Before you *EVEN* start bitching about it-
I'm currently trying to stay as close to 1200 calories a day as I can, I havent been a fan of sweet soda for years (or sweet tea....okay I admit I like coke blak..I had all of one). I've been doing cardio at the gym, trying to get back into weights. So dont tell me, what the hell I already know.

However, I'm still having trouble loosing weight. It's really kinda sucking. I've been considering picking up some kind of diet pill mostly to try and make me not as hungry so no more than 1200 calories isn't as hard to deal with, although if it actually helps me loose weight I suppose bonus.

Anybody got anything intelligent to say?

4/26/2006 12:51:11 AM

i dunno.. i'd try to stay away from those...

all i ever see when i hear "diet pills" is the mother from "requiem of a dream"

4/26/2006 12:52:38 AM

so are you having trouble staying at 1200 a day, because you should be losing weight if that's all you are consuming (since you are exercising as well)

4/26/2006 12:53:40 AM

low carb diet works

4/26/2006 12:53:43 AM

id say start lifting more

with more muscle, you will burn more calories

4/26/2006 12:54:12 AM

if you do go that route, get prescription pills from the doctor. they work well. they curb your hunger and give you energy.

4/26/2006 12:54:14 AM

Take a natural appetite suppressent. Chromium picolinate is a vitamin and garcinia cambogia is an herb...those are more "natural" ways to suppress your appetite.

And there are diet pills out there that are geared more towards suppressing the appetite than "boosting your energy levels...helping you burn fat faster!!!!" But that's up to you. I guess if you feel like you've done all you can, knock yourself out.

4/26/2006 12:54:34 AM

Quote :

"Chromium picolinate is a vitamin and garcinia cambogia is an herb"

and they are both worthless.

4/26/2006 1:02:55 AM

Thanks Dr. Smath.

4/26/2006 1:06:41 AM

but he's right.

they are both worthless.

4/26/2006 1:19:15 AM

Smath - I'm having trouble staying to 1200 a day.

I manage to just about hit it dead on (give or take 50 calories) some days, other days I wayyy cross the line (abdout 1500-1600 calories).

Crede - yeah, i'm tempted to go back to that after the semseter is over (I couldnt deal with starting one during finals though).

Jbrick- I was more thinking supresing appetite to make sure I dont cross 1200 a day, if it did anything else i'd be both shocked and probably pleasantly suprized. What is garcinia cambogia? (other than obviously a herb).

4/26/2006 1:21:26 AM

you're doing a few things wrong.

you need to keep your metabolism high, by eating

but you also need to be active.

clearly you don't have a high metabolism, so you need to just start eating small, and eat often--like every 2 hours.

also, being overweight, isn't unhealthy. being obese is. we're obsessed with this culture of thin and body images that are impossible to attain for many of us.

don't worry about the weight, just keep active and eat healthy. if your body doesn't want to lose the pounds, fuck it.

[Edited on April 26, 2006 at 1:30 AM. Reason : .]

4/26/2006 1:28:32 AM

a few helpful tips to lose weight are to do your cardio in the morning before you eat. It also helps to eat 4 or 5 small meals throughout the day instead of the simple 3 large main ones. I would say just keep doing what you are doing, diet pills are fucked up. You seem like you know what you are doing so just stick with it and be patient. All types of results from exercise take time so just maintain patience and you will be there in no time.

4/26/2006 1:38:50 AM

wtf does cardio in the morning have to do with anything?

4/26/2006 1:47:47 AM

It makes sure that you are on an empty stomach.

4/26/2006 1:51:26 AM

^^Could be a myth...

But cardio in the morning is suppose to get your heart rate and metabolism up early in the day so you're burning more calories all day. It's just what I've heard...but I guess it makes sense.

4/26/2006 5:50:14 AM

Lady, what exercise routines are you doing? My diet hasn't changed for 5 years (more or less), but my weight has fluctuated greatly based on how much and what types of exercise I'm doing.

4/26/2006 7:08:02 AM

for Cardio it's mostly the elliptical, since it doesnt make my knee hurt.
Treadmill for variety if i get bored senseless.

The weights i'm not doing heavy sets but mediumly-heavy sets of 15, 3 of them per exercise. It's what PT i had a long time ago told me to do.

Also doin crunches.

