Weight Loss

In fact, I yo-yo between 5-8 lbs that I still need to loose depending on the day.  I'm frustrated.  Have been working out and eating well since May.  I work out between 4-6 times a week burning usually around 400 calories each time. 

Stats - 5'1 - 108-110lbs.  Small frame - skinny up top and below knees but way big in the mid section.

I was eating at 1200 calories for a few months, but when I didn't see any weight loss, I posted and people thought I should eat more.  So I upped it to 1500 calories.  Still nothing.  I changed up my exercise routine - adding a body pump class 2 times a week.  Still my weight is exactly the same.  Now I have lost inches around my waist.  No inches lost on my thighs or anywhere else unfortunately.  But hey - I'll take the waist!  :-)  But truly, I'd like to see the lbs come off too.  Any suggestions??????

I'm starting to think I'll never loose the weight or change my body to where I want it.  It's so frustrating.  I mean come on - after 5 months I should really see some differences right?  Or am I just being impatient and 2 inches off my waist is enough????  Help!

Thanks!

Sounds like you're a bit obsessed with weight.  You weigh less than 110#!!!! You may have a small frame but that doesn't really mean you need to go down to double digits.  So you say you've lost inches on your waist but still want to lose weight.  You are probably healthier where you are.  If you want to look better keep the exercising and the weight routines.  Forget 5 lbs, concentrate on your physique.  You'll look better and healthier by adding a little muscle.

I think this should be an open forum where people can ask questions like this and not be told they are obsessed about weight.  The last five to ten pounds are VERY frustrating for a lot of people (myself included).  If your workouts are mainly cardio with two body pump classes it may be a good idea to add another day of weight training and try to add some intensity to your cardio.  Good luck. 

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Yes, the last 5 pounds can be tough, but if you're already at a very low BMI (20 for the poster), there's something to be said for altering your goals.

Losing 2 inches off your waist is great, and you should be really proud of that! It is definitely a major difference. Maybe instead of concentrating on the number on the scale, you should track measurements or your body fat percentage.

Seeing significant changes in your bodies' overall shape takes A LOT of time and I think most people expect to see marked results very quickly, which is understandable. Sounds like you have gotten results so far and that's great. Continuing to gain benefits from exercise has much to do with continuing to challenge your muscles in new and different ways. Try completely changing your type of cardio and muscle strengthening program about every 3 mths. Very often just changing the types of exercises and/or intensity will be enough to kick start your metabolism and rev-up your fat burning.

For example if you just added the body pump class 2 times per week, then keep that but change your other cardio from, say the treadmill to the stairmaster or try interval training where you bring your heart rate up high for a few minutes and then back down and repeat for 30min (for example). Also try increasing the weight you are lifting and decrease the reps. The last rep should always be so hard that you feel like you cant do another. You have to tear muscle fibers down in order for them to build. Try splitting your lifting into 2-3 different days working different body parts on each day.

Remember- no matter what you do, visual results will happen slowly. But after all this is supposed to be a diet and exercise lifestyle that you can maintain for the long term. Don't give up.

Thanks everyone for your comments.

I have to say that I definitely fall into the skinny fat category.  Even though my BMI is in a healthy range, my body fat percentage is fairly high - around 30% and I'd like to see that in the low 20's.  So having said that I'm really not sure of the best way to get there.  I know gaining muscle is definitely the way to go and that may take a while to do.   But do I maintain my calories and focus on weight training or do I cut down my calories and do weight training.  I guess that's my real dilemma.

I really like the suggestion of adding in an extra weight training day.  Which I will definitely start doing.

Thanks again!

Hmmm...what's your protein/carb/fat ratio on a typical day? Rather than cutting the calories, maybe you need to up the protein a bit and focus on gaining muscle. 30% fat is a bit high for someone so small. Try to stay off the scale for a few weeks, hit the weights, and focus on your weekly body fat % measurements for a bit. You might gain a few pounds, but if you get your body fat down you will be trimmer. 

Yes, I'd say if your body fat percentage is that high, you should concentrate on building muscle instead of cutting calories. If you continue to cut calories you might actually end up losing more muscle. You should definitely up your protein and probably up your entire caloric intake. Also, check out the fitness forum. There are tons of knowledgeable people who can tell you how to gain muscle without gaining fat.

If you have access to a pool, try to start swimming laps. Swimming doesn't put strain on any joints and, for me, it was always the best way to slim down. I especially saw this in my legs because running and weight training just build my leg muscle instead of slimming them down the way I wanted.

Maintain calories and focus on weight training.  I agree; it matters what ratios you're eating.  Cutting calories is going to get rid of your muscle first and that's not what you need.

Good luck!!!

Thanks everyone!  I've recently starting upping my protein by drinking some protein shakes.  I have to really watch my calories though as it ads like an extra 200 calories.  But overall I decided to keep my calories the way they are (around 1400) and just keep up with my weight training.  I still do my cardio about 3-4 times a week but think it's important to add in that extra day of weights in as well.

Thanks again!  I'll try to be patient and see how things work out.  Although it's hard especially when you read others on here that are toning up and loosing weight so fast and I seem to stay stagnant.  But I guess my body just needs that extra time.    Now in another year if I'm still the same - well - I'll be back on here griping!  :-)