Possibly stuck or just doing it wrong

[Daisan]

If you don't want to read a novel abridged version is at the bottom

Hey everyone,

First some basic info I guess. I'm 22, 6'2~3 and around the start of May I weighed in at 260 is my best guess. Basically suffered from getting just stupidly fat and lazy in college which is funny because I played soccer all my life up until junior year of HS when my knees and ankles started to get a little weak after endless injuries. But basically, in high-school I was one of elites in terms of fitness (sorry, weak joke) and was constantly hounded by the football coach since I was goalie did more upper body but no real lifting.

So anyway, like I said, got to college and just didn't do a god damn thing for 4 years, and lived off a steady grill diet of burgers and chicken cutlets since the real meals always looked shady.

I was aware of getting fat which I never had been before, I mean I'm talking stretch marks on the upper waist and under arms, it happened quick and probably took me off-guard. I came to a realization that my mother's side of the family is all pretty big not just tall but I had two cousins 6'4+ and at least 350+ and one ended up dying due to gastro problems so it put everyone on notice more or less and some family members have been cleaning themselves up, including me like I said starting in May when I looked at myself and just said enough. Things get put into perspective when you have a belly hanging over the waist and you see a picture of yourself when you could do 10 miles and pushups for what seemed like days during double sessions.

So anyway, my plan was simply adding in the exercise and cutting the calories and horrible eating habits and it worked early on. But being stubborn and pride filled I never really did a ton of research, just ditched the soda, added water, ditched the cookies, added fruit, etc etc. My first jog was catastrophic since I made it only about half a mile before I thought I might die and couldn't walk for the rest of the day and thought I killed my throat But a few days later it became a little easier and I've been trying to run twice a week since I really don't have time.

Anyway, I came to realize and got slightly nervous about the fact that my caloric intake was lower yes but too low? I don't know real numbers since I have varied dinners but I ball park it around 1300 or so average. I'm talking like banana for breakfast, sliced chicken on whole wheat for lunch with random fruit and then dinners I'm fairly good about staying on task with chicken, brown rice, sweet potatoes, salads, etc. But is this too low? When I've been craving sugar or something I crack a gatorade and maybe have 10 ounces or so throughout the day.

Wow rambled a ton so I'll get to the point.

With running very little (since I really don't enjoy it and don't have an mp3 player to keep me distracted) only twice a week max and for about 2 miles and some light strength training since I was so out of shape (I bought a band system and do basically every upper body thing I can think of every other day as much as I can through the day, but I have also noticed some quick changes in the arms and chest.)

After about a month and half I've gone from 260 to 240, and seen some noticeable differences in the manboobs and the oblique areas of the spare tire going down. But I seem to have hit a plateau here at the 240 area, mornings I usually weigh in about 237-239 but by the end I'm either at 240 or 241.

A few weeks back I did uncover a workout I had at my disposal all along and never realized and thats using the push-mower instead of the ride-on on about 3/4 acre of grass, which reported a 3 pound loss in one day. Seeing as how we just had five 95 degree days in a row and I was afraid I'd end up in the hospital, I haven't been able to do this since I've reached the 240 mark.

So my question to you guys is this; am I just throwing too much crap together for this weight loss plan and it finally caught up to me? Or am I just not doing enough cardio? I know the "lifting" I do doesn't burn as many calories as cardio but it's the one thing my willpower can't overcome, I just despise hitting the pavement now that I'm a load.

So the short version since I realize I've typed way too much and guess I just needed it off my chest...

Age: 22
Height: 6'2-3
Weight: 240
Calories: ~1300

Light exercise, little cardio
Lost 20 pounds in a little over a month and now "stuck" at 240
Open to any suggestions and/or criticisms

Again, sorry for writing so much but some times just need to vent I guess

Thanks for any advice.

 

[solrosenberg]

I personally think it is your diet. You need more calories than 1300. You need to eat 5-6 small small meals throughout the day. It sounds funny , but eating more will actually cause you to lose weight, as long as you continue the weight training and cardio. Your body won't store as much fat, and will burn more fat by eating this way. Keep your protein high, carbs medium and fats low. No carbs after 6 pm either. If your schedule will allow, try cardio in the am on an empty stomach. This is the ultimate fat burner.

 

[bentoverrow]

If you don't want to read a novel abridged version is at the bottom

Hey everyone,

First some basic info I guess. I'm 22, 6'2~3 and around the start of May I weighed in at 260 is my best guess. Basically suffered from getting just stupidly fat and lazy in college which is funny because I played soccer all my life up until junior year of HS when my knees and ankles started to get a little weak after endless injuries. But basically, in high-school I was one of elites in terms of fitness (sorry, weak joke) and was constantly hounded by the football coach since I was goalie did more upper body but no real lifting.

