Question for the weight trainers

I have been low carbing for about 5 months now and weight training for
4 months. Overall, I have lost about 45 lbs. I haven't really lost
anything in the past month or so and in the past 2 weeks I think I
have gained a lb or 2.

I don't imagine 4 months into my weight training I am just now putting
on any significant muscle mass in a month, so it is obvious I have
just stopped losing fat.

I think the problem may be that I am consuming too many calories. I
guess I just can't eat as much now as I was able to when I had more to
lose and still lose fat. I don't know how many calories I eat in a
day, but I know it hasn't gone up.

I know I CAN eat less, but I am afraid of sabotaging my weight
training results, so I don't skip meals, even when I am not
particularly hungry. Am I being obsessive, or will I hurt my training
gains if I cut back on what I eat?

Or can I eat a lot less food as long as I get some specific amount of
protien over the course of the day?

Dave
272/228/200

On 10 Nov 2003 10:13:21 -0800, (Mekrath) wrote:

I have been low carbing for about 5 months now and weight training for
4 months. Overall, I have lost about 45 lbs. I haven't really lost
anything in the past month or so and in the past 2 weeks I think I
have gained a lb or 2.

I don't imagine 4 months into my weight training I am just now putting
on any significant muscle mass in a month, so it is obvious I have
just stopped losing fat.

I think the problem may be that I am consuming too many calories. I
guess I just can't eat as much now as I was able to when I had more to
lose and still lose fat. I don't know how many calories I eat in a
day, but I know it hasn't gone up.

I know I CAN eat less, but I am afraid of sabotaging my weight
training results, so I don't skip meals, even when I am not
particularly hungry. Am I being obsessive, or will I hurt my training
gains if I cut back on what I eat?

There's a honeymoon period for weight trainers, where you can gain
muscle and lose fat simulatneously. They're (the ubiquitous "they")
aren't quite sure how this happens, as you have to overeat to gain
mass, undereat to lose it, whether it be fat or muscle.

So the short answer to your question is yes, something's got to give.
You may have to scarifice some gains in muscle or stregth to continue
to lose fat, or you may have to sacrifice fat loss to gain muscle and
strength. If you're still overfat, fat loss is probably easier.
Seeing as how you've got 28 pounds ot lose, I'd continue with the fat
loss, as generally bulking is not suggested for men until you're in
the low teens of bodyfat percentage.

You might want to look into doing a TKD, or a Targeted Ketogenic Diet,
where you take carbs in around weight training, which can help with
both goals. Check out the FAQ posted by Rudy on a daily basis to
learn more about it.

Good luck,
Nina


delicious! evil! calorie free!
http://www.theslack.com

Mekrath wrote:
:: I have been low carbing for about 5 months now and weight training
:: for 4 months. Overall, I have lost about 45 lbs. I haven't really
:: lost anything in the past month or so and in the past 2 weeks I
:: think I have gained a lb or 2.
::
:: I don't imagine 4 months into my weight training I am just now
:: putting on any significant muscle mass in a month, so it is obvious
:: I have just stopped losing fat.

Newbie weight trainers can pick up some muscle mass while losing fat. Don't
despair! Keep at it.

One thing that I love about weight training is this: If I eat less than
maintenance and get sufficient protein (not gorging) then I'll mostly keep
muscle and lose mostly fat. If, OTOH, I over eat while getting sufficient
protein, then (if I train correctly), whatever gains I'll get will bring
along some muscle mass -- it very likely won't be just fat. Now, if you
don't train right then your results may vary, but weight training does offer
this potential.

::
:: I think the problem may be that I am consuming too many calories. I
:: guess I just can't eat as much now as I was able to when I had more
:: to lose and still lose fat. I don't know how many calories I eat in
:: a day, but I know it hasn't gone up.

Start counting for a week or so to see.

::
:: I know I CAN eat less, but I am afraid of sabotaging my weight
:: training results, so I don't skip meals, even when I am not
:: particularly hungry. Am I being obsessive, or will I hurt my
:: training gains if I cut back on what I eat?

See....this is where it gets hard with weight training: what are your goals.
If you really want to bulk up muscle wise, then you should be eating above
maintenance -- but you'll gain fat as well as muscle. If you want to lose
fat, then you need to be eating below maintenance -- generally you'll lose
muscle as well as fat, but the muscle loss should be minimal -- espeically
on a LC diet where you eat sufficient protein. You need to decide which you
are doing and do that.

Now, be happy that newbies to weight training and often lose fat and gain
some muscle for some limited amount of time at the beinging. Once you body
as adapted, then gains of muscle while losing fat will be nearly impossible.
But the fatter and more out of shape you are, generally the more you'll be
able to do both at the same time.

::
:: Or can I eat a lot less food as long as I get some specific amount of
:: protien over the course of the day?

Eat enough less to lose about 5 lbs a month. Keep lifting hard/smart. Once
you lose enough bodyfat, then you can think about actively trying to gain
muscle.

I think HST is a good protocol to follow while being a newbie and trying to
lose weight. You do 3 full body workouts per week, with progressive
loading. Stimulates muscle hypertrophy.

http://www.hypertrophy-specific.com/

Visit muscle.fitness.weights for more info.

Mekrath wrote:

I have been low carbing for about 5 months now and weight training for
4 months. Overall, I have lost about 45 lbs. I haven't really lost
anything in the past month or so and in the past 2 weeks I think I
have gained a lb or 2.

I don't imagine 4 months into my weight training I am just now putting
on any significant muscle mass in a month, so it is obvious I have
just stopped losing fat.

I think the problem may be that I am consuming too many calories. I
guess I just can't eat as much now as I was able to when I had more to
lose and still lose fat. I don't know how many calories I eat in a
day, but I know it hasn't gone up.

