Huddle Workout Warriors

[Zcustom]

Well since I keep bitching let me provide some context.

I tipped the scale at 290 in early January. Since I had always been skinny before my son was born this was devastating. I ate better for a few weeks and lost about 5 pounds.

From late January to the end of April I did a little better with my diet and got down to 271, which was my weight when I started working out on May 6th.

My initial goal weight was 240, with an ultimate goal of 200. Once I get to 200 I will be more concerned with body composition than weight. Reasonable right?

Well, I gave myself 2 months to get to my first goal of 240. 15 pounds per month when you are obese is not too crazy. After the first month I had lost 14 pounds and felt like I could reach my first goal. Second month I lost 12 pounds and weighed 245. Soooo close.

Well, since July 4th I have just been stuck. I got as low as 242 this past weekend but after gaining both days this week I'm pushing 245 again.

I'm trying to figure out what works for my body and what doesn't so I feel like the daily weigh ins are needed at least until I develop a program that works. I have made many adjustments to my diet and feel like I'm eating well. I had baked chicken and friggin beets for dinner last night. I vary my workouts and get an hour in every day except weekends (although I did workout both days this past weekend).

My clothes are falling off me and I am wearing stuff that I haven't in years. I take solace in that but long term I don't want to weigh 240+

[Cat]

Well since I keep bitching let me provide some context.

I tipped the scale at 290 in early January. Since I had always been skinny before my son was born this was devastating. I ate better for a few weeks and lost about 5 pounds.

From late January to the end of April I did a little better with my diet and got down to 271, which was my weight when I started working out on May 6th.

My initial goal weight was 240, with an ultimate goal of 200. Once I get to 200 I will be more concerned with body composition than weight. Reasonable right?

Well, I gave myself 2 months to get to my first goal of 240. 15 pounds per month when you are obese is not too crazy. After the first month I had lost 14 pounds and felt like I could reach my first goal. Second month I lost 12 pounds and weighed 245. Soooo close.

Well, since July 4th I have just been stuck. I got as low as 242 this past weekend but after gaining both days this week I'm pushing 245 again.

I'm trying to figure out what works for my body and what doesn't so I feel like the daily weigh ins are needed at least until I develop a program that works. I have made many adjustments to my diet and feel like I'm eating well. I had baked chicken and friggin beets for dinner last night. I vary my workouts and get an hour in every day except weekends (although I did workout both days this past weekend).

My clothes are falling off me and I am wearing stuff that I haven't in years. I take solace in that but long term I don't want to weigh 240+

 

 

First I have to say bravo! That's awesome you've lost so much weight.  

 

What is your target calorie in take? make sure you aren't taking too few calories in. 

What kinds of foods are you eating? make sure you are not only eating few caloires but also limiting bad carbs and sugars?

What kind of workouts are you doing? if you lifting weights, your muscles are growing, if you doing intense cardio like jumping, push ups etc your muscles are growing and your weight will go up. This is a good thing though because muscle burns fat.  

 

 

Double check and make sure you really are eating as good as you think you are, make sure you are counting any little piece of candy, the bite of food from your kids plate, the beers you had with your buddies.  It's easy for all of us to think we are doing better than we actually are. 

 

 

Thats all the advice I have atm. Good luck!

[Cat]

In other news, my wife says she wants me to get "the cut" that I had when we first started dating (and I weighed about 140). 

 

by "the cut" she means the illiac furrow/ apollo's belt. I have a fairly pronounced one even at my current bodyfat.  I told her all I need to do is lose about 10 pounds.

 

So now I'm cutting calories for a few weeks.  This is the first time I've ever gone on a "diet"

 

 

I kind of have one of those, more so in my hip area, it doesn't go all the way down. It was the first thing that popped up when i working out and I hated it, I'm ok with it now. I don't think it's very girly looking.

 

btw, your i hope your wife is in amazing shape, seems like a lot to ask, but maybe you don't mind.

[Darth Biscuit]

You're a pretty big guy Z, so 240 isn't unreasonable imo...  200 might be a little much even, but that's your call...

 

As some have already mentioned, weight isn't really the best measure.  I rarely weigh myself and usually when I think I've lost weight I've gained, and when I think I've gained, I've lost... it's really weird.

