new to working out....need an answer

[nikkibrignac]

Hey everyone I am new to lifting weights. I was one of the stupid girls that thought that weight lifting would make me look bulky. Then I met my husband who is a personal trainer and he completely transformed my way of thinking! But then I got caught up in a very bad case of anorexia for about 2 years when he was deployed. When he got back I got pregnant and gained tons of weight bc I had gone from eating fat free popcorn maybe once a week to eating every day! SO now that I have had my daughter I am back in the gym trying to ge all of this baby weight off and not slip back into starving. Theres only one problem...I work out 6-7 days a week and am very diligent about nutrition, but I am not getting sore!! I lift as much weight as I can until my muscles are shaking and I physically can not lift anymore, but i am still not sore! I am losing about 2 pounds a week, which I am happy with, but every other time in my life I even attempted this amount of weight I was so sore I couldnt move! My muscles dont seem to be getting bigger but it has only been 2 weeks...am I doing something wrong or is it possible to be making gains and I am just not getting sore? Help!!

[Turco]

Why don't you ask your husband?

[IraHays]

It's only been 2 weeks.

Concentrate on adding more weight each workout. Getting stronger = bigger muscles.

[GreenWave1]

2 weeks is not much time. Keep at it. If you are consistent and disciplined, you'll achieve your goals.

Good luck!

[SpinFan]

You're working out too much, you need at least a day if not 2 or 3 off a week.

Honestly, I think you are going down a slippery slope. Have you had treatment for your ED? Are you seeing a therapist and a nutritionist and do you have a good support system? Trying to lose as much weight as possibly as quickly as possible is setting you up for relapse.

As someone in recovery from an ED myself, my suggestion to you is to figure out what your goals are. Think about the things that trigger you and how to avoid them. Make sure you have good support in your life. Make sure you are exercising moderately and nourishing yourself enough. Starvation + weightlifting = muscle loss.

[nikkibrignac]

Originally Posted by SpinFan

You're working out too much, you need at least a day if not 2 or 3 off a week.

Honestly, I think you are going down a slippery slope. Have you had treatment for your ED? Are you seeing a therapist and a nutritionist and do you have a good support system? Trying to lose as much weight as possibly as quickly as possible is setting you up for relapse.

As someone in recovery from an ED myself, my suggestion to you is to figure out what your goals are. Think about the things that trigger you and how to avoid them. Make sure you have good support in your life. Make sure you are exercising moderately and nourishing yourself enough. Starvation + weightlifting = muscle loss.

No I havent received any counseling for the eating disorder. Honestly it never helped me. I had been in counseling for 5 years before I had my first child and still nothing was better than being stick thin. I am trying really really hard to focus on being healthy and that my children need me. To me, losing weight is like taking a drug...I get addicted. I know I am going to become consumed with losing weight again. Hopefully I can stay on the right path...thanks for replying to me!! Good luck with your continued ED recovery!!

[nikkibrignac]

Originally Posted by Turco

Why don't you ask your husband?

He doesnt really give me honest answers bc he is either afraid of hurting my feelings or being the reason I relapse back into starvation mode. That is why I turned here. So is there any advice you can give me?

[Turco]

Originally Posted by nikkibrignac

He doesnt really give me honest answers bc he is either afraid of hurting my feelings or being the reason I relapse back into starvation mode. That is why I turned here. So is there any advice you can give me?

Sorry, I didn't mean to come across as a smartass. I was just curious, because it sounded like he got your started on a fitness routine.

Just keep working out. 2 weeks isn't that much time. Give yourself a few months.

[nikkibrignac]

No worries!! I have strong shoulders lol. I think you said it perfectly..I need to give myself more time and not expect too much too soon. THat is setting myself up for failure. It's just so hard because I have never been this heavy and when I starve I know my body down to a science....I lose 5-7 pounds a week until I get down to about 125 and then it's just maintence from there because I have never gotten below 125...even after 9 days of no food!! I just need to get this weight off....

[dinger8]

your body adapts to training so soreness goes away because your muscles are use to it but you do not need to be sore from every workout. soreness does not = progress

[norinicole]

Originally Posted by dinger8

your body adapts to training so soreness goes away because your muscles are use to it but you do not need to be sore from every workout. soreness does not = progress

^^^
This

Also, you say you go until your arms are shaking...but how many reps is that? Are you really lifting heavy?

And Spin really hit the nail on the head. Recovering from an ED can be very tough.

I'd also like to make a suggestion, that instead of your goal being to 'lose 10lbs' (or whatever amount), make your goal that you want 12" arms, or that you want to squat your bodyweight, or that you want to be able to do 10 pullups unassisted. I think that if you changed your view from centering on a number of pounds lost, you may find it much easier.

As well, if you start losing body fat, then building muscle, chances are you aren't going to shed pounds. You're going to end up changing your body composition (which is what you want!!! )

[nikkibrignac]

Originally Posted by norinicole

^^^
This

Also, you say you go until your arms are shaking...but how many reps is that? Are you really lifting heavy?

And Spin really hit the nail on the head. Recovering from an ED can be very tough.

I'd also like to make a suggestion, that instead of your goal being to 'lose 10lbs' (or whatever amount), make your goal that you want 12" arms, or that you want to squat your bodyweight, or that you want to be able to do 10 pullups unassisted. I think that if you changed your view from centering on a number of pounds lost, you may find it much easier.

As well, if you start losing body fat, then building muscle, chances are you aren't going to shed pounds. You're going to end up changing your body composition (which is what you want!!! )

I never thought of it like that!! Your idea to track my progress is amazing and I honestly never thought about that! It's a perfect way to take the focus off of my weight(which would be the FIRST thing to trigger starvation mode again) and places emphasis on bady fat loss and getting stronger without having to see the number on the scale...which is the best thing for me! THank you so much for your point of view!!

