Posts by blue_eyed_dragon

1850 cals on  workout days, less 200 cals on non workout days and the  percentages really should be 30% fats, 30% carbs & 40% protien. Using this formula coupled with 75% cardio and 25% strength training ( using weights for example) will allow you to maintain muscle growth, maintain your weight, lose fat and define yourself.

Take into account your bone size (small, med. or lg), your body fat percentage (the avg women are about 21% BF) and age coupled with activity level. At 6'3" and only 170 it seems to me that you don't need to lose any weight unless your BF% is very high. And if that is the case, then you will need to exercise while losing weight so that you maintain your muscle weight while shedding body fat. Staying lean and defined is alright, but becoming too thin will not satisfy and improve any overall insecurities that may exist for the height and may even add to any insecurities ....developing a well proportioned weight to your height should be the ideal goal.   

The opposite of this coin.....people trying to gain.  Either way, the answer is based upon one's own perception of self and therefore too many variables. When you get to looking in the mirror and liking very much what you see, then that is where you attempt to maintain at.....whatever the range may turn out to be. Keep in mind, the BMI doesn't distinguish betwee muscle and celluite. 

Usually I do 4500 cals on workout days and 3500 on non workout days.  This is my maintenance range. But since I had no cheat days in over a year, on labor day I did it up and according to the count I consumed 14, 341 cals. Yummy day! No worries, ain't gonna gain from just one day.

Some things to consider:

The average women whom are within the healthy range of the BMI generally are with 21% body fat. 5'8" @ 145 isnt so bad at all. But if you want to be better than avg, then 15% BF @ 145 would make you more defined but not so muscular that you pose any threat upon hubby's mind.

My daughter is 5'7.5" and weighs in @ 138 lbs. Her BF is 22%. She looks great, however, if she flexes there is no definition.  If she went down to 15%, she still would look soft but when she flexed she'd show some definition and/or the appearance of a strong girl.

Unfortunately, alot of personal trainers will convince a client to what their own ideal is and fail to listen to what the client's desires are. If you were wanting a trainer, better that you take a female trainer who will understand even better. Males tend to think in terms of muscularity overall----a male thing----a woman tends to be more critical of herself and thereby strive harder to achieve her goals.

Go slow and persistent in your attempts to gain so that you  gain evenly all around. And in weight training, never ever sacrifice form for weight. It will take time, persistence and hard work to change yourself to be even more desirable and attractive to hubby, but you can do it and I am sure there are many people here that will help you on your journey.

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/925256/how_to_g et_six_pack_abs_in_6_minutes_on_your_couch_th is_works/

Hi:

At 180 lbs and your height you are in the high end of the healthy range. If your body fat is staying at 7-8%, then that really is great because it means that you are all muscle weight. The guys you see in professional weightlifting competitions strive for that percentage of body fat. Bruce Lee was notorious for being the most defined person in sport history, he maintained  less than 8% BF. The 30-40-30 diet you had mentioned is also proper for men attempting to bulk up with mostly muscle, it really is the formula used by many well known pro athletes as well NFL athletes trying to bulk up more so whomever is advising you knows what they are talking about. I have trained many people whom genetically are called "hardgainers" and have gotten results for them. It doesn't really matter about age, size and genetics. I noticed that you said the blood work is every few weeks and you mentioned liver biopsy as well. The doc may be taking those tests in view of the fact of the supplements (creatine is somewhat toxic to your liver). However there is one disease that will definitely keep you from gaining and make you burn calories like crazy. If I were you, I would compare your enzyme levels from 3 different points. 1. from any blood test that was taken before you started taking supplements 2. from when you started taking supplements and before you tried steroids 3. after you took steroids. Hepatitus C will keep you from gaining because it kills your immune system and as such your body is working hard and fighting overtime thereby burning calories like mad. It is the only explanation I can see as to why repeatedly blood tests and liver biopsy. As for diet, if in fact you have some sort of hepatitus strain, there is no special diet to follow except that you may want to reduce the amounts of fatty foods and protiens which tend to make your liver work harder. I can be wrong, I am taking a guess about hepatitus.....although I have no explanation as to why the doc would keep such info from you. If you are indeed infected w/hepatitus, dont let that discourage you, they have meds that can kill it. Oh, 1 more thing, when you take steroids they boost your testosterone levels but at the same time they shut down your natural production of same and so that is why after a cycle PCT is recommended, I hope you did that.