Currently I'm getting in maybe 3-4 hours of cardio a week?
The weights i'm trying to get back into, so only been like twice so far. But i do know the rule of every other day. also doing some of the cardio before the weights to warm up.

Time of day varies to whenever i can work it in.



[Edited on April 26, 2006 at 7:56 AM. Reason : .]

4/26/2006 7:55:09 AM

Quote :

"if your body doesn't want to lose the pounds, fuck it."

4/26/2006 7:57:15 AM

Quote :

"for Cardio it's mostly the elliptical, since it doesnt make my knee hurt."

THe elliptical is probably the most inefficient piece of cardio equipment in the gym. Its is FAR too easy to rely on the perpetual motion of the machine and not really strain yourself. Crank the resistance up really high and focus on stabilizing your head and torso in one spot so your lower body is doing more for support.

Quote :

"Also doin crunches."

Do more than just crunches... you need to work all of the muscle groups in your abs. Do at least the plank, side v-ups, reverse crunches, and some back estensions or supermans.

Quote :

"The weights i'm trying to get back into, so only been like twice so far. But i do know the rule of every other day. also doing some of the cardio before the weights to warm up."

Don't do too much of a warm-up before doing the weights, just a few minutes is all you need. If you do cardio after your weight routine you will burn more calories. Also, don't do any serious stretching before doing weights because you can reduce the effect of the weight training (or so some recent studies suggest). Definitely focus on weight training... women are usually underdeveloped with muscle mass as it is and think of the fact that for every pound of lean muscle you put on burns 50 extra calories a day without activity (so 5 pounds of muscle and you burn an extra 250 calories every day just by it being there). Oh and make sure you eat enough protein... also do the smaller and spread out meals throughout the day, better for metabolism.

Here is some really good basic information:
http://forums.menshealth.com/groupee/forums/a/tpc/f/855109121/m/156108723?source=rodale
http://forums.menshealth.com/groupee/forums/a/tpc/f/295109121/m/474106321?source=rodale

I HIGHLY recommend getting a book like "Body for Life" or "The Abs Diet"

4/26/2006 9:31:02 AM

I did the south beach diet back in Dec till now. Lost 50lbs so far.

The diet mainly gets rid of carbs and sugars. Those are the killers there since they deal with a person's glycemic index. One of the small subtleties no one ever mentions to you. Anyways, the weight just fell off. 7 lbs one week, 5 lbs, 5 lbs etc...I worked out on a hard week, like 4 times. But mostly just 2 times a week with like 30 mins of cardio.

Working out...do a lot of reps, light weights and you'll really see the results. I mean like 4 sets of 12-15 reps, medium weights. Then switch it up with 2-3 sets, 8-10 reps of heavy weights.

The diet mainly is 6 small meals a day, and tons of water. Water helps you lose weight. Im not sure why but easy to look up the explanation. I try to drink a gallon a day.

Also, the DIET PILLS. I've tried everything, wanting the wonder drug where the lbs just fell off. The only thing I've found that works the best and has the best rotation and pill consumption times is HOTROX. You can get them on eBay pretty damn cheap. They kicked ass and really, I lost like 2-3 lbs a week after going off my regular diet.

Hope it helps...good luck!

4/26/2006 9:31:02 AM

i'd stay away from the diet pills honestly. i think that when they work it is mostly due to psychological reasons. now, when they had ephedra, they worked. but the drawback was that your heartrate would be like 100+ all day long and your hands would be shaky. but those days are gone.

i'd try changing up your routine. try walking outside, swimming, biking, treadmill, spin classes (awesome cardio!), rowing, etc. that will make you work different muscles. i know that if i do the same thing, my body gets used to it so i either have to change exercise or up the intensity or time. make sure you do 30 minutes at a time or more. and at the end of your exercise you should be pretty darn sweaty. if not, step up the intensity.

weights are good for toning and shaping really, not so much for weight loss. and if you are lifting, you may be building muscle mass so your weight isn't going down. definitely think you should include smaller weights with several reps to help you get the shape and look you want.

try eating smaller meals more often. get lots of fruits and veggies and make sure that what you are eating provides real benefit. a lot of stuff is just empty calories.

how long have you been working out like this? you won't see results immediately. it can take a few weeks of working to drop even a pound. usually then they will start coming off quicker. but you will always hit plateaus and really the only way to get past is to step up or change the exercise, food, etc.

anywho, good luck and congrats on working on it.

