Feeling like I am going backwards instead of forwards - JP Fitness Forums

chickdiver · 05-09-2008, 09:04 AM

Hi... I need a little boost of enthusiasm today.

I started NROL4W 6 weeks ago. I had been lifting regularly before that- off and on for years. I also started doing a lot of reading on nutrition at that time, something I had never done before. In the past 6 weeks I have been in the gym religiously 3x a week to lift and do my cardio (I do both on the same day) and I have completely changed how and what I eat. I'm still working on hitting the macros that I want, but it's one hell of a lot better than it was 6 weeks ago.

Today was "assesment day" with my trainer. So... what do I have to show for all this hard work (and believe me, since I only go 3x per week, I DO bust my ass).

My weight has stayed the same. OK- I knew that and I am OK with that.

Every other measurement, with the exception of calves, has either remained the same or gone up! WHAT THE HELL? WHY AM I WASTING MY TIME BUSTING MY ASS TO GO BACKWARDS? I completely do not understand this.

Why, you might ask, do I not understand this? Because in the last 6 weeks I have dropped a clothing size. People have noticed (and commented on) changes in my appearance. I have seen changes in my appearance (and I am hypercritical- so much so that I will rarely allow anyone to photograph me). How can this be? My trainer thinks it's user error on her part. So she told me she is going to buy some new tape measure... yada yada yada.. whatever. I told her I don't want to do any more assesments, since it is so discouraging.

I was so excited about this assesment- I just KNEW that I had made improvements- but I haven't have I? Right now I just want to cry.

Thanks for listening to my rant.

Aoife · 05-09-2008, 09:46 AM

1
People see differences that have to do with your shape and size. The tape measurement is based on simple size. And if you've worked out in the last day or 2, you could well be still pumped from it.
People see the planes, angles, curves, shadows... the muscle makes you look smaller and more defined, the clothes tell you you're smaller.
The lady measures somewhere that may be the spot she measured last time, or may be below or above the spot she measured last time. Not to mention... is it pulled tighter, held looser?

ahh... Variation. The best way to take measurements, whether girth or calipers is to take a few... three, and average them. So, run through the measurements once, then again, then again, average them and then compare the averages. In one sitting of a 5 minute period I've measured my "waist" at any number in a range of almost 2 inches.

2
Do you feel better?
Do you look better?
Are you healthier?
Stronger?
Faster?
Have better sex drive?
Better able to sleep at night?
Less stressed in general?

Do you like the program? Do you feel you've made progress regardless of what a simple measurement can tell you? Do you know how little time 6 weeks is?

Fulmen · 05-09-2008, 10:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chickdiver

Every other measurement, with the exception of calves, has either remained the same or gone up! WHAT THE HELL? WHY AM I WASTING MY TIME BUSTING MY ASS TO GO BACKWARDS? I completely do not understand this.

It's called muscle. You gain it when you lift weights.

Stop worrying; continue with the progress.

(That is if you're talking about arm measurements and such..)

chickdiver · 05-09-2008, 10:19 AM

Yea- I got that part. The problem, see.. is that the measurements are larger than they were before- but based on clothing I am smaller. DOES NOT COMPUTE.

I have no problem with muscle. I actually rather like it. I wasn't small to begin with. I just don't quite get "what gives" here and it is incredibly frustrating.

Bytsi · 05-09-2008, 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chickdiver

Yea- I got that part. The problem, see.. is that the measurements are larger than they were before- but based on clothing I am smaller. DOES NOT COMPUTE.

I have no problem with muscle. I actually rather like it. I wasn't small to begin with. I just don't quite get "what gives" here and it is incredibly frustrating.

I'd say that if your trainer says she sucked at measuring you, believe her (or him)!!!

Clothes don't lie. You went down in size. Tape measures can be held too tight or too loose or put at the wrong spot... clothes don't lie.

I get freaked out easily too (just read my log and watch me do so on a regular basis)... but if your clothes are looser, you're on the right track. And you didn't GAIN weight, right????

Hang in there...

Lost Dog · 05-09-2008, 10:34 AM

You've done 6 weeks of NROL4W, so you're past the suggested period of time to try the basic calorie formula. If you're not confident that you've dropped fat, and want to, then try to cut calories a bit to see if it moves things along. You don't detail any nutrition info, so I'm just guessing it's the stuff in NROL4W.

BTW, don't sweat the macros too much. Get close on your protein and fill in the rest of your cals with healthy things that come close to the macros you want. If you're close, it's the calories that trump the rest.

And come to the Summit. That'll fix everything.

Fulmen · 05-09-2008, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chickdiver

Yea- I got that part. The problem, see.. is that the measurements are larger than they were before- but based on clothing I am smaller. DOES NOT COMPUTE.

I have no problem with muscle. I actually rather like it. I wasn't small to begin with. I just don't quite get "what gives" here and it is incredibly frustrating.

