I'm not losing weight......

[Pebbelz04]

I've been going to the gym 5 days a week. I like to do split workouts
Ex:mon-Chest
Tue-Back
Wed-Arms
Thur-Shoulders
Fri-Legs
I do 30 min walking on the treadmill after each workout.

My problem is, my friend says I'm getting bigger. He recomends I should only do cardio. I do about 3 different exercises 4 sets at 12 - 15 reps. I've been watching what I eat and trying to drink more water. Does my workout look good? My friend says its a man's workout because he does the same thing, only he does more weight and less reps. I'm so confused. Should I just do cardio to lose this fat, or should I continue what I'm doing?

[EnigmaPower]

Originally Posted by Pebbelz04

I've been going to the gym 5 days a week. I like to do split workouts
Ex:mon-Chest
Tue-Back
Wed-Arms
Thur-Shoulders
Fri-Legs
I do 30 min walking on the treadmill after each workout.

My problem is, my friend says I'm getting bigger. He recomends I should only do cardio. I do about 3 different exercises 4 sets at 12 - 15 reps. I've been watching what I eat and trying to drink more water. Does my workout look good? My friend says its a man's workout because he does the same thing, only he does more weight and less reps. I'm so confused. Should I just do cardio to lose this fat, or should I continue what I'm doing?

I would pick up the heaviest dumbbell you can lift and "accidentally" drop it on his foot.

[top_5_percent]

That is the most ridiuculous thing I have heard and actually makes me really angry to hear.

It is most likely that your diet is out of wack. Post it up and we will help you. Nutrition is deffinately the most important thing. It doesn't matter how much you work out, if your diet is off you wont lose.

Weights will deffinately give you a better looking body and you will burn fat faster as muscle burns more calories. Weight lifting will NOT make you bulky and fat.

Have a good look through bodybuilding.com it has heaps of articles on nutrition and lifting.

Good luck and please don't give up the weights!

[freebirdmac]

Diet is 90-percent of your fat loss effort. If you are not losing fat then you need to look at your cals and macros. Do you know what they are?

If you are getting bigger then you're probably seeing muscle gains and/or muscle pump. Fat loss should drive your measurements down despite these gains. The scale however may not change as fast. If your measurements aren't changing or going in the wrong direction, it's your diet.

Weight lifting is far better for fat loss than cardio http://www.alwyncosgrove.com/hierarchy-of-fat-loss.html

[tawney76]

Originally Posted by EnigmaPower

I would pick up the heaviest dumbbell you can lift and "accidentally" drop it on his foot.

Maybe if I drop one on the other foot he will leap up and land on his dumb a*s.

He was trying to steer you in a Worse than poor direction. These folks are giving you much more sound advice.

[GoutDeMiel]

I agree with everyone here. Patience!
When I started lifting heavy, I noticed that my pants were tighter in the thighs for a few weeks, then my thighs started to slim down as the fat loss caught up to my mass gain. It was very discouraging at first, but I was consistent and patient and now I love the way my legs are tuning out.
Post your diet so we all can have a look-see.

[spefitness]

Originally Posted by Pebbelz04

I've been going to the gym 5 days a week. I like to do split workouts
Ex:mon-Chest
Tue-Back
Wed-Arms
Thur-Shoulders
Fri-Legs
I do 30 min walking on the treadmill after each workout.

My problem is, my friend says I'm getting bigger. He recomends I should only do cardio. I do about 3 different exercises 4 sets at 12 - 15 reps. I've been watching what I eat and trying to drink more water. Does my workout look good? My friend says its a man's workout because he does the same thing, only he does more weight and less reps. I'm so confused. Should I just do cardio to lose this fat, or should I continue what I'm doing?

You need a whole new workout. Your muscle groups need switched around, you are overtraining upper body muscles. You can do two different leg workouts a week also.
Example:
Mon-Back and triceps
Tues-Legs and abs
Wed-Shoulders
Thurs-Legs and abs
Fri-Chest and biceps

This is only one example, there are many, but I want to keep it simple.
Cardio should be done after the workout, but only about 20 minutes, and do high intensity intervals. Make total workout no more than one hour.
The most important thing though is nutrition, this is 80%.

[kimm4]

Originally Posted by Pebbelz04

I've been going to the gym 5 days a week. I like to do split workouts
Ex:mon-Chest
Tue-Back
Wed-Arms
Thur-Shoulders
Fri-Legs
I do 30 min walking on the treadmill after each workout.