 

I've hovered between 215 and 220 for like 2 years...  and honestly I'm fine with that.  I would like to cut a little, but it's not a huge deal.

 

I've had three different people tell me lately that I look bigger and more cut recently and I haven't done any cardio to speak of in the last few weeks and have been mainly heavy powerlifting...so honestly who knows?  I guess I'm gaining muscle.

 

tl;dr...  keep working at it... your weight loss is sure to slow down some as you go.  Change up your routine some, keep eating well and it will continue to fall off.

[Zcustom]

First I have to say bravo! That's awesome you've lost so much weight.

What is your target calorie in take? make sure you aren't taking too few calories in.

What kinds of foods are you eating? make sure you are not only eating few caloires but also limiting bad carbs and sugars?

What kind of workouts are you doing? if you lifting weights, your muscles are growing, if you doing intense cardio like jumping, push ups etc your muscles are growing and your weight will go up. This is a good thing though because muscle burns fat.

Double check and make sure you really are eating as good as you think you are, make sure you are counting any little piece of candy, the bite of food from your kids plate, the beers you had with your buddies. It's easy for all of us to think we are doing better than we actually are.

Thats all the advice I have atm. Good luck!

Thanks Cat!!

Here's what I typically eat on an average day.

Breakfast used to be oatmeal, but there's too much refined sugar and I was also not getting enough calories so I switched to an English muffin with natural peanut butter and honey. I snack on either almonds, or peanut butter/oat/flaxseed balls. I do have 2 cups of coffee in the morning but no sugar and just a little creamer which yes I know has sugar.

Lunch is usually grilled chicken with salad or a turkey sandwich. I try to get vegetables most days but some days I have chips.

Dinner is either baked chicken or a salad, sometimes a lean cuisine meal or a bowl of cereal.

I don't snack at night, haven't had a soda since I started working out on May 6th. I'm now getting around 1400-1600 calories per day (was only getting 1100-1300 before I changed my breakfast).

I know I'll break through this plateau and keep heading towards my goal weight but it's a relief to talk about it. I purposely am not sharing this with people in my daily life/Facebook to avoid a false sense of accomplishment so being able to vent here is a huge help.

You guys rock!

[Zcustom]

You're a pretty big guy Z, so 240 isn't unreasonable imo... 200 might be a little much even, but that's your call...

As some have already mentioned, weight isn't really the best measure. I rarely weigh myself and usually when I think I've lost weight I've gained, and when I think I've gained, I've lost... it's really weird.

I've hovered between 215 and 220 for like 2 years... and honestly I'm fine with that. I would like to cut a little, but it's not a huge deal.

I've had three different people tell me lately that I look bigger and more cut recently and I haven't done any cardio to speak of in the last few weeks and have been mainly heavy powerlifting...so honestly who knows? I guess I'm gaining muscle.

tl;dr... keep working at it... your weight loss is sure to slow down some as you go. Change up your routine some, keep eating well and it will continue to fall off.

I spent most of my adult life at 185 pounds but I know what you're saying. Thanks man just venting helps.

Btw part of my morning routine is shooting hoops, if we ever get huddle jams scheduled you're all in trouble....

[Darth Biscuit]

I spent most of my adult life at 185 pounds but I know what you're saying. Thanks man just venting helps.

Btw part of my morning routine is shooting hoops, if we ever get huddle jams scheduled you're all in trouble....

 

That's a big if dude, but I still want to do it....  

 

It's great man... I'm glad you've started on this journey and are doing well at it.  It's good for you and your family.

[Jase]

You're still going heavy at the gym tho right?  Right?

 

you know it.

[Jase]

I kind of have one of those, more so in my hip area, it doesn't go all the way down. It was the first thing that popped up when i working out and I hated it, I'm ok with it now. I don't think it's very girly looking.

 

btw, your i hope your wife is in amazing shape, seems like a lot to ask, but maybe you don't mind.

 

well, she expressed desire for me to have it again by bringing it up fairly often. It's not like its a hard demand, nor am I very far off from achieving it.  Should take about a month.

 

She's got a bunch of weight to lose still.

