Weight Loss, Toning, Pilates, BodyDome

[osborsc]

I've been doing Atkins since June 1st. I've lost 38lbs. I get on the treadmill for 40 minutes (5 minutes for warm-up, 5 minutes for cool down) about 3 to 5 times a week (156 beats per minute - heart rate). According to my heart monitor, I am in the Max. Fat Burning rate during the workout. I also do a series of crunches and leg exercises before the workout about 3 times a week. I saw some results in my thighs, butt, and abominals at first.

Problem is.. I seem to be stuck at 38lbs. I've got 20lbs more I'd like to lose. And.. I seem to be getting the top of my abdominals, but not the bottom - as I haven't seen a change in that area. What else can I do? How can I tone my arms, abs, thighs, and butt? Does Pilates really work? Has anyone tried the BodyDome (www.bodydome.com)? Does it really work?

I'm getting frustrated... and really need some guidance to get back on track.

[Timbers]

I've done pilates and it does work if your goal is to be just toned.
Maybe you're at a plateau. Don't stop.

[Wolfnatas]

In case nobody has told you yet... Atkins is not a great diet for trying to get fit. It can help you lose weight, but it indiscriminately targets muscle & fat. You'll probably need to tackle your nutrition & get your diet in order before you can lose that extra 20. Check out the diet & nutrition thread here.. there is a lot of helpful info there. Also, check out the workout & diet threads. Laura's thread is especially useful.

[jimmyv]

The ketogenic approach seems to have run its course for you. When something stops working, changing gears seems like the order of the day. Why not switch over to a more balanced diet, lift some weights and work on putting on a little lean muscle to kickstart your basal metabolism? Your colon will thank you, too.

I'd go for 500 calories above your metabolic breakeven point (coming from a low-fat mixture of clean carbs and protein) and lifting some heavy weights 2-3 times a week for a couple of months?

[dana82]

Pilates really does work, They really flattened my somach, and lift my butt. How long have you been at this plateau? Do you do any weights? I have found that when I did weights in the beginning of trying to loose weight I wasn't loosing as fast so I stopped with the weights and then when I got about 10 lbs above my goal weight I started back up again and the the rest of the weight just came right off. Also I'm cure on Atkins you are accustomed to loosing rapidly just let your body catch up alittle, and add a change. Good luck!!!

[Lady C]

Increasing the intensity of the workout would be ideal for the exercise part of the equation. I would increase the heart rate to the upper limit of aerobic almost becoming anerobic.

You need to start eating carbs to fuel your activities. Get off the Atkins Diet and get into a healthier lifestyle of eating. You have hit a brick wall and need to make a drastic change to make some more results happen.

Check out Cursor's corner for more info on diet and nutrition (bottom of main page).

[Helene]

Start weightlifing heavy. Their is no such word as being "toned". Being "toned" is having a decent amount of muscle with a low bodyfat.
To build muscle (that will make you decrease your bodyfat) you have to challenge your muscles; to challenge your muscles you have to lift heavy. You need carbs for energy to workout. You just have to eat the right ones (oatmeal, sweet potatoes, brown rice..)

I'm 24years old, 5'2 and 120lbs, I've been lifting heavy for 10 months (thanks to cursor who put me in the right direction). I have alot of muscles and eat well and enought to fuel my workouts and am decreasing my bodyfat constantly. I'm becoming pretty cut. And I love it!

So drop the atkins, pilates etc..start lifting weights heavy, research workouts, diets..learn how to eat, how to train..and your on your way to a great body!

[dana82]

Along with adding the heavy weights, (not that I have done it) but everyone seems to recommend incorporating interval training into your cardio routine. Even when I am at the gym and I see people doing their interval training, they seem to be working up more of a sweat than others (even if they are at a high mph). So maybe that will help a bit
:thumbup:

[Helene]

I do 2 hiit sessions per week of 12 minutes and 2 mod cardio of 25 min and beleive me hiit is so much harder and i'm 100 times more out of breath than when I'm doing the moderate cardio.

On the elliptical(cross-country machine) I do:

1 min moderate(rest)
30 seconds really hard, like 100%

When you get a little better you can do 30/30 intervalls.(30 sec rest/30 sec hard).

[Piper]

Originally Posted by Wolfnatas

In case nobody has told you yet... Atkins is not a great diet for trying to get fit. It can help you lose weight, but it indiscriminately targets muscle & fat.

I'd like to know how it targets muscle as you are eating lots of protein rich foods.. Meat, Fish, Eggs...etc..

[bouncer]

osborsc,

Have you tried rebound exercise? According to DR. Morton Walker, you burn more calories rebounding than you do running on a treadmill. Also, doing rebound exercise for your abs on a rebounder is equal to doing regular crunches with weights. Dr. Walkers book is "Jumping For Health."
One other thing that can prevent you from losing any more weight is that your body is under "stress." When your body is under stress, it releases an excessive amount of a hormone called "cortisol." Excessive Cortisol inhibits weight loss. You need to have a "Stress Test" done.

Thanks