Bytsi's Body Reshaping Log

[Bytsi]

A/c was fixed at karate - thank goodness!!! Still a good sweaty workout, and I'm tired...

I'm right-on for food now (1730-ish kcal) but kinda want to eat a bit more. I'm going back and forth between "well, I lifted AND did karate so I can eat" and "deficit - DEFICIT!!!!"... not sure where I'll land, but DH isn't helping - he's crunching loudly AGAIN.

Originally Posted by sidonia

Awwww....cute little doggies! We are pretty much all around animal lovers...I've had everything from cats, dogs, mice, frogs, veiled chameleons, toads, fish...the list goes on..........

I love the little napping spot...it looks comfy right about now actually...lol!

I'm thinking the nap spot looks good too - he's snoozin' there right now... oh wait no, now he's up and begging for a bite of DH's snack...

Originally Posted by jesca

Your workout looks great! Nice job on all the increases

Love the puppy pics. We have a dog and a cat, but the cat is sooo not mine - she was part of the packaged deal with my husband She's ok every once in awhile, but since I'm allergic she just looooves me

LOL - we have cat allergies here too... and I guess I just never got the point of a pet that you have to win over. I work hard enough for everything in life - I like that a dog loves you no matter what, and is SO excited to see you whenever you get home . But hey - I love all animals (except bees!) so nothin' against cats - just not my style.

Originally Posted by kfisherx

SS Cardio for the hungries. Go for a walk or a nice easy and slow jog or bike ride. Work up just a tiny bit of a sweat but don't work too hard. Hunger goes away for hours that way.

Nice plank btw!

Thanks - planks SUCK!
I considered a walk, but it was 95 degrees and muggy out... did go to karate though, so that got me off the couch.

Originally Posted by foodfromafar

Bytsi, cute puppies!!

Wow, what a workout! You are so strong...I am continually amazed at your power hamster-ness.

Power-hamster-ness LOL! I love it!

Originally Posted by Nikster

hey Bytsi
just catching up.....goood for you on the m&m's! It is a good feeling when you don't crave the crap anymore!

I am glad you logged about salt because I had a few nights (about a month ago) where I was feeling weird and my hands were actually hurting from being swollen and I didn't understand it at all....now I think I have my culprit....SALT! UGH! I will have to watch that from now on.

I still kinda crave the m&m's and DEFINITELY still want chocolate and treats... just weird that now they didn't taste as good when I ate 'em. But dark chocolate? YUM!!!!

Originally Posted by Celestialmom

Bytsi,
nice work on the workout--you really are strong! And I started a post last night about the dogs--they're SO cute! I love dogs and really miss having them (my kids and I are all allergic...)

Good luck at karate, I REALLY hope you have some a/c...

Thanks for the puppy compliment (and strength ) -- I was SO glad when I walked in and there was a/c. Been through too many hot hot hot hot classes (especially before we moved to the new school building in May). A few summers ago it was easily 100 INSIDE the karate room we were using .

Gonna go check out snackies that won't derail me... maybe a little cheese or something...

[realcdn]

Originally Posted by Bytsi

I guess I just never got the point of a pet that you have to win over. I work hard enough for everything in life - I like that a dog loves you no matter what, and is SO excited to see you whenever you get home.

Ah, but when a cat loves you it means you're special.

We have two. One is friendly to pretty much everyone. The other is quite shy and most people don't know we have them. We were away last winter (not the one that just past, a year before) for 5 months. The housesitter (neighbour's daughter) sent me an email about a month after we'd left... the shy one let her pet him. She was so happy. See, his plot to rule the world is working. People feel special when he allows them to pet him (even my mother who isn't a cat person).

[jesca]

Originally Posted by realcdn

Ah, but when a cat loves you it means you're special.

We have two. One is friendly to pretty much everyone. The other is quite shy and most people don't know we have them. We were away last winter (not the one that just past, a year before) for 5 months. The housesitter (neighbour's daughter) sent me an email about a month after we'd left... the shy one let her pet him. She was so happy. See, his plot to rule the world is working. People feel special when he allows them to pet him (even my mother who isn't a cat person).

It took nine months of my husband and me dataing (6 months dating and 3 of living together) before the cat would deign to sit on my lap. Then on New years day she popped up into my lap with no warning, layed down and pretty much never got up again. Now I can't get rid of her. At one point I was never allowed to be in the bathroom without her. I'm glad we grew out of that one!

[Bytsi]

The forum's back - YAY!!!!!!!!
I was in withdrawal, all shaky and pathetic - Getting my fix now - WHEW!!