My problem is, my friend says I'm getting bigger. He recomends I should only do cardio. I do about 3 different exercises 4 sets at 12 - 15 reps. I've been watching what I eat and trying to drink more water. Does my workout look good? My friend says its a man's workout because he does the same thing, only he does more weight and less reps. I'm so confused. Should I just do cardio to lose this fat, or should I continue what I'm doing?

What does your eating plan look like? I'm guessing this is where the problem is...not so much your training...

[NightSprite]

Originally Posted by GoutDeMiel

I agree with everyone here. Patience!
When I started lifting heavy, I noticed that my pants were tighter in the thighs for a few weeks, then my thighs started to slim down as the fat loss caught up to my mass gain. It was very discouraging at first, but I was consistent and patient and now I love the way my legs are tuning out.
Post your diet so we all can have a look-see.

Agreed. Post your diet and let the girls help you tweek it. With a good diet, heavy lifting, cardio and patience it'll happen.

[Pebbelz04]

My diet is probably bad. I don't understand how many calories I should be taking. I Heard that you fine out the amount your body needs for maintnance then you take in like 100 less. My BMI is 1950, so should I be taking in 1850? But then I heard that if you lift weights you should be taking in alittle more. So confusing.... My diet is like this.....

8am-Apple and coffee (milk and splenda)

12- Turkey sandwitch, mayo,cheese,turkey, and wheat bread.
Handful of potato chips.
Diet coke

5pm Dinner: Pasta usually with sauce and chicken


6 pm \gym

8pm- snack like popcorn, or maybe some more pasta.

I don't drink much during the day,Maybe 32 oz of water and 2 diet sodas. I'm also living on a tight budget. My portion control is horrible. I hate feeling hungry. I don't do fat burners or anything like that. I do take a multi vitamin and fish oil daily.

[guest89]

Originally Posted by Pebbelz04

8am-Apple and coffee (milk and splenda)

12- Turkey sandwitch, mayo,cheese,turkey, and wheat bread.
Handful of potato chips.
Diet coke

5pm Dinner: Pasta usually with sauce and chicken


6 pm \gym

8pm- snack like popcorn, or maybe some more pasta.

I don't drink much during the day,Maybe 32 oz of water and 2 diet sodas. I'm also living on a tight budget. My portion control is horrible. I hate feeling hungry. I don't do fat burners or anything like that. I do take a multi vitamin and fish oil daily.

I don't know much, but I'd probably cut out the cheese and mayo on the sandwhich, drink more water and less coke (even though its diet), and ration your food to a smaller amount then you usually eat.


I cut 15-18 lbs simply by quit eating dairy products, quit eating unhealthy midnight snacks, drinking less cokes, and eating slightly smaller portions for meals. (Instead of eating three big meals I try to eat 5-6 smaller meals).


Its probably the portion though, for example, when you say pasta with sauce and chicken, do you mean a plate full? Half a plate? A saucer?

[Classicjamz]

Yor BMR is 1950. You should be consuming 500 less than your maintenance, which is not your BMR. You should find your maintenance calories and subtract 500. That's how much you should eat.


Your diet is seriously out of whack. You should be eating way more for breakfast, you don't have nearly enough protein and way too many carbs. Take out the soda and chips too. Space out your meals a few hours apart and eat 4-6 times a day. Here's an example of my diet -

Meal 1 - Cup of oats or bran cereal, 8 oz milk, 3 hardboiled eggs.
Meal 2 - (PWO) Whey shake w/ 8 oz milk
Meal 3 -Natural pb sandwich on whole wheat bread
Meal 4 1/2 cup cottage cheese, fruit OR 1/4 cup almonds and fruit
Meal 5 - 6 oz chicken w/ broccoli OR 1 cup whole wheat pasta w/ olive oil

[freebirdmac]

Take a read through terracotta's site. That should help clear up a lot of your confusion. http://www.hotnfit.com/

[Tishalicious]

I understand your frustration!

Diet really does burn the fat off... and exercise builds the muscles.

You are doing well! Remember that you do not have to get everything perfect, you can live and learn and adapt to what you are learning. There is a lot to take in when the Diet Industry and the Exercise Machine people have been telling us a load of hookum for years.

You've been getting into the exercises, and that's great! Now look to sharpen up your diet. Read a lot, try out some recommended things, and you'll find what works best for you.

You'll find you can feel full AND be feeding yourself good food at the same time.

Keep a diary of food, exercise, mood etc... and weigh or measure up once a month and evaluate how you have been progressing.

Good luck to you, sister!

