing.please someone help me

 

[figurechamp]

I'm not an expert, in fact I'm two weeks out from my first show too, but here's some thoughts...

Maybe you're doing too much cardio for the amount of calories youre taking in. Expending all that excess energy might be sending your body into preservation mode and is causing it to hang on to what you want to get rid of.

But the other thing to consider is not the number on the scale but what you see in the mirror. Are you seeing changes? That's what matters.

Legs and glutes are stubborn on women. I was hanging on to my fat ass for quite some time while in prep mode. They just started to come in last week, thank god!! Plus that estrogen helps us to hang onto that hip area crap. If you're on the pill, you might want to consider getting off of it- the estrogen in it can f up your dieting goals.

IMO, it's too early in your prep for that much cardio and clen. As you get closer to your show date, you won't have a bag of tricks to go to in order to lose those last few pounds. How will you ever fit more cardio into your day when you're already maxed out with cardio now? And your body will get used to the clen and shut down the response to that too.

Try to not focus on that projected show date. It is a goal, and good to have, but if you're body isn't ready for that show, there are a million other shows that you can enter. Don't try to force your body into something it cannot do- that's another recipe for burn out.

Dieting is tough. I'm on week 18, will have dieted for 20 weeks by my show time. It sucks and it gets frustrating and I get miserable now and again, but the progress I've made has made it worth it. Once you get everything in place, you have to trust the process and let your body adjust to all the great things you're doing for it. That's part of what's been hardest for me-- trusting the process (well that and the deprivation of candy and cake and hamburgers!!! Eek!!!). I ended up reading so much stuff that my head started to spin and then a BB friend told me to trust the process. I did. And it's working.

You'll find your way. By posting here and asking questions, it's clear that you want this. You can have it.

Good luck! Hopefully some of the other more experienced ladies will also chime in!

 

[shirlene29]

I have nothing to add other than...the difference you have made so far is amazing....and incredibly inspiring
Don't lose sight of what you have achieved so far

 

[ladygie]

Thank you very much. Im glad Your seeing the results of your hard work. I'm not on the pill but I know what your talking about. I have heard mixes feed back on the clen and I will do the two weeks on two weeks off. My big question it if my BMR 1210 I burn about a 1000 calories a day which has me at 2200 calorie usage and I eat only 1200cal a day will that put me in starvation mode?

 

[shirlene29]

I genuinely believe getting in to true starvation mode is incredibly difficult (think of holocaust survivors)...that said have you tried calorie cycling (not just carb cycling) or a cheat day or meal? I realize this is contest prep and you may be reluctant to try it but if you're genuinely concerned about starvation mode its something to consider

also, its very 'atkins" but when you stopped losing on keto did you try a couple days of fat fasting? that always seems to work for me if my weight pauses for more than a couple of week

 

[superqt4u2nv]

Thank you very much. Im glad Your seeing the results of your hard work. I'm not on the pill but I know what your talking about. I have heard mixes feed back on the clen and I will do the two weeks on two weeks off. My big question it if my BMR 1210 I burn about a 1000 calories a day which has me at 2200 calorie usage and I eat only 1200cal a day will that put me in starvation mode?

Yes it's not just calories in vs calories out for competitors that not how it works. If it was marathon runners would look a hell of a lot better than they do.

On first contest I always recommend having a back up plan like a contest another 4 weeks later you could do just in case you aren't ready.

 

[ladygie]

I know exactly what your saying about the starvation mode thing.I haven't tried calorie cycling i will look it up.I'm too scared for a cheat day but I will aim for the goal but definitely putting in a back up plan as far a competition, setting the goal post back a bit but I need to be on the right one.

 

[Daisy_Girl]

If a cheat day is daunting to you, try a cheat meal or just a cheat food. Something that you LOVE and crave. For example, have a single serving of a dessert, a serving of spaghetti, or simply a small bag of chips. Whatever that ONE food is that you dream about.

Sometimes having a high calorie day every now and then can help jumpstart you. That may be what you need - I'd look into calorie cycling if I were you.

Also, like QT said, look for comps later than the one you are scheduled for. That way, if the original one doesn't work out, you have another plan and all your hard work is not wasted!

 

[figurechamp]

Cheat meals are amazing in prep!!! I have one a week and the calorie overload def jump starts my metabolism. The meal is always on Sunday (I get one this afternoon!!! I'm having pizza and chocolate frozen yogurt!!!!) and Monday's workout is always great! Never tired. Could lift and do cardio and pose for hours!!! Jillian reveille is a pro wp and she also swears by the cheat. Her cheat meals are crazy!!! Fries, burgers, coldstone creamery ice cream. I don't know how she eats it all but her cheats are HUGE!!!

 

[figurechamp]

Oh and calorie intake... I think to drop weight, you should be eating about 1700 calories. (BW x 10). You're dropping below that? I'm not clear on your intake. If you're below that, then you're not taking in enough for as much work as you're putting in.