Losing weight instead of gaining...

jubneq · 01-09-2009, 05:56 AM

Hi,
First I apologise if this is the wrong place to post about this particular question.
I've been doing some weight lifting for 10 monthes now, along with jogging. I've started that at 34 to get rid of my skinny look. But the thing is, instead of gaining I'm just dropping weight! In those 10 monthes I've lost 16 pounds! It was not such a bad thing considering that despite my skinny looks I had some fat in my face and belly, and I still would like to loose a little more fat, maybe about 7 pounds. But considering that I'm going to the gym 3 times a week I thought I would change the fat into muscle and keep the same weight I had last year. Instead I now look muscular but very very skinny (which is still better that what I used to look like). I now weight 172 pounds and I'm 6 feet 3.
I was wondering what I am doing wrong.
I do a 50min jog once or twice a week which I absolutly need for my well-beeing. I go to the gym for 1h45-2h15 3 times a week. I start my session with 20mn cardio (either intense jogging with slope from 0% to 6%, or rowing). Then I pick from 6 to 8 exercises, I do 4 series of each with 10-12 reps (20 for the legs and abs), to the maximum of my capabilities. In 10 monthes I haven't improved a lot the amount of weights I'm able to lift (maybe around 15%).
Also I'm very carefull with what I eat cause If I eat too much or eat sugar or greasy food, I get the fat back in my face and belly almost instently. The only exeption beeing alcool which I seem to like a bit too much. After each season at the gym I drink 1/2 liter of premade postworkout protein drink. The rest of the time I try to eat as much protein and as little carb that I can (I'm still a big pasta/risotto fan though).
In short, my goal would be (on top of beeing stronger) to gain back those 16 pounds I lost, or even better 20, while still loosing that little extra fat left on my face and belly.
So I'm thinking maybe I do too much cardio but I don't realy want to cut on that since it drasticaly improved my general health and energy.
I don't stretch enough so my muscles can't really grow (I'm really really stiff).
Also maybe my sessions are to long and/or I do too much rep and should switch to lower rep/heavier weight sessions.
Any insight would be great. Thanks alot for reading that long post, and I apologise for my english (it is not my mother tongue).

Al Swearengen · 01-09-2009, 06:55 AM

it's pretty straight forward if you are loosing weight you aren't eating enough.

r_graz · 01-09-2009, 07:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Al Swearengen

it's pretty straight forward if you are loosing weight you aren't eating enough.

+1

Easiest question of all, really. Lifting weight doesn't make you gain weight, eating more calories than you burn does. Lifting simply helps determine how much of that weight you gain is fat and how much is muscle.

Eat more, probably a lot more from the sound of it.

twellons · 01-09-2009, 07:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by r_graz

+1

Easiest question of all, really. Lifting weight doesn't make you gain weight, eating more calories than you burn does. Lifting simply helps determine how much of that weight you gain is fat and how much is muscle.

Eat more, probably a lot more from the sound of it.

+2
morecharacters

james0566 · 01-09-2009, 08:00 AM

i concur with these guys

Alex.Kingston · 01-09-2009, 08:12 AM

I have this problem, but that is mainly due to me not taking note of what I eat, so I don't know if I eat more one day compared to another. I need to eat more, and pile on the calories. Any advice on good foods to eat? I would make a thread about it but this seems a relevant place to ask.

r_graz · 01-09-2009, 09:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex.Kingston

I have this problem, but that is mainly due to me not taking note of what I eat, so I don't know if I eat more one day compared to another. I need to eat more, and pile on the calories. Any advice on good foods to eat? I would make a thread about it but this seems a relevant place to ask.

Beef, chicken, fish, rice, greens, fruit, milk...no mystery there. A person who is considerably underweight should be thinking about getting health foods in their diet, but it seems like in most cases the problem is more a question of not enough calories than the specific foods you're eating.

Al Swearengen · 01-09-2009, 10:20 AM

people who require higher caloric intake should of course get plenty of protein, good fats and veggies but after that has been satisfied have something else it doesn't matter really i know for me ice cream, cakes and pies sure do fill up the deficit nice and tasty like and contrary to popular belief sugar won't kill you.

jubneq · 01-09-2009, 11:16 AM

Well thanks, I guess I was starting to see problems where there is none. So FOOD!!!! here I come.

twellons · 01-09-2009, 11:30 AM

Eating clean is obsiously better ( Less fat and more calories from carbs/protien ) But I've found that it's REALLY hard for me to get in over 1800 calories in a day if I don't A

have some fast fatty foods B

have a 6 pack of beer (1k calories and fun in the process )

So even though I'm back into training lately , I'm still seeing myself lose weight , and I am only hoping it's mainly fat at the moment since I am working out, eating better

as oppose to

6-8 pack a night
eating 2 meals a day
gorging myself on those meals
very sedentary lifestyle.

jubneq · 01-10-2009, 12:25 PM

Actually, I never thought of that, but does anyone know if the calories intake from alcool is burn into muscle during workout? (Thought it would be fun to ask)

Opies · 01-10-2009, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jubneq

Actually, I never thought of that, but does anyone know if the calories intake from alcool is burn into muscle during workout? (Thought it would be fun to ask)

No it's not. The problem with alcohol is... it's a poison. So your body stops everything it is doing and does everything it can to get rid of that poison so you don't die. So while you are intoxicated... your body is not putting energy towards building muscle mass, repairing damage, etc. It is putting energy toward metabolizing and excreting the alcohol and its metabolites. Also, alcohol is a pretty strong diuretic which causes you to become dehydrated. In a dehydrated state that body does not function anywhere near optimal.

You are much better off eating a 12oz steak, half a pound of bacon, or a bowl of ice cream or something for your extra calories.

This isn't to say you can't drink alcohol from time to time, just don't use it as a calorie boost because it does more harm than good

twellons · 01-12-2009, 06:47 AM

yeah , I didn't mean to imply it was a good idea ... just that it was my pattern for a while there ( not for lifting purposes )

jubneq · 01-14-2009, 09:01 AM

Of course I was not considering boose as a proper workout calorie intake... I was merely wondering what the effect of alcool is when you workout, and your answer was very informative, thanks!
I just got a piece of info that might actually answer my own post. I forgot to mention that I'm a heavy smoker (heavy smoker, heavy drinker, I know I know). Apparently on top of burning calories, nicotine prevent your protein intake to stick to the muscle. Somehow it create a layer around the muscle, and hence lower the effect of the protein you eat. I thought that was interesting enough information to share.
Cheers.