[humblegenius]

Dont fall into the trap of "Diet" sodas. The actually make the body crave sweet foods. I used to do the whole diet soda thing, and around 5pm and again around 8pm each day I would be looking for a sugar hit. Since I stop drinking them, I dont have that at all.

Also, eat more at breakie, and less at dinner. Get the metabolism going.

A simple tip for portion control, buy smaller dinner plates, that way you dont tend to load them up as much.

Your workout routine looks pretty good. Also, if you enjoy it, keep doing it regardless of what you are being told. We human beings do what we tend to enjoy. If you are hating it, you will go to the gym less and less.

[funkymonk420]

you sound very eager to learn and improve, so you're doing well already!

good posts in here from all. the soda, chips and mayo must go. less carbs, more protein. eat more for breakfast. eating a good breakfast will kickstart your metabolism in the morning, with just an apple and coffee your body will start the day drained and your metabolism will not increase until later when you get an actual meal.

doing 30 minutes of walking won't do very much. as spefitness recommended, do 20 minutes of HIIT instead. takes less time, and is MUCH more effective.

keep a stiff upper lip and cut out any compulsive eating, i don't know if it's a problem but once you pay attention and recognize it for what it is you can stop it.

[twinnett]

Hey there! I know how confusing this can all be!

To maintain your weight (if 235 is correct), you actually need somewhere around 3000 calories, so you can safely subtract about 500 from that and keep your intake around 2500 calories. Like others have said, eat more for breakfast: oats, egg whites, fruit, flaxseed or natural PB...If you want that sandwich for lunch, use mustard, low fat cheese and add fruit or cottage cheese on the side..dinner can be whole wheat pasta (just a little less) and make sure there's some chicken in there and more veggies and a snack of popcorn is just fine..just keep doing little things and making small improvements!

[freebirdmac]

Originally Posted by Tishalicious

You are doing well! Remember that you do not have to get everything perfect, you can live and learn and adapt to what you are learning. There is a lot to take in when the Diet Industry and the Exercise Machine people have been telling us a load of hookum for years.

Reps for that! It's very, very true. This is a process, some call it a journey. And we learn more about ourselves every day.

[Pebbelz04]

Thank you guys so much for all of the tips!!!! I'm really going to do it this time!!!!!! It's awesome knowing everyone understands where I'm coming from and have been there!!

[kaspergirl]

Originally Posted by NightSprite

Agreed. Post your diet and let the girls help you tweek it. With a good diet, heavy lifting, cardio and patience it'll happen.

ditto! If it helps any i recently purchased the eat clean diet book by tosca reno and the diets seem very easy and so far seem easy to stick with....good luck!!

[CATRACCOM]

Seriously...just keep going. Give it your all every time. Don't feel bad if you have a down day...just keep going. Push a little harder and eat a little healthier. Little by little. Just don't stop...
You can play games with your walking like running for 30 sec and walking for 5...then the next time you go, try running for a minute. Or, change the incline some. I started running like this and now I'm up to 4 miles 4x a week. You can do it.
I gained weight when I started back too. Remember that muscle weighs more. Doing the weights will help. They will make you stronger and make your cardio more efficient.
Whatever you do, don't stop!

[Fleettechrob]

I think you may want to listen to all of the great people who have already sent you messages, differently from what your friend has told you. I'm not sure exactly when you started your program but it seems like your post was done in October. My wife (blurosemarie1 on this site) who started out over a year ago, has made really good progress and it was achieved by having a clean diet, exercising, doing different body parts, just like you are doing. You can not always take what one person says and call it gospel. You can either take the sound advice from all the people here, who are mostly in GREAT shape, or you can believe your friend's opinion. Oh and by the way, what kind of shape is your friend in hmmmmmmm? Focus on what you want to look like and it will happen!!!

[Coco9]

Buy a scale and track your numbers on a website such as thedailyplate.com or fitday.com

Good luck!

[Len173]

Your friend is waaay off. The people here have given sound advice that will take you where you wanna go. cardio is key, but so is weight training. You will not turn into a big bulky bodybuilder. I know some women who are a force in the gym, and they look great.

Your diet needs to be more in check. I would cut some of those carbs, definitely lose the soda and chips, even if it's diet, it's not neccessary. Don't have carbs as your evening snack. I would look more into a shake, with some casein protein. get a way bigger breakfast, add some protein to it (eggs) maybe a bit of cottage cheese? Try to get 5-6 evenly spread meals in throughout the day.

whats your cardio intensity like? Can you up it a bit? If your going to walk, do you do incline?

Don't despair, you are totally on the right track, just need some tweaking.

