Weight Loss/Fitness

6_Vitium_6_Concubine_6

Didn't see the fitness thread hanging around anymore so here it goes:

I am generally physically fit, I just have about 5-1lbs I'd like to loose. I have stopped weight lifting because I'm happy with my muscle mass and am solely doing cardio 5-6 days a week for the next month or 3. This includes a mixture of machines, swimming and running. I have also been trying to stick to a low carb diet of mostly veggies and meats. (only chicken and fish, no red meat.)

I'm looking for some feedback on my plan as well as suggestions to loose weight more efficiently for someone at my stage in their exercise career. I'm male and 21yrs old in case that matters.

Tube

If you stop weightlifting, you'll just lose the muscle. Muscle doesn't just stick around for no reason. Your body will adapt by getting rid of muscle way before fat. It's more efficient.

6_Vitium_6_Concubine_6

Cardboard Tube wrote: »

If you stop weightlifting, you'll just lose the muscle. Muscle doesn't just stick around for no reason. Your body will adapt by getting rid of muscle way before fat. It's more efficient.

Well this is precisely why I am asking for help. Right now I really don't want to gain anymore muscle, so I figured I'd just do cardio for a month or 2. But you don't think thats a good idea?

I was previously doing 3 days weight lifting, 3 days cardio

jasona

The user above touched on an important subject. Even though you do not want to gain more muscle mass, you will need to eat and train with weights often enough to maintain what you've got. Keep in mind that when it comes to body mass, muscle burns more calories than any other tissues through ongoing metabolic processes. So, an individual with more muscle mass will have a higher basal metabolic rate than another individual of similar age/weight.

What I would suggest you do is increase the amount of aerobic exercise you do, and modify your diet, while continuing to lift weights. Schedule your cardio to occur before eating breakfast in the morning on non-weight training days, and on days you lift, do your cardio directly after you lift. Also, think about extending the amount of time you spend doing cardio by 15 to 30 minutes. In terms of diet, just in case you haven't already, cut out all forms of refined sugars; no candy, cake, sweetened drinks, sugary cereals, etc. Once those are eliminated, try cutting the amount of carbs you eat, but not too drastically. Decrease carbs little by little, and consume less as the day goes on.

Good luck to you!

6_Vitium_6_Concubine_6

jasona wrote: »

The user above touched on an important subject. Even though you do not want to gain more muscle mass, you will need to eat and train with weights often enough to maintain what you've got. Keep in mind that when it comes to body mass, muscle burns more calories than any other tissues through ongoing metabolic processes. So, an individual with more muscle mass will have a higher basal metabolic rate than another individual of similar age/weight.

What I would suggest you do is increase the amount of aerobic exercise you do, and modify your diet, while continuing to lift weights. Schedule your cardio to occur before eating breakfast in the morning on non-weight training days, and on days you lift, do your cardio directly after you lift. Also, think about extending the amount of time you spend doing cardio by 15 to 30 minutes. In terms of diet, just in case you haven't already, cut out all forms of refined sugars; no candy, cake, sweetened drinks, sugary cereals, etc. Once those are eliminated, try cutting the amount of carbs you eat, but not too drastically. Decrease carbs little by little, and consume less as the day goes on.

Good luck to you!

Good suggestions, but why should I do cardio before I eat? Can you provide any links on why this is a better strat?

I have cut out most sugars, and have been following a diet of:

Usually carbs and fats such as eggs/soy eggs and healthy cereal for breakfast.
Less carbs, more meats and veggies for lunch such as a sandwich or wrap.
No carbs for dinner such as cooked meat and veggies.

And I snack on fruits in between to keep my metabolism up.

When weight lifting I have usually been doing 2 sets of low weight, high reps. I am thinking of cutting out 1 set and doing 15-30mins of cardio instead. Does this sound like a good idea?

Thanatos

Do you not want to gain muscle, or are you looking to lose some of the muscle you already have?