Have you noticed that long runs and long bike rides don’t seem to do much for weight loss?
I have since, you know, I’ve been at about the same weight for over a year now (nothing I do really seems to work). Like I’ve mentioned before, I’m actually fine with the number on my scale, but it’s the tummy that hangs over my pants, the blubbery looking thighs, the squishy hips, and basically the fact that you cannot see much (if any) muscle definition on my body at all despite working out quite a bit.
I exercise 5, 6 or more hours per week. What the f? I just want the way my body looks to reflect my hard work. Is that too much to ask?
I feel like if I lose about 10 pounds, maybe I’ll be able to see the muscle definition. But I don’t know. I still feel like I have these layers of fat over my muscles. Clearly, cardio isn’t working. I’ve added more strength.
I eat clean 85% of the time. I don’t buy crap. I don’t eat a lot of candy or much sugar at all (so little that as soon as I do eat it, I can feel it coursing through my body and I hate that feeling). I don’t drink soda. I take my coffee black. I eat fruits and vegetables. I eat lean protein and whole grains. There are days that are exceptions, of course, but most of the time, I eat very well.
My work outs are almost daily. Mondays are usually an hour of swimming (or strength and biking combined for 45 minutes to an hour). Tuesdays are typically 30-40 minutes of running with 15 minutes of strength. Wednesdays are usually biking for 30 minutes and 15 minutes of strength. Thursdays: repeat Tuesday. Fridays are an hour of swimming or a 45-minute run and strength. Saturday is my long ride or my long run and Sunday is whatever I didn’t do on Saturday. Occasionally, I’ll get tired and take a day completely off. Maybe I am overtraining? I mean, I’m only training for a sprint tri, so I don’t know how I could train any less for this triathlon.
Ugh. I feel like I need help, but I’m not sure where to turn or what to do or change. I just want to look like the athlete I feel I am.
9 comments
I hear you, Kerrie! I am felling the same way. It is so frustrating. I don’t expect to look like a stick, but I want the hard work to show!
I can 100% relate to this! There was only ONE time that I actually lost about 10 pounds and could start to see the muscle definition I knew was there and it was when I did a 3 week cleanse…certainly not the way I want to eat all the time. BUT, I will say that I’ve found that I loose more weight when I eat absolutely NO sugar or alcohol and limit my carbs significantly…and that includes no cheating except for ONE cheat MEAL a week. It really is a struggle with what you know you probably have to do to look the way you feel and still having fun with your life and indulging every now and then.
Have you ever thought about seeing a nutritionist? I have done that in the past and they can help you lay out a meal plan for weight loss that still allows you to work out like you do.
I know how frustrating that can be. It is funny…I was looking at recent pictures of myself and realized that I am looking a bit “thicker” than I have in the past. This is after running TWO marathons in the past four weeks.
I think the key is to shock your body a bit. Throw in some high intensity stuff. Do a HIIT class (high intensity interval training) or a spin class that really gets your HR up.
Gosh, I almost feel like I wrote this! Wish I had the answers instead of my lame excuses. Try checking out onefitwidow.com I feel like she’s “been there, done that.” Maybe she can help??
Thank you for the suggestion!
I’ve been reading your blog, and I enjoy it. I can definitely relate to your frustration. I am the same way. I run 7 days per week, strength train, and do yoga. I’m also a vegetarian.So, why does everyone look so much thinner? It is soooo aggravating. Sometimes I’m okay with it, but other days I feel defeated. I don’t do what I do to be rail thin , but I am not satisfied with the way I look. Bathing suit season is especially difficult for me because I know I should look better than I do.
Yes. I don’t want to be a stick. I don’t want to look like a bodybuilder either. Somewhere in the middle is nice. I like the way an athletic, strong body looks!
I keep coming back to this post. This post reflects my experience. I, too, feel like my expectations are not too out of reality. I don’t want to be stick thin, nor do I want to look like a body builder. I strength train, do yoga, and run (along with lots of other activities). I do these things 6 days a week. I eat extremely cleanly (I am celiac – so no gluten; I have been off of all sugars except for fruit since Dec.26; oh, and I never eat dairy – it doesn’t digest so well for me). I would say I eat cleanly at a minimum 90% of the time. I track my workouts, I track my food – both maybe to a fault. I have tried low calorie diets (1300-1500), I have tried figuring out what the BMR is for me and sticking closer to that (you know how people say, “oh, its because you aren’t eating enough…tried both sides of the spectrum). So I upped my calorie intake to 2000 calories a day. My body, with its pudgy center wants to stay where it is at. I feel strong, I feel like I can accomplish so much athletically. But I also feel like my body doesnt reflect that. I feel judged by other women. I think, well, they have three children too and they are my age and we basically do the same workouts and eat fairly similarly, so why don’t I look like that. I am a pretty decent runner and am definitely in the front half of the pack at races. However, if you looked at me, you probably wouldn’t think so. I guess the question I want to ask is: is it just me judging me or are other women really judging me like I think they are? I read all these blogs with women running marathons back to back and setting PRs left and right and I just think….”are they for real?” I am a mom of three in her late thirties, who has Crohn’s disease, and has survived cancer. So, yes, my life experience if probably very different from these other women. But I work my tail off and I just would love to look in the mirror and be truly satisfied with what I see. Thanks for such a thought provoking post. This is a conversation that I think is really important to have.
I feel like I could write many posts on the questions and topics you have posed here. I feel your pain! I wish there was an answer. I did find some interesting reading. It may or may not help you, but look for a new post with the links very soon…hopefully, today. Also, you rock. I can’t imagine having the obstacles you have and doing all that you have!