I think I need to go back and read THE BOOK...

Lil Donna · 10-11-2009, 07:45 PM

My DH turns to me when LC isn't working for him and for the past 4 months I just don't know what to tell him.

He has been LCing for almost a year. He will have 1 margarita on Friday nights with a few chips and salsa but the rest of the time, he plays by the rules. In a year he went from 275 to 239. 36 pounds is not bad but as always, it could be better.

He works out for 2 hours a night lifting weights, cardio or running 5 miles.
His daily menu consists of:

No breakfast
L: a 2 compartment tupperware container with a large piece of meat- usually a pork tenderloin with seasoning salt and about a cup of broccoli
D: meat again of some sort and a veggy- not a huge meal at all

He drinks close to a gallon of water a day and no other beverages.

The problem now is that he just can't lose anymore. He teeters between
235 and 245 but can never get below 235. His goal is 200. He is 5'10".

I think about calorie in, calorie out but know he is probably burning a lot with exercise.

Besides not eating breakfast to get his metabolism going, what else could his lack of weight loss be?

I know he is frustrated and I am just at a loss of what to do next.
HELP!

CarolynF · 10-11-2009, 07:52 PM

He is not eating enough, Donna. His body won't drop the weight until he feeds it correctly with enough food to fuel his life. Plus, he needs to eat some fat for his energy, too.

Breakfast is key for most of us to get our metabolism going.

DiamondDeb · 10-11-2009, 07:53 PM

For one thing he is not eating enough. He needs a lot more food.

Lil Donna · 10-11-2009, 07:55 PM

He says he is not hungry and that is all he can eat.

Should he fill up on other things instead of meat?

DiamondDeb · 10-11-2009, 07:56 PM

He needs to eat a good breakfast.

Two hours working out per night is WAY too much. It is counter productive.

Too few calories + too much exercise = overdieting.

How long has he been doing this?

DiamondDeb · 10-11-2009, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lil Donna

He says he is not hungry and that is all he can eat.

Should he fill up on other things instead of meat?

He needs more food. He needs to eat breakfast.

A quality protein powder for shakes might be easier for him for some of the calories but he is not eating enough food for a kid. As Carolyn said, he needs to nourish his body correctly before it will drop the fat. Right now he is very likely losing LBM which is not what he wants to do.

Lil Donna · 10-11-2009, 08:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DiamondDeb

He needs to eat a good breakfast.

Two hours working out per night is WAY too much. It is counter productive.

Too few calories + too much exercise = overdieting.

How long has he been doing this?

Close to a year now. He use to eat more but now just doesn't have the appetite.

He works out because he is bored. He is away from us so working out keeps him occupied and feeling good. He really hates the flab and he says if he has to be big, at least he can be rock solid big so he does a lot of reps with the weights. He golfs on Mondays, workouts Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday and comes home on Friday.

I know he is scared about his cholesterol levels even though his numbers are probably reduced significantly in the last year. He went off Vytorin because he lost his job and we don't have insurance that will cover prescriptions.

I need to figure out a better menu for him.

Looweewoo · 10-11-2009, 08:03 PM

Yeah, I was going to ask exactly how many calories he was getting. The body can shut down systems to conserve calories, resulting in lethargy, confusion, immunity problems, etc. It's trying to carry the body weight over to the next season, and it will do so at the expense of just about everything else.

Put everything he eats in ****** and make sure he eats close to his "Basal Metabolic Rate", which should be about 2400 calories. Especially if he's working out so much, you don't want him stealing from his circulatory system.

MsWoods · 10-11-2009, 08:05 PM

Just had to drop in here and say Hi Lil Donna! I tend to stay around these parts cuz everyone is so much nicer.

I say add butter to his foods he's already eating to up the cals/fats. I did that and started losing alot better.

Lil Donna · 10-11-2009, 08:08 PM

I wonder if this is the reason he got Gout recently and then soon after that, Piles.

He honestly could do a marathon right now but looking at him, you'd say no way.

DiamondDeb · 10-11-2009, 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lil Donna

Close to a year now. He use to eat more but now just doesn't have the appetite.

He works out because he is bored. He is away from us so working out keeps him occupied and feeling good. He really hates the flab and he says if he has to be big, at least he can be rock solid big so he does a lot of reps with the weights. He golfs on Mondays, workouts Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday and comes home on Friday.

I know he is scared about his cholesterol levels even though his numbers are probably reduced significantly in the last year. He went off Vytorin because he lost his job and we don't have insurance that will cover prescriptions.