And I needed you guys so badly... the scale is being mean and I was really feeling down and needed a pep talk or smack or something... Seems like ever since Saturday night's unintentional refeed (so THAT's what I'm calling it now ) I haven't recovered on the scale. My lovely weight-loss chart isn't so pretty now. My total weight-loss is now barely 1# instead of the 3# it was before... AF is gone (for the month, at least) and you'd think the damn sodium would be gone. So WTF!?!?!? Eats have been ok - in fact pretty darn good (not perfect, but logged every bite and not bad). I'm trying to give it tomorrow to be down again (maybe that was just a TON of salt over the weekend?), but... crap. One bad meal shouldn't make THIS big a difference. Especially because it wasn't THAT bad a meal.

Yesterday - SS cardio for 25 min on stairmaster, HR 75-80%. Mediocre on the NEAT (too much work to do, but I'm doing it on a bouncy-ball instead of a chair). Was SO hungry last night, so took the pup on a 40 minute walk to try to avoid munching...

Today's workout: Stage 4 B4

Wide-grip DL from step -- 2x8 @ 145#, 1x8 @ 155#

Bulgarian Split-squat -- 3x8 @ 35#s (2x17.5#s).

Underhand grip lat pulldown -- 3x8 @ 130#

Prone Cuban Snatch -- 3x8 w/ 12.5# db's.

Rear lunge off step w/ forward reach -- 3x8 w/ 20# db's.

Ball crunch, reverse crunch, side flexion -- 2x10 each, supersetted.

Prone Cobra -- OOPS! I forgot 'em AGAIN

Karate later if I find the energy to go. It's hot out and I walked a little bit after my workout and got a bit of sun...
_____________

I think it's time for a lifting break week. Not gonna do any extra stage 4 workouts since I was only sick for one workout and I still did it... just been feeling sore and a bit tired. Plan is 1 week of no lifting and no HIIT. Just some SS and of course karate class. Maybe even an extra rest day or 2 or 3... I'll pick up the lifting again either Weds or Fri of next week. I'll start stage 5, but if I hate it I reserve the right to not finish it.

Food today has been good. Planned better, have 430 kcal left for the evening...

SO glad that the forum is back!!!!!!!!!!

[realcdn]

Originally Posted by Bytsi

Seems like ever since Saturday night's unintentional refeed (so THAT's what I'm calling it now ) I haven't recovered on the scale.

Just for comparison, I had two really bad days (Dec. 31st, Jan 4th) where I was over by no more than 3500 calories. I went up 5 lbs by the 5th and it was Jan 12th before I was back to where I was on the 31st. So the best thing I can say is keep to plan and don't worry about the readjustment. I know, easier said than done.

[Celestialmom]

Originally Posted by Bytsi

The forum's back - YAY!!!!!!!!
I was in withdrawal, all shaky and pathetic - Getting my fix now - WHEW!!

I know what you mean!!! Pretty sad, aren't we?!

Originally Posted by Bytsi

And I needed you guys so badly... the scale is being mean and I was really feeling down and needed a pep talk or smack or something... !!!!!!

I'm sorry you're feeling discouraged--don't give up! My body seems to do the same weird thing that yours is doing now, losing right along and then all of a sudden if I make a mistake, WHAM, there come a couple pounds! I think it's that trending thing again, meaning the low (for me) is a little unrealistic, so the gain from the "mistake" seems ridiculous. Hopefully you'll even out somewhere in between. Or just keep losing on the good track that you've been on and not worry about it!

[sidonia]

Originally Posted by Bytsi

The forum's back - YAY!!!!!!!!
I was in withdrawal, all shaky and pathetic - Getting my fix now - WHEW!!

Me too!!! I kept going to the forum...and it was making me sad that it said I was "forbidden" before the message from JP.

Originally Posted by Bytsi

Underhand grip lat pulldown -- 3x8 @ 130#

Ok....this freaked me out...130?! Some really nice numbers in there in this workout! Makes me wanna work harder...

Don't be upset about the lbs...maybe it's just the salt!! You're doing so well...and as long as it doesn't go the other way...you've still LOST that 1#!!!

[Bytsi]

Originally Posted by realcdn

Just for comparison, I had two really bad days (Dec. 31st, Jan 4th) where I was over by no more than 3500 calories. I went up 5 lbs by the 5th and it was Jan 12th before I was back to where I was on the 31st. So the best thing I can say is keep to plan and don't worry about the readjustment. I know, easier said than done.

Thanks Anne... it's just SO hard to understand how a couple hundred (MAYBE 1000 at most) kcals can do this to the scale. I know some is water / salt / hormonal crap, but... c'mon!

Originally Posted by Celestialmom

I'm sorry you're feeling discouraged--don't give up! My body seems to do the same weird thing that yours is doing now, losing right along and then all of a sudden if I make a mistake, WHAM, there come a couple pounds! I think it's that trending thing again, meaning the low (for me) is a little unrealistic, so the gain from the "mistake" seems ridiculous. Hopefully you'll even out somewhere in between. Or just keep losing on the good track that you've been on and not worry about it!

