Why isn't it working?

[Tanya848]

Hi, I am new to the site and appreciate any feedback...

I am 24, about 5'7 and 135 pounds. I have a small frame - as many women, a small waist and big hips.

For about 15 years, I was a competitive athlete with a body fat percentage of 6% a waist of 24 and size 0 or 00.
After quitting due to a back injury, and feeling the effects of an abusive boyfriend I became depressed. Food became my comfort and in about 2 years time I went from 115 to 155 pounds.
Once I got rid of the boyfriend I started to feel better about myself and began exercising again I lost the excess 25 pounds and weighed about 130.

My weight has really just stayed between 130- 135...I can tell that I'm not really "fit" although I work out 5 days a week. I alternate between circuit training, cardio, and weight training as well as pilates. I try to constantly vary my routine, and work out for a minimum of 30 minutes per day - I usually do about an hour and give my body 1-2 days rest.

I should admit that there have been some great results - I went from 36 bust, 29 waist and 40.5 hips, down to a 33 bust, 25.5 waist and 37 hips in about 6 months. However, I've only seen about 1-2 pounds move on the scale.

I'm really unsure about my body. I've gone from one extreme of having a "boyish" figure at 115 with almost no waist and no hips to small waist and big hips. I know 133 is a healthy weight for my height but with my frame...
I've had a tough time in the last month getting my hips down to 37".

How can I find out where I'm really supposed to be?

Thank you...

 

[Steve]

Hi, I am new to the site and appreciate any feedback...

I am 24, about 5'7 and 135 pounds. I have a small frame - as many women, a small waist and big hips.

Sounds nice

For about 15 years, I was a competitive athlete with a body fat percentage of 6% a waist of 24 and size 0 or 00.

That's below the percentage body fat commonly assumed to be essential to life for a woman. How were you going about measuring this?

After quitting due to a back injury, and feeling the effects of an abusive boyfriend I became depressed. Food became my comfort and in about 2 years time I went from 115 to 155 pounds.
Once I got rid of the boyfriend I started to feel better about myself and began exercising again I lost the excess 25 pounds and weighed about 130.

My weight has really just stayed between 130- 135...I can tell that I'm not really "fit" although I work out 5 days a week. I alternate between circuit training, cardio, and weight training as well as pilates. I try to constantly vary my routine, and work out for a minimum of 30 minutes per day - I usually do about an hour and give my body 1-2 days rest.

Why do you constantly vary your routine?

I should admit that there have been some great results - I went from 36 bust, 29 waist and 40.5 hips, down to a 33 bust, 25.5 waist and 37 hips in about 6 months. However, I've only seen about 1-2 pounds move on the scale.

Who cares that the scale says? Weight means very little in the context of looking and feeling good.

I'm really unsure about my body. I've gone from one extreme of having a "boyish" figure at 115 with almost no waist and no hips to small waist and big hips. I know 133 is a healthy weight for my height but with my frame...
I've had a tough time in the last month getting my hips down to 37".

How can I find out where I'm really supposed to be?

Whose standards are you trying to meet? I'm not sure I understand your question.

 

[Tanya848]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Tanya848
Hi, I am new to the site and appreciate any feedback...

I am 24, about 5'7 and 135 pounds. I have a small frame - as many women, a small waist and big hips.

Sounds nice


Quote:
For about 15 years, I was a competitive athlete with a body fat percentage of 6% a waist of 24 and size 0 or 00.

That's below the percentage body fat commonly assumed to be essential to life for a woman. How were you going about measuring this?

I had a personal trainer who took measured my body fat. I should mention I was a competitive figure skater, 6 days a week 7 hours a day with ballet, etc. I was also 18.


Quote:
After quitting due to a back injury, and feeling the effects of an abusive boyfriend I became depressed. Food became my comfort and in about 2 years time I went from 115 to 155 pounds.
Once I got rid of the boyfriend I started to feel better about myself and began exercising again I lost the excess 25 pounds and weighed about 130.

My weight has really just stayed between 130- 135...I can tell that I'm not really "fit" although I work out 5 days a week. I alternate between circuit training, cardio, and weight training as well as pilates. I try to constantly vary my routine, and work out for a minimum of 30 minutes per day - I usually do about an hour and give my body 1-2 days rest.