I need to figure out a better menu for him.

First, check out NeedyMeds to see if his meds are there. He may be able to get them free through the drug company.

I would suggest he take a week off, no exercise & plenty of sleep. How much sleep does he get?

He needs to gradually increase his calories. Doing it slowly will make it a lot easier. More fats will help but he needs a lot more protein to support his LBM.

Lil Donna · 10-11-2009, 08:14 PM

Hi Ms. Wood!!!

Yes the weather in here isn't as chilly.

I use to come in here when I first started back in 2003 and it was awesome.
I got so much knowledge and support here.
I still come in here occasionally because these people know their stuff!
I just knew I could come in here and get an answer.

Because he is on his own, he grills everything. Maybe after the grill, he could put some pats of butter on the meat and let it melt in. I thought pork was a pretty fatty meat already but maybe it is a different fat than what he needs.

I definitely need to do some research on a better menu for him.

I hate that he feels defeated. He has 3 weeks to go before his All Guy vacation to Florida and I know he started this WOE last year so he didn't have to be the Fat Guy this year.

Lil Donna · 10-11-2009, 08:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DiamondDeb

First, check out NeedyMeds to see if his meds are there. He may be able to get them free through the drug company.

I would suggest he take a week off, no exercise & plenty of sleep. How much sleep does he get?

He needs to gradually increase his calories. Doing it slowly will make it a lot easier. More fats will help but he needs a lot more protein to support his LBM.

Thanks Deb. I will check out the website.
He took 2 weeks off when he got the gout and then the piles.
He is feeling whole again and wants to get back at it.
He does have sleep apnea and a cpap. He does get 7-8 hours of sleep a night.

I just don't know what to add to his menu. Maybe a snack of tuna salad or a hunk of cheese? Maybe 5 small meals a day? I just don't know.

DiamondDeb · 10-11-2009, 08:20 PM

He needs to eat more. Really, as hard as it is going to be for him to believe. He needs to eat more veggies, too.

Yes, 5 - 6 meals would be good but not tiny ones. It is very hard to increase calories that much overnight. If he increases a little bit at a time he will find it pretty easy to do. Not so much of a change all at once.

He took that time off because he was sick but was that really rest if he was fighting illness?

Looweewoo · 10-11-2009, 08:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lil Donna

I just don't know what to add to his menu.

Beef. The fatty cuts. Pork and chicken breasts are relatively fatless. So is Tuna. Switch them out for Beef. er... In my opinion....

But really, we are all just guessing until you actually get some figures from ****** or something like that.

... but... Beef, really....

Lil Donna · 10-11-2009, 08:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Looweewoo

Beef. The fatty cuts. Pork and chicken breasts are relatively fatless. So is Tuna. Switch them out for Beef. er... In my opinion....

But really, we are all just guessing until you actually get some figures from ****** or something like that.

... but... Beef, really....

Hi Louis,
I see you are from Kentucky. I lived in London, KY for 4 years. Are you anywhere near there?

I will work on ****** tomorrow.

Your stats are fantastic. Do you mind sharing what you eat on a daily basis?
Thanks!
Donna

IWilldoit4me · 10-11-2009, 08:49 PM

I say it begins with breakfast! He needs something in the am (it's my downfall too)

Joy-FL · 10-11-2009, 09:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lil Donna

L: a 2 compartment tupperware container with a large piece of meat- usually a pork tenderloin with seasoning salt

Is it Lowry's? I just found out that it's loaded with sugar!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lil Donna

I wonder if this is the reason he got Gout recently...

Has he been eating lots of organ meat? If not, you need to actually cut down on all the meat and add veggies.

goohsmom · 10-12-2009, 02:47 AM

Donna,

One thing jumps out at me. He's been eating at a very low-carb level and exercising heavily. That's made his muscles "dry sponges" as far as carbs are concerned. The extra carbs he takes in on Friday night are being absorbed straight in as glycogen stores and adding weight immediately, thereby negating any weight loss he's had during the week (ask me how I know).

Here's an experiment to try: have him skip one Friday, and instead start climbing the carb ladder, perhaps adding 5 grams of carbs per day to his menu. A gradual increase in carbs over the course of several weeks help to negate the "dry sponge" effect and will do him more good overall than his Friday night treat. If he really wants that treat, see if he can get a sugar-free margarita mixer and substitute maybe some raw veggies for the chips. If it's a restaurant that you regularly eat at, I'm sure they'll be happy to accommodate you if you talk to the manager ahead of time. Try it for a few weeks, along with climbing the carb ladder, and see if it helps.

