New to board - Confused - Would appreciate suggestions!

[imoff2thebeach]

Hi everyone! My b/f reads this board on a regular basis and suggested that I read up on some things. But the more I read, I think the more I get confused. You see my b/f and I have 2 totally different goals and body types. He is very slender and strived very hard to gain weight as well as muscle. I'm just the opposite. I would appreciate any suggestions you might have in regards to helping me towards my ultimate goals. Here is my situation and a little history.

age: 42
sex: female
height: 5'5"
weight: 190

I eat clean. I go to the gym 5-6 days per week. I alternate between cardio and weights every-other-day. Starting about 2 yrs ago, I went throught about 1 yr of several very stressful events in my life. During that time, I started gaining weight like crazy and no matter how I ate or how much I worked out, the weight continued to pile on. I gained about 50 lbs in about a 1 yr period. And of course that is so depressing not to mention the health aspect. My b/f said he has read many posts on this site regarding women and weight loss. So I've done some reading and have decided to give something a try, I'm just not exactly sure on where to start. PLEASE HELP!!!

[chris gordon]

well first your diet is the problem... i suggest you search the web for information on low carb diets, this is the best and fastest way tolose weight, there are some things you can use to speed the process up, but the diet has to be right first....also you should be doing 30-60 mins of cardio at least 4 days a week , with weight training also ...please dont think youre gonna get big lifting weights...not gonna happen, it will however keep your metabolism up, and help maintain lean body mass during a calories restricted diet

the bottom line is this, it works for EVERYBODY, if you eat less than your body needs on a daily basis consistently...you will lose weight....your body has no choice

PS. if you need help finding information send me a PM and be glad to help you out

[imoff2thebeach]

Great, thanks! I'll do some more research!

[DrMCM]

Post your diet here so we can see what specifically you are taking in.

Amen to what Chris said about lifting and gaining weight. A person gains because they are taking in more calories not because they are lifting. Many women have this misconception. It took me a long time to get my wife to realize that.

[Millard Baker]

I'll recommend the following articles:

What Overweight Women Can Learn from Bodybuilders by Karlis Ullis, MD and Josh Shackman, PhD

http://www.mesomorphosis.com/article...ight-women.htm

The Basline Diet by Lyle McDonald

http://www.mesomorphosis.com/article...ne-diet-01.htm

Charting Progess on the Baseline Diet by Lyle McDonald

http://www.mesomorphosis.com/article...rogress-01.htm

[john_phillips]

Welcome to the board - there is a wealth of knowledge here and the some of the members are extremely knowledgeable.

As Chris and the others stated above, diet is paramount to any type of program. Get the diet, training and cardio in line and you should see good results.

IF you are thinking about taking any non-OTC supplement (and I’m not suggesting that you do) it would be in your best interests to chat with a doc and/or get blood work done.

Best wishes!!
JaPe

[imoff2thebeach]

Well I have been gone all weekend at a conference, but did have a chance to do a little reading up on the low-carb diet stuff. I have decided to give it a go and start tracking everything I eat and my exercise so I can see it on paper as well as be able to post it here for you all to be able to critic it for me. I so appreciate all the comments!!! Thanks everyone!!!

[oldlady]

As a female, one thing to factor in also is our age. Right around your age bracket is when our metabolism can take a nose dive but it can be turned around. I did it. I agree with both the suggestion about the diet but first a checkup is an excellent idea. My doctor was well aware of the diet change for a competition I did. The end results, however, are that I am in better shape at 53 than I was at 43. High protein, low carbs....do the six small meals a day if you can....with the "change of life style"in eating habits, along with the cardio, cardio, cardio and weights, you should notice the change in the fit of your clothes within 3months or so...it will take time, but it's worth it!!

[imoff2thebeach]

Thanks "Oldlady" for the info and encouragement. I did have a complete physical done back in August and all was good in exception of my weight. About a year ago, another Dr. advised she thought my severe increase of weight in just a short time was possibly due to my hormones being out of balance due to a multitude of stress factors that happened in my life the 1-1/2 years prior. Well things have finally calmed down in my life and I'm sick and tired of this weight. I've gotta get it off.

Anyway this is my update... Well it's been about a week. I cut back severely on my carbs. For breakfast I've been eating 2 eggs and either 3 slices of bacon or 1 small saugage pattie. For lunch it varies alot, sometimes chicken salad, sometimes a salad with turkey sometimes i drink 1 of the Adkins meal replacement drinks. For dinner, usually a salad or cooked veggies with some kind of meat...chicken, small steak, roast, etc. I started doing cardio everyday instead of every other day...last week for 30 mintes a day. I alternated every other day the upper & lower body workouts with weights doing 3 sets of 12 reps. I lost 3 lbs. to start.

This week I am increasing the cardio to 45 min a day and increasing my weights a bit staying with the 3 sets of 12 reps.

Any more suggestions???

[fidobuster]

wow!
great progress so far! my only suggestion would be to NOT try and do TOO much to fast , or you will get burned out quickly and give up. Try to make the changes a part of a lifestyle you can maintain over the long run, not just to get the initial weight off. Good luck.

fidobuster.

[incrediblehulk]

excellent work girl! sounds like u doing some good work.

keep up with the weights and keep protien high. cardio should be done before breakfast if you can. as it uses the stored fat rather than what u have just eaten. if u cant do it b4 breakky then do it after your weights added to the warm up cardio b4 ur workout.

thats quite important. also drink a bit of cider vinegar in some water and just swallow it - it will reduce ur appetite. about a teaspoon os cider (apple) vinegar in a quarter of a glass of water, and just down it - ull get used to it.

good luck.

[imoff2thebeach]

Thanks Fidobuster and IncredibleHulk...I appreciate everyones suggestions for sure! Now the vinegar sounds a little different but I'll give it a try and will give updates every once in awhile. Take care and hope eveyone has an outstanding 2005! Thanks!!!

[oldlady]

men!!! drink vinegar.....pleazzz.....instead of drinking it, I use tablespoon oil and tablespoon of vinegar with fresh ground pepper for a salad dressing...I have a small salad everyday with my grilled chicken....tastes better, I believe

[freedomfighter]

Hey Old Lady, Still using Cialis? I believe the first time you came to the old board you were seeking the magic compound. I'm an old friend with a new name. Lost the pict you sent.
Have you had any changes in energy output? I'm thinking that maybe your thyroid might neeed checking up. Also Blood sugar levels should be monitiored. Do you still use aas???

Freedomfighter

[cobra75007]

nice