More ???'s from a dumb *** newbie

[wbens]

Well, I wieghted myself this morning, I was at 160,161 some where in there. That is about where I was at last week. I guess I just feel down, because last night, I mixed it up a little and did about 20 min on the stationary bike and then lifted for aboout 30 min. I just keep getting down on myself. I haven't been able to beat my best at running, and last night was my usual running night and I didn't do it. I do the running to TRY and get rid of the b/f, but since I started running a couple months ago I haven't seen a change. I just keep getting down on myself.

William

[threenorns]

instead of freaking out about eating, what if you were to add a meal replacement shake to your normal diet every day?

you'll enjoy the extra energy it will give you to fuel your running and workouts - part of the reason you don't enjoy them is likely because your body is literally starving to death and it's turning down the thermostat.

your metabolism will kick in when your body is convinced that there is a steady, dependable supply of quality fuel - and not before that.

[midgetcop]

Throw out that damn scale. Screw it. Throw it out the window. It's useless, and it's not helping you. It's messing with your head.

You're not losing weight because your metabolism has basically slowed to a halt. And then when you finally DO start to lose weight (because your body can't hold on to this weight forever) you're going to drop drastically fast and you can kiss and notion of fitness or muscle-tone right out the window along with that scale.

You *need* to eat. I can't stress that enough. This isn't about fitness and weight-control anymore, this is about survival. Your body needs food, just as it needs water. If you absolutely can't convince yourself to start eating normally again, I would DEFINITELY hoof it to the doctor and consider telling him/her that you may have an eating disorder.

[threenorns]

MAY have an eating disorder? <eyebrow cocked>

[wbens]

Originally Posted by threenorns

your metabolism will kick in when your body is convinced that there is a steady, dependable supply of quality fuel - and not before that.

Until that time kicks in, wheather it be 2 weeks, 2 months or 2 years, is the wieght going to be fat? Well, what should I look for in meal replacements?

Originally Posted by midgetcop

Throw out that damn scale. Screw it. Throw it out the window. It's useless, and it's not helping you. It's messing with your head.

You're not losing weight because your metabolism has basically slowed to a halt. And then when you finally DO start to lose weight (because your body can't hold on to this weight forever) you're going to drop drastically fast and you can kiss and notion of fitness or muscle-tone right out the window along with that scale.

You *need* to eat. I can't stress that enough. This isn't about fitness and weight-control anymore, this is about survival. Your body needs food, just as it needs water. If you absolutely can't convince yourself to start eating normally again, I would DEFINITELY hoof it to the doctor and consider telling him/her that you may have an eating disorder.

I try to eat more, but I always just feel guilty about it and stop. Granted, eating more to me is having another piece of fruit or something like that. When I make my salad after working out, I think that it's to big, but I force myself to eat that. Usually my stomach feels full, and I hate that feeling aswell. I am just sick of the way I look. I don't know if it is fat or just loose sick hanging off of my stomach that has shrunk back. Maybe its because when I was 130lbs there was hardly no b/f on me, and now that I eating I gained alot of that back. I am just so damn frustrated, confused, stressed out, depressed, you name it. When I was lifting last night, I was so ticked off and frustrated at myself. I was punching the wall and my self. Eveyone asks my why I am lifting and running. They say that I am in great shape. I tell the B.S. I am in horrible condition. I am suppose to find out here soon if I am getting hired permently. Then, if I do, I will get insurance and go to the doctor.

Ya know, its kinda funny. When I was heavy, no one ever said anything about eating to much, or need to cut back. They just let me be. Now that I have lost the wieght, everyone tells me to eat more and that I have an eating disorder(which maybe I do, I am by no means trying to critisize everyone or anything like that).
Thanks

William

[Rats!]

I think you need to find yourself a nice girl, preferably one who cooks... and chill for a while!

[threenorns]

Originally Posted by wbens

Until that time kicks in, wheather it be 2 weeks, 2 months or 2 years, is the wieght going to be fat?

until that time, i'm afraid, you're going to have to keep up the cardio and weight-lifting or yes, indeed, your body will hoard as much fat as possible.

Originally Posted by wbens

Well, what should I look for in meal replacements?

i'm afraid i'm not up on meal replacements, but a quick search around here should turn up some good information on what to look for. the only thing i can suggest is that you look at the percentage of protein in the container (protein grams divided by serving size). some protein supplements *appear* to be a good value until you do a calculation and discover it's only 60% protein or something.

[wbens]

Well today I have had about 6 pieces of fruit today in between mowing and cleanin out our garage. In all honesty, I was only hungry when I woke up this morning. I am going to go to the gym and either lift or do some HIIT. I guess I will stop and look at some of those meal replacement drinks to.

William

[Cort]

Originally Posted by wbens

Ya know, its kinda funny. When I was heavy, no one ever said anything about eating to much, or need to cut back. They just let me be. Now that I have lost the wieght, everyone tells me to eat more and that I have an eating disorder(which maybe I do, I am by no means trying to critisize everyone or anything like that).
Thanks

William

Well, where are you getting the notion that 6 apples over the course of a day provides your body with the calories and other nutrients that it needs? If you don't know anything about nutrition you are going to keep thinking like that, which is why you need to start trying to learn. Read a book, take a class, whatever, just attempt to learn how to eat well rather than stabbing in the dark without having a single clue. If you don't stop looking at food as future fat on your ass and start looking at it as fuel for your body's numerous functions, you'll just maintain this negative attitude about eating.