Pam

Chrissykin · 10-12-2009, 04:00 AM

Donna, I use Vytorin and my Dr. switched me to a $4.00 generic at Walmart. No problems with the switch either.

Diana · 10-12-2009, 04:25 AM

He is definatley not eating enough and add in what he eats on Fridays, and drinks... no wonder its not working..

NewStartNow · 10-12-2009, 04:52 AM

Maybe he should read the book.

CurlsNCuffs · 10-12-2009, 05:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Diana

He is definatley not eating enough and add in what he eats on Fridays, and drinks... no wonder its not working..

HerBoudoir · 10-12-2009, 06:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Looweewoo

Beef. The fatty cuts. Pork and chicken breasts are relatively fatless. So is Tuna. Switch them out for Beef. er... In my opinion....

But really, we are all just guessing until you actually get some figures from ****** or something like that.

... but... Beef, really....

With pork, it really depends on the cut, but in general it's leaner - it's been bred that way because Fat Is Bad, doncha know. (Those killer ribs that I make? NOT lean...yum)

Even with steak, it depends on the cut. I eat sirloin a lot (it's budget friendly when dining out) which is a bit leaner, so I add butter to my veggies (and sometimes right on the steak) to up the fat. Mmmm butter...

Even more budget friendly AND still grillable - 80/20 burger.

fawnmarie · 10-12-2009, 06:10 AM

I feel the need to ask how much of that is muscle weight gained vs. not losing? That's a lot of working out. I would recommend that measurements be tracked along with weight. How long has he been stalled and have the clothes loosened in the meantime.

It does sound like he's overworking and undereating. He really should get a couple of eggs in there, maybe between meals as a snack. Several small meals a day works out really well for someone who's working out a lot, and tuna and hard-boiled eggs work great for that.

He should also be rotating his workouts, weights one day, cardio the next, and taking at least one full day off a week to recover.

He may want to skip the margarita and chips one friday and see if it really makes a difference, my guess it won't, but it's worth checking.

Looweewoo · 10-12-2009, 06:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lil Donna

Hi Louis,
I see you are from Kentucky. I lived in London, KY for 4 years. Are you anywhere near there?

I'm near Louisville

Quote:

I will work on ****** tomorrow.

That might tell you everything you need to know.

Quote:

Your stats are fantastic. Do you mind sharing what you eat on a daily basis?
Thanks!
Donna

I don't mind but it won't help you. First, what I eat now is not what caused the most of the weight loss. I lost that in spite of using make-believe foods that I won't or can't use now. Secondly, my large weight loss was mostly due to the fact that I was so fat. A 10% loss on me is nothing, but is more than he wants.

But, since you asked so nicely...

Meat and Eggs and a small amount of Cheese and salad greens.

More specifically, today I plan to have:
B: 1/4lb of bacon or sausage, three eggs fried in bacon fat or butter. with butter on top
L: 8oz Steak or Burger on salad with grated cheddar or american.
D: Chicken Leg quarter with Brussels sprouts, steamed and served in butter
4: Deli Beef rollups with tuna salad and Parmesan dipped in mustard.
s: Snacks of Dried beef

(4th meal is important to me because of Diabetes, and it makes it possible to get the amount of fat calories I want to keep cravings away)

I consider "Salad Greens" to mean any leafy vegetable that you can eat raw. I avoid fruit and the seeds of plants although I will eat the flowers sometimes (Broccoli and cauliflower).

Ilpirata · 10-12-2009, 09:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lil Donna

He says he is not hungry and that is all he can eat.

Should he fill up on other things instead of meat?

I'm jumping ahead here. He needs to eat more carbs to stimulate appetite. It looks like he is basically eating induction level carbs except for that margarita night. Start climbing him up the carb ladder by adding carbs as described in the book.

Leo41 · 10-12-2009, 09:54 AM

More veggie carbs AND more fat. He needs fat to really lose well. If he doesn't like butter, olive oil is great on veggies, but he needs something.

Ilpirata · 10-12-2009, 10:12 AM

also hot oil and sesame oil add great flavor drizzled over meat/veggies.

Looweewoo · 10-12-2009, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NewStartNow

Maybe he should read the book.

Really. And maybe since he's trying to fill time, he can read GCBC too. You shouldn't be his only form of support either. Can he get on this or another forum?