I'm trying... I'm really hoping that tomorrow's scale reading is better. And I'm trying not to cut calories even further when I KNOW that would be too far under for my health. I lifted today and did karate, so I have (right now) about 100 kcal left to eat and part of me wants to "suffer" and starve, but I should eat. I probably will... not so good at suffering without food!

Originally Posted by sidonia

Me too!!! I kept going to the forum...and it was making me sad that it said I was "forbidden" before the message from JP.

Ok....this freaked me out...130?! Some really nice numbers in there in this workout! Makes me wanna work harder...

Don't be upset about the lbs...maybe it's just the salt!! You're doing so well...and as long as it doesn't go the other way...you've still LOST that 1#!!!

Thanks Sidonia... I was a little freaked about "forbidden" too! And the 130# - it's less than I weigh, right? I can pull some heavy weights sometimes, but I do think it's because I've been lifting for so long - even if I wasn't doing it as effectively as I am now.
And you're right... 1# is better than gaining a pound, right?

Ugh.
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE scale, give me a nice weigh-in tomorrow... I could use it...

[Littlemermaidklb]

Hey Bytsi! Just checkin in and catching up! Your workouts never cease to amaze me, you pull some great numbers! And I don't know where you're from, but I have a strange feeling that the recent heat has been contributing to a bloated feeling. So maybe it's not just the big meal you had the other day. I have been feeling teh same way and the weather recently changed drastically to super high temps... so maybe that's part of it? Anyway, great job on the starvation day too (it's been a while since I'm come in here, lol) Don't fret too much about the scale :-)

[Bytsi]

Originally Posted by Littlemermaidklb

Hey Bytsi! Just checkin in and catching up! Your workouts never cease to amaze me, you pull some great numbers! And I don't know where you're from, but I have a strange feeling that the recent heat has been contributing to a bloated feeling. So maybe it's not just the big meal you had the other day. I have been feeling teh same way and the weather recently changed drastically to super high temps... so maybe that's part of it? Anyway, great job on the starvation day too (it's been a while since I'm come in here, lol) Don't fret too much about the scale :-)

Hey Kara - thanks for stopping by!
One of my biggest "issues" is that I love lifting. I really enjoy it! So I need to focus on fat loss, but I don't wanna quit lifts. I'd be happy to give up cardio ... but I have to decide my priorities. I don't want to be training for two things at once, but I also don't want to give up my fun lifts! Seems like I should be able to lose fat with (almost) any program if I control the eats and and burn calories... I think, either way, I'm gonna finish out NROLW and then decide where to go from there.

The scale was down .5 today, but I'm still up way higher than I was... even Google 15 has me .4 higher than last week. Not good. Just gotta stick it out...

Do you really think the weather could be bloating me that badly? It is hot and humid here, that's for sure...

BLEH!

[beesknees]

Hey Bytsi - a week off sounds like a great idea. I am also going to join you in reserving the right to not finish stage 5! They are the only workouts I didn't look forward to doing in this program so far. Bleh. Anyway, I wanted to second the idea of the heat and bloating. I seem to be sensitive to the humidity and retain water for some reason when it gets that way here. Even though I sweat a ton, I still seem to feel "softer" in the humidity. Don't get too caught up on the scale its something I am working on but unfortunately, seeing lower numbers will probably always feel good no matter what it was that was lost for me anyway.

[LWilson212]

Hey Bytsi-

Don't worry too much about the weight. I know it is totally frustrating and lame, but consider:

I started my program with Leigh on Saturday. Since then I am down 4.4 lbs in 5 days. I know it would be physically impossible to lose 4.4 lbs of fat in that time. Some things she mentions in her book include the weight of food still being digested, water, glycogen, i.e., not the "real" weight loss we want to see. So I don't think yours is a "real" weight gain.

[mel]

maybe you need to stop getting on the scale for a while? I am a religious weigher, but I finally felt obsessed with the numbers and am taking a break.

Also, is it possible you are gaining muscle? I think I'm finally coming to grips with the idea that if I lose fat, the number on the scale matters little. I think I am also starting to finally get it through my head that I will HAVE to pick one goal and go for it for the short term, and then, if I want, pick the other goal. Maybe you'll have to do this to to find a happy place?

You are doing awesome. Don't let the scale make you forget that!

mel

[Littlemermaidklb]

Originally Posted by mel

I think I am also starting to finally get it through my head that I will HAVE to pick one goal and go for it for the short term, and then, if I want, pick the other goal. Maybe you'll have to do this to to find a happy place?

Ditto what she said... this is my problem too! I want to get stronger and be able to pullups and pushups etc, but I also want to get rid of this stubborn butt/thigh fat! I really think I need to pick a goal and concentrate on that one, then work towards the other goal... I'm just so darn impatient!!!

