Cut carbs, calories, both or neither?

honeybear · 12-01-2004, 08:00 AM

I keep on getting stuck at the same number and have been doing this for about 6 months now...if I'm below it, I gain up to it...if I'm above it, then I lose down to it...and then I just seem to stay at that one number...so I'm trying to figure out what I might do to get below it...right now, I'm averaging 42 g carbs per day and 1, 450 calories per day...I also run 3 miiles (10 min miles) 3 days a week and weight train two days a week for about 40 minutes. So is there something else I should be doing - like decreasing my carbs or my calories - or perhaps, maybe I should be eating more on the days I run? I just can't figure it out...I'm not too far from goal...my stats say between 115-120 lb range as goal, but I am 5 ft tall and know I could weigh less than 115 lbs...I know the last 10 are the most difficult...so should I just ride it out, or is there something else I should be doing? I just recently cut out low carb breads and am only eating 2 oz of cheese per day instead of 4...

Sheyla

MaryMary · 12-01-2004, 09:10 AM

I would bet that your weight is more lean body mass than body fat. Have you ever had your body fat composition tested? If you are running and lifting weights, you have muscle which is good. You may weigh more than someone who doesn't have that muscle. I have a friend who is 5"2" and is very active and weighs 128 lbs but is in a size 4 at age 51 because she is built very solid and has muscle.

The number on the scale is not the be all and end all. If you feel good, the next best thing you could do is accept your weight and keep doing what you are doing.

TigerSmoke · 12-01-2004, 10:44 AM

Maybe your body is happy where it is at, and doesn't want to move. Maybe you should reasses your goals?

califgal45 · 12-01-2004, 11:30 AM

I agree with Mary and Tiger, maybe you are at your set point. IF you are happy with your size in clothing just keep up your excersize and maintain. I know the scale can do mind tricks on us, I always feel better when it is going down even tho I can gain a couple of water pounds and my cloths fit the same and I know its just temporary it does bother me. I am a size 12 going into a 10 but according to the scale I should be a 14 still, so who knows I am starting to rethink my goal also I'm not sure I need to be smaller than a 10 but will see what happens.

honeybear · 12-02-2004, 07:39 AM

I wish I could say it was all lean body mass...last time I was tested (in May at my 122 lb weight), I was still at 30% body fat - which seems to still be a lot for me...

I've been told that I look thin standing up, but when I sit down, I look like a 'little' Buddah...I don't know if you know what I mean by that or not...but anyway, that's what I've been told, and then looking at pictures of me sitting down, I find it to be so true! It's that belly fat around my middle that I would like to just rid myself of once and for all...there's probably about 5 lbs left there to lose for it to be gone...I just want those 5 lbs gone, I suppose...

Sheyla

12-01-2004, 08:00 AM	#1
honeybear Senior LCF Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 559 Gallery: honeybear WOE: Atkins- cclm 45 ccll 40 Start Date: Feb 2002	Cut carbs, calories, both or neither? I keep on getting stuck at the same number and have been doing this for about 6 months now...if I'm below it, I gain up to it...if I'm above it, then I lose down to it...and then I just seem to stay at that one number...so I'm trying to figure out what I might do to get below it...right now, I'm averaging 42 g carbs per day and 1, 450 calories per day...I also run 3 miiles (10 min miles) 3 days a week and weight train two days a week for about 40 minutes. So is there something else I should be doing - like decreasing my carbs or my calories - or perhaps, maybe I should be eating more on the days I run? I just can't figure it out...I'm not too far from goal...my stats say between 115-120 lb range as goal, but I am 5 ft tall and know I could weigh less than 115 lbs...I know the last 10 are the most difficult...so should I just ride it out, or is there something else I should be doing? I just recently cut out low carb breads and am only eating 2 oz of cheese per day instead of 4... Sheyla

12-01-2004, 09:10 AM	#2
MaryMary Very Gabby LCF Member!!! Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: New Hampshire BMI:57/24-Maintaining Posts: 4,839 Gallery: MaryMary Stats: 376 lbs/155 lbs//Age 60// 5'7" BF%:47+%/28.4%/25% WOE: GSA Cambridge Greysheet "www.greysheet.org" Start Date: Atkins 1/22/01; GSA 12/23/03 - Total Loss 221 lbs.	I would bet that your weight is more lean body mass than body fat. Have you ever had your body fat composition tested? If you are running and lifting weights, you have muscle which is good. You may weigh more than someone who doesn't have that muscle. I have a friend who is 5"2" and is very active and weighs 128 lbs but is in a size 4 at age 51 because she is built very solid and has muscle. The number on the scale is not the be all and end all. If you feel good, the next best thing you could do is accept your weight and keep doing what you are doing. __________________ 2001/2002/2003 - Lost 105 lbs. on Atkins & exercise 2004/2005/2006 - Lost 116 lbs. on the Cambridge Greysheet & GSA (www.greysheet.org) - A 12 Step Program for Carb Sensitive Folks 2006- Panniculectomy - Surgically removed 6 lbs. hanging skin 2007/2008 - Maintaining Free from Compulsive Eating Abstinent since 6/21/2004 by the grace of a Power greater than myself My Journey in Pics from Jan 2001 to June 2006 --LOST 221 LBS. - PEACE !!!--

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12-01-2004, 10:44 AM	#3
TigerSmoke MAJOR LCF POSTER! Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: NC Posts: 1,603 Gallery: TigerSmoke Stats: 295/243.5/215 - 6'1" Male WOE: Atkins Re-Inducting Start Date: 11/29/2003	Maybe your body is happy where it is at, and doesn't want to move. Maybe you should reasses your goals?

12-01-2004, 11:30 AM	#4
califgal45 MAJOR LCF POSTER! Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Northern California Posts: 2,075 Gallery: califgal45 Stats: sz22/sz10 reached 4-05/opps-sz14/sz10 WOE: Atkins Start Date: 1-27-03	I agree with Mary and Tiger, maybe you are at your set point. IF you are happy with your size in clothing just keep up your excersize and maintain. I know the scale can do mind tricks on us, I always feel better when it is going down even tho I can gain a couple of water pounds and my cloths fit the same and I know its just temporary it does bother me. I am a size 12 going into a 10 but according to the scale I should be a 14 still, so who knows I am starting to rethink my goal also I'm not sure I need to be smaller than a 10 but will see what happens.

12-02-2004, 07:39 AM	#5
honeybear Senior LCF Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 559 Gallery: honeybear WOE: Atkins- cclm 45 ccll 40 Start Date: Feb 2002	I wish I could say it was all lean body mass...last time I was tested (in May at my 122 lb weight), I was still at 30% body fat - which seems to still be a lot for me... I've been told that I look thin standing up, but when I sit down, I look like a 'little' Buddah...I don't know if you know what I mean by that or not...but anyway, that's what I've been told, and then looking at pictures of me sitting down, I find it to be so true! It's that belly fat around my middle that I would like to just rid myself of once and for all...there's probably about 5 lbs left there to lose for it to be gone...I just want those 5 lbs gone, I suppose... Sheyla