10-11-2009, 07:45 PM	#1
Lil Donna Big Yapper!!!! Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Missouri Posts: 8,331 Gallery: Lil Donna Stats: 143/anything less Start Date: JUDDD started 10/22/12	I think I need to go back and read THE BOOK... My DH turns to me when LC isn't working for him and for the past 4 months I just don't know what to tell him. He has been LCing for almost a year. He will have 1 margarita on Friday nights with a few chips and salsa but the rest of the time, he plays by the rules. In a year he went from 275 to 239. 36 pounds is not bad but as always, it could be better. He works out for 2 hours a night lifting weights, cardio or running 5 miles. His daily menu consists of: No breakfast L: a 2 compartment tupperware container with a large piece of meat- usually a pork tenderloin with seasoning salt and about a cup of broccoli D: meat again of some sort and a veggy- not a huge meal at all He drinks close to a gallon of water a day and no other beverages. The problem now is that he just can't lose anymore. He teeters between 235 and 245 but can never get below 235. His goal is 200. He is 5'10". I think about calorie in, calorie out but know he is probably burning a lot with exercise. Besides not eating breakfast to get his metabolism going, what else could his lack of weight loss be? I know he is frustrated and I am just at a loss of what to do next. HELP!

10-11-2009, 08:20 PM	#14
DiamondDeb Fat Burning Machine Extraordinaire! Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 69,720 Gallery: DiamondDeb	He needs to eat more. Really, as hard as it is going to be for him to believe. He needs to eat more veggies, too. Yes, 5 - 6 meals would be good but not tiny ones. It is very hard to increase calories that much overnight. If he increases a little bit at a time he will find it pretty easy to do. Not so much of a change all at once. He took that time off because he was sick but was that really rest if he was fighting illness? Last edited by DiamondDeb; 10-11-2009 at 08:21 PM..

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10-11-2009, 07:52 PM	#2
CarolynF Way too much time on my hands! Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Kansas Posts: 36,827 Gallery: CarolynF Stats: 195/141/139 WOE: Eat Fat, Get Thin Start Date: January 2001	He is not eating enough, Donna. His body won't drop the weight until he feeds it correctly with enough food to fuel his life. Plus, he needs to eat some fat for his energy, too. Breakfast is key for most of us to get our metabolism going.

10-11-2009, 07:53 PM	#3
DiamondDeb Fat Burning Machine Extraordinaire! Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 69,720 Gallery: DiamondDeb	For one thing he is not eating enough. He needs a lot more food.

10-11-2009, 07:55 PM	#4
Lil Donna Big Yapper!!!! Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Missouri Posts: 8,331 Gallery: Lil Donna Stats: 143/anything less Start Date: JUDDD started 10/22/12	He says he is not hungry and that is all he can eat. Should he fill up on other things instead of meat?

10-11-2009, 07:56 PM	#5
DiamondDeb Fat Burning Machine Extraordinaire! Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 69,720 Gallery: DiamondDeb	He needs to eat a good breakfast. Two hours working out per night is WAY too much. It is counter productive. Too few calories + too much exercise = overdieting. How long has he been doing this?

10-11-2009, 08:03 PM	#8
Looweewoo Blabbermouth!!! Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Kentucky Posts: 5,355 Gallery: Looweewoo Stats: 420/275/220 - 6'2" WOE: Carnivore/T2 Diabetic Start Date: Restart@350 09/17/09 The best is yet to come!	Yeah, I was going to ask exactly how many calories he was getting. The body can shut down systems to conserve calories, resulting in lethargy, confusion, immunity problems, etc. It's trying to carry the body weight over to the next season, and it will do so at the expense of just about everything else. Put everything he eats in ****** and make sure he eats close to his "Basal Metabolic Rate", which should be about 2400 calories. Especially if he's working out so much, you don't want him stealing from his circulatory system.

10-11-2009, 08:05 PM	#9
MsWoods Big Yapper!!!! Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Tx Posts: 8,590 Gallery: MsWoods Stats: 399/246.6/204 (for now) WOE: Low Carb Start Date: 06/22/09	Just had to drop in here and say Hi Lil Donna! I tend to stay around these parts cuz everyone is so much nicer. I say add butter to his foods he's already eating to up the cals/fats. I did that and started losing alot better.

10-11-2009, 08:08 PM	#10
Lil Donna Big Yapper!!!! Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Missouri Posts: 8,331 Gallery: Lil Donna Stats: 143/anything less Start Date: JUDDD started 10/22/12	I wonder if this is the reason he got Gout recently and then soon after that, Piles. He honestly could do a marathon right now but looking at him, you'd say no way.