[Bytsi]

Originally Posted by beesknees

Hey Bytsi - a week off sounds like a great idea. I am also going to join you in reserving the right to not finish stage 5! They are the only workouts I didn't look forward to doing in this program so far. Bleh. Anyway, I wanted to second the idea of the heat and bloating. I seem to be sensitive to the humidity and retain water for some reason when it gets that way here. Even though I sweat a ton, I still seem to feel "softer" in the humidity. Don't get too caught up on the scale its something I am working on but unfortunately, seeing lower numbers will probably always feel good no matter what it was that was lost for me anyway.

I struggle with the scale... I KNOW all the reasons it lies, but it still is a backstop for me. I wear loose clothes to work (work at a fitness facility - workout pants are required) so I lose that gauge of clothing-fitting-ness (yeah, now I make up my own words too!) that helps. I need the morning check-in. Google-15 helps with trending, but... the trend is up this week .

Originally Posted by LWilson212

Don't worry too much about the weight. I know it is totally frustrating and lame, but consider:

I started my program with Leigh on Saturday. Since then I am down 4.4 lbs in 5 days. I know it would be physically impossible to lose 4.4 lbs of fat in that time. Some things she mentions in her book include the weight of food still being digested, water, glycogen, i.e., not the "real" weight loss we want to see. So I don't think yours is a "real" weight gain.

You're doing so well Leah! I'm holding onto that hope - that the 1 - 1.5# I'm actually still down is REAL. Still sux though. Gotta kick myself, look at the half-full cup - 1.5# down is better than same or up, right?

Originally Posted by mel

maybe you need to stop getting on the scale for a while? I am a religious weigher, but I finally felt obsessed with the numbers and am taking a break.

Also, is it possible you are gaining muscle? I think I'm finally coming to grips with the idea that if I lose fat, the number on the scale matters little. I think I am also starting to finally get it through my head that I will HAVE to pick one goal and go for it for the short term, and then, if I want, pick the other goal. Maybe you'll have to do this to to find a happy place?

You are doing awesome. Don't let the scale make you forget that!

Hi Mel - thanks for posting in my log, and for the vote of confidence! I have considered a break from the scale, but in the past that has led to increasing pounds - I do better with close monitoring of food and weight and measurements... free-form usually leads to free-fall (or gain) for me.

I would love to say I'm gaining muscle - and maybe I am? But not that much, and I still got plenty of fat to peel off of it. I'm working out the 1-goal-at-a-time stuff in my head. I just really enjoy lifting and don't want to stop. Maybe I'll end up having to take a break from it, but I also really want to finish NROLW before I change course. I'm already going to be doing stage 5 next week...

Originally Posted by Littlemermaidklb

Ditto what she said... this is my problem too! I want to get stronger and be able to pullups and pushups etc, but I also want to get rid of this stubborn butt/thigh fat! I really think I need to pick a goal and concentrate on that one, then work towards the other goal... I'm just so darn impatient!!!

I hear ya'. Logically, I know that a month spent on cutting followed by a month of strengthening will get me closer than 2 months of working at cross-goals. Logically. Just gotta get my heart and energy wrapped around that concept...

I sure hope this post sticks - I've been on the real and the "phantom" boards today and I'm losing track of which is which... it's like Narnia or something - I don't know which portal goes where, or where I've landed til I'm already in it!

[marthand99]

Just wanted to pop in and say hi. I hope the bloat packs up and moves soon. You're doing a great job staying determined.

[kfisherx]

well it takes 3500 cals to make a lb of fat so you would have had to do that in order to gain just one lb. So my guess is that the weight gain you are seeing is not just fat. That said if you did do that much or more over your plan you could throw off your system for a week or longer over an average time. That is just the way it goes. This is actually a great thing for you to see and realize right now. You saw how being 100% compliant and anal about tracking works. Now you will realize the cost of that little cheat. Next time a cheat comes around you will have a better persepctive of the consequences and it will probably be easier for you to avoid it or at least you won't be surprised when you see the results. This is just a matter of the cycle of the learning process. You will grow with each layer of learning and learning that fat loss is a commitment not an opinon. It's all good in the end so long as there is growth.

[stephanie932]

Originally Posted by Bytsi

I struggle with the scale... I KNOW all the reasons it lies, but it still is a backstop for me. I wear loose clothes to work (work at a fitness facility - workout pants are required) so I lose that gauge of clothing-fitting-ness (yeah, now I make up my own words too!) that helps. I need the morning check-in. Google-15 helps with trending, but... the trend is up this week .

I think many of us struggle with this and it's so stupid because like you said........I DO KNOW why it lies, but I let it bother me anyway. I think we need a "Scale-oholics Anonymous" to get over this darned thing.

Originally Posted by Bytsi

Hi Mel - thanks for posting in my log, and for the vote of confidence! I have considered a break from the scale, but in the past that has led to increasing pounds - I do better with close monitoring of food and weight and measurements... free-form usually leads to free-fall (or gain) for me.

Perhaps a break IS what you need to do since you're focusing on weighing everything you are eating this time. You have really done a turn around with being so conscientious with your eats. But, you do know yourself best.