I know I CAN eat less, but I am afraid of sabotaging my weight
training results, so I don't skip meals, even when I am not
particularly hungry. Am I being obsessive, or will I hurt my training
gains if I cut back on what I eat?

you shouldn't eat if you're not hungry.

"Mekrath" wrote in message
om...
I have been low carbing for about 5 months now and weight training for
4 months. Overall, I have lost about 45 lbs. I haven't really lost
anything in the past month or so and in the past 2 weeks I think I
have gained a lb or 2.

I think it's a good idea to have your body fat measured regularly with a
skinfold test, (not one of the machines that measure impedence), to see
what's going on.

Get off the fence and either diet to lose fat or bulk up to gain muscle. It
sounds like you're still in a position where you should be losing fat.

--
JC


"Mekrath" wrote in message
om...
I have been low carbing for about 5 months now and weight training for
4 months. Overall, I have lost about 45 lbs. I haven't really lost
anything in the past month or so and in the past 2 weeks I think I
have gained a lb or 2.

I don't imagine 4 months into my weight training I am just now putting
on any significant muscle mass in a month, so it is obvious I have
just stopped losing fat.

I think the problem may be that I am consuming too many calories. I
guess I just can't eat as much now as I was able to when I had more to
lose and still lose fat. I don't know how many calories I eat in a
day, but I know it hasn't gone up.

I know I CAN eat less, but I am afraid of sabotaging my weight
training results, so I don't skip meals, even when I am not
particularly hungry. Am I being obsessive, or will I hurt my training
gains if I cut back on what I eat?

Or can I eat a lot less food as long as I get some specific amount of
protien over the course of the day?

Dave
272/228/200

The Queen of Cans and Jars wrote:

you shouldn't eat if you're not hungry.

I know I wouldn't have eaten enough in a day if I did .. for about 4
days running ..

--
Kitty =^..^=
NO MORE NUTS KITTY!!!
168/159/130ish - Nov Goal 155
September 17, 2003

On Mon, 10 Nov 2003 22:34:28 GMT, (The Queen of
Cans and Jars) wrote:

Mekrath wrote:

I know I CAN eat less, but I am afraid of sabotaging my weight
training results, so I don't skip meals, even when I am not
particularly hungry. Am I being obsessive, or will I hurt my training
gains if I cut back on what I eat?

you shouldn't eat if you're not hungry.

I think you should, if otherwise you drop too low in your calories. It
doesn't mean you should eat baconstrips and steak five times a day
despite not being hungry, but a light snack wouldn't be wrong, I
think. I usually keep losing weight only if I eat enough, if I skip
meals because I am not hungry I don't lose.


Ina

213/182/160 since 8/15/03
since 8/15/03

www.skreee.de

"JC Der Koenig" wrote in message m...
Get off the fence and either diet to lose fat or bulk up to gain muscle. It
sounds like you're still in a position where you should be losing fat.

--
JC


"Mekrath" wrote in message
om...
I have been low carbing for about 5 months now and weight training for
4 months. Overall, I have lost about 45 lbs. I haven't really lost
anything in the past month or so and in the past 2 weeks I think I
have gained a lb or 2.

I don't imagine 4 months into my weight training I am just now putting
on any significant muscle mass in a month, so it is obvious I have
just stopped losing fat.

I think the problem may be that I am consuming too many calories. I
guess I just can't eat as much now as I was able to when I had more to
lose and still lose fat. I don't know how many calories I eat in a
day, but I know it hasn't gone up.

I know I CAN eat less, but I am afraid of sabotaging my weight
training results, so I don't skip meals, even when I am not
particularly hungry. Am I being obsessive, or will I hurt my training
gains if I cut back on what I eat?

Or can I eat a lot less food as long as I get some specific amount of
protien over the course of the day?

Dave
272/228/200


Since I posted I dropped 3 lbs, so I am going the right way. I am not
really 'on the fence'. My goal is very much to get as lean as
possible. If I can gain muscle weight, great, but for now I am more
interested in losing fat.

I have no interest in gaining muscle weight at the expense of fat loss
until my BF% is under 15 or so and I look lean.

"Mekrath" wrote in message
om...
"JC Der Koenig" wrote in message
m...
Get off the fence and either diet to lose fat or bulk up to gain muscle.
It
sounds like you're still in a position where you should be losing fat.

--
JC


"Mekrath" wrote in message
om...
I have been low carbing for about 5 months now and weight training for
4 months. Overall, I have lost about 45 lbs. I haven't really lost
anything in the past month or so and in the past 2 weeks I think I
have gained a lb or 2.

I don't imagine 4 months into my weight training I am just now putting
on any significant muscle mass in a month, so it is obvious I have
just stopped losing fat.

I think the problem may be that I am consuming too many calories. I
guess I just can't eat as much now as I was able to when I had more to
lose and still lose fat. I don't know how many calories I eat in a
day, but I know it hasn't gone up.

I know I CAN eat less, but I am afraid of sabotaging my weight
training results, so I don't skip meals, even when I am not
particularly hungry. Am I being obsessive, or will I hurt my training
gains if I cut back on what I eat?

Or can I eat a lot less food as long as I get some specific amount of
protien over the course of the day?

Dave
272/228/200


Since I posted I dropped 3 lbs, so I am going the right way. I am not
really 'on the fence'. My goal is very much to get as lean as
possible. If I can gain muscle weight, great, but for now I am more
interested in losing fat.

I have no interest in gaining muscle weight at the expense of fat loss
until my BF% is under 15 or so and I look lean.

It's generally a good idea to cut down to 10% and bulk up to 15%. I've
bulked up to as much as 25% while seeking some powerlifting goals, but in
retrospect I don't think it's worth it.