If you came here saying "Man I'm eating BK and McDonalds every day, and topping it off with doughnuts and chocolate cake! Why am I so fat and tired all the time?" people would tell you exactly why. In everyday life people wont say it because it might offend you.

[wbens]

Originally Posted by Cort

Well, where are you getting the notion that 6 apples over the course of a day provides your body with the calories and other nutrients that it needs? If you don't know anything about nutrition you are going to keep thinking like that, which is why you need to start trying to learn. Read a book, take a class, whatever, just attempt to learn how to eat well rather than stabbing in the dark without having a single clue. If you don't stop looking at food as future fat on your ass and start looking at it as fuel for your body's numerous functions, you'll just maintain this negative attitude about eating.

I am trying. I just get some much info that it confuses me so much that it's not even funny. That's part of the reason I'm so frustrated. Trust me, when I am able to go to the doctor this is one of the question that I am going to talk to him about and another reason I joined here. I read alot about this but everything just contridicts other stuff that I read.

I know I need to eat more, but I can't force myself to do. I don't know why. Anymore I am just so fed up and confused.

William

[threenorns]

and the stuff the doctor tells you will contradict other stuff you read.

the only stuff that won't contradict is the basic information and theory, which will always be consistent (ie, you'll never hear anyone tell you you can get a beautiful body from sitting around eating rotten ronnie's).

the trick is to use a sort of mental filing system and as you keep reading and paying attention to what's going on, the information that works best for you will become clear. far less confusing than accepting each and every source as gospel truth, lol.

[wbens]

So far this is the stuff that I have stored away. Need protien, carbs and fat, all in moderation. You need to do an equal amount of cardio including HIIT and resistance training. I get protien from the meat, cheese, eggs, cottage cheese and suppliments that take, carbs from the fruit(althought I have read that those are bad carbs because the are fructouse which is a bad sugar) and I get a little fat from the meat as well. They say eat more on wieght training days and less on rest or cardio days.

Well I had planned on resting today, but I think that I have over done my eating so I am probably going to the gym in a while and lift.

Here are some more questions. With my stats 6ft 160lbs or so, what should my b/f be? I had very little when I was 130lbs, obviously, but because I started eating it's back. I figured that by doing the cardio it would help eliminate this, well it did some on my legs but it's there are in full force on my mid section. I know that is common and the last place that is usually goes away from.

William

[threenorns]

there's no one bang-on "X" is the proper bodyfat - it's a range. for men, from 15% to 21% is considered "average/normal". obviously, bodybuilders go far lower, down to 7%. for women, it's much higher for biological reasons involving estrogen and child-bearing.

basically, all you do is look at yourself and if you're not happy with what you see, determine what, exactly, is making you dissatisfied and then *take* the appropriate steps to correct it.

as for fruit, nothing wrong with it - i eat it by the ton. just today, i had a mango this morning (a BIG one) and three yoghurts for breakfast; a full pound of fresh strawberries topped with fat-free plain yoghurt flavoured with vanilla and a bit of sweetener (my friend's diabetic - no sugar in his house) for a snack; and in a little while, i'll have a whole chicken breast, some rice, and boiled carrots.

i eat like this fairly regularly and i'm losing fat like ninety - nearly 3" off my waist in the past month even though i've not lost a pound.

[Lady C]

Originally Posted by wbens

carbs from the fruit(althought I have read that those are bad carbs because the are fructouse which is a bad sugar)

That is bunk. There is NOTHING wrong with fructose. Just don't eat more than 4 servings per day of fruit or too much fruit for dinner or later. Eat more veggies as carbs. I've never met a fat salad freak.

[wbens]

Originally Posted by threenorns

basically, all you do is look at yourself and if you're not happy with what you see, determine what, exactly, is making you dissatisfied and then *take* the appropriate steps to correct it.

as for fruit, nothing wrong with it - i eat it by the ton. just today, i had a mango this morning (a BIG one) and three yoghurts for breakfast; a full pound of fresh strawberries topped with fat-free plain yoghurt flavoured with vanilla and a bit of sweetener (my friend's diabetic - no sugar in his house) for a snack; and in a little while, i'll have a whole chicken breast, some rice, and boiled carrots.

i eat like this fairly regularly and i'm losing fat like ninety - nearly 3" off my waist in the past month even though i've not lost a pound.

I thought that I was/am taking the appropriate steps. I am working out 6 dyas a week,although I feel as if I should have today. I never have wanted to be a body builder or anything like that. I just want to look beter all around. My legs are decent and my arms arnt terrible, but could be bigger. My chest has gotten bigger since starting lifting, but I still have man breasts I guess. My stomach is a lost cause. Being able to eat that much and still loose must be nice.
Like I said, I have tryed to change my lift style to be more healthy. I have tried to lower my sugar intake, don't eat fast food, I don't go out to eat, my parents don't even ask me anymore if I want to go with them, don't go to bbq because I am afraid that I am going to over eat, don't drink pop, eat more veggies and fruit then I have in my previous 20 years. No matter what I do, it doesn't seem to help. I know that results take time, but, I guess I figured after doing this for 2 1/2 or 3 months that I would see aliitle more. All I have heard people say it that you look like you've gained some wieght. Woohoo

I thought that exercising would be a way to relieve some stress. It has made me more stressed out. Any more I don't enjoy doing much of anything, wheather hanging out with my friends or doing some of the other hobbies I did. I do like lifting but the bad thing is is that I feel like I am starting to loose interest in running, which I feel like , is something that I need to do as part of my exercise. Bout the only thing that makes me happy is my truck and tinkering with it, but thats a different discussion board.

William