Like Bytsi said, the trainer probably just screwed up measuring.

Bytsi · 05-09-2008, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lost Dog

And come to the Summit. That'll fix everything.

Maybe you could market THAT as its own program - the "Summit fat-loss and build muscle cure"

AFI82 · 05-09-2008, 11:00 AM

Were your assesments taken on the same day of the week, at the same time of the day?

Your weight can drift by up to a few lbs overnight or during the day. And the weekends are always when my cheat meals are, so I'm sometimes retaining water on a Sunday that wasn't there just 2 days before.

If your first assesment was on a Friday morning, and your latest one was on a Sunday afternoon, that could be part of the issue.

Also, did you lift before or after the measurements the first time? Before or after lifting this time?

Depalma2002 · 05-09-2008, 12:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chickdiver

Yea- I got that part. The problem, see.. is that the measurements are larger than they were before- but based on clothing I am smaller. DOES NOT COMPUTE.
.

EXACTLY! DOES NOT COMPUTE. Even your trainer admits that it was probably user error on her part. You can never be sure if the trainer or even yourself are measuring in the exact same spot each time.

Why are you doing this?
To feel better? If so, how do you feel? Tape measurements don't tell you this.

To have your clothes fit better and expand your wardrobe? Your clothes are telling you that you are on your way.

To look better? What the people are telling you is a far better gauge than the tape measure.

To be stronger? What are your lifts like. That will tell you more than tape measurements.

You had 3 assessments. Your clothes and opinions voiced by others assessed you. They have the tape measure outvoted.

Now come down off the ledge and feel proud of your accomplishments!

DDRdiva · 05-09-2008, 12:44 PM

Somewhere in the diet part of NROLW (don't have the book in front of me) Lou says that if your weight stayed the same and your clothes fit better, you're right on track.

chickdiver · 05-09-2008, 01:32 PM

Thanks, guys.

FWIW (not much, ino) the last set of measurements were done under nearly identical conditions (same day, same time of day, same (lack of) meal beforehand. The only difference was that last time Ihad just finished :30 of cardio and today I had done none.

As far as nutrition- I'm shooting for 35p/ 35f/ 30 carb. I am eating at a little bit of a deficit- 1631 calories per day- 1831 on the days I lift. I'm tracking it all in The Daily Plate.

I wasn't expecting to see a loss of tons of inches, but I was expecting to see something! Christie is good about doing each measurement at least twice. Even she kept saying "this can't be right" this morning. She did do caliper tests (4 locations) but by then I was so upset I told her I didn't want to know. Maybe I'll ask on Monday....

I think the thing that really put me over the top was...biceps. I know this sounds stupid- but... You know the cute little shirts with tight bands around the bicep (wide or skinny)? Ladies, you know what I am talking about.... I can't wear them- never have been able to. As of 6 weeks ago I had lost .25 of an inch in the bicep, and I could wear some of them. Well- now I have gained that quarter inch back... and I can't wear them again. I lust after small (muscular, but small) arms.

Fulmen · 05-09-2008, 03:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chickdiver

I lust after small (muscular, but small) arms.

Ignoring my instinct to cry "WTF", let me remind you to not forget about water retention and such when measuring.

Your best bet would be to use the mirror and not the scale, or at least don't measure so much (i.e. take longer time span to measure).

chickdiver · 05-09-2008, 03:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fulmen

Ignoring my instinct to cry "WTF", let me remind you to not forget about water retention and such when measuring.

Your best bet would be to use the mirror and not the scale, or at least don't measure so much (i.e. take longer time span to measure).

You aren't female, I don't expect you to understand this- but... I have a 14" bicep. Which is too large to wear any women's blouses I have found with a cuffed short sleeve. Apparently I have big arms for a chick. Hence my desire for small, but muscular arms.

Lost Dog · 05-09-2008, 03:54 PM

Here's another straw to grasp at. Same period in your cycle?

If you don't want to look more muscular, then maybe change your program up and eat a bit less. What workout are you in in NROL4W right now?

Aoife · 05-09-2008, 04:25 PM

I'm never been easily able to wear shirts like that... and that includes when I was at 17%bf and a size 3. So what? And yes, I AM a girl and DO know what it's like. So what? You're gonna let the rest of the world dictate how you should look and fit and then you're gonna judge yourself by that. Damn, think about what has been "attractive" for women over the last number of years. First you needed no tits and ass, then you needed tits but no ass, now you need no tits and ass... Shesh... I'm small breasted for my size (whatever that might be at any given moment)... and they're great boobs, and they're STILL too big for most of what's out there in shirts and dresses. So what?

Here, if you want to try and look like those little "small, but muscular" girls in the movies, have at it. GO
Yeah, it's tough being ok with what you have and learning to live with it. You might never get the body you want... you might just be to big boned or to little-boobied... so what? Learn to dress the body you have. On the bright side, there's pretty much no woman that doesn't look good in a pencil skirt.