Weight Loss and Medications - Help!

[Sapphire]

I've just joined elite fitness and have read through a number of posts. I'm hoping someone out there can help

I'm 5'4" and want to lose 10-15 max. I've dieted and trained in the past, so I know what it takes. I think stress is keeping me from losing weight and helping to put it on. I noticed that after stopping my bc pills (due to high bp), that I gained a good amount of weight no matter how hard I worked out or dieted. My muscle tone is gone too. I have a sufficient amount of muscle, always have, but now I have the fat too! Do bc pills alter your weight? what about bp medication? I've been eating healthy enough to maintain, not gain.

I just started Atkins today in hopes of dropping a few lbs quick and regain my willpower. I workout 5 days a week (Mon. chest and tri's; Tues. legs; Wed.; back and bi's; Thurs. cardio; Fri. shoulders) and usually do 20min cardio each day. I just recently began increasing cardio and am up to 45 minutes (hopefully 60 today). Usually three sets of each exercise 10-12 reps.

Any advice/suggestions would be appreciated.

I know it's not an easy road, just need help getting back on track.

Sapphire

 

[diamonddiceclay]

you'll lose muscle and fat on atkins-do the metabolic diet-mon thru fri carbs 30g a day and carb up on weekend

 

[Sapphire]

I have not had my body fat tested in quite some time. At last check, about a year ago I was at 21%. Quite certain it's higher now. Like I said, I know about diet and exercise, I've trained in the past, but something has changed and the old rules are not working.....

This is my basic diet:

5 meals a day
64 oz water minimum

Morning

3 egg whites
1 slice wheat toast (sugar free preserves)
coffee (cause I can't go without it!)

Snack Apple

Lunch
Tuna or turkey on wheat, mustard or
salad with cheese cubes and ham

Dinner
Grilled chicken
spinach or broccoli

Occassionally I have a cheat, but not that often. So spatterson, what do you think? Am I missing something?

 

[Sapphire]

oooops forgot the last snack....

handful of nuts or yogurt

 

[Sapphire]

Hey Spatterson...Thanks

I'll give it a try for a few weeks and let you know how it goes. One silly question since I'm new to the boards....CHO? Sorry, I don't know what that means

 

[diamonddiceclay]

you should skip the apple and bread and instead have oatmeal-it is a much better way to get carbs

 

[Sapphire]

Thanks. I do occassionally have oatmeal, try to mix it up a little. So you're not a fan of atkins? How much muscle in two weeks do you a person can lose?

 

[diamonddiceclay]

not too much in 2 weeks, but you may like the metabolic diet better because you can do it for longer periods and you get to eat carbs 2days every week in large amounts

 

[new@gettinbig]

No wonder you can't lose weight....I would starve eating that amount of food..you have to fuel your body...you are eating way to much junk you really don't need...throw some lean red meat in there..turkey breasts..tuna...dont be afraid to eat good quality clean protein...it will not hurt you..get a lot of veggies in as well...carb rotating diets work well...atkins is really not realistic..and do you plan on eating that way the rest of your life??? Carbs are good..when you eat the right kinds and do it right....

 

[Sapphire]

I do love carbs!

Thanks for all your help...I'll search the boards for more info on the metabolic diet.

anyone have a clue about the bc pills? That's when I packed on most of my weight, as soon as I stopped!

 

[Suzr]

I'm sorry but I don't believe that you are gaining wt on the food you listed. Either that is not what your are eating on a consistent basis or your quantities are huge or your metabolism is very slow!
For breakfast you have eaten about 227 cal and 16 gram protein. Then an apple for snack at around 80 cal. Then the lunch you described may have about 300-400 cal. Dinner maybe 250-300 and snack 150. Totals around 1100-1200 cal. If this is truely what you are eating on a consistent basis then you body is in starvation mode. Forgive me for saying this but I have a feeling that this is not what you eat on a consistent basis. Why not start a food diary for 2 weeks write down every thing and the amount that you eat. Then use a program like crosstrainer to see your calories andyour macronutrient ratios. I think you would then have some information to see where to adjust your diet.
I also noticed from another post that you are having trouble with your workout. That the hit workout you have been doing hasn't been giving you the results you want. Well if it doesn't work then it is best to do something different. I have a feeling that your intensity on the workouts is not what it should be to get results from a hit style workout. So why not try more volume instead.
Wishing you the best towards reaching your goals
Stopping bc pills does not usually result in wt gain. It is generally the other way around. But different types of BC pills contain different types and ratios of estrogen and progesterone. What type were you taking?

 

[Sapphire]

Like i said, just looking for the quick drop and then on to being more disciplined. Thanks Maddog67......

 

[Sapphire]

Suzr....no reason to think you'd be offending me, it's exactly the reason I've been so frustrated and searching for some other reason for the weight gain. My workouts are fine actually and I do lift a fair amount of weights.

BTW, I was on orth tricycline which I know is a very low dose pill.

I've got enough information now and am sure I will see some progress shortly.

 

[KEL]

fitday.com is a great place to keep a food diary

 

[FitFossil]

Do bc pills alter your weight?

First of all, welcome! BC pills turned me into a bodyfat magnet. I tried several low-dose brands too. No matter how much I exercised or restricted my diet, I could not lose the weight. Once I stopped the pill, most of the weight came off. I had been lean before the pill, and my bodyfat came down some after stopping the pill, but it clung to my butt and hips where I'd never had a problem before. I had always been a starver/toner/cardio-junkie, and none of that was helping me get any leaner.

I figured I had nothing to lose (but hopefully a fat butt) when I made the decision to try heavy training. The heavy training brought about some cool changes in my body, but then I reached a stopping point. The only thing left was my crappy diet of insufficient protein, not enough healthy (unsaturated) fat, and too much sugar.

I used to think only calories mattered, not what was in those calories. I was also surprised to find out I hadn't been eating enough calories. As I improved my diet, the changes started coming faster. It was because I finally had enough fuel to feed my body and do even harder workouts, against which butt fat didn't stand a chance.

 

[Sapphire]

Thanks for the Post Fit Fossil. I gained the typical 5lbs when I first started the pill, but gained another five after stopping! My weight is distributed evenly which is a good thing I guess, though a little more around the waist and boobs! Not many would complain about the boobs huh?

You're right about the food and especially the sugar. I notice a huge bloating feeling if I've eaten too much! That's why I was looking for some encouraging words. I have done all this before, but found this time was hard getting motivated to do it the right way!

Everyone has been so helpful. I was nervous to post at first but it's been an enlightening one. I've checked out the metabolic diet diamonddiceclay recommended and fitday.com. Since I already started Atkins I'm gonna continue with that then switch to Metabolic (the first 12 days are the same anyway.)

Thanks again everyone

Sapphire