Trying to lose weight and tone but it's making me look and feel awful

[CrispsCrispsCrisps]

I have been healthy eating since April salads, porridge and 3 eggs, plenty of fish and chicken and salad. Eating small portions 4 times a day, 3 litres of water, 2 teas and a green tea. Don't eat cakes or sweet food anymore and no carbs.

Started with 2 personal trainer sessions a week now 3 sessions for the last 3 weeks. I have lost weight off my face only and have found that my skin always looks dark on my face and have brown spots on my forehead, dark circles under my eyes, always feel really tired and wake up throughout the night more. I also get headaches.

I'm trying to lose weight and tone up but why am I feeling like this and looking this way?

Can you please ask your pt which qualifications he has and if he is a member of REPS?

Thanks everyone for your messages and the food tips. It sounds like the general consensus is that my diet is lacking in carbs and not varied enough. I also need to get rid of the PT.

I do think he has got me on a strange muscle gain diet and it's just not doing me any good. I feel ill all the time and lacking in energy so need to give him the push and rethink

Re variation, that also occurred to me crisps- I am impressed by your dedication, I think I would have slit my wrists with sheer boredom long before now

Protein with every meal is a great idea for everyone. But it's a very personal thing with regards to carbs, some people have a tougher time adapting to a low carb diet especially whilst upping your training. In an ideal world you should be doing 40:30:30 protein:carbs:fat and a significant amount if resistance/interval/circuit training. This can be v high intensity, so you need to watch for overtraining as you build up. Endless cardio is pretty outdated now and certainly not value for money from your trainer. Challenge them about this - although you don't give details on the "cardio" - and see what they say. Lack of sleep is a classic sign of overtraining. I would advise (as a PT) to up your carbs, from good sources (sweet potatoes, brown rice etc) and take 2 weeks off exercise. Then see how you feel. Keep the carb levels up and restart your training. It's a v personal thing and not much fun if you get it out of whack. Training should be for life and give you energy and zest, not leave you feeling on desth's door!

You're eating too much protein and nowhere near enough fat which is why your skin and energy are suffering. Low carb and low fat is a recipe for disaster.

Have you thought about Yoga or Pilates as a way of toning up? The programme your PT has you on sounds gruelling. Also do you take any supplements? An omega 3 supplement would definitely help. Also agree with shanghaismog take a two week break.

Sorry crisps, I didn't see the bit where you said that he did 3 hrs of cardio with you each week.

For long term weight loss you need a balance of weights, cardio, core training etc. My pt sessions involve very little cardio but lots of specific muscle exercises that use up energy but also tone. If you wanted to switch to classes instead our gym now offers metafit classes which are short intensive bursts of exercise and cover cardio, strength and core.

I find that when I'm training for long race events such as the half marathon, my body seems to hold onto weight for dear life and because I'm exercising so much I can't afford to cut back too dramatically.

Oh and when you start eating carbs again - wholemeal bread, brown rice, sweet potatoes, then your weight may go up dramatically say 3-4 pounds in a couple of days. Don't worry about this, it should balance itself out and it means you will have the energy to do more exercise soon.

Hi crisps, I also think you need to add in more fat and maybe think about a protein shake and something with some healthy carbs eg berries after a workout to help your muscles recover. I am using PT training sessions at the moment but the focus is never on cardio alone. The first 30 mins is cardio based (interval training on bike or treadmill) but the following 30 mins is all about strengthening eg weight reps, core conditioning.

Hi

If you're eating salad as your main source of fibre, minerals and vitamins, you'd have to eat washing up bowls full of the stuff. A large salad is barely one of your five a day. Try adding some weightier veg to the diet like steamed spinach or broccoli, green beans, courgettes, fennel, cauli, peppers, mushrooms etc.

Also, that low carb diet just doesn't suit everyone. You could try food combining, or a version of SW's red or green days. Green days are lots of veg and carbs, red days are lots of protein and veg, so you can actually listen to your body.

Feeling exhausted and dark skin suggests kidney strain.

Are you eating 3 eggs each day? That's a lot. Could be a bit, erm, binding, despite all that water, if you're not getting enough fibre.