Originally Posted by Bytsi

I hear ya'. Logically, I know that a month spent on cutting followed by a month of strengthening will get me closer than 2 months of working at cross-goals. Logically. Just gotta get my heart and energy wrapped around that concept...

You will.........just keep reading and learning. Something will click.

Originally Posted by Bytsi

I sure hope this post sticks - I've been on the real and the "phantom" boards today and I'm losing track of which is which... it's like Narnia or something - I don't know which portal goes where, or where I've landed til I'm already in it!

Please let the phantom hear you! I'm so tired of typing one thing and then it not being there in the morning........lol

[Celestialmom]

Originally Posted by kfisherx

well it takes 3500 cals to make a lb of fat so you would have had to do that in order to gain just one lb. So my guess is that the weight gain you are seeing is not just fat. That said if you did do that much or more over your plan you could throw off your system for a week or longer over an average time. That is just the way it goes. This is actually a great thing for you to see and realize right now. You saw how being 100% compliant and anal about tracking works. Now you will realize the cost of that little cheat. Next time a cheat comes around you will have a better persepctive of the consequences and it will probably be easier for you to avoid it or at least you won't be surprised when you see the results. This is just a matter of the cycle of the learning process. You will grow with each layer of learning and learning that fat loss is a commitment not an opinon. It's all good in the end so long as there is growth.

Well said--some of my friends think I'm just plain weird for keeping track of EVERYTHING I eat (and my family thinks I'm crazy since I started showing up at meals with my food scale...). But I know that I'm the kind of person that says, "just this one candy bar won't make a difference", which is true, but not if you say it several times a day about one thing or another! And the same thing about weighing, I hate to say. If I don't weigh myself every day, soon I forget and end up gaining 5# before I realize.

[Bytsi]

Did I post last night? Now I can't even remember! If I did, it's gone LOL!

Anyway... Last night was ladies' night out - all the women in the neighborhood show up with a bottle of wine or some food and hang out... I don't drink, but the food part is tough. I was doing well for a while - had a bunch of edamame and shrimp, but then some weenie put a huge thing of chips right in front of me. I moved, and then somehow in reshuffling, the darn chips followed me! I had a few (less than one serving total) and logged it... went over about 200 kcal for the day.

So no surprise the scale was exactly the same this morning. I've been good all day though, made up for it a bit... Boss brought ice cream sandwiches to our staff meeting and I said no thanks!

Funny moment - skinny little 24 year old who eats whatever she wants ate an ice cream sandwich. After, she looked at the label (I could've told her it was close to 300 kcal and lotsa fat) and made a shocked face. Duh!!! Did she think it was a diet ice cream? Not that she'll gain an ounce from it, but still...

Today's workout: SS for 45 min. (10 min stairmaster, 35 min walking 6-7 incline on tmill). Hr around 120ish (65-70%).

Food - good. Macros are good, kcals at 1450. Part of me says "eat the other 50 kcal" but - why? Don't need it, even if my tum's a bit grumbly. Just means I'm at deficit, and I need to be at deficit.

Originally Posted by marthand99

Just wanted to pop in and say hi. I hope the bloat packs up and moves soon. You're doing a great job staying determined.

Thanks Marty... not always doing ok, but trying... What's the other option? Give in and be "ok" with being fat? Tried, can't do it... so gotta get rid of the damn fat.

Originally Posted by kfisherx

well it takes 3500 cals to make a lb of fat so you would have had to do that in order to gain just one lb. So my guess is that the weight gain you are seeing is not just fat. That said if you did do that much or more over your plan you could throw off your system for a week or longer over an average time. That is just the way it goes. This is actually a great thing for you to see and realize right now. You saw how being 100% compliant and anal about tracking works. Now you will realize the cost of that little cheat. Next time a cheat comes around you will have a better persepctive of the consequences and it will probably be easier for you to avoid it or at least you won't be surprised when you see the results. This is just a matter of the cycle of the learning process. You will grow with each layer of learning and learning that fat loss is a commitment not an opinon. It's all good in the end so long as there is growth.

I know I didn't go 1# over in kcals - that's what I don't understand. You really think it can take a week to recover? I've never understood the immediate 2# drop from one low-cal day, or the immediate 4# gain from one over-eat... I just figured the trend should be ok in the long run, but right now the trend isn't good. Learning process... bleh

Originally Posted by stephanie932

I think many of us struggle with this and it's so stupid because like you said........I DO KNOW why it lies, but I let it bother me anyway. I think we need a "Scale-oholics Anonymous" to get over this darned thing.

Perhaps a break IS what you need to do since you're focusing on weighing everything you are eating this time. You have really done a turn around with being so conscientious with your eats. But, you do know yourself best.

I have learned from past experience that avoiding the scale doesn't get me anywhere. It forces me to face what I'm doing and maybe figure out when I'm going in the right or wrong direction - and figure it out hopefully sooner than later before too much damage is done.

