Cardio For Slow Metabolisms, Need Help

[Need4Lean]

Hi there, for the past four months I've been really going at my cardio routines to lose weight. Before I started, I wasn't eating right and will admit to "snacking" when I shouldn't.

When I started, I made a massive life style change that more or less threw off everyone I know. I'm tired of being overweight and I've really come to like the act of working out. It also helps to keep me sane.

I think, I don't know, but I think my metabolism is, well, slowing me down. I jog six times a week, every morning, for three kilometres (about 1.5 miles) and spend two hours at the gym three days a week for more cardio and strength training. Over all, after doing this and eating less and trying to develop I haven't seen any noticeable results, though the jeans are fitting looser.

I don't want to come off as whiny, sorry if I am. I'd like help because I've tried dieting and exercise back in high school (I'm currently 22) and really did not have the drive to accomplish anything. But now the work feels rewarding and the lack of gains, well, losses to be more precise, isn't deterring me. If anything, I want help to push forward, maybe I'm doing something wrong? I've unlocked a health nut and despite doing months of research, I need more help and learning, not afraid to admit it.

I'm currently 5'8" and 263lbs, a lot of it is muscle, but I'd say I've got at least 60lbs to lose to be at a healthier weight. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

[varbo]

Welcome,
I can only give a few tips. 1st is Fitday.com and log your food intake. you might be suprised at how many calories and fat you are consuming I sure was.

Remember that vegetables and lean meats are good. Chocolate bars and cookies are bad even if they come in 100 calorie containers.

I don't know if 2 hour a day at the gym is neccesary. 30-45 mins of weights and 30 mins of cardio should be enough. you might just be overdoing things.

Just my thoughts.

[n10city]

My first thought is you're not eating enough, but then you'd still lose weight (muscle or fat) after four months. So I'm going to say something that will probably make you laugh... EAT MORE FAT!

From just a look at your post, you may be of the endomorph, a body type whose body craves fat and poorly uses simple carbohydrates (sugars). Much like myself, and its taken a while for me to figure it out. And as anybody here will tell you, a good looking healthy body is 90% nutrition. You seem like you're expending enough calories consistently, now just learn how to make the best out of that workout.


Good fat: polyunsaturated, monounsaturated. Flax seed, fish oil, walnuts, almonds, yadda yadda. You can download the diet i use if you go to scivation's site and look up its ebooks, simple enough.

Scivation CHA diet.

[Need4Lean]

I'll definitely look into the Fitday.com, maybe it can tell me something I'm not getting. Thanks varbo!

n10city, I was hoping someone wouldn't say that, I've heard about it before and hoped I was maybe a meso-endo hybrid but from what I've learned my hopes are more or less dashed.

In any case, I'll moderately take your advice and eat a bit more and see where that gets me. The only problem is since I've been eating less my stomach has shrunk, though not in the way I wanted it. I'll try getting at higher calorie foods or just supplement with a "heavier" protein powder.

I am training harder, frustration and mild insanity keep me going, that and a low burning irritation for my high-metabo friends (it still hurts me to watch others eating like whole pizzas and watch it just not affect them... ever). I have one thing they don't, a secret knowledge, well not really, I can just grow muscle faster and better than they can. I once wanted to be a bodybuilder, but decided on a career in the military was better pay and more fun, so now instead of piling on pounds of muscle, I work at getting leaner and better at cardio.

Thanks for the tips and advice, I'll give them a try!