Why do you constantly vary your routine?

To keep myself interested...My trainer used to do this with me as well so that my body never got to accustomed to the exercises I was doing - if that makes sense

Quote:
I should admit that there have been some great results - I went from 36 bust, 29 waist and 40.5 hips, down to a 33 bust, 25.5 waist and 37 hips in about 6 months. However, I've only seen about 1-2 pounds move on the scale.

Who cares that the scale says? Weight means very little in the context of looking and feeling good.

I realize that.


Quote:
I'm really unsure about my body. I've gone from one extreme of having a "boyish" figure at 115 with almost no waist and no hips to small waist and big hips. I know 133 is a healthy weight for my height but with my frame...
I've had a tough time in the last month getting my hips down to 37".

How can I find out where I'm really supposed to be?

Whose standards are you trying to meet? I'm not sure I understand your question.

Well, I have been from one extreme to the other, fit and fat. I've never just been healthy and know where my body is supposed to be. I don't know if I just naturally have large hips, or if it's from the weight gain. Hope that makes more sense?

 

[Steve]

I had a personal trainer who took measured my body fat. I should mention I was a competitive figure skater, 6 days a week 7 hours a day with ballet, etc. I was also 18.

Yea, your trainer wasn't good at the calipers or the calipers he was using sucked or a combo of the two. Regardless, what you were sitting at back then is of little importance... it simply caught my attention when I initially read it.

To keep myself interested...My trainer used to do this with me as well so that my body never got to accustomed to the exercises I was doing - if that makes sense

Changing for the sake of changing isn't really a good idea in my book. Sure, workouts need to be adjusted but there are reasons that trigger the need. If you're continually changing your not allowing your workouts to build upon the last.

Progressive overload is the name of the game if you want positive adaptation.

I realize that.

Then I'm not sure why you said something like, "I've had nice progress but the scale only moved 1-2 lbs."

Well, I have been from one extreme to the other, fit and fat. I've never just been healthy and know where my body is supposed to be. I don't know if I just naturally have large hips, or if it's from the weight gain. Hope that makes more sense?

It's impossible to say. If you want to cut fat from where you are right now to see if that pleases you more, you're going to need to be in a calorie deficit first and foremost.

Right?

 

[Tanya848]

As far as the caloric deficit - you're right. I don't actually watch what I eat which may be the biggest mistake.

I workout, but I'm not really firm on my diet. But generally I eat healthy with allowances for cheats inbetween.

My typical diet is:

Breakfast - whole grain toast with peanut butter, half a grapefruit, 1 coffee black, glass of water

snack - yogurt

lunch - chicken stirfry with whole grain rice

snack - veggies with hummus

dinner - homemade turkey chili

Try to drink about 8 glasses of water per day...

Thank you for your feedback.

 

[Steve]

As far as the caloric deficit - you're right. I don't actually watch what I eat which may be the biggest mistake.

I workout, but I'm not really firm on my diet. But generally I eat healthy with allowances for cheats inbetween.

Which is fine as long as your body is doing what you want it to. However, if you want your body to be a point B and you're currently at A and there's no sign of progress towards B... obviously something needs to change.

That something can come by loosely assuring you're eating less food.

or

It can come more rigidly by actually calculating how many calories and macros you are consuming using a food scale and something like .

My typical diet is:

Breakfast - whole grain toast with peanut butter, half a grapefruit, 1 coffee black, glass of water

snack - yogurt

lunch - chicken stirfry with whole grain rice

snack - veggies with hummus

dinner - homemade turkey chili

Try to drink about 8 glasses of water per day...

Thank you for your feedback.

The diet doesn't sound bad per se. I might add in a little more fruit and veggies along with some healthy fats. But the point is, your problem doesn't seem to be in the food selection department. Rather, it seems to be in the quantity.

That said, given your relatively small size, a fine balance exists between eating too much and eating too little. The smaller you are, the lower your total caloric requirements are which leaves less and less 'room to wiggle.'

This also places a premium on food selection too. By that I mean, after a calorie target is set, I tend to assure myself or my clients that they're getting in adequate amounts or protein and healthy fats. I also like to throw fruits and veggies in there too. After that, I tend to fill the remainder of the available calories with foods they enjoy and match their goals and characteristics.