I workout 6 days a week for at least 2 hours a day. I usually do fairly intense cardio exercises like spinning, running, and the elliptical and keep my heart rate up pretty high. I also have recently gotten into swimming a couple times a week. I do body pump 3 times a week as well and try to work in one yoga class. Yet I can't seem to lose weight, especially in my upper thighs. Am I working too hard? Eating too much/not enough? About 3 years ago I was anoerexic and even though I eat now, I can't seem to lose the extra weight I gained. Did I mess up my metabolism permanently? Please help!
Metabolism help please!
- Thread starter kansasgirl
- Start date
That is a lot of exercise, it is possible that you are overtraining, which can interfere with your goals.
Also, there are a lot of other factors. You may not be eating enough.
What are your current eating habits like, and the average amount of calories you take in a day? What is your age, height, and current weight?
As far as the history of an eating disorder, they can be very harmful to your metabolism, but no one online can answer whether or not your body suffered permanent damage.
Also, there are a lot of other factors. You may not be eating enough.
What are your current eating habits like, and the average amount of calories you take in a day? What is your age, height, and current weight?
As far as the history of an eating disorder, they can be very harmful to your metabolism, but no one online can answer whether or not your body suffered permanent damage.
For a while I was eating only about 1300 calories a day but for the last 3 months I've increased it to around 2300 on days that I workout and 1700 or so on my rest day. I'm 23 years old, height about 5'4 and weight 138.
I really appreciate any help on this.
I really appreciate any help on this.
Cut back on the exercise a bit. One hour 5 times a week is more than enough.
Also, look in the nutrition section, and checkout LV's grocery list for good food choices. Compare what you are currently eating to the FitDay journals of some of the members (I believe Malkore has his posted). You can gather a lot of useful information on what you should be eating from them.
Also, look in the nutrition section, and checkout LV's grocery list for good food choices. Compare what you are currently eating to the FitDay journals of some of the members (I believe Malkore has his posted). You can gather a lot of useful information on what you should be eating from them.
theleip
2
My personal opinion is you should take some time off to reset your system. Also where is strength training? With all that cardio and having had a previous eating disorder it is likely you have little to no muscle and muscle is very key to losing those last pounds. This does not mean "bulky" woman. Merely a nice base ground for the body of lean muscle mass.
If I were you I would eat at maintenance calories for a few weeks with no cardio and a full body weight training session 3 times a week. Then after your body has had some rest come back with 3 days of some HIIT cardio and up your calories a little. There is just no need, no need at all to do that much cardio and while it may seem like you are getting alot of calories in, your training style is almost that of an athlete and female athletes get close to 3000-3500 calories if not more depending on their training just to maintain weight.
Understand that if you are training that hard and not getting enough fuel your body is going to hang on to the fat and whatever you put in.
If you would like some more detailed information post any questions you have here.
If I were you I would eat at maintenance calories for a few weeks with no cardio and a full body weight training session 3 times a week. Then after your body has had some rest come back with 3 days of some HIIT cardio and up your calories a little. There is just no need, no need at all to do that much cardio and while it may seem like you are getting alot of calories in, your training style is almost that of an athlete and female athletes get close to 3000-3500 calories if not more depending on their training just to maintain weight.
Understand that if you are training that hard and not getting enough fuel your body is going to hang on to the fat and whatever you put in.
If you would like some more detailed information post any questions you have here.
I do body pump, which is a full body lifting class, 3 times a week. I actually have pretty developed muscles. I used to be a soccer player so my quads and calves are pretty big. The biggest problem that I have is with my upper thighs. There's too much fat; I'd like them to be a lot leaner. I wear a heart rate monitor which calculates the number of calories burned. During a normal weekday it says that I burn anywhere from 1000-1400 calories. So my rationale for eating how much I did was # of calories burned + 1200 or so. I really appreciate your help.
theleip
2
Well thats good you do the strength training, but also that is even more taxing on the body. I don't think you are intentionally starving yourself, its just your body may feel different.
If you just like working out that much then you need to up your calories some more maybe by 100-200 at a time and see what happens.
I still would recommend backing off on all those cardio sessions. Your body has adapted to an intense workout program and at a time like this it is better to train smarter rather than harder. I am sure your body is really wanting a rest and from that you may see some results.
What is your current diet like in detail? Do you have a ratio intake you try to achieve? Do you find yourself tired at all or having a hard time sleeping?
If you just like working out that much then you need to up your calories some more maybe by 100-200 at a time and see what happens.
I still would recommend backing off on all those cardio sessions. Your body has adapted to an intense workout program and at a time like this it is better to train smarter rather than harder. I am sure your body is really wanting a rest and from that you may see some results.
What is your current diet like in detail? Do you have a ratio intake you try to achieve? Do you find yourself tired at all or having a hard time sleeping?
I workout in the morning from 5-7. Before I go in, I have a Protein Bar (250 cal, 42 grams of carbs, 10 of protein). For breakfast I usually have Egg Beaters with toast (200 calories) and either yogurt or cereal. Around 10 I have a usually have a granola bar. For lunch I have a frozen dinner (from 190-250 calories), yogurt (80 cal), apple, and granola bar. I have a snack of an apple and granola bar. Depending on what time I get home, I usually have another apple to tide me over. Then for dinner, it completely varies. I used to not have any carbs, but now I've integrated them back in my diet. I think one thing that I am probably lacking are fats. What do you think?
I don't usually have trouble falling asleep, but I always wake up a lot.
I don't usually have trouble falling asleep, but I always wake up a lot.
Last edited:
S
sparrow
Guest
Wow, thats a lot of granola bars! 
theleip
2
Yeah there doesn't seem to be alot of food in your food and this could be a problem. To fuel your body properly you need whole foods with as little process going on as possible, from the looks of things you don't get much in the way of that except for apples. I think it would be wise to just re-work your whole diet and training program. You have the heart and desire, thats obviously not an issue which is great, but if you aren't putting smart training and diet into focus you end up with frustration and lack of results. Also not being able to sleep through a night is a sign of over training. You certainly are lacking fats as well.
With all the cardio you get in if you contiue to do that a 50(carbs)/30(protein)/20(fats) ratio should treat you just fine. Take a look at LVs shopping list, and try to arrange those ratios around the kinds of foods listed there. http://www.fitness.com/forum/nutrition/lvs-grocery-list-19098.html
And look through the forums at different workout routines, try to design yourself a program or get with a personal trainer to do so. If you post your own we can look at it for you, we to a little give and take around here
Hope that helps.
With all the cardio you get in if you contiue to do that a 50(carbs)/30(protein)/20(fats) ratio should treat you just fine. Take a look at LVs shopping list, and try to arrange those ratios around the kinds of foods listed there. http://www.fitness.com/forum/nutrition/lvs-grocery-list-19098.html
And look through the forums at different workout routines, try to design yourself a program or get with a personal trainer to do so. If you post your own we can look at it for you, we to a little give and take around here
Hope that helps.
Wow...your workout is pretty intense and your commitment to making this work is admirable. 1 hour max. a day even if at least four times a week...and rest days are just as important to help the body recover. I found it's the quality of the workout that does the trick. You'll probably find you'll come back stronger the next weekly cycle.
Overtraining can be damaging as well and certainly affect your steady-state metabolism.
Overtraining can be damaging as well and certainly affect your steady-state metabolism.