Yet Another Cardio/Training/Diet Question...

[tx_law_girl]

Okay ladies...I know everyone has a different view on things, so here goes another question. Currently I am lifting heavy and doing a small amount of metabolic work 3 days a week with one additional day of sprinting and yet another of HIIT for 5 total workout days each week. I switch my workouts up every 4-6 weeks and have seen steady progress since the beginning of the year...until the last 6-8 weeks or so. I am not sure what exactly is going on, diet is clean 90% of the time with higher carbs on lifting days than non-lifting days, workouts look good and I am making small gains each week, but fat loss is totally stalled.

So...I am thinking about adding a couple of early morning cardio sessions each week to see if that gets the fat-loss moving again. I was toying with the idea of adding 45 minutes of SS on my 3 lifting days.

Years ago I leaned out really well doing cardio 45-60 minutes 6 days a week. I am starting to think my body just needs more cardio to lose fat than I have been doing.

Any other ideas, suggestions, theories?

[Nic902]

I wouldnt jump right into 45min because what are you going to do if you stall again?? Go up to an hour?? I would start at 20min after you lift, then see how that works...when you stall again, bump it to 30min. Why do more, when you may not need to? Just my 2 cents

[Kcaliaz]

Are you still working with WW? If so, what does he have to say about the stalled out fat loss? Two variables can change to break the plateau...diet or exercise. Perhaps your calories need to be lower? You didn't say what they are at currently, so not sure if that's a good suggestion. Are you carb intolerant at all? If so, maybe your carbs are a little too high?

I would definitely not increase cardio by 45 minutes right away, like Nic said. That's a lot of cardio on top of what you're already doing. Are you prepping for a show? That might be one reason to add in all that SS cardio, but otherwise, 45 min. is a lot!

[LNHantman]

i agree with the others but on the other hand

maybe you arent getting enough calories?

if youve been lifting heavy and seeing results youve definately added more muscle mass which means your bodies energy demands will probably go up.

this is only my opinion but i would reevaluate you intake-output and see because you might want to consider adding more calories or cutting back on the cardio>?

[tx_law_girl]

Thanks for the advice ladies...I am still working with WW, but I wanted some varying opinions. I think my calories might be too low, I plugged my daily foods into calorieking.com and was really surprised how low my calories actually are (1600 or so). We have also had a tough time figuring out where to put my carb level...started out low carb and felt like hell, so we have been increasing to get me to a point where I am not super crabby and lethargic but still losing.

I have been dieting since January and I have gained 15lbs of muscle mass, on top of 25lbs of scale weight loss for a total of 40lbs of fat loss. Is it possible that my body is just being stubborn because I have done so much in 8 months? I really want to drop my last 20 lbs before my 30th b-day the first week in December!!!