Feeling a little discouraged

[Psycobob]

It's been a little over a month now (in truth, almost 2 I think,) since I started making an honest effort toward diet and exercise. I took a new job which allowed me to commute by bicycle, and began going to the gym again. I also revampped diet, and started tracking caloric intake.

When I started this, I made some quick gains, dropping 5 lbs in about 2 weeks. However I have been slowly gaining weight ever since that inital loss, and am now back to starting weight of 160 lbs. I feel like everything is there, I should be seeing some kind of results, but I'm not. I haven't noticed any reduction in waist size, no apparent weight loss now... It's discouraging.

I imagine the weight loss turned weight gain issue can be explained away with fat loss vs muscle gain, but I feel like there measurements should have changed some time in the last month, which I've not seen. I don't feel any stronger, although it's hard to say, as I have the worst gym partner in the world (always telling me I'm pushing too hard, or I'm not going to finish the set, ect. Very negative, and very out of shape.)

I'm monitoring food intake, and usually have about a 500 Calorie deficit at the end of the day. Some times more, but very rarely less. Meals are 5 to 6 times per day, usually in the 300 to 400 calorie range, most of the carb heavy foods in the morning (oatmeal, granola bars, ect,) with a larger % ofthe calorie makeup coming from protein later in the day (eggs, chicken breast, ect.)

I'm just fishing for some encouragement. I know it takes time, but I'd like to see some results after a month and a half. I'm pretty self sufficient, but an occasional carrot on the end of the stick is nice too.

Any thoughts?

[PandorasVise]

do you feel healthier?? Is your bike ride easier now than it was the first day? I am the QUEEN of the plateau. I drop weight, 5 or ten pounds and then hang there for a month, sometimes it creeps up. I have been the same weight since last October, but I keep working out and fighting hard. Last night, someone said I looked like I dropped weight and I think I may have lost a few inches. Did you take before measurements? how about before pictures?

I am sure that you must look better and feel better. The weight will come off when it is ready. The stress over not dropping pounds will increase the stress hormone that wants to keep the fat on. So don't worry about it. Maybe the diet you are doing isn't right for your body?

We have some fabulous people here that can tune up your diet. Post what you ate for the last couple of days.

Just keep on going because even if you do not drop a pound, you will be stronger, and live a more fulfilling active life by working out your body.

[Boss Man]

Yes that can happen. Increased stress leads to potential weight gain, as Cortisol promotes fat gain and also Muscle loss, by having a negative impact in protein ingestion, causing some of the protein to be inadequate for use.

Perhaps you're overtraining? If you're spending too long in the Gym, or training for 6 or 7 days a week, maybe that is an issue as well.

[Psycobob]

Ok, below is a listing of recorded meals over the last 7 days (pulled from an online database, so I appologize for the formatting) I admit it isn't as "clean" as I'd like, but its a good sample of what I've had. Also, some food item sources have been changed, as the iphone app I'm using doesn't have a huge selection, but I figure as long as I'm in the ballpark of the food item, its good enough for me.

04/28/10
Breakfast
Oatmeal quaker instant strawberries & cream by Quaker oats
Designer whey protein french vanilla by Next proteins

Lunch
Enchiladas beef by Don Pablos
Black beans by Qdoba mexican grill
Mixed veg steamed (contributed)

Snacks
Oatmeal quaker instant strawberries & cream by Quaker oats

04/29/10
Breakfast
Cereals quaker instant oatmeal fruit and cream variety prepared with boiling water
Designer whey protein french vanilla by Next proteins

Lunch
BMC chef salad

Dinner
Subway six inch subs spicy italian by Subway au
Baked! lay's original potato crisps by Frito-lay
Barq rootbeer (contributed)

Snacks
Clif builder's chocolate mint by Clif Bar
Cereals quaker instant oatmeal fruit and cream variety prepared with boiling water
Designer whey protein french vanilla by Next proteins
Beverages menu draft beer shiner bock by Red lobster
Beverages menu draft beer shiner bock by Red lobster
Alcoholic beverage wine table white riesling

04/30/10
Breakfast
Recipes chilaquiles by Whole foods market

Lunch
bmc cobb salad

Dinner
Fast foods cheeseburger regular single patty with condiments and vegetables
Beverages menu draft beer shiner bock by Red lobster

05/03/10
Breakfast
Clif builder's chocolate mint by Clif Bar
Oatmeal quaker instant strawberries & cream by Quaker oats

Lunch
Enchiladas cheese by Don Pablos
Sides refried beans by Taco cabana
Sides spanish rice by El Pollo Loco
Ice tea brewed sweet (contributed)

Dinner
Egg whole cooked fried
Frontier chicken chili by Atlanta bread
Cheese cheddar
Potatoes hashbrowns by Casey's

Snacks
Starbuck strawberry vivanno smoothe (contributed)
Minute maid pomegrante lemonade (contributed)
Designer whey protein french vanilla by Next proteins

05/04/10
Breakfast
Nature valley cereals trail mix bars fruit & nut by General Mills
Milk lowfat fluid 1% milkfat protein fortified with added vitamin a
Cereals quaker instant oatmeal fruit and cream variety prepared with boiling water

Lunch
Fast foods cheeseburger regular single patty with condiments and vegetables
Sides french fries by Culver's
Drinks iced tea unsweetened by Chick-fil-a
Cereals quaker instant oatmeal fruit and cream variety prepared with boiling water

Dinner
turkey stuffed bell pepper
Fiber choice (contributed)
Milk reduced fat fluid 2% milkfat with added vitamin a

Snacks
Designer whey protein french vanilla by Next proteins


Breakfast
Typical feeding schedule is part of breakfast around 6:30 am, followed by bike ride to work (half hour or so) from 7 to 7:30. Slowly eat the rest of breakfast while working at desk, usually takes me until around 10:30.

Lunch
Usually take lunch between 11am and noon. I spend part of lunch walking in the park by office (just to get out, not any attempt at exercise) then pick up lunch (usually a salad) and take it back to the office. I slowly eat it while working, normally finishing around 3 to 3:30.

Snack of oatmeal or a granola / power bar around 4:30 to help fuel for the ride ahead.

Bike ride home. Half hour or so of riding, usually 350 - 400 calories worth of effort.

Dinner around 7 - 7:30

Gym from 8:30 to 9:30 on M, W, and Friday, weight training (time includes warmup and cool down + streching)

Snack or the rest of dinner when I get home (protein heavy, ligher carb usually) when I get home around 9:30 - 9:45

Shower, ect, in bed around 10:30 to 11pm.

So thats day in a nut shell. What do yall think?

[Psycobob]

Thought I'd add, I'm not stressing all that much about not losing any weight. Just noticed the trend today and was perplexed by it. As I said, I'm chalking the weight gain up to muscle growth, which I'm not opposed to.

[jlepore]

Take some pictures of yourself and compare them. Sometimes looking in the mirror every day does not show the changes you are undergoing. It sounds to me like you need a new training buddy. You should always try to push yourself further each day. You will get there just stay with it some bodise take longer to show efforts than others.