Originally Posted by Celestialmom

Well said--some of my friends think I'm just plain weird for keeping track of EVERYTHING I eat (and my family thinks I'm crazy since I started showing up at meals with my food scale...). But I know that I'm the kind of person that says, "just this one candy bar won't make a difference", which is true, but not if you say it several times a day about one thing or another! And the same thing about weighing, I hate to say. If I don't weigh myself every day, soon I forget and end up gaining 5# before I realize.

I can no longer tell myself that just a bite is ok and won't matter. Leigh and a lot of frustration are teaching me that. And like I said earlier, I can't stop weighing myself - I have to catch upward trends before they get out of hand.

I posted in the training section -- about going towards two goals at once, and whether I can still lift while cutting. I know I can't stress my body / appetite to a point where I can't stay at deficit or stop recovering. I'm ok with not getting stronger for a while, but I just plain enjoy lifting. It's fun, and I love how I feel when I lift. I don't want to give it up... Leigh seems to be asking why people lift and how it's contributing to their goals - but what if my goal is fitness that I enjoy? I enjoy lifting.

[GinnyLou]

I posted in the training section -- about going towards two goals at once, and whether I can still lift while cutting. I know I can't stress my body / appetite to a point where I can't stay at deficit or stop recovering. I'm ok with not getting stronger for a while, but I just plain enjoy lifting. It's fun, and I love how I feel when I lift. I don't want to give it up... Leigh seems to be asking why people lift and how it's contributing to their goals - but what if my goal is fitness that I enjoy? I enjoy lifting.

I get this and it was something I was struggling with, too. I love to lift as well and love the results. I am looking at it as a temporary thing to help me get to my goal weight quicker. Not giving up my weights forever, but putting that on hold. Today I am starting a 2 week, cardio only stint where I will get within a certain range of calories everyday. I'm going to try it and see what happens.
Anyways, I understand more than you know.

[jesca]

Bytsi - I feel you on the scale. I'm all over the damn place with no rhyme or reason. I was doing awesome and had one bad sodium day about a week ago and I feel like I'm still paying the price. Talk about frustrating. I've always been like this, though. It's hard to say what it is or where it is or why it is, it just is, regardless of the math. I think us suffering through this is a good reminder not do this next time since the repercussions are huge when you're trying to get the trending down. It seems like an awful lot to suffer, tho!

[Silly Sally]

Originally Posted by Bytsi

Did I post last night? Now I can't even remember! If I did, it's gone LOL!

Yeah, my whole post to you is gone, too. I totally don't get it...

In any event, I think you are right a page back or so when you said it's about the overall trend. As long as we keep lifting and tweaking, we WILL eventually begin to melt.

We just have to keep each other focused on the long term.

Kinda like marriage: when you look at each hour/day you may see only the bickering and such. But, take the long view, and it's an obvious success.

Did that make ANY sense at all?

[DirtyMartini]

Originally Posted by Bytsi

Funny moment - skinny little 24 year old who eats whatever she wants ate an ice cream sandwich. After, she looked at the label (I could've told her it was close to 300 kcal and lotsa fat) and made a shocked face. Duh!!! Did she think it was a diet ice cream? Not that she'll gain an ounce from it, but still...

I work with a woman who has gained some curiosity in what I eat. She was asking me about my food one day and if I eat any of those 100-calorie snack packs. I told her no, because they're junky, and she said she never really looked at the ingredients but she likes them (she's also very thin and says she has never been able to gain weight so I'm not sure why she's eating those but I digress). So I emailed her the ingredients for one of her favorites, the Hostess Golden Cake, as well as the list for Quaker chewy 90-calorie granola bars.

She ran into me later that day and said she was shocked at what was in them and had no idea. It really is surprising, I guess, when you don't think about what's in food - especially if you rely on marketing to tell you whether something is healthy (hey, it's only 100 calories, it's good for you, right?)

I posted in the training section -- about going towards two goals at once, and whether I can still lift while cutting. I know I can't stress my body / appetite to a point where I can't stay at deficit or stop recovering. I'm ok with not getting stronger for a while, but I just plain enjoy lifting. It's fun, and I love how I feel when I lift. I don't want to give it up... Leigh seems to be asking why people lift and how it's contributing to their goals - but what if my goal is fitness that I enjoy? I enjoy lifting.

I do too, but found my progress stalling when I cut back on # of hours exercising. Berardi's recommendation is that if you're not making progress, to up the exercise to 6 hours/week. If that doesn't work, cut calories a bit (like 10%). If that doesn't work, up the exercise to 8 hours/week. If that doesn't work, cut the calories further.

I upped the exercise from 3 to 5 hours/week and that triggered my weightloss. Didn't change my caloric intake much (and in fact incorporated a couple more 'cheats' than I was doing, on top of drinking a little more beer). I don't know if that is going to make you crazy, but it's working for me. I lift 3 days a week and do 20-25 mins of intervals plus 30-35 minutes of steady-state 3 days a week.