So anyway, like I said, got to college and just didn't do a god damn thing for 4 years, and lived off a steady grill diet of burgers and chicken cutlets since the real meals always looked shady.

I was aware of getting fat which I never had been before, I mean I'm talking stretch marks on the upper waist and under arms, it happened quick and probably took me off-guard. I came to a realization that my mother's side of the family is all pretty big not just tall but I had two cousins 6'4+ and at least 350+ and one ended up dying due to gastro problems so it put everyone on notice more or less and some family members have been cleaning themselves up, including me like I said starting in May when I looked at myself and just said enough. Things get put into perspective when you have a belly hanging over the waist and you see a picture of yourself when you could do 10 miles and pushups for what seemed like days during double sessions.

So anyway, my plan was simply adding in the exercise and cutting the calories and horrible eating habits and it worked early on. But being stubborn and pride filled I never really did a ton of research, just ditched the soda, added water, ditched the cookies, added fruit, etc etc. My first jog was catastrophic since I made it only about half a mile before I thought I might die and couldn't walk for the rest of the day and thought I killed my throat But a few days later it became a little easier and I've been trying to run twice a week since I really don't have time.

Anyway, I came to realize and got slightly nervous about the fact that my caloric intake was lower yes but too low? I don't know real numbers since I have varied dinners but I ball park it around 1300 or so average. I'm talking like banana for breakfast, sliced chicken on whole wheat for lunch with random fruit and then dinners I'm fairly good about staying on task with chicken, brown rice, sweet potatoes, salads, etc. But is this too low? When I've been craving sugar or something I crack a gatorade and maybe have 10 ounces or so throughout the day.

Wow rambled a ton so I'll get to the point.

With running very little (since I really don't enjoy it and don't have an mp3 player to keep me distracted) only twice a week max and for about 2 miles and some light strength training since I was so out of shape (I bought a band system and do basically every upper body thing I can think of every other day as much as I can through the day, but I have also noticed some quick changes in the arms and chest.)

After about a month and half I've gone from 260 to 240, and seen some noticeable differences in the manboobs and the oblique areas of the spare tire going down. But I seem to have hit a plateau here at the 240 area, mornings I usually weigh in about 237-239 but by the end I'm either at 240 or 241.

A few weeks back I did uncover a workout I had at my disposal all along and never realized and thats using the push-mower instead of the ride-on on about 3/4 acre of grass, which reported a 3 pound loss in one day. Seeing as how we just had five 95 degree days in a row and I was afraid I'd end up in the hospital, I haven't been able to do this since I've reached the 240 mark.

So my question to you guys is this; am I just throwing too much crap together for this weight loss plan and it finally caught up to me? Or am I just not doing enough cardio? I know the "lifting" I do doesn't burn as many calories as cardio but it's the one thing my willpower can't overcome, I just despise hitting the pavement now that I'm a load.

So the short version since I realize I've typed way too much and guess I just needed it off my chest...

Age: 22
Height: 6'2-3
Weight: 240
Calories: ~1300

Light exercise, little cardio
Lost 20 pounds in a little over a month and now "stuck" at 240
Open to any suggestions and/or criticisms

Again, sorry for writing so much but some times just need to vent I guess

Thanks for any advice.

you need to find out your bmi(body mass index) adjust your cals to 500 or so below that and slowly work your cals down over time
if you went from 4000 cals to 1300 cals over night the weight you lost is water first, muscle tissue and maybe some fat

your body doesnt work like that it cant lose fat in that manner.

protein high, do weight training(compound moves) 4-5 times a week(weight training with adequate protein builds muscle),muscle revs metabolism higher and you are constantly burning fat. thats why weights are neccesary. if you give up now and go back to eating badly and alot you will for sure add all the fat and water back + more of it (you stopped losing weight because your body has adjusted to the new calorie supply and set a new bmi) this is classic yo-yo dieting...dont do it.

do your cardio after your weight training...remember cardio is catabolic,weight training and good food=anabolism

 

[Daisan]

Thanks for the replies,

Yea, I'm definitely not going back to my old eating habits. To clarify I'm not gaining the weight back, I'm still losing it, just at a much slower rate, so I'll do some research on how to properly alter my diet, since I haven't been paying attention to how much protein, carbs etc.

I also am gaining decent muscle mass, faster than expected. (We're talking 1 pushup when I started to now 15 before I feel like my shoulders are going to explode for 5 mins, and about 150 a day total) So I'm assuming gaining the muscle is slowing my weight "loss" on the scale at least somewhat?

Thanks again