I work out 5 days a week lifting weights just to remain slightly overweight …wtf?

[Endlessdark]

Lifting weights 5 days a week. Diet is ok, I try to eat lots of protein, aim for about 120g a day but often miss meals because I’m busy with 2 small children. Definitely don’t eat over 2000 calories. What am I missing????

i think it might be breastfeeding - I def remember my body hanging onto half a stone until I finished

I did 3 rounds of the fast 800. Lost 3 stone and absolutely fucked my metabolism. Took 5 years to fix it.

This is terrible advice for anyone let alone someone lifting weights 5 days a week!

I am same height and weight as you and 1300-1400 seems to be the sweet spot. I don’t use my exercise as “extra calories”

If you are breastfeeding though I am sure you will need more? but I am no scientist or nutritionist

You are my height

2000 wouldn't see me lose weight even being very active

Post meno now so numbers are lower but 1500-1600 would have been weight loss given I was gym 4 times a week

Average woman with reasonable physical activity needs 1800 not 2000

Activity isn't just time at the gym - it's easy to rest more and eat more if you go gym which wipes out any effect

800 is crazy low for your heigh never mind the breastfeeding

I think he was talking about diabetics who want to try and reverse their diabetes .

I would start tracking your macros and maybe do HIIT 2-3 times a week after your workouts. There is a fantastic YT channel called gaugegirltraining who breaks down everything for you in terms of macros, calories and all the calculations needed to work out what you need to be in a proper deficit.

Do not reduce your calories.

Drink more water and make sure you eat protein, particularly within 20 minutes of your weight lifting session. This is where a protein powder-based drink is more effective.

Start taking measurements of yourself too, this is a few more effective way to track your progress than stepping on the scales.

Also, and perhaps most importantly, you need to take rest days. Three to four weights sessions a week is fine.

OP I’m just wondering if you actually NEED to lose weight? I’ve put on about a stone since I’ve been taking weight training seriously (4-5x week) so I am borderline overweight now according to BMI but I’m a size 8 and my waist is 24inches so it’s just muscle…sounds like you might be similar?

I would imagine that breastfeeding is playing a part in you not being able to lose weight. If you’re lifting heavy then you’ll likely have a decent amount of muscle as well. You could try calculating your TDEE and eating about 300 calories below that but you might find you need to wait until you stop breastfeeding to see much change. Definitely don’t be cutting down to 800 calories while you’re lifting and breastfeeding, you’ll be starving!

I dont know why you're being so aggressive, its unnecessary

Yes there are calculators but they can only give a rough idea based on height weight and age. Each person is individual and despite the hive mind on here that simply wont hear that very low cals is sometimes necessary for people to lose weight, sometimes it is, sometimes it isnt.

Op can take the advice or leave it I suppose but plenty of people manage a programme on 800 cals a day and then build up from there.

You need some actual cardio. Walking isn’t cardio.

But weight loss is way more about diet than exercise. You exercise to feel good and be strong. You watch what you each to lose weight.

I always struggled until I stopped BF.

Did you miss that OP is breastfeeding? Stupid advice.

OP if you are muscular then BMI won’t be a great measure for you to use to assess your weight. Do you have excess fat? Or is BMI the only reason why you’re concerned

It is the diet that will make you lose weight. 2000 cals is quite a large amount, it is not surprising you are not losing.

No matter how I ate I was overweight while breastfeeding and always lost 2 stone in the months following ending breastfeeding.

Unfortunately not! My waist measurement is 31, has been the same since shortly after I had my second dd. I’m not unhappy with my size, but just wish the flabby bits would be less wobbly! I do aim for about 1600 calories a day but depending on where I am in my cycle I probably eat a bit more. Never anymore than 2000 though!

Is it worth adding in a run (very slow jog) 3x a week to boost my cardio?! I definitely think the breastfeeding is to blame, but I fed my first dd until she was 3 and a bit and I was tiny, a size 8 barely! I’m a bit older now (30) so that’s probably also got something to do with it!

What's your weight and height OP? Unfortunately studies have shown exercise doesn't lead to weight loss as it also increases appetite substantially...

If you want to lose fat you'd be better exercising less and doing a calorie deficit - maybe 200 cals less than your TDEE (which you can work out from your weight and height)

I feel you! I'm currently postpartum and a stone overweight - I'm eating 100 cals less than my TDEE a day (and v slowly losing the weight, but at least I'm not hungry)

When breastfeeding uses 300-700 kcals a day?

Are you absolutely sure you're making a sane suggestion there?

Worth saying my TDEE is 1500 cals a day, so I have to eat 1400 or less to lose any weight whatsoever (but am short). If you're also quite short, yours could be similar...

I’m the same height and weigh 60kg. 3 x swimming (2-3k decent pace), 2 runs (6.5k and 10k) and 2 weights/core strength sessions. My job is desk based, but I try and walk for 20-30 mins at lunchtime or at the weekend am chasing a toddler around. My maintenance calories are 2200, which I often struggle to eat, at 2000 I loose.

I lift serious weights 5x a week, do cardio 3-4 times a week and am genuinely active in-between, walking and cycling everywhere. I've always lifted but only taken it seriously over the last couple of years.

I recently had a post 40 health check and all my measurements are pretty bloody good. I'm 42 with a heart age a decade lower, excellent cholesterol, good waist measurement, low heart attack risk etc.

BUT...

I weigh more than ever and a lot of my clothes don't fit. I know it's the muscle mass. I have well defined muscle and can lift heavier than DH on some exercises. I've smashed my PBs.

But I still feel glum as fuck because of the scales. And I haven't weighed myself in years. I don't even use scales as a measurement of my health. I wish I could overcome the ingrained thinking.

Definitely recommend adding in 20 mins of HIIT a few times a week. Has helped me lose the baby weight massively (a year pp and still bf). Add that in to what you’re already doing.

Do you find that exercising makes you very hungry? That’s a lot of steps, plus weights most days, plus breastfeeding. I find that I eat back any calories I burn as I’m always starving after a workout.