10-11-2009, 08:14 PM	#12
Lil Donna Big Yapper!!!! Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Missouri Posts: 8,331 Gallery: Lil Donna Stats: 143/anything less Start Date: JUDDD started 10/22/12	Hi Ms. Wood!!! Yes the weather in here isn't as chilly. I use to come in here when I first started back in 2003 and it was awesome. I got so much knowledge and support here. I still come in here occasionally because these people know their stuff! I just knew I could come in here and get an answer. Because he is on his own, he grills everything. Maybe after the grill, he could put some pats of butter on the meat and let it melt in. I thought pork was a pretty fatty meat already but maybe it is a different fat than what he needs. I definitely need to do some research on a better menu for him. I hate that he feels defeated. He has 3 weeks to go before his All Guy vacation to Florida and I know he started this WOE last year so he didn't have to be the Fat Guy this year.

10-11-2009, 08:49 PM	#17
IWilldoit4me Senior LCF Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Sacramento, Ca Posts: 266 Gallery: IWilldoit4me WOE: Atkins Start Date: January 03/May 08/3rd time is a charm! June 09	I say it begins with breakfast! He needs something in the am (it's my downfall too)

10-12-2009, 02:47 AM	#19
goohsmom Senior LCF Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 441 Gallery: goohsmom Stats: restarting 5/31/2012 at 184.2/180.2/we'll see WOE: Low Carb	Donna, One thing jumps out at me. He's been eating at a very low-carb level and exercising heavily. That's made his muscles "dry sponges" as far as carbs are concerned. The extra carbs he takes in on Friday night are being absorbed straight in as glycogen stores and adding weight immediately, thereby negating any weight loss he's had during the week (ask me how I know). Here's an experiment to try: have him skip one Friday, and instead start climbing the carb ladder, perhaps adding 5 grams of carbs per day to his menu. A gradual increase in carbs over the course of several weeks help to negate the "dry sponge" effect and will do him more good overall than his Friday night treat. If he really wants that treat, see if he can get a sugar-free margarita mixer and substitute maybe some raw veggies for the chips. If it's a restaurant that you regularly eat at, I'm sure they'll be happy to accommodate you if you talk to the manager ahead of time. Try it for a few weeks, along with climbing the carb ladder, and see if it helps. Pam

10-12-2009, 04:00 AM	#20
Chrissykin Very Gabby LCF Member!!! Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Windy City Burbs Posts: 4,668 Gallery: Chrissykin WOE: VSG 7/3/2012 and low carb -115#	Donna, I use Vytorin and my Dr. switched me to a $4.00 generic at Walmart. No problems with the switch either.

10-12-2009, 04:25 AM	#21
Diana Allergic to Carbs- I break out in Fat! Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Anderson, Indiana Posts: 38,458 Gallery: Diana Stats: 176.5/138.8/134 (5'3") WOE: The Original Atkins Start Date: 8/11/03 Restart 4/08	He is definatley not eating enough and add in what he eats on Fridays, and drinks... no wonder its not working..

10-12-2009, 04:52 AM	#22
NewStartNow Guest Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 663 Gallery: NewStartNow	Maybe he should read the book.

10-12-2009, 06:10 AM	#25
fawnmarie Senior LCF Member Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Florida XP Posts: 665 Gallery: fawnmarie Start Date: October 2008	I feel the need to ask how much of that is muscle weight gained vs. not losing? That's a lot of working out. I would recommend that measurements be tracked along with weight. How long has he been stalled and have the clothes loosened in the meantime. It does sound like he's overworking and undereating. He really should get a couple of eggs in there, maybe between meals as a snack. Several small meals a day works out really well for someone who's working out a lot, and tuna and hard-boiled eggs work great for that. He should also be rotating his workouts, weights one day, cardio the next, and taking at least one full day off a week to recover. He may want to skip the margarita and chips one friday and see if it really makes a difference, my guess it won't, but it's worth checking.

10-12-2009, 09:54 AM	#28
Leo41 Senior LCF member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 8,426 Gallery: Leo41 Stats: 340 then/145 now WOE: Low carb/calorie cycling	More veggie carbs AND more fat. He needs fat to really lose well. If he doesn't like butter, olive oil is great on veggies, but he needs something.

10-12-2009, 10:12 AM	#29
Ilpirata Way too much time on my hands! Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 10,061 Gallery: Ilpirata	also hot oil and sesame oil add great flavor drizzled over meat/veggies.