Hi I am a 22 yr old male from Canada who has decided he wants to look fit/tone/etc. I read many online before I started my plan but it has changed a bit and trying to grab the best of all the plans might have me doing something wrong so I will tell everyone what I do and how its worked so far and maybe you can suggest some things to change/add or leave as is. So I was 192.8 on Feb 12th and I am 176.8 today. There was 11 days were I had to work off-site and could not logistically keep my diet part going so for those 11 days I gained 1 pound and it was worked off the day I got back. What I have been doing is having a glass of Optimum 100% Whey Powder in the morning, afternoon and after a workout. Eating 2 apples and 2 oranges per day. Eating a Lean Cuisine for lunch everyday. I take Opti-Men multivitamin 3 times per day and a Vitamin C pill in the morning. I also take Hydroxi-Cut 1 in the morning and 2 before a workout. And keeping it all under 1500 Calories everyday, most days 1460 or less. My workout consists of 30 minutes on the treadmill in which I alternate between speed 3 and speed 7 every minute. Then 15-30 minutes of random weight training and 30 minutes on a cycle at 5-7 difficulty. Also I drink only water and have no snacks at all. I don't really get tempted or cravings or even hungry so thats been going well but I want to optimize my weight loss as much as possible so if you guys see something I should or should not be doing please mention it here.
Am I doing this right?
- Thread starter MrTRiX
- Start date
First you definitely need to rid yourself of the idea that there is a rigid set of parameters that are right and another set that is wrong.
That's an impressive weight loss for that short of a time period. Are you tracking calories? If so, how many are you taking in? And how are you going about your nutrition plan? <edit to add, scatch these questions.... responding as I read along and I see you answered them below>
Sounds extremely lacking in fiber and vitamins. Where are the veggies? I'd prefer someone not eat a meal out of a box.... but not everyone is going to listen.
Right now it seems like you're eating only one solid meal per day and that's out of a box and not counting the pieces of fruit you're eating.
That's not ideal.
Why?
Why?
What made you pick this caloric intake.
If you're goal is to be lean and hold on to your muscle.... this is not a good idea. You have to learn to match your program (exercise and nutrition) with what you're striving to get out of it.
If you're actions don't correspond with your goals, chances are your goals aren't going to be obtained.
Why cardio before weights?
And I'm not sure I understand.... are you cycling in between sets of weight training? Or are you running on the treadmill, then lifting weights, then cycling after?
One huge piece of advice beyond what's been said so far.....
Start focusing on health, performance and physique and no so much the number on the scale.
Sorry I might have been less than specific on what I eat but I do eat a bit better than that. Morning I eat an Apple, 3/4 cup of Cereal and the Whey Powder in 500mL of water, for my first half of lunch about 4 hours later I eat an Orange, 1 Lean Cuisine and 500mL of water, for the second half of my lunch 3-4 hours later I usually have a Yogurt cup, Apple and something else like a slice of cheese or a oatmeal square, then for supper I have an Orange, 500mL of water and 2 Salmon fillets in dill sauce or another microwave meal or something, then after my workout another whey powder in 500mL of water.
The 1500 calorie thing just seemed like a common goal for a few people I had seen on websites and seemed doable, I tried it for a few days and it seemed like enough food to me.
As far as lacking in fiber I did notice I was not getting much but now I have added cereal/oatmeal everyday and the apples and oranges and even lean cuisine have a bit. As far as the vitamins well I have the multivitamin and vitamin C and the fruit but thats about it I guess. I'm not really a vegetable person but the microwave diners usually have some, thats about all I get there.
The Hydroxi-cut was just one of those things I figured I would add, it seems to work for some people with proper diet and exercise and I figured if i'm gonna do those anyway then why not.
As far as my workout yes I have been doing running-weights-cycle usually, do you think I should start doing weight first?
I appreciate all your comments and hope for more.