4/26/2006 9:59:27 AM

yeah, how long have you been at it?

changes in body composition don't come overnight. It can take a month or more before you start seeing results. Keep at it.

4/26/2006 10:21:39 AM

Quote :

"weights are good for toning and shaping really, not so much for weight loss. and if you are lifting, you may be building muscle mass so your weight isn't going down. definitely think you should include smaller weights with several reps to help you get the shape and look you want."

It shouldn't be about your actual weight, its about the body fat composition. If you are overweight then weight training is, without a doubt, the best exercise you can do to lose weight. Without lean muscle mass you simply won't burn as many calories.

4/26/2006 10:36:17 AM

Thanks for the advice all,
I'll try to change up what i'm doing (although I did know 30 min or more, i tend to do 40-1hr of cardio at a time except for warming up for weights- that's like 5-10).

And no i'm not expecting insta-results, i've been at it a few weeks (maybe 3? I need a calendar...say 3), and I'd be delighted to see just one pound of difference.

4/26/2006 10:43:57 AM

msb2 is right, gaining muscle mass may slow down or plateu your losing pounds. However it is really beneficial in the long run, in terms of losing weight and overall health. Muscle is the factory that burns fat.

4/26/2006 10:59:52 AM

see if you can get one of the pe instructors to measure your body w/ the calipers. that way, if youre not losing weight but your body fat is going down you will know you are gaining muscle.

and check your heart rate after your cardio to make sure you are working out hard enough.

4/26/2006 11:06:32 AM

^^^
I think it took me 3 months before I started seeing any difference when I was at the gym freshman year. After that, I started seeing a BIG difference ... I went from 16% body fat to 10% in 9 months.

4/26/2006 11:17:47 AM

Quote :

"You can get them on eBay pretty damn cheap."

4/26/2006 3:08:19 PM

What are you eating?

(In detail)

Answer this and I can advise you on your diet.

4/26/2006 8:48:56 PM

I take Topamax for my migraines, and two of the most common side effects for it are weight loss and decrease in appetite. The first time I was on it, I dropped 30lbs without working out. I went off it after 3 years of being on it, and gained it back. My migraines got worse again and I've been on it for 3 months now, and have lost 15 lbs again without working out. I am convinced that within the next few years it's going to be an approved weight loss drug. Look into it. Granted, you have to have a perscription for it, but the way the doctors at the health center write perscriptions, you can probably get your hands on one.

4/26/2006 11:14:08 PM

Adderall is a pretty good appetite suppressant.

All I have had to eat today is a grilled chicken sandwich from chick-fil-a at like 2:30, not even hungry.

and I'm a fattie.

4/27/2006 2:04:35 AM

http://www.gnc.com/family/index.jsp?categoryId=2173983&cp=2167100&view=all

4/27/2006 2:11:32 AM

http://www.nxcare.com/pages/~store_createcat.asp?catid=2

4/27/2006 2:19:17 AM

I use the house brand "MetaboDrene" from The Vitamin Shoppe. They are relatively cheap since they are a house brand and they actually do help curb my hunger. I don't know if there is a metabolism increase or not and I really don't care.

I spend 8-10 hours a day at a desk in front of a computer. I consider that to be a horribly unhealthy lifestyle, but it's what I'm doing for right now. I try to make up for it with morning and evening workouts, heavy excercise on the weekends, and light meals during the day. I do feel that the pills are more than a placebo and they help curb the afternoon hunger that always sets in when I eat a salad or small meal for lunch.

They have lots of local locations: http://vitaminshoppe.com/store/en/index.jsp;jsessionid=OZXN40YZWIWGSCQUC4WVAFYKCQL1AUNE?_requestid=224683

4/27/2006 9:12:05 AM

Eat several times a day. Don't go too low with the carbs, especially if you're working out this frequently.

Muscle mass will develop and replace the weight that you're losing with fat loss.

A morning workout is best because, really, think about it - do you want to have to get to the gym after having work or class all day? Or would you want to chill?

You'll notice fat loss first around your face and chest areas. Your body won't pull energy from your waist and legs later.

I would say wait on resorting to pills until you're at least three months into your routine.

4/27/2006 9:36:58 AM

Quote :

"You'll notice fat loss first around your face and chest areas. Your body won't pull energy from your waist and legs later."

This is all based on genetics. While this may have been the case for you and probably many others, it does not apply to everyone.

4/27/2006 11:06:35 AM