The Unfat Challenge.

**SkiDork** · 03-21-2007, 10:43 AM

Lost 10 lbs so far. I can button my pants once again (small miracle).

**INDY GS** · 03-21-2007, 10:50 AM

I've been doing well, feeling better, and eating healthy. I've been to the gym every weekday for 3 weeks now, riding the exercise bike between 10 & 15 miles everyday, then doing some light lifting. I am not trying to gain muscle mass, just some tone, so i am doing lots of light reps.

Eating wise, I have been consuming between 1000 & 1200 calories or so a day. I was dumb over the weekend and on st. pattys day indulged with waaaaay too much beer. I had to eat greasy the next day to fix the hangover.

I started at 229, this morning I was 224. So about 5 lbs in 3 weeks, not awsome, but good. The last time I did this, i started the same way, then once my body got used to exercising and eating less I was loosing between 3 and 7 lbs a week. that lasted for about a month and my body equalized. settling around 195. I can't believe I had allowed myself to gain nearly 35 lbs again.

**BeanDip4All** · 03-21-2007, 10:54 AM

I'm sort of the same I started out as :-/ a week of drinking and fun in JH didn't help my cause.

good job indy and skidork!

**yentna** · 03-21-2007, 11:08 AM

So funny how getting sick can affect you....

So, got sick with a nasty cold (mostly better now I think).

As a result, I lost 4 pounds this week, but couldn't be happy about it 'cause my fat % scale proved it was all water! My water % went down, and my overall fat % went UP since I had the same amount of fat but fewer total pounds. Heh, kind of ironic.

EDIT: just want to put out a caution. Restricting your calories too much isn't very healthy. I.e. less than 1500 calories a day when working out can cause harm to your body and slow your metabolism rather than speed it up. I went to a dietician and found out I wasn't losing fat simply because I wasn't eating enough. I was eating 1500-1700 calories a day, and working out HARD for about an hour or more a day, total 10 hours a week.

Go to http://www.24hourfitness.com/html/fitness/fit_calc/ to find out what your Resting Metabolic Rate (RMR) is, and your recommended intake to lose / maintain weight. I did an official RMR test with the dietician, and it came out pretty close to what 24 Hour said (not that I support that gym or anything, it's just a pretty ok calculator).

Ok, off soapbox.

**steve** · 03-21-2007, 11:22 AM

Originally Posted by yentna

So funny how getting sick can affect you....

So, got sick with a nasty cold (mostly better now I think).

As a result, I lost 4 pounds this week, but couldn't be happy about it 'cause my fat % scale proved it was all water! My water % went down, and my overall fat % went UP since I had the same amount of fat but fewer total pounds. Heh, kind of ironic.

EDIT: just want to put out a caution. Restricting your calories too much isn't very healthy. I.e. less than 1500 calories a day when working out can cause harm to your body and slow your metabolism rather than speed it up. I went to a dietician and found out I wasn't losing fat simply because I wasn't eating enough. I was eating 1500-1700 calories a day, and working out HARD for about an hour or more a day, total 10 hours a week.

Go to http://www.24hourfitness.com/html/fitness/fit_calc/ to find out what your Resting Metabolic Rate (RMR) is, and your recommended intake to lose / maintain weight. I did an official RMR test with the dietician, and it came out pretty close to what 24 Hour said (not that I support that gym or anything, it's just a pretty ok calculator).

Ok, off soapbox.

I'm aware of all the physiological implications for severely cutting calories, but I have my reasons for doing so anyway.

**tradygirl** · 03-21-2007, 11:39 AM

Originally Posted by yentna

I went to a dietician and found out I wasn't losing fat simply because I wasn't eating enough. I was eating 1500-1700 calories a day, and working out HARD for about an hour or more a day, total 10 hours a week.

Yentna - what is your calorie intake when cutting fat? I'm in the same boat as you right now. I've restricted my calorie intake, but I know from experience that too much restriction makes it impossible to gain muscle mass, therefore impossible to lose fat. I'm trying to average around 1600-1800 calories per day right now, with a 30-60 min workout every morning and an hour+ bike ride/climbing every couple of days. Just curious to see how much you're eating if it seems to be working.

**altachic** · 03-21-2007, 12:18 PM

Oh man, I got really sick last night....some sort of flu, bug, food poisening thing...this doesn't help my cause in this challenge, as I was doing so well before.

I'm sure I'll lose a couple lbs from this, but not in the right way.

I've been watching my calories and working out the same I used to....only thing that has changed is that I'm trying to get to the 5:45am

spin class at least 1-2 times a week in case I can't workout after work...makes me tired.

**INDY GS** · 03-21-2007, 12:26 PM

I'm going to start a spinning class in two weeks. I need to get back a little more staying power before i hop on that pain train. I started a spinning class a few years ago, and that whipped me into shape damn fast. Glad I can hit the 8:15 session rather than the 5:00 am.