The 1500 calorie thing just seemed like a common goal for a few people I had seen on websites and seemed doable, I tried it for a few days and it seemed like enough food to me.
As far as lacking in fiber I did notice I was not getting much but now I have added cereal/oatmeal everyday and the apples and oranges and even lean cuisine have a bit. As far as the vitamins well I have the multivitamin and vitamin C and the fruit but thats about it I guess. I'm not really a vegetable person but the microwave diners usually have some, thats about all I get there.
The Hydroxi-cut was just one of those things I figured I would add, it seems to work for some people with proper diet and exercise and I figured if i'm gonna do those anyway then why not.
As far as my workout yes I have been doing running-weights-cycle usually, do you think I should start doing weight first?
I appreciate all your comments and hope for more.
Yea, that's a 'little' better. Why did you leave that stuff out?
Also, veggies!
Lastly on this front, have you considered plugging your intake into something like
I'd be interested in seeing how many grams of each macro you're getting in.
You can't just pull a number off some site and expect it to be 'right' for you. Caloric needs are very individualistic and goal-dependent.
Have you tried all kinds of veggies? Hell, throwing a bunch in a pan and letting them simmer in some water with garlic sprinkled on usually makes them tasty enough.
Not a fan, but have at it if you feel it's a necessity.
Yes.
I'd be interested in seeing how you have your weight lifting program set up.
All that cardio isn't necessary either. Especially considering your caloric intake.
Well 1500 calories feels fine at the moment. What would you recommend? I am 22 years old, 5'8" and 178.6 lbs at the moment, my goal is 160-165 lbs.
As far as vegetables, I just don't like them at all. They all taste bad to me except maybe potatoes and tomatoes. I can't stand the taste or texture of any of them. Just my preference of course but I have lived without them for a while and am willing to add some back in for diet purposes but more likely they would make me throw-up.
As far as the Hydroxi-cut I wouldn't say its a necessity, just I wanted to get every edge possible and if its not hindering my weight loss then it seems like it might be worth trying. Maybe I am way off on that, has anyone else had experience with this pill?
As far as my weight program its pretty random at the moment, I just pick stations for 15-30 minutes and do them, try to do 10 or 15 of one of them.
As far as vegetables, I just don't like them at all. They all taste bad to me except maybe potatoes and tomatoes. I can't stand the taste or texture of any of them. Just my preference of course but I have lived without them for a while and am willing to add some back in for diet purposes but more likely they would make me throw-up.
As far as the Hydroxi-cut I wouldn't say its a necessity, just I wanted to get every edge possible and if its not hindering my weight loss then it seems like it might be worth trying. Maybe I am way off on that, has anyone else had experience with this pill?
As far as my weight program its pretty random at the moment, I just pick stations for 15-30 minutes and do them, try to do 10 or 15 of one of them.
What do you mean, 'feels fine?'
Unless one is literally starving themselves, your caloric intake isn't generally going to 'feel' a certain way.
You goal is to get lean, right?
To do so, you need to lose the fat. You seem to understand that. What you seem to be missing is the other variable in the equation. You need to maintain muscle. And eating too few calories while doing a ton of cardio is very counter-productive in terms of muscle maintenance. The lowest I'd go if I were in your shoes would be something like 1800.
To boot, it's not just about calories.... it's also about the quality of the foods you're putting in your mouth. Again, that goes back to my dislike for pre-packaged meals. But be that as it may.... you need to assure that you're getting adequate amounts of the essentials in.
That's too bad.
You could always look into a supplemental form of veggies.... something like Greens+ or something.
Yup.
I'm of the type who likes to go the all natural route and if that stops working (which is rare) look for outside aids. But in general, if you do things right, you don't need them.
I'd not do that.
Perhaps I will move to 1800 Calories per day then. I think I will keep the Hydroxi-Cut for now as it doesn't seem to be hurting me. The Lean Cuisine's and other microwavable meals are easy to make and fit into my lifestyle and besides your opinion on keeping it all natural is there any other reason not to eat them? As far as my weight workout what would you recommend? I am going for a six-pack which seems like a pretty generic goal for a lot of people. Do you recommend I change my treadmill or cycling work also?
