Update

I am continuing working out. I am doing HIT intervals for 30-45 minutes. I started lifting heavy weights but having very hard time keeping weight off me. I was eating three meals but my doctor just backed me off to two -egg whites fish and spinach. My body fat is about 26 percent so i feel some pain after losing muscle mass. I got a trainer to help me for 6 weeks. I am finding it takes about 2 hrs daily to keep weight off me. I get very frustrated as I have seen no improved muscle tone except in arms. I dream about food that is not bland. I guess I have learned my truth when it comes to eating and exercise. I feel hopeful that my muscle tone can return at age 48 . I am praying that by November I will get a toned 140 lbs body and be able to eat three low carb meals.

As always any comments are appreciated.

7 Comments

diet

by Tracey_E - 2013-08-12 10:08:41

If a dr is telling you to eat twice a day and only eat egg whites, fish and spinach, then you need a new dr!!!!! At the very least, talk to a good nutritionist. When you eat that little variety, so few calories, no fat, your body will suffer on many levels. Your metabolism will tank, first of all. You aren't getting enough fat, carbs, or calories to support anything close to 2 hours of physical activity, that is why you aren't getting muscle tone. You are probably losing muscle mass. It takes NUTRIENTS, not just effort, to build muscle.

Another reason to avoid very low carb diets is you end up in ketosis, which stresses the heart, stresses the kidneys, raises cholesterol. All of those things are BAD for heart patients.

I eat a fairly low carb diet, also. To give you an example, I had 1300 calories today, 141 carbs (mostly from my pre workout banana and post workout coconut water), no grains or sugar. I ate 3 meals and 2 snacks, worked out hard for 40 minutes. I am struggling to lose weight, also. My gp, cardio and a nutritionist have all looked at my food logs. No one can figure out why I don't lose weight, but they all agree eating less than what I eat now is not healthy. I'm toned (though the muscle is padded with that 15# I can't seem to lose!) and I feel good so this is what I do to maintain. Btw, I'm 46, 5'6", 155 pounds.

Can I be really blunt? You sound anorexic. It is not healthy. Please, eat. Please talk to someone who knows nutrition.

update comment.

by CHEREE1966 - 2013-08-13 01:08:38

I did talk with several people. I tried eating more and I weigh same as you. I couldnt move for close to three years due to my heart. I literally have severe muscle atrophy all over. I hired a nutrionist and that is what they told me to eat as well. My trainer said he has never seen as much fat on someone as me. My family practioner agreed. I am so sorry I alarmed anyone.

i showed my food logs to my dtr and he was okay with it.

ok, good!

by Tracey_E - 2013-08-13 04:08:54

I was worried about you! Pictured you starving yourself and slaving away at the gym. Have they tested you to see if anything else is going on like thyroid or immune or hormones? All my stuff came back normal, they told me this must just be where my body wants to be. Not what I wanted to hear!! Now I concentrate mostly on maintaining but part of me still wants to lose.

I used to track my food on sparkpeople to make sure I am in range on everything. I just switched to myfitnesspal because I got a fitbit and they sync. Very cool!!!! I was hoping that by tracking actual calories burned (what fitbit does), I'd be able to figure out what to change, but so far my numbers are low to normal every day, eating calories in range that I should be losing 1.5-2 pounds a week *eye roll*

How many calories are you averaging in a day? I was told more than once to make it a net 1100-1200, so if I burn 400 working out, I should eat no less than 1600. Less than that and I'm going to lose muscle, not fat. The clever thing about the fitbit is it tracks how many calories I'm burning so it's not a guess, then uses the weight loss rate I programmed in (1lb per week) and adjusts daily calories accordingly. Very cool toy. I've only had it a week so we'll see if I can take off a few more pounds with it. If nothing else,it's educational and makes me move more.

update 3

by CHEREE1966 - 2013-08-13 05:08:45

I have no idea my intake. The doctor just said i will not be able to eat much unless I build muscle back up. My thyroid was normal and I feel like my hormones are just messed up. Before my pacemaker I was eating around 1500 but then my muscles just disappeared in about 3 weeks when cardiologist told me to stop. I was about 130 then. I couldnt do much so I gained 25 lbs of fat back not a pretty sight. Fat doesnt burn very many calories. One test they did underwater said i was 46 percent body fat. I tested with a trainer and he said 26 percent and with my age of 50, the metabolism just dropped. I wish i was back to 1500 calories a day but something happened when the heart rate was so slow for over 3 years. It averaged 22 beats per minute. I am really trying hard to gain muscle. I really hurt alot losing it. My doctor said i was Metabollic obese at a normal weight. Very frustrating. But I know. i will get my strenght back. God wants that for me. I do workout alot. But I probably only burn 400-500 calories a day.

Smack Fat Ketosis

by Diamondl88 - 2013-08-14 03:08:14

Check out Fat Smack they helped me out using the ketosis diet need help finding the website just ask them on their fan page
Go take a look at it for yourself http://www.facebook.com/LoseWeightBeHappy88
Website: http://goo.gl/IerPQr

ketosis

by Tracey_E - 2013-08-14 08:08:08

Ketosis is a very bad idea for heart patients! Check with your dr before doing it.

Recovery

by LeeT - 2013-08-30 09:08:57

I lift weights and have done so for 22 yrs. You astonish me doesn't sound as if your willing to accept the fact you have a PM. Obsessive weight training or any thing in excess is not consistent with good health. I understand (at least) in this my first yr w/ a PM that my traing MUST be comprimised or I could subject my node connections to separate and ...will who knows what is next. If you are serious and do want advice I suggest you listen to you Dr. Many PM issues have nothing to do with muscle strength and size but rather a defect in the function of your heart. When you first understood you had a problem your heart was sending you a message, " be mindful or you will loose me and that would be catastrophic.' You may have to accept you will not be the same (remember I left weights) but life goes on and you can still train at a modified level. Be smart listen and live.

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