Monday, January 19, 2009

Advice Please?

OK I know when I need help and I need help. I did very well losing weight by just watching what I ate. I did not exercise at all when I was losing weight. I know it's not healthy, but that's how it was. Now that I am running, I can't quite seem to figure out my eating. For weight watchers, they say you can use or not use your activity points. In the past, I have tried not using them and kept the weight on. When I actually eat them, I lost weight. When I watch Biggest Loser or hear celebrities talk about their daily calories, they usually say they eat 1,100-1,200 calories. So that's what I've been trying to do. Honestly, I probably eat about 1,400 calories a day and I'm pretty much just maintaining. My problem is, I don't want to maintain I want to loose a bit more. Not because of the number on the scale, but I don't like how my pants fit and I can feel fat on my back. So I'm wondering, I run 3-4 times a week for a minimum of 3.5 miles and strength train on the opposite days. Should I up my calorie intake on just my running days? Should I cut a few more calories? What do you all think?

Also, fellow runners. I am finally strength training which I haven't done while running. Should I run and strength train on the same days and do yoga/pilates on my off days? Or should it be the opposite? I know I'm supposed to give my muscles a rest, so I just want to know how I can do both running and strength training while resting muscles.

I have been eating more protein lately and I'm amazed. All of this time, I thought the more fiber in a food the more full I would be. I have noticed though, when I eat higher protein with carbs, I'm MUCH fuller. I know on days when I have a high carb/low protein meal, I get lightheaded, silly, and the shakes. I didn't know that the protein helped make me full too. Why am I so ignorant to food? I've been trying to learn, but the more I think I know something, the more I find out I'm dead wrong. So, I just thought I'd reach out to you all. You already helped me with the mysterious ingredient inulin. I am still finding out more foods I eat (used to eat) have that in it. Did I tell you all the WW snacks have the ingredient? Yes indeedy. So no more snack cakes, peanut butter cookies or brownies for me...not that I needed that anyway. I just need to start making my own treats so I know what's in them. Thanks all. Any advice would be much appreciated.

10 comments:

Tony said...

I think you are eating too little for your activity level. A woman should never dip below 1200 calories a day. This is the bare minimum for a woman who is completely sedentary. Up your calories to get your metabolism going again. I imagine that your metabolism has slowed down a bit because you have been eating so little.

From what I've read, it's generally better to do cardio after lifting weights or on off days.

I hope this helps.

Kim P said...

Sometimes when my weight is stuck, I will retake the weight watchers quiz and pretend like I am a new member and "start over". A leader also once told me about using a bounce day where you eat extra or basically what you want--for instance, you can use this day to eat like something you've really been wanting--cheese cake, cookies, ice cream, more pasta at dinner. Also the day before the bounce day, you should drop like 2 points. So, if you normally are allowed 24 pts, it would go like this 22--35+--22 and then back to the 24. You may also need to challenge your muscles with different types of weights and movments--muscle confusion. The other thing with your running is to do intervals or bursts of speed and then back to normal pace. Hope it's not too much info. Good luck. You obviously are very determined. You look great. KP

Mrs. Classic said...

My guess would be that your body is getting use to how much you are eating. You need to always keep your body guessing. If you are eating the samw number of calories everyday and doing the same workout always it will stay this way. It is good to have a splurge meal to keep your body guessing.

I usually run before I lift and it works great for me. I also want to make sure that you are taking a min of 2 days off a week. Your body needs a full day off so that it can rebuild. A runner who runs every day is a hurt runner. Also when you are lifting are you lifting heavy weights or always the same thing? I talk about weights on my ww blog. If you are always doing the same thing push your body harder and build muscle, it will burn more calories even when you are sleeping.

carla said...

toddler is calling but the short version is TOO LITTLE FOOD.
as scary as it can sound adding in more clean calories WILL spark your metabolism.

DO NOT CUT ANY MORE CALORIES.

(and DO take this all in the loving manner in which its intended :))

Miz.

Kate said...

I think your definately eating too little. Like yourself, I played alot with activity points and eating/not eating them when losing weight, and found I lost best when I ate some of them, but not all of them. I think you are eating way way to little though!

as far as strength training, try doing upper body on the days you run, legs on the days you don't.

K @ Running Through Life said...

I am with Miz in thinking that you are not eating enough calories. Can you add in some more fruits/veggies/lean meats?

new*me said...

I would be sure to include good fats too.......like a few nuts with each meal or a tsp of olive oil :)

N.D. said...

1000-1100 sounds like too little. I'm horrible at this stuff as well but if you are working out, I think you should be eating at least 1500 cal. I feel like weighttraining helps, maybe on the yoga days to boost your metabolism? GOod luck. I'm not much help.

Lyn said...

You got lots of good advice here, and I agree you might want to be eating more (good quality) calories. Let us know how things work out.

Anemieke said...

Hey,

There was an aexcellent post on the Australian WW community message board about how much you should eat if you are exercising (ie. what is the maximum number of points you should save/minimnum you should eat to prevent 'starvation mode'). It was very interesting! Basically, if you are on 18 points, you should save no more than 4 per day (either through exercise OR saving points, OR any combination of these, so if you do 6 bonus points of exercise, you must eat at least 2 of these, plus all your points that day), on 19 points, no more than 5 per day, etc.
I made the same mistake, exercising a lot and only eating a little of my exercise bonus points, I only lost 1.8kg in two months that way (frustrating!!)
Now I eat my all points, and save no more than 4 a day through exercise.
Cheers xx