I'm not sure of all the ingredients.... but be that as it may.... I think you most healthful options are found in fresh, whole foods. No preservatives and all that good stuff.
One here or there is fine. I don't eat perfectly by any sense of the word.
To live off them though.... that's something else.
I suggest you read the stickies first. Especially the 'words of wisdom' thread and the 'basic lifts' thread.
Getting a six pack isn't really about the workout. That's about losing weight.
But lifting weights in the context of your goals and what you're trying to accomplish provides the strongest stimulus (along side adequate protein intake) for preserving muscle. If you want to be lean, you need to lose fat and maintain muscle. Going in and messing around on various machines here and there for 15 minutes isn't going to give you a lot of mileage in terms of muscle maintenance.
Well today I decided to go to Mr. Sub instead of eating the Lean Cuisine I brought to work. And I had the girl at Mr. Sub give me every vegetable they had on the side so I could try them out. I didn't mind lettuce or olives so I will add those to my subs and maybe try to fit them into my diet somewhere also. Would I be better to cut Lean Cuisines down to 3-4 times per week?
As far as the work-out side of this conversation I will do some more reading but the 30 minutes of running and 30 minutes of cycling I thought was good, unless you think I am waisting my time with both?
As far as the work-out side of this conversation I will do some more reading but the 30 minutes of running and 30 minutes of cycling I thought was good, unless you think I am waisting my time with both?
the downside to Lean Cuisine in my mind, other than they don't really taste all that good- it's a ton of processing and sodium that you really don't need in your diet - but Mr Sub isn't going to be much better sodium wise -though it's a little more "real" food...
Why are you opposed to preparing foods in advance and packing meals? Is that totally out of the question?
The less meals that come in a box, the better IMO.
Olives are high in fat. Fat is good for you in some instances. Just be sure not to over-do it with the olives as the calories will add up quick.
What texture do you not like with regards to veggies? Have you ever tried eating your veggies cold? Snow peas, snap peas, green beans, etc. I eat all these things cold at times. Nice crispy and crunchy. Refreshing actually. Might want to give that a whirl.
That's an hour of cardio.
How often do you do that?
And you thought it was good. Good for what? You have to ask yourself what you're looking to get out of what you're doing and how does it relate to my goals.
If you find yourself having to do an hour of cardio each an every day.... something is off nutritionally. What are you trying to accomplish by doing that much cardio.
And if I were you, I'd start focusing on what I'm saying about weight training.
My goal is about 160-165lbs and I enjoy cardio and pushing myself. I don't feel I need to do cardio or else I just like doing it and it build up a good sweat for me. I could do less if you think its to much but I am not doing it because I have to or anything. I workout 5-6 times a week with this workout. And as far as preparing meals I don't know what to prepare really. I don't want to eat 6 apples for lunch and thats all I can think of. I don't know if I know what you mean by preparing meals. I don't have much time in a day to think about that stuff and even less to do it.
I appreciate all this help but will changing all this stuff actually help? I am losing weight everyday according to the scale and my stomach is getting smaller. Maybe it isn't the healthyist way to loss weight but if in 6 weeks I had hit my goal couldn't I just start eating healthy than and taking in the right ammount of calories to maintain my weight? I understand your all natural approach and like the ideas you have said.
But for me I at Burger King and Taco Time basically everyday, never had vegetables or fruit or anything healthy, and drank coke all day. I did that for about 13 years so is it really that bad to do whatever works to loss this weight in 2-4 months?
I will for sure use your tips in the future but should I worry about what works if the routine is temporary?
