Don't Know What to do!!!

Avatar for cinderella_40
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-29-2003
Don't Know What to do!!!
3
Wed, 09-10-2003 - 4:23pm
Hi! Haven't posted for a few weeks. The last time, I wrote about my high cholesterol of 205 and fitness report which said I had a body fat reading of 33%. I was 5'3" and 111 at the time those figures were computated (about 3 weeks ago). I started working out 3-4 days a week at the gym and also followed the low cholesterol diet my doctor gave me. Basically, I lost interest in food. Since I no longer get to enjoy chocolate, eggs, cookies, cream cheese, ice cream, Big Macks, chips and hot sauce, red meat, shrimp, Snickers and anything-I-want-without-worrying, I have lost 4 lbs. I realize that all those foods were not good for me and I am now eating alot of fruit and vegetables which is good. I am now down to 107 lbs. which my doctor says is unhealthy for my age. I keep doing resistance weights to the point of exhaustion on my arms and legs every other day so I know I must be doing some good but why am I losing weight? Doesn't muscle weigh more than fat? I just can't win and find a healthy balance. I feel awful instead of feeling good! This isn't right! Any suggestions on diet and exercise for a thin person?
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Wed, 09-10-2003 - 6:51pm
Yes, muscle does weigh more than fat but it really hasn't been all that much time that you started the new eating plan. You also could have changed the composition of your body since you were 33% body fat. You might have just lost some fat. The new food choices that you are making are less caloric than the foods that you ate before. You are probably have a pretty high metabolism if you were able to eat all those foods and not gain weight.

How many reps of the weight training are you doing? If you are doing high reps (15+) the weight that you are using is probably too light to build muscle. Cardio should be at a moderate pace. Give it a chance. It sometimes takes your body a little while to adjust and respond.

Phyllis

Live With Passion!

Phyllis

Avatar for cinderella_40
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-29-2003
Thu, 09-11-2003 - 9:49am
Thanks Phyllis.

Yes I WAS doing too many light reps (15) and the weights were too light. I am now going to heavier weights and only doing 8-10 reps. I hope this helps. I wrote down all the food I took in for one day which was an average day and it totalled up to about 1600 calories. My trainer was shocked. She said she didn't see HOW I could be losing weight on this number of calories (given my age of 43 and I am post- menopausal) I guess chalk it up to a fast metabolism as you said. We did the body fat test last night again and this time I was 28%. So, that's getting better.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Thu, 09-11-2003 - 10:52am
Great job! Just goes to show you, you can't always go by the number on the scale. If you do increase calories, only increase by about 100-200 per day. And uh...make them good, healthy calories :-)

Phyllis

Live With Passion!

Phyllis