[GoutDeMiel]

I'm going to second what everyone is saying on here - you're getting fantastic advice.

Cutting the soda will do wonders just by itself. Cutting out the mayo and adding more protein to your diet (especially breakfast!) will help you see results even sooner still.

Baby steps!

Good luck and post progress pics!

[roidboy89]

Originally Posted by Pebbelz04

My diet is probably bad. I don't understand how many calories I should be taking. I Heard that you fine out the amount your body needs for maintnance then you take in like 100 less. My BMI is 1950, so should I be taking in 1850? But then I heard that if you lift weights you should be taking in alittle more. So confusing.... My diet is like this.....

8am-Apple and coffee (milk and splenda)

12- Turkey sandwitch, mayo,cheese,turkey, and wheat bread.
Handful of potato chips.
Diet coke

5pm Dinner: Pasta usually with sauce and chicken


6 pm \gym

8pm- snack like popcorn, or maybe some more pasta.

I don't drink much during the day,Maybe 32 oz of water and 2 diet sodas. I'm also living on a tight budget. My portion control is horrible. I hate feeling hungry. I don't do fat burners or anything like that. I do take a multi vitamin and fish oil daily.

Ya all the stuff like any pop or handfulls of potatoe chips has to go. You should stick with water and lean meats and not alot of fat. You should eat most of your carbs earlyer on then towards night like 5 or 6 cut out most of your carbs. You can get stuff like protein shakes as meal replacements when you feel like eating junk food just drink one of those. Also try to use water with your protein shakes or at least no fat milk. Also find out your basal metabolic rate *which is how many calories your body burns a day then eat about 500-700 below that. Also you can still work out but you should also do some cardio. Try some high intensity intervolt training also that burns calories the hole day not just while your working out. Hope this helped.

[SearMeCarefully]

It's pretty tough getting all this new information and juggling it all at once lol.
I would definetly invest in some whey protein (thats lower carb low sugar) and make a couple of your mini meals a protein shake. It makes it a lot easier because it's fast and gets some protein in ya'! I like Elite vanilla whey - it tastes better than anything I've had so far (and I'm a big baby when it comes to flavour, I gag over cough syrup lol). I'm trying to lose body fat as well so we're on the same journey! I have a hard time waking up in the morning so I find some granola is good and lowfat cottage cheese is fast and easy to eat. (if you like tomatoes I would recommend adding the tomato 'meat' into cottage cheese with salt and pepper oh man so good! it's my favourite easy breakfast/snack)
I have a free acount on fitday.com - it's really awesome. they have it where you just click to add what you've had in a day and they count up all the calories/fat/carbs/proteins for ya! They also have a lot of other stuff too - just play around with it. I like to log in almost every day to ensure I'm getting enough protein and a good balance. But I'm sure once a week just to keep tabs on how you're doing works just as well..
Anyway I'm rambling on, good luck with your journey!

[SearMeCarefully]

Oh yeah, and there are a lot of substitutions you can make to make things healthier
Skim Milk! (I buy organic kind, I swear it tastes better lol)
they have low-fat mayo, or I like to use other spreads instead since I'm not that big on a dry sandwhich. Like avacado spread, or hummus, or spicy mustard..
Buying extra lean grade meats..
Brown rice instead of white rice ( I think it tastes better anyway)
You can buy fat-free sour cream! (I'm a fan of sour cream lol so this was awesome that I didn't have to give it up)

[Komadori]

Originally Posted by SearMeCarefully

Oh yeah, and there are a lot of substitutions you can make to make things healthier
Skim Milk! (I buy organic kind, I swear it tastes better lol)
they have low-fat mayo, or I like to use other spreads instead since I'm not that big on a dry sandwhich. Like avacado spread, or hummus, or spicy mustard..
Buying extra lean grade meats..
Brown rice instead of white rice ( I think it tastes better anyway)
You can buy fat-free sour cream! (I'm a fan of sour cream lol so this was awesome that I didn't have to give it up)

Oh, there's another trick, if you want... Blend your cottage cheese in with some plain yogurt for something resembling sour cream. Works great as a veggie dip base, too. Just add your various mix ingredients. (I bet there's a way to make ranch from scratch without adding from the packet.)

[GoutDeMiel]

Originally Posted by SearMeCarefully

I have a hard time waking up in the morning so I find some granola is good and lowfat cottage cheese is fast and easy to eat. (if you like tomatoes I would recommend adding the tomato 'meat' into cottage cheese with salt and pepper oh man so good! it's my favourite easy breakfast/snack)

aw man, that sounds fantastic. i'm making that today.