Hey all,
over the past 4 weeks or so, my initial motivational kick (started on January 23) has slown down. I have been less motivated to follow diet properly, so have ended up reverting to eating about 3 larger meals a day rather than 5 smaller ones. I havent really been counting cals recently, but i only drink water, try to avoid sugars, and (at least) eat less cals than i used to before i started dieting. in the past four weeks i have also not noticed any significant weight changes. I started off at about 170 pounds, and for these past weeks i have only been wavering between about 150-155. I used to work out nearly every day :db: , but those habits have turned into more like once every 3 days or so. This is mostly due to a busy schedule. Thought this may seem like rambling, there is a point: have i hit a platue? is there anything to do to bust out of this slump? more importantly, is there still a chance for me to be ripped for summer? - my initial goal.

Also please fill me in on the effiecencies of body fat calculators. I started off at 23%, now it says i'm at like 19%. 5'6", 153 lb. I dont look fat at all, in face i am developing visible abs. ( i carry a lot of fat on my butt)

yet im still worried about that body fat percentage. please fill me in.

thanks a LOT
-Ben

A plateau is more about you doing all the same things you normally do, but seemingly remaining the same; I wouldn't say you've hit a plateau, this is a motivational thing.

You need to think about why you decided you needed to get fit, how much better you're going to look and how much better you look already, and ask yourself if you want to revert back to how you were before you started.
Though I've had no real motivational issues, if I feel myself wavering a little bit I question why I started going to the gym months ago, and what my specific targets are for the next few weeks.

You need to motivate yourself. The only boost I can give is that Summer is about 2 months away. Regardless of what you look like now, 2 months is easily enough time to sculpt a body you'd be proud of on the beach.

What keeps me going is I visualize the feeling of being on the beach or wherever with a body far better than I've ever had. It may sound stupid, but it works for me.

And don't get me wrong, I fall off every now and then. Hell, I did this weekend. But then when I got back in the gym and realized that my arms are almost where I've always dreamed them to be, it makes me push that much harder.

A plateau is more about you doing all the same things you normally do, but seemingly remaining the same; I wouldn't say you've hit a plateau, this is a motivational thing.

You need to think about why you decided you needed to get fit, how much better you're going to look and how much better you look already, and ask yourself if you want to revert back to how you were before you started.
Though I've had no real motivational issues, if I feel myself wavering a little bit I question why I started going to the gym months ago, and what my specific targets are for the next few weeks.

good advice- i certainly wouldnt want to revert to my old body after all the work i have already put in. thanks

Myabe it's not that you're not motivated maybe it's that you're just bored with what you're doing.

Maybe you just need to mix it up a bit.

Change your weight routine. If you're lifting weights try one of those body weight exercise routines for a couple weeks. There's a great one here: http://www.trainforstrength.com/workout1.shtml

Change your meals: Try some new food or bars or shakes that you haven't tried before.

I've got a picture of this totaly ripped runner on my fridge. This guy motivates me everyday.

Good luck and hang in there.

One thing I noticed in your first post is that you mentioned you exercise once every three days because of a busy schedule. That simply isn't enough if you want to continue to se gains. You've lost quite a bit, and from that, you have to remember that the more you improve, the harder you have to work to continue to see progress.

Get back to 5 meals per day. Plan ahead. Try to get rid of the excuses that can easily generate in your mind. Visualize your goals.

First and most important, Ben, your avatar kicks ass!
You know, he wasn't always evil...

I myself have hit a bit of a wall where I can't wake up early enough to do cardio in the mornings 4x/wk. I'll make you a deal: you get back to lifting and I'll get back to my aerobics routine!

First and most important, Ben, your avatar kicks ass!
You know, he wasn't always evil...

I myself have hit a bit of a wall where I can't wake up early enough to do cardio in the mornings 4x/wk. I'll make you a deal: you get back to lifting and I'll get back to my aerobics routine!


haha alright, you have a deal!

i noticed that you go to the University of Delaware! i'm going there next year. class of 2008 woot

i noticed that you go to the University of Delaware! i'm going there next year. class of 2008 woot

Haha, nice... I'll be a Senior next year.

Where are you from and what are you majoring in?

Haha, nice... I'll be a Senior next year.

Where are you from and what are you majoring in?

I'm from delaware, and as of now i'll be going in as an engineering major. does delaware have good weight room facilities? i know theres one in harrington, and the little bob, are they nice?

I'm from delaware, and as of now i'll be going in as an engineering major. does delaware have good weight room facilities? i know theres one in harrington, and the little bob, are they nice?

Not bad... I started as a Computer Enginner but changed to Computer Science in my Sophomore year. I actually hate the major but not as much as I did CPEG. Anyway, :gl:.

The only decent gym we have is the Little Bob, the "dorm" gyms suck IMO. I do ALL my lifting and most of my cardio there. Sometimes I use the gym in my apartment complex (University Courtyards) to run on the treadmill or I run outside. The Little Bob actually has a great lifting area, it just gets too damn crowded. I try to go at off hours, because at peak hours you can wait 5-10 minutes just to get on a bench or cables. Now if you're doing 5-6 exercises, that's a hell of a lot of waiting. But it's worked out alright, I enjoy lifting there for the most part.

Are you going to be living on or off campus? If on, what dorm?

Not bad... I started as a Computer Enginner but changed to Computer Science in my Sophomore year. I actually hate the major but not as much as I did CPEG. Anyway, :gl:.

The only decent gym we have is the Little Bob, the "dorm" gyms suck IMO. I do ALL my lifting and most of my cardio there. Sometimes I use the gym in my apartment complex (University Courtyards) to run on the treadmill or I run outside. The Little Bob actually has a great lifting area, it just gets too damn crowded. I try to go at off hours, because at peak hours you can wait 5-10 minutes just to get on a bench or cables. Now if you're doing 5-6 exercises, that's a hell of a lot of waiting. But it's worked out alright, I enjoy lifting there for the most part.

Are you going to be living on or off campus? If on, what dorm?


I'm in the honors program, so i will be living in russell complex. there isnt by chance a gym in there is there?

Okay you had gone off track in your program, but at least try to eat clean and frequently, then slowly work your way back to exercise regularly. Starting good diet straight again is easier than starting to work out right away. Anyway diet is 70% of weight loss right?