I imagine I will raise hell and anger to some who read this reply. But in the world today, there seems to be the widely recognized issue of over-population and dwindling resources. Personally, I wouldn't want to bring anymore children into this world. As it is now, there is no future for our children. I see out in the streets many children whom by age 15 are already with 1-3 kids themselves. Not to mention the immigrants as well whom come and get pregnant to live off the system as the law allows 5 yrs of public welfare so they get pregnant again after 4 yrs and some months, repeatedly. And currently no one is safe in employment anymore so why take the expense thinking you are safe finanacially in this current economy.  China has the good ideal that only one child per family....usa should law two kids tops. Children only need love they say? Haha! Especially children whom every month are outgrowing their clothes and eating more, etc. Very expensive to have a child these day and times in the world. Maybe if ypou are so rich that you have money to last a few generations , then it doesn't matter as far as expense goes. But still , it adds to the already overburdened world.

Sounds like "mom" would be ideal. But of course, you can get all your answers here on CC as well.

The formula used by professionals, i.e. NFL, pro boxers, body scuplters, weight training for competition, etc.  To gain lean mass it is 30% fats, 30% protien and 40% carbs precisely. To lose and/or cut to define it is 30%fats, 30% carbs and 40% protien. These percentages will be effective only when coupled with exercise. For example lifting heavy weight will apply to to 1st set of percentages & lifting light weight and high reps would apply to 2nd set of numbers. But of course, I am sure the numbers would be different for someone who doesn't exercise or is not capable of a rigid diet and exercise.

Original Post by luhluhlovesongs:

I agree that CC offers the best motivation. :D I don't participate in any of the groups, but the people here are supportive.

I try not to think I'm dieting. When I think of diets, I don't think of anything fun. So I try to make this a fun experience. I'll cook new things, and I'll excercise in fun ways like playing volleyball with friends, walking a dog, swimming, etc. I also set little rewards for myself every amount of pounds lost, so I'll be excited to receive something at each milestone. Sometimes I don't even work hard to motivate myself. Seeing a pound drop is the most motivating thing to me.

Don't motivate yourself with pictures of people you aspire to look like. It will be disappointing to you in the end. Everyone's bodies are different.

 She said she was 20 lbs lighter before, and I was thinking of any pic of herself before as well as anyone she'd like to be like. True, everyone's body is different, but nevertheless some people are inspired by others.

Would 10 thousand dollars cash be some motivation? Take the " body for life challenge" sponsored by "EAS" sports supplements.  Check it out here: http://bodyforlife.com/

How about getting a large pic of some physique that you want to have & put it on a mirror or someplace that you use daily. Buy a few clothes that will be too small on you now and have them in sight in the closet. And finally, hang out here on cc and you will meet many with similiar goals whom can give you support and friendship.

Original Post by thin_girl:

i couldn't imagine losing weight only to get pregnant again

 

honestly i would wait til you have your next kid

I wouldn't want to bring anymore children to life, they have no future and the world is crying of over- population and low resources, blah blah.

Just 3 meals and a snack? Actually, try to do 6 meals spaced out at every 3 hours....you will be able to eat more mini meals.  Trying to lose, use 40% protien, 30% carbs & 30% fats of your total caloric intake. Whatever your exercise regime consists of, no matter what tools you employ in workout, should be 75% cardio and 25% strength training.

In light of your situation @ work, etc., you need to start thinking of "smart eating". And what I mean by that is instead of trying to "wolf" down larger amounts of food (which is not a good idea because your saliva needs to break down the food and that is accomplished by chewing up the food very well before swallowing), perhaps you should choose foods that are high in content but small in meal size. E.G. 2 oz of dry roasted nuts, 1 green apple and a vitamin water is a meal high in lean fats, carbs and essential vitamins. Unfortunately, you aren't able to snack throughout the day while at work because ideally 5-6 mini meals a day  spaced out 2.5-3 hrs daily would be your best bet. So then, if you cant eat all kinds of food while at work, then perhaps supplement powders that can be mixed with water shaken up in your water bottle may give you an edge along with quick mini meals...

Take advantage of your workplace. Look at the stuff they stock and then when you go home research items you looked at and select the ones that you feel are best suited to your needs and/or goals. Certainly you must get a employee discount. Man -o-man! I wish I worked in a health store or similiar like GNC or vitamin world! I'd be exploiting every product they have in any way I can do so without getting myself jammed up.

If you are going to sip water, statistics show that every 20 minutes a couple of fluid ounces.....