I appreciate all this help but will changing all this stuff actually help? I am losing weight everyday according to the scale and my stomach is getting smaller. Maybe it isn't the healthyist way to loss weight but if in 6 weeks I had hit my goal couldn't I just start eating healthy than and taking in the right ammount of calories to maintain my weight? I understand your all natural approach and like the ideas you have said.
But for me I at Burger King and Taco Time basically everyday, never had vegetables or fruit or anything healthy, and drank coke all day. I did that for about 13 years so is it really that bad to do whatever works to loss this weight in 2-4 months?
I will for sure use your tips in the future but should I worry about what works if the routine is temporary?
you can grill/roast/broil a bunch of chicken breasts at once and keep them in the fridge for lunches or diinners for later in the week -while youre cooking the breasts, hard boil some eggs and leave those in the fridge, cut up some veggies and put them in plastic bags... there's lots of preplanning you can do...
a temporary routine isn't going to give you lasting results - so you really want to start now instead of waiting.. otherwise you'll be back where you were...
I'm crabby today so i'm going to ask the question - your thread title was "am i doing this right" Steve's given you a lot of direction on how to improve it - why would you consider waiting?
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I guess I just didn't expect I would have to change everything and I am already set into this routine and changing it now could skew the results that I am currently very happy with. I feel good I have lots of energy and I like the results. I am not saying Steve is wrong, the exact opposite. I agree with all that he is said and knew some of it going in. I guess what I meant is am I doing the right thing by losing the weight in an extreme way. I understand that this kind of weight loss leads to people gaining it back in some cases but if all I need to correct is calorie intake and workout different then how will that turn into gaining back 25lbs? In my mind I think once I have my goal I can go to a maintain attitude instead of a finally I'm done now I will pig out attitude. Maybe I am wrong about being able to maintain my weight once this is done but for the goal I'm trying for is this a effective way to do it?
You missed the entire point of everything I said.
How old are you?
Nevermind, just checked....22.
Dude, since being cool and informative didn't work I'll take the smug route:
Stop being a girl and worrying about the number on the scale and start doing the things that actually translate into what YOU ARE looking for; a good physique.
How old are you?
Nevermind, just checked....22.
Dude, since being cool and informative didn't work I'll take the smug route:
Stop being a girl and worrying about the number on the scale and start doing the things that actually translate into what YOU ARE looking for; a good physique.
I'm looking for my goal weight at the moment.
I don't see how I missed the point, I explained my situation and that I agreed with everything you said. But judging from 2 of your posts on this thread its obvious you just start posting without reading so I won't waste my time retyping anything.
I appreciate both your (Steve) and maleficent's advice and thank you for your time, I will take it all under consideration and make a judgment.
I don't see how I missed the point, I explained my situation and that I agreed with everything you said. But judging from 2 of your posts on this thread its obvious you just start posting without reading so I won't waste my time retyping anything.
I appreciate both your (Steve) and maleficent's advice and thank you for your time, I will take it all under consideration and make a judgment.
If you had the slightest hint of reading comprehension, you'd realize that what I've been saying to you all along is that having a goal weight is utter bullshit.
It's absolutely asinine.
What the F- is a weight?
So you'd be happy if you reached your goal weight while still looking like shit?
That makes a lot of sense, let me tell you.
I'm not sure how you need this put in order to understand it, but for the last time.... it's not about a number on the scale. Far from it actually.
See above. I actually asked your age b/c I thought you were 15 or something and I was going to give you the benefit of the doubt that you really weren't this dense.
Yea, you can say "I agree" all you want, but what's that really mean? They're just words.
Understanding the importance of what I'm saying is an entirely different matter.
The truth is I wouldn't be such as ass right now if you would have never asked for help. But the fact in the matter is, you did ask for help, wasted my time, with no intention of changing what you're doing. Sure, I could have glanced right over, you weren't asking me (directly) for help. But it's what I do. And won't do for you going forward. Not so much b/c of your refusal to listen or comprehend.... but more so for this next statement:
That's just stupid talk.
Really stupid.