**rideit** · 03-21-2007, 01:51 PM

I lost 7-8, I dropped three belt loops since Feb. It feels great.
8 to go!
(Peru is still going to kick my ass anyway...how much do you guys wager i can lose by April 25th?)

**schwerty** · 03-21-2007, 01:52 PM

Starting yoga tomorrow. Never done it before. My wife has been trying to get me into for years.....I'm a bit intimidated. I'm sure the scenery will overcome the intimidation factor.

**schwerty** · 03-21-2007, 01:53 PM

Originally Posted by rideit

I lost 7-8, I dropped three belt loops since Feb. It feels great.
8 to go!
(Peru is still going to kick my ass anyway...how much do you guys wager i can lose by April 25th?)

Not eating any more Ruebens?

**steve** · 03-21-2007, 01:55 PM

i was in costco today- they have carnegie deli pastrami sandwiches in their pizza area now..

i was seriously jonesin' to try one.
meh, i ate imitation crab meat instead.

**rideit** · 03-21-2007, 01:59 PM

That was my last binge sammy...and DAMN it was good!
So, I'm showing my first listing today!

I wish I had Bob Graham's new listing...I checked out the open house.
A BARGAIN at $12,000,000.
And he will probably get 6%.
Yeesh.

Nice house, tho'.

**rideit** · 03-21-2007, 02:00 PM

Originally Posted by schwerty

Starting yoga tomorrow. Never done it before. My wife has been trying to get me into for years.....I'm a bit intimidated. I'm sure the scenery will overcome the intimidation factor.

You are gonna shart all over your sweats.
I just know it!

**schwerty** · 03-21-2007, 02:01 PM

Congrats Rideit!

**mrryde** · 03-21-2007, 02:01 PM

i'm jonesin for some sushi, other than that i don't care about food

...thats my story and i'm stickin to it

**schwerty** · 03-21-2007, 02:02 PM

Originally Posted by rideit

You are gonna shart all over your sweats.
I just know it!

Nope....I'm planning on wearing Depends!

**mrryde** · 03-21-2007, 02:06 PM

i just put on a pair of shorts that i bought last summer, and they are falling off....

cool!

**rideit** · 03-21-2007, 02:07 PM

Ah, just photoshop em' off. You are good like that.

**schwerty** · 03-21-2007, 02:08 PM

Originally Posted by mrryde

i'm jonesin for some sushi, other than that i don't care about food

...thats my story and i'm stickin to it

What's wrong with eating sushi when you're trying to drop some lbs?

**steve** · 03-21-2007, 02:11 PM

Originally Posted by schwerty

What's wrong with eating sushi when you're trying to drop some lbs?

nigiri and rolls are actually higher in calories than most people think.

it's the rice that kills you..
and with something like sushi, which isn't particularly filling, the calories can really add up.

then, of course, you'll see a lot of american additions such as mayo or fried items in rolls..

interesting info here:
http://www.sushifaq.com/sushi-calories.htm

**yentna** · 03-21-2007, 02:16 PM

Originally Posted by tradygirl

Yentna - what is your calorie intake when cutting fat? I'm in the same boat as you right now. I've restricted my calorie intake, but I know from experience that too much restriction makes it impossible to gain muscle mass, therefore impossible to lose fat. I'm trying to average around 1600-1800 calories per day right now, with a 30-60 min workout every morning and an hour+ bike ride/climbing every couple of days. Just curious to see how much you're eating if it seems to be working.

That's exactly it - muscle is what speeds up the metabolism...

Anyway, I try to keep my calories between 2000 and 2400 (2000 on non or easy workout days, and 2400 on hard days), with at least 100-110 grams of protein. According the the dietitian, I needed to be eating 2900 calories a day to maintain, and 2400 to lose.

Granted, I work out a LOT, but that just seemed like so much food!!! So, I decided to bump from 1700 up to the 2000-2400 plan I'm currently on.

Now, whether it's working... I started my "higher" calorie diet in January, and before that had been on a steady increase in fat %. Since then, I haven't lost any POUNDS, but my fat % seems to have decreased and my muscle mass has gone up.

Problem: I have a tendency to include foods like ice cream and wine/rum and of course, my weakness: York Peppermint Patties, in my caloric intake. So, my total daily calories may be in the right range but they all aren't very healthy! That's kind of sabotaged my fat % fight.

And Steve - wasn't trying to make it sound accusatory or anything, just want everyone to be aware. Sounds like you are!

**schwerty** · 03-21-2007, 02:21 PM

Originally Posted by steve

nigiri and rolls are actually higher in calories than most people think.

it's the rice that kills you..
and with something like sushi, which isn't particularly filling, the calories can really add up.

then, of course, you'll see a lot of american additions such as mayo or fried items in rolls..

interesting info here:
http://www.sushifaq.com/sushi-calories.htm

Thanks for the link!
I love fried shit in sushi rolls. My favs are when the chef fries the stuff inside and then dunks the entire roll in the fryer to finish it! I guess I better stop ordering that.