Question for Ian, CPT

**nylon** · 07-20-2007, 01:20 PM

I am once again at a plateau (just got off of one last week from a two week one!!) I am pretty much experience when it comes to working out so perhaps I will just need a bit of reassurance.

I have about 10-15 lbs. to go and I have a feeling it's going to go very, very slow because of how I am built. I had my fat percentage measured and I basically have no fat around my legs and arms (most of it is in the middle area thanks to my darling daughter) and I know you cannot "spot reduce" and I know you need cardio to burn the fat. I also know that high reps and low weights will produce inches lost too. Am I missing something here?

So my routine consists of my daily jogs (which includes sprinting, jogging and fast-paced walking up and down very big hills to mix it up with my daughter in her jogging stroller so add on 15 lbs. to the stroller and 26 for my daugther about 40+ lbs. that I am pushing daily). I DO NOT NEED or WANT any more muscle than I already have. But I want this last 10-15 lbs. gone. I need to have some type of weight loss that is significant since I have not had one in several weeks.

I was thinking of getting 2 - 5 lb. ankle weights and using them when I work out but like I said I don't need any more muscle than I already have. I wonder if that would really make a difference or not. I would assume so since it would probably up my heartrate and make it a bit more intense.

Any and all thoughts are welcomed.. Just need something to get it going again...

**skinnyminny5** · 07-20-2007, 03:16 PM

I would not recommend the ankle weights while walking/jogging/sprinting...it may add more stress to your ankles and joints...you could also get shin splits

I think we are built very similiar to what I can remember and I too..want no MORE muscle..that is the reason, I am on phen in the first place..ugh..I build muscle very easily (I was a dude in my former life)...Right now I am just running and using my body weight...just curious are you doing toning for your legs/arms (body weight) or with weights?

**nylon** · 07-21-2007, 06:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skinnyminny5

...you could also get shin splits .......just curious are you doing toning for your legs/arms (body weight) or with weights?

Hey Skinny already have the shin problems that is why I sprint very sporadically. It's a killer for me.

My legs I don't need any toning on.

Seriously with the amount of hills I do on my daily jog/walk I don't need to. The hills take care of my legs, hips and butt area. My arms I do pushup..and crunches for my abs.

I am just really at a loss here and am trying to figure out how to get a significant weight losss besides doing it in a way that is not cool.

**skinnyminny5** · 07-22-2007, 04:19 AM

Wow...it seems like you are doing everything right

I know your struggle though...my body doesn't like to give up nuthin...there are times..I get a .4 loss and I am like "2 weeks and not even a whole pound"...but... I just keep going...cause I feel like I am doing everything that I can possible do right now without going back to bad habits...I hope you get some answers, Nylon...but hang in there...I AM rooting for you!

**jrjszats** · 07-22-2007, 09:21 PM

I really have no idea about it...I would love to gain more muscle since it helps burn fat and I could use a more toned look. BUT I was just reading in a magazine about weight loss and how different exercises will affect the muscles. From what I read, pilates and yoga and such will lengthen the muscles while building them whereas other weight training will typically bulk the muscles more. The article had some women who claimed that they did not like the "squareness" of their bodies when doing regular weights but toned up and got more of a dancers body through pilates. Just a thought and may be worth a try to add into your routine and see if it helps without bulking.

Blessings,
Rene

**nylon** · 07-23-2007, 02:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jrjszats

I really have no idea about it...I would love to gain more muscle since it helps burn fat and I could use a more toned look. BUT I was just reading in a magazine about weight loss and how different exercises will affect the muscles. From what I read, pilates and yoga and such will lengthen the muscles while building them whereas other weight training will typically bulk the muscles more. The article had some women who claimed that they did not like the "squareness" of their bodies when doing regular weights but toned up and got more of a dancers body through pilates. Just a thought and may be worth a try to add into your routine and see if it helps without bulking.

Blessings,
Rene

Your so right about the pilates and I know it elongates the muscles. But the problem with me is that if I don't sweat like an animal or feel pain I don't feel like I had a good workout. Crazy, I know. I did try pilates once and it really didn't do much for me (but then again it was only just once). I didn't feel challenged and felt it was quite boring. My flexibility is still present from my gymnastic days (still doing splits - left, right and center) so when I did the pilates class it just didn't have that Ooommph I was looking for. The other problem is finding a baby sitter so I can actually attend a class..

**nylon** · 07-23-2007, 02:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skinnyminny5

Wow...it seems like you are doing everything right

I know your struggle though...my body doesn't like to give up nuthin...there are times..I get a .4 loss and I am like "2 weeks and not even a whole pound"...but... I just keep going...cause I feel like I am doing everything that I can possible do right now without going back to bad habits...I hope you get some answers, Nylon...but hang in there...I AM rooting for you!

Thanks Skinny.

How are you doing? You don't have much to go either... Are you finding the last leg the hardest?

**2summers** · 07-23-2007, 02:28 PM

Nylon, I can't help you with any exercise ideas, but I can sure tell you about plateaus.

Last fall I took phentermine for the first time and dropped 15 lbs in about 4 mos. It took a full 2 mos. to lose my last 2 lbs,maintaining the very same diet and exercise.

Very shortly after that I finished my phentermine (which I had just been using sparingly for maintenance). When I stopped the phen, I immediately gained back about 3 lbs which I could not lose.

Recently, I got some more phen to use for maintenance ( which i know is discouraged ) and to lose that extra 3 lbs. It has been almost impossible to lose those 48 ozs.!!! I exercise hard, eat about 1000-1200 calories, rarely"cheat" and Nothing!

My point is, I think my body just refuses to get any lower, which is fine, because I really am at my ideal weight . But I just assumed that if I ever wanted to lose a couple of extra pounds that I'd be able to.

[I know that I'm probably the smallest person on this site (by the way, I'm not skinny - just short and small boned- and still look a little chunky in places) and it might annoy people that I'm even in this forum]

Anyway, I think our bodies sometimes just refuse to get any smaller, no matter what we do. I'm 52 y/o and that's certainly the case with age. I know you're younger and still have some weight to go and the weight WILL come off. But I can tell you that those last pounds are very, very hard. Don't give up!! Just accept that it's going to be a battle and I hate to tell you this, but it will also be a daily battle to keep it off. But you'll get used to it. Stay motivated! It will come off! I wish you the best and will be following your journey!!