[Darth Biscuit]

you know it.

 

I've been trying to kill it lately.

 

Joscott and I did an incredible chest workout Sunday and I'm not even sore... it's weird.  We did like 7 sets of bench and the last three drop sets were paused reps, which usually makes me really sore, plus some other stuff and ended with pushups...

 

 

Not decided on what I'm doing today, I'm kind of in a weird spot since I did chest Sunday and deads/back yesterday... I guess I can do arms, but I don't really care for an arm only day.

 

I guess I could do chest again since I'm not sore at all...  

[Zcustom]

well, she expressed desire for me to have it again by bringing it up fairly often. It's not like its a hard demand, nor am I very far off from achieving it. Should take about a month.

She's got a bunch of weight to lose still.

So she's requesting "super cut" Jase and she has a bunch of weight to lose?

Huh?

[Cat]

Thanks Cat!!

Here's what I typically eat on an average day.

Breakfast used to be oatmeal, but there's too much refined sugar and I was also not getting enough calories so I switched to an English muffin with natural peanut butter and honey. I snack on either almonds, or peanut butter/oat/flaxseed balls. I do have 2 cups of coffee in the morning but no sugar and just a little creamer which yes I know has sugar.

Lunch is usually grilled chicken with salad or a turkey sandwich. I try to get vegetables most days but some days I have chips.

Dinner is either baked chicken or a salad, sometimes a lean cuisine meal or a bowl of cereal.

I don't snack at night, haven't had a soda since I started working out on May 6th. I'm now getting around 1400-1600 calories per day (was only getting 1100-1300 before I changed my breakfast).

I know I'll break through this plateau and keep heading towards my goal weight but it's a relief to talk about it. I purposely am not sharing this with people in my daily life/Facebook to avoid a false sense of accomplishment so being able to vent here is a huge help.

You guys rock!

 

 

Here is my advice feel free to ignore it

 

1400 calories is where I was thinking you should be in regards to your weight and goal. 

 

A few tips or things to double check regarding your food. 

 

-Make sure your peanut butter is 100% peanuts, Smuckers is a great brand for that or Trader Joes, don't be buying JIF or Peter Pan because they put a ton of other poo in there.

 

-From what I've read honey is sugar, once it goes into the body it really makes no difference- if you have to have it then go light. 

 

-From what I've read about Lean Cusine, I'd skip them and most cereals are terrible for you, lots of bad carbs. despite how healthy they brand themselves. If you're looking for a quick easy meal for dinner I'd find another option, there are a lot of them. I have suggestions if you are interested. 

 

-Make sure you are going easy on the salad dressing, that stuff is full of bad fats, sugar and calories

 

-beware that sugar has a million different names. And your body treats all of them pretty much the same. http://lowcarbdiets.about.com/od/whattoeat/a/sugars.htm

 

 

 

Healthy food ideas you could add to your diet:

Steel Cut Oats- filling and gives you a burst of energy in the mornings

Homemade granola bars- i have a recipe that's easy if you want it, it's just peanut butter, banana and muesli 

Beans

Quinoa

avocados- higher calories but very filling and healthy, i'd limit them to stay under your calorie count.

Veggies- you know the ones you see at the store that you never try, google a recipe and give it a shot. Eggplant, spaghetti squash, butternut squash, etc. 

Almond Milk instead of regular milk

Protein Shakes- 

Tuna from the can- i know it's from the can but it's a healthy meal when you need a quick bite. 

Egg white omelettes 

Salmon 

Shrimp 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Jase]

So she's requesting "super cut" Jase and she has a bunch of weight to lose?

Huh?

 

Her desired body type will involve me losing 10 pounds.  I might can do this in a month or a little longer.

 

I'd like her to lose 35-40 pounds, this will likely take her about 6 months if she stays committed.  She's working toward it.

 

My finish line is a lot closer.

[Jase]

Also, when I get "super cut", I likely won't maintain it for long. 

 

It's hard to build muscle on a deficit, especially when you are already as lean as I am.

 

I have been eating like crazy for the past year and a half.  I felt hungry yesterday and this morning.  I almost forgot what it felt like because it's been so long since my stomach was actually empty.