alwaysinmyroom's Journal
Weight Training and Losing WeightAug 05 2009 09:56
Today in the gym locker, I heard one of the members say that she stopped weight training because she was not losing any weight...that really bothered me in more ways than one...
I have been weight training for nearly 2-1/2 years...I am very strong and my body is very hard and compact...but it is true, I have lost very little weight after my initial 43 pounds or so...I stepped on the scale this week and despite nearly three weeks of religiously monitoring every bite and adding an additional day of cardio, I have actually gained about 3 pounds...
I would not trade my weight training for those few pounds I might lose initially...but it does make me wonder if I am concentrating too much on the scale and not on how I look and feel...maybe years of brainwashing has made me think that the number of pounds I weigh are more important than how I feel...I am so confused because I feel better than I ever have...I have more energy and am less depressed, I look better...damn scale...is there a scale for body builders? Maybe it would make me feel better if I knew how much women I admire with muscles weighed...I think I am going to ask them (do you think they would be honest with me or are they also glued to the number on the scale and would "lie" to me?)...
I feel very lucky that I can afford a personal trainer as I probably would not lift weights this hard on my own...I told him I was going to have a physical in September and he said I should pass with flying colors as I am in great shape...so is he concerned about my weight? No, not really--but he is to the extent that I am concerned and that I bring it up all the time...his goal is to make sure I am eating nutritiously: whole foods, not much processed foods and fats, etc....that I am flexible and able to do daily activities without hurting myself or feeling tired...these seem like pretty good goals to me...
I mentioned to him about laying off the weight training to lose weight and he was appalled (and not just because of the money as I would pay him to do cardio with me)...instead, we are doing interval training which is higher reps with lower weights and one minute breaks...it does increase my heart rate and increases my endurance...let's see if this will help--but he also reminds me that losing weight is 70% diet...and I have reminded him that I am always on a diet!! I have not had a slice of pizza or a cheeseburger in a very very very long time! I have been keeping the calories between 1300 and 1600 calories.
Let's see if this new workout helps...and I don't care what others might think: weight training is a good thing no matter what...I will never give it up!!!
I'm glad that you recognized that the other woman was being foolish. I think you've been told time and again here that you shouldn't concentrate on the scale. If you're getting smaller and more toned-- and you ARE, woot woot!--you're succeeding! It might be possible to lose more pounds if you cut your cals to between 1300-1400 consistantly but you probably wouldn't feel good. Would it be worth it? For you to answer but I doubt it. |
I think that you are absolutely right that many women focus too much on the scale. It is silly. Does anyone know what you weigh? Do we have weight readouts on our forehead's to announce our weights to the world? No, but everyone can see what size we are and how shapely we are. Weights are helping there, far more than losing a few pounds would. If you want a weight lifters scale, have your trainer do body fat measurements with calipers if he knows how. That is how you should measure progress along with how much stronger you are and how much more fit. |
You might not be losing because you are not eating enough. That happens a lot with weight lifting. Maybe you should eat at maintenance for a week and then cut back to 1500 again. |
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