What am I doing wrong?

aminoz · 08-15-2009, 04:14 AM

I've been working on transforming my body since December 2008. I was diagnosed with PCOS (Polycystic Ovaries) 3 months ago, and the doctor put me on Metformin (2x - 500 mg).

It is only last week that I joined the gym.

Ever since I started going to the gym, I feel like I'm gaining weight (I don't weigh myself) - feeling like I'm bloated. I used a tape measure to see if I lost any inches... only to realize I've gained 2 inches around my waist.

My stats are as follows (as of today):

256 Lbs
52.2% body fat

Gym: 40 minutes cardio 2x/week
20 minutes cardio 4x/week
1 day off

Weightlifting:
4x/week - split workouts targeting muscle groups

Diet: 6-8 meals (1500 calories)
50% Protein, 20% Carb

Supplements:

Flaxseed/Fish oil
Multi-vitamin
L-Carnitine (125 mg/1x)

What am I doing wrong? For the past 3 months, I have only dropped 9 pounds. Why can't I get past 255 Lbs? I would appreciate your feedback.

freebirdmac · 08-15-2009, 06:10 AM

You've created too severe a caloric deficit for starters. You should start out at 2000-2500 cals. That'll get you 1-2 pounds of fat loss a week.

Next, you cannot judge progress in one week. The body doesn't respond that way. You need several weeks on a fixed diet plan before judging it. Changes to diet can easily cause bloating.

Working the muscles hard can create a muscle pump. It's extra fluid in the muscles. It can pouf the muscles up and be mistaken for both muscle gains as well as fat gain.

Since you have PCOS you may want to look at keto diets. Carbs tend to be a real enemy to people with PCOS.

aminoz · 08-15-2009, 07:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by freebirdmac

You've created too severe a caloric deficit for starters. You should start out at 2000-2500 cals. That'll get you 1-2 pounds of fat loss a week.

Next, you cannot judge progress in one week. The body doesn't respond that way. You need several weeks on a fixed diet plan before judging it. Changes to diet can easily cause bloating.

Working the muscles hard can create a muscle pump. It's extra fluid in the muscles. It can pouf the muscles up and be mistaken for both muscle gains as well as fat gain.

Since you have PCOS you may want to look at keto diets. Carbs tend to be a real enemy to people with PCOS.

Thanks for the reply. I appreciate your feedback. I'm def looking into keto diets. I went for 1500 c since I calculated my BMR and it was about 2000. Wouldn't going on a 2000 c make me maintain my weight rather than shed pounds?

bouncingpuka · 08-15-2009, 08:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aminoz

Thanks for the reply. I appreciate your feedback. I'm def looking into keto diets. I went for 1500 c since I calculated my BMR and it was about 2000. Wouldn't going on a 2000 c make me maintain my weight rather than shed pounds?

BMR means Resting Metabolic Rate. In other words, your BMR tells you how many calories your body burns if it were to lay in bed immobile all day. It takes into consideration processes like respiration and digestion, but doesn't factor in anything else on top of that, such as exercise and day to day activities. BMR calories do NOT equal maintenance cals :-) Maintenance will be a higher number than your BMR

IronCitGrl · 08-15-2009, 08:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aminoz

Thanks for the reply. I appreciate your feedback. I'm def looking into keto diets. I went for 1500 c since I calculated my BMR and it was about 2000. Wouldn't going on a 2000 c make me maintain my weight rather than shed pounds?

Your BMR is what your body needs if you were to just lay in bed all day asleep. Once you find your BMR you usually have to multiply that by your activity factor or how many times you workout per week. Go to hotnfit.com

http://www.hotnfit.com/fat_loss/diet.htm#top

they have a good calculator there that also takes into consideration how much weight you want to lose as well as your activity factor.

ChocoChick · 08-15-2009, 08:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aminoz

I've been working on transforming my body since December 2008. I was diagnosed with PCOS (Polycystic Ovaries) 3 months ago, and the doctor put me on Metformin (2x - 500 mg).

Metformin is a diabetes medication. Have you also been diagnosed with diabetes? If so, this could explain the difficulty with weight loss.

Butterfly09 · 08-15-2009, 09:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChocoChick

Metformin is a diabetes medication. Have you also been diagnosed with diabetes? If so, this could explain the difficulty with weight loss.

Metformin is also prescribed for those with PCOS as they usually have insulin resistance-a symptom of the disease.

Butterfly09 · 08-15-2009, 09:21 AM

OP-your calculations for your BMR appear to be way off. Check out freedieting.com-I ran your stats through at exercise 5X a week (not even intense) and maintenance calories are 2792 and weight loss is 2234,

bouncingpuka · 08-15-2009, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Butterfly09

Metformin is also prescribed for those with PCOS as they usually have insulin resistance-a symptom of the disease.

Yup, I was diagnosed with insulin resistance when I was 18/19.....my insulin levels were off the charts and I barely scraped diabetes....managed to just steer clear of it though. I was put on Metformin as well....Everything is normalized now though, and I have been taken off it

RaveBDK · 08-15-2009, 10:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aminoz

I've been working on transforming my body since December 2008. I was diagnosed with PCOS (Polycystic Ovaries) 3 months ago, and the doctor put me on Metformin (2x - 500 mg).

It is only last week that I joined the gym.

Ever since I started going to the gym, I feel like I'm gaining weight (I don't weigh myself) - feeling like I'm bloated. I used a tape measure to see if I lost any inches... only to realize I've gained 2 inches around my waist.

My stats are as follows (as of today):

256 Lbs
52.2% body fat

Gym: 40 minutes cardio 2x/week
20 minutes cardio 4x/week
1 day off

Weightlifting:
4x/week - split workouts targeting muscle groups

Diet: 6-8 meals (1500 calories)
50% Protein, 20% Carb

Supplements:

Flaxseed/Fish oil
Multi-vitamin
L-Carnitine (125 mg/1x)

What am I doing wrong? For the past 3 months, I have only dropped 9 pounds. Why can't I get past 255 Lbs? I would appreciate your feedback.

You are counting calories wrong. Its as simple as that.

aminoz · 08-15-2009, 02:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RaveBDK

You are counting calories wrong. Its as simple as that.

Thanks for the feedback all. I really do appreciate it

I've been keeping a food diary for sometime now, but I stopped documenting my daily meals.

I'll write down everything I eat this week, and re-count the calories to see if I calculate my calories intake wrong.

As for the BMR, it's definitely way off according to freedieting.com (the website makes more sense). My bodyfat & BMR calculations are through the inBody body composition analysis test.

LittoJay · 08-20-2009, 11:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aminoz

I've been working on transforming my body since December 2008. I was diagnosed with PCOS (Polycystic Ovaries) 3 months ago, and the doctor put me on Metformin (2x - 500 mg).

I feel your pain. I have PCOS also, and I swear losing weight is so hard to do.

bscole · 08-20-2009, 11:45 AM

Hey OP you can use fitday.com to keep track of your meals. It is a wonderful site and easy to use. It calculates your food for you once you put in the food item and the amount that you have had and then the site will do the rest of the calculations for you. How awesome is that? :-)
Best of luck to you!!!! Keep us posted.