The additional cardio may slow my muscle development a bit, but I'm willing to trade quick strength adaptations for improved fat loss right now.

[Bytsi]

So much catchin' up to do - was gone all day yesterday - our karate school's annual summer games, camping on an island for the weekend, etc etc. We didn't camp, but got up at 4am to drive out there for the day. I was SOOOOO tired by evening. We caught the ferry on-time, drove to the campgrounds, did the morning workout (pretty fun - 5 different Sensei's, each teaching a small group about a specialty topic for about 15 minutes, then you rotate to the next one). Lotsa falling and throwing in the wet grass and sweating though

Then we watched a black-belt test (the 2nd part of the test - a choreographed fight / kata demo). It was really good, one of the best I've ever seen. Then we walked to lunch (1.5 miles each way into town), and I was doing well, had planned ahead with snacks... ordered grilled tuna and ate half of a plain baked 'tato with it and a "salad" (iceberg!). Walked around more, went back and hung out (DH and DS got sunburned cuz men are idiots who can't figure out that sunscreen washes off after 4 hours in the water ). Dinner (salmon, corn on the cob, some of DS's steak).

All good, lotsa NEAT, etc... but we were hot and tired and sweaty, so on the drive home we stopped for milkshakes. I drank the whole flippin' huge thing ("small" was 16 oz). DUH!!!! STUPID HAMSTER!!!!!!!! . Scale damage wasn't too bad (1/2# up today, but had been down 1# yesterday) BUT I got so sick to my stomach while we were still 30 min. from home. Had to stick my head out the window...

Good news - learned a lesson. Can NOT tolerate large overdose of fatty crap like a milkshake anymore. Duh!!! Not worth it. Shoulda skipped it or just had a few sips for taste and then tossed the rest. sigh...

Today - 60 min on stairmaster moderate/low SS cardio. HR 125-130 (70-75% - ish).

Originally Posted by GinnyLou

I get this and it was something I was struggling with, too. I love to lift as well and love the results. I am looking at it as a temporary thing to help me get to my goal weight quicker. Not giving up my weights forever, but putting that on hold. Today I am starting a 2 week, cardio only stint where I will get within a certain range of calories everyday. I'm going to try it and see what happens.
Anyways, I understand more than you know.

Thanks Ginger... the support / commiseration helps. I like Leigh's answer to my post in the training thread. Basically, I can still lift, but I have to accept that I'm not gonna PR (which is fine) and not gonna gain muscle (ok, at least during the cut). AND I have to make sure I have enough recovery. I'm not doing HIIT during the cut because lifting makes me hungry enough without adding that in too. Karate stays, and some low/moderate SS cardio will continue...

And then tweak as needed. AND NO MORE MILKSHAKES. stupid stupid stupid. (shaking head).

Originally Posted by jesca

Bytsi - I feel you on the scale. I'm all over the damn place with no rhyme or reason. I was doing awesome and had one bad sodium day about a week ago and I feel like I'm still paying the price. Talk about frustrating. I've always been like this, though. It's hard to say what it is or where it is or why it is, it just is, regardless of the math. I think us suffering through this is a good reminder not do this next time since the repercussions are huge when you're trying to get the trending down. It seems like an awful lot to suffer, tho!

Hi Jes. Any bad trending in the next day or 2 is my own damn fault. I feel like that old commercial "I can't believe I ate the whole thing". At least the rest of the day was good (trying to find glimmer of optimism) - I coulda added the shake to a day of fried crap and junk food, but I was careful for the rest of the day.

Trying to learn a lesson (how many times til I LEARN!?!?! - sheesh!!!).

Originally Posted by Silly Sally

In any event, I think you are right a page back or so when you said it's about the overall trend. As long as we keep lifting and tweaking, we WILL eventually begin to melt.

We just have to keep each other focused on the long term.

Kinda like marriage: when you look at each hour/day you may see only the bickering and such. But, take the long view, and it's an obvious success.

Did that make ANY sense at all?

Makes sense . Makes more sense on a day when I don't wanna kill DH (long story, not worth typing it out). But it's father's day, so I'm gonna let it go and try to have a nice day anyway.

Originally Posted by DirtyMartini

I do too, but found my progress stalling when I cut back on # of hours exercising. Berardi's recommendation is that if you're not making progress, to up the exercise to 6 hours/week. If that doesn't work, cut calories a bit (like 10%). If that doesn't work, up the exercise to 8 hours/week. If that doesn't work, cut the calories further.

I upped the exercise from 3 to 5 hours/week and that triggered my weightloss. Didn't change my caloric intake much (and in fact incorporated a couple more 'cheats' than I was doing, on top of drinking a little more beer). I don't know if that is going to make you crazy, but it's working for me. I lift 3 days a week and do 20-25 mins of intervals plus 30-35 minutes of steady-state 3 days a week.