[-Ironside-]

Originally Posted by nikkibrignac

He doesnt really give me honest answers bc he is either afraid of hurting my feelings or being the reason I relapse back into starvation mode. That is why I turned here. So is there any advice you can give me?

I have the same problem with my wife, how bout your husband trains her and I train you :P
Don't look at the scale. In fact, I would take a drastic step and throw out/have your husband hide the scale.
You don't need it, numbers lie.
Body tracking through measurements is much better and healthier.
And PR's (Personal records) are another great way to challenge yourself.
Just eat healthy, and work hard and you'll do fine.

[The_Animal11]

i think its a big jump to just say you're working out too much with very little info on what you're actually doing in your workouts/what your diet looks like.

however, i do want to say that you would probably actually see better gains if you dont go to complete failure for every set. that can actually hinder you quite a bit! its great to go to failure some during your workouts, but if every time you sit down for a set you know its gunna end with your muscles shaking, you should re-evaluate your rep schemes.

I think its actually much more effective to have most of your workouts consist of weights and reps that you could probably handle for at least another rep or two, and at most once per exercise go to failure.

with that said, keep it up! two weeks is not a very long time to see REALLY good progress, and as you get more into working out and doing the exercises correctly they become MUCH more effective! its a marathon, not a sprint!

[nikkibrignac]

Originally Posted by -Ironside-

I have the same problem with my wife, how bout your husband trains her and I train you :P
Don't look at the scale. In fact, I would take a drastic step and throw out/have your husband hide the scale.
You don't need it, numbers lie.
Body tracking through measurements is much better and healthier.
And PR's (Personal records) are another great way to challenge yourself.
Just eat healthy, and work hard and you'll do fine.

Sounds great!! I completely agree with you. What sparks my obsession with losing weight is the number on the scale and throwing it out would be the best thing. I need to focus on what used to jiggle and doesnt anymore and how my clothes fit instead of numbers! I really admired your response to why you work out and I even quoted it!! Awesome outlook and thanks for responding!! I saw you are a soldier...what base are ya'll at? We are about to be transferred to either carson or bragg.

[nikkibrignac]

Originally Posted by The_Animal11

i think its a big jump to just say you're working out too much with very little info on what you're actually doing in your workouts/what your diet looks like.

however, i do want to say that you would probably actually see better gains if you dont go to complete failure for every set. that can actually hinder you quite a bit! its great to go to failure some during your workouts, but if every time you sit down for a set you know its gunna end with your muscles shaking, you should re-evaluate your rep schemes.

I think its actually much more effective to have most of your workouts consist of weights and reps that you could probably handle for at least another rep or two, and at most once per exercise go to failure.

with that said, keep it up! two weeks is not a very long time to see REALLY good progress, and as you get more into working out and doing the exercises correctly they become MUCH more effective! its a marathon, not a sprint!

I think I discovered a huge reason why I am not feeling what I think I should be. My mom watched our kids tonight and I went to the gym with my husband and told him to treat me completely like one of his clients and not his wife. He taught me alot. I used to switch muscle groups per set...i.e. I would do 3 sets of bi's and switch to 3 sets of tri's and then do three sets of chest and switch back and forth. Well tonight we spent an hour on bi's and an hour on tri's with no switching and I actually felt like I was doing something and I got that good burn I have been missing! Also I was set on doing 3 sets with 12 reps, then add 10 pounds and do 10 reps, then add 10 pounds and do 8 reps. Well today we did 4 sets and added 20 pounds per set and said if I could only pounch out 4 reps THAT WAS OK! So I did and I felt the burn yet again. I really learned alot tonight which I am thankful for because it will keep me motivated. Nothing would have been worse than "working my ass off" every night in the gym and seeing no gains! Thank you all SO MUCH for your feedback. I appreciate it more than you all know. The tidbits of everyone's knowledge is helping me become a better lifter and hence a healthier person!

[-Ironside-]

Originally Posted by nikkibrignac

Sounds great!! I completely agree with you. What sparks my obsession with losing weight is the number on the scale and throwing it out would be the best thing. I need to focus on what used to jiggle and doesnt anymore and how my clothes fit instead of numbers! I really admired your response to why you work out and I even quoted it!! Awesome outlook and thanks for responding!! I saw you are a soldier...what base are ya'll at? We are about to be transferred to either carson or bragg.

Ex Soldier, going back active next year as Warrant. =)
Never been to Carson but if I had a choice I would probably choose it over Bragg. Bragg is nice, top quality everywhere, full amenities but it's HUGE. I prefer smaller towns and country living, Carson would be great for an outdoors person.

Good luck and stay positive.

[nikkibrignac]

Originally Posted by -Ironside-

Ex Soldier, going back active next year as Warrant. =)
Never been to Carson but if I had a choice I would probably choose it over Bragg. Bragg is nice, top quality everywhere, full amenities but it's HUGE. I prefer smaller towns and country living, Carson would be great for an outdoors person.

Good luck and stay positive.

I would say I prefer smaller bases but we spent the last 4 years at Fort Drum, Ny!!! I am keeping my fingers crossed for never again!! The weather was way too cold for a Louisiana Southern bell like myself and it was a nothing town when we got there....they did a lot of growth in the 4 years we were there but I am still not dying to go back. I have heard good things about Bragg but GREAT things about Carson...so my fingers are crossed for Carson. Good luck in your future endeavors as an officer. God speed and God bless if/when you get deployed!!

[DaBurg3r]

As long as your are making improvements in strength week to week I would not worry to much about it.

Maybe your husband could design a training routine for you?