Gaining Instead of Losing Fat

(traci simpson) #21

Your metabolism slows down yearly. 4 years ago I was in the best shape of my life and now I’m about 10 pounds heavier. It sucks.

(Scott) #22

@David_Mathis I pulled up the USMC weight chart and I can’t help but feel like something is wrong. I am just shy of 6’2" and when I lost to the weight of 173 lbs. people said I looked gaunt. My BMI was also was also dead in the middle of the range for my height (whatever that is worth). Using this USMC chart I would need to lose another 43 pounds to get to 130 lbs. that is in the middle of the weight range and therefore assumed to be ideal. When I look at a Marine I see a lean but stout muscular form and bean pole is the last thing that enters my mind.

At my current 183 lbs I have a small amount of belly fat and feel confident that if I reduce to 177 lbs. it would be gone. Am I the only one that thinks this weight chart is too low? I just feel like I am missing something. David, I am not attempting to start a trolling argument but I am curious as to how men of my height could use this chart as a guide.

(David Mathis) #23

I looked at other weight charts, such as the one put forth by the NHS, and the numbers are about the same.

It’s all relative to build. 74 inches ranges from 148 to 214. I think that for my frame my body looked ok at 155. I’m pretty sure a bigger skeleton weighs more too.

This is the only picture I can find of me in 2014, when I was 155 and doing keto. At the time I was cycling 10 - 20 miles a day and doing calisthenics. The backpack had a 25 lb weight in it that I was using when doing pull-ups to make them more challenging. I still had a slight amount of fat at 155 and I probably could have gone even lower. Notice how tiny my wrists are.

Me 2014 - 155 lbs.

I’ve been lifting weights for the past 5 or so years since then, so I’m guessing that maybe that 155 number might be a bit low for me now, depending on how much extra muscle mass I’ve built.

Everyone is different.

(mole person) #24

I think you are reading the chart incorrectly. The height is in inches so 6’2 is 74 inches which gives a range of 148-214 lbs. So, 173 lbs would be low middleish.

(mole person) #25

That weight suits you very well. Definitely a good target.

(Scott) #26

I am a dumb a$$. I was puzzled that the cart was using tenths of a foot but yes I was reading 62 inches as 6’2". The chart makes much better sense than I do now. It may be time for new glasses too.

(David Mathis) #27

I had misread your post too.

(Parker the crazy crone lady) #28

My brain doesn’t computer properly either, sometimes! :laughing:

(traci simpson) #29

they also measure the circumference of your neck because believe you me there are many, many Marines that are not hitting that height and weight chart.

(David Mathis) #30

The mystery continues. Took 90,000 steps last week, burned around 6,500 extra calories. This isn’t including weight training 3 days out of the week. Still sticking to about an 1800 calories diet and I have plenty of energy during workouts and walks. Still in ketosis. Did a 5 mile walk yesterday and felt great.

Still have not lost a single pound. Seems to defy the laws of nature.

(mole person) #31

Are you already doing both of these? Are you also only eating only when hungry rather than to a predetermined calorie or macro count maximum? You don’t need to be eating all your fat macro if you aren’t actually hungry for it.

If you are doing these already there are plenty of other tweaks. You’ve likely hit your “Phinney weight” on basic keto. If you want to lose more without waiting ages you may have to make some additional changes. I had to modify several times to get to my current 104 lb maintenance weight.

(David Mathis) #32

I normally eat only when hungry. I don’t eat meals. So a meal could be a snack and a snack could be a meal. I average about 1800 calories.

The only artificial sweeteners I use is stevia, in chocolate.

What blows my mind is how much energy I have on so little calories combined with so much movement and never losing weight.

I guess it means I efficiently burn fuel?

(mole person) #33

Wait. What do you mean you don’t eat meals? Snacking is a real no no on this diet. This might be your problem. How many separate times are you consuming calories in a day?

It probably has a less benign reason. It probably means that you are somewhat insulin resistant and your metabolism is ratcheting down rather then releasing fat. Snacking is very likely working against your efforts in this respect as it will keep your insulin elevated for longer.

(David Mathis) #34

If my metabolism is racketing down, I would expect to feel fatigued.

(David Mathis) #35

Plus, my blood sugar has been lower over the past week, in the 80s.

(mole person) #36

That’s a much better number. Had you changed something?

(David Mathis) #37

Yeah, I started eating 2 cups of cooked spinach each morning for electrolytes and started using a watch to track 15000+ steps a day. I’m still keeping a close eye on the blood sugar after you mentioned in the 90s may be a concern.

I missed the comment about eating meals and snacks. To clarify, I don’t eat with any fixed pattern. I eat only when I feel hungry, at a snack portion or a meal portion depending on how hungry. For example after I walked 5 miles Sunday, I ate a handful of peanuts and felt fine.

(Marianne) #38

I’d think about staying off the scale; it can really be discouraging and how accurate it is, really? I know where I am by how I look and how my clothes feel. The number to me is meaningless. Same with the pee sticks and measuring blood glucose. I bet you look great at 6’2" and 180-185. You must be pretty toned

Do you exercise that much because you like to, or maybe to help with stress? If you want to continue with that, I’d up your food and calorie intake (without counting), and make sure you are getting enough fat. Eat good sized meals, to satiety. You won’t gain weight. You are doing a lot and need a lot of fuel for your metabolism to continue at your pace.

(Marianne) #39

Son, it’s all relative!!!

:rofl:

(Meant to be funny, not patronizing.)

(David Mathis) #40

But I get what you’re saying. I need to stop it.