The additional cardio may slow my muscle development a bit, but I'm willing to trade quick strength adaptations for improved fat loss right now.

Interesting concept from Berardi. It's almost "logic", but for me, I have to be really careful about the increased appetite and lack of recovery. I did, to a large extent, what you said. I lifted and cardio'd more when the weight didn't go where I wanted it to go. Of course I wasn't measuring then, so I'm sure the food wasn't as good as it should've been.

I'm going to continue my ongoing experiment / science project. I can ALWAYS add more exercise... I've done it for years . I've seen others have such great success with Leigh, and I suspect that some of my lack of success is attributable to things she is pointing out in her books and on this board.

Plan: Continue lifting, but don't start new intense program yet. Stick to NROLW - going into stage 5 on either Weds or Fri, so it won't be intense for me. It'll be 6 weeks before I'd hit stage 7 (assuming I do stage 6, which is on the plan as of now), so time to see how it's going. No HIIT (or maybe once/week - leaving that up in the air). SS cardio on non-lifting days. Karate 2-3/week. At least 1 COMPLETE rest/recovery day each week.

Food: keep measuring. Stick to 1500/1700 and no more milkshakes (didn't taste THAT good, was NOT worth the calories or the nausea). Adjust as needed.

[ledove]

Originally Posted by Bytsi

I'm going to continue my ongoing experiment / science project. I can ALWAYS add more exercise... I've done it for years . I've seen others have such great success with Leigh, and I suspect that some of my lack of success is attributable to things she is pointing out in her books and on this board.

Plan: Continue lifting, but don't start new intense program yet. Stick to NROLW - going into stage 5 on either Weds or Fri, so it won't be intense for me. It'll be 6 weeks before I'd hit stage 7 (assuming I do stage 6, which is on the plan as of now), so time to see how it's going. No HIIT (or maybe once/week - leaving that up in the air). SS cardio on non-lifting days. Karate 2-3/week. At least 1 COMPLETE rest/recovery day each week.

Food: keep measuring. Stick to 1500/1700 and no more milkshakes (didn't taste THAT good, was NOT worth the calories or the nausea). Adjust as needed.

I think one of the things Leigh & the others were saying on the FLTS thread was that you might only have to cut back on the total sets (3 instead of 4) and/or cut back on the number of workouts a week so that you get enough recovery. I think I noticed in the examples in the Metabolic Repair Manual that most of the people were lifting fewer days by the end and eating more--and still losing fat. I'm still working through the FLTS package and trying to figure out how to fit it with my crazier and getting crazier schedule.

[Bytsi]

Originally Posted by ledove

I think one of the things Leigh & the others were saying on the FLTS thread was that you might only have to cut back on the total sets (3 instead of 4) and/or cut back on the number of workouts a week so that you get enough recovery. I think I noticed in the examples in the Metabolic Repair Manual that most of the people were lifting fewer days by the end and eating more--and still losing fat. I'm still working through the FLTS package and trying to figure out how to fit it with my crazier and getting crazier schedule.

Thanks for the suggestion - maybe I'll do 3 instead of 4 sets (I think that's an option - gotta check my log) for stage 5. And yeah, maybe do 2 instead of 3 lifting days so I do more of the "slower" progress / maintenance type lifting for now. I dunno... I'm really going to try to listen to how I feel and what my body is telling me... we haven't always communicated well in the past, and I need to learn.

[Bytsi]

Back on track with food - whew!

Today: 1433 kcal plus 2 lifesaver mints
42/29/29, 110g protein. Right on target... I COULD eat the other 50 kcal, especially with 1 hour on stairmaster this morning, but... I overate SO badly yesterday, I'm considering this a semi-starve. And I am HUNGRY.

"Let your freak out" moment of the day - dinner at my parent's for Father's Day. Dad grilled flank steak. I took my serving and weighed it on his food scale before I ate it. For whatever totally warped reason, he didn't think I was being strange!

[Celestialmom]

Bytsi, sounds like you have a great plan going-I'll be interested to see how you do and what is effective for you. I think I'll have to go look up that thread to get the gist of the conversation, but it seems really logical.

Anyway, good luck, and glad you had such fun weekend!

[kfisherx]

Bytsi to answer your question from a purely Mathmatical point of view a 1000kcal overage one day could easily result in 10 days of no loss if you are only in a 100cal a day deficit. If you are at a 400 cal a day deficit and you do a 3000 cal cheat one day then it could wipe out the next 7.5 days of dieting and being hungry. You really have to ask yourself if that is worth it when you start doing the Math. That is why I never cheat. It is not worth blowing away the work that I have put in and will have to put in to make up for that cheat.

And if you are getting PRs in your lifting and feeling strong as you are lifting that is a good indicator that you are not eating at a deficit. I feel like shit in my lifts right now and only am losing a lb a week.