Hi, I'm new to Traineo. I came here because I have a weight problem. I weigh 155 right now, and want to get down to 145, but for the last 2 weeks my weight has more or less stayed the same. I workout daily for 2hrs at the gym, and run around my neighborhood with 35lbs in my backpack. I was thinking that maybe my muscle growth is as fast as Im burning fat, so my weight stays the same? If this is so, how can I lose more fat than I grow muscles? I'm only 16 and want to be one of the few to pass the state physical tests, weight is the only one I'd fail.

for one thing, i'd be veeery careful running with your backpack on. i've known people to mess their back up good doing that.

check your diet, cut out sodas and junk food. cardio will burn off that fat, HIIT (i'm new to HIIT myself) is supposed to burn more fat than regular cardio. also, lifting more reps/lower weight supposedly will burn more fat than high weight/less reps (i don't know for sure).

i'm sure some smarter people than me will have advice as well.

later

I keep my back hunched over a bit to support the weight; I have only heard of joints being hurt from weights, which mine did for the first few days. I choose weights because no matter how fast or long I run, my recovery time will get me up in no time which offers me no challenge. Weights kills my heart which I think is good (I do use HIIT though, sprint across streets, jog short streets then run longer ones.) I'm taking a whey protein when I wake up and after workouts and it's giving me fantastic results (my biceps feel like rocks when flexed, but I still only bench 140lbs total.) Today I think I found what I need to do; lots of cardio. I think Ive been focusing on my muscles too much, with little break for them to rip. I also worded my question bad, I made it seem like all I care about was passing the test; well, I want to fix that by saying I would love to burn off my fat by then, but even if I still weigh more,I am gonna try to get the fat off and hope my PE teache realizes the flaws of the BMI (which doesnt take into account muscle mass)

I can't help but reiterate the food intake questions. Calories are calories regardless of how they make it into your body (protein, fat, carbs). If I were you, I would pay close attention to your number of calories being consumed and try to keep it under 2000. If you are as active as it sounds, the key is really just to keep a controlled balance of calories burned vs. calories consumed. When I'm watching myself, I can lose a pound or two per week by simply keeping caloric intake around/under 2000 calories (I may or may not exercise up to 3 times/week, but no more.). If you are looking to lose faster than that, I would just caution you to be careful and not over-burden your body by not getting enough nutrients during heavy exercise days/weeks.

I don't know if I got the food thing down. I read somewhere that eating every so often rather than 3 meals a day is better because it keeps your metabolism going. Since Ive been eating more meals (fruits) I find myself more hungry faster. It seems like every hour i gotta eat something because my stomache growls. I don't know if this is good because I intake more calories, but my metabolism also uses them faster, but I try to restrict my intake to around 1500-1700 calories. The only problem I really have is at school; all they offer is crap in a bag (like pizza sticks and cookies.) I just take the pizza stick cuz it's only 220 calories and has no hygrogenated stuff. Other than that I think I just need to do a lot more cardio, the most I get is an hr or so a day, compared to 1-2 a day on weights

How tall are you? I find it difficult to believe a 16 yr old boy at 155 lbs has a weight problem. Especially if you're as active and healthy as you report.

Pick up a good sports nutrition book. I like Nancy Clark's Sports Nutrition Guidebook but there plenty out there.

If you're only eating 1500-1700 calories a day with 2-3 hours of physical activity you're starving yourself.

Drop the backpack full of weights, pick up a heart rate monitor and run more.

Any PE teacher that doesn't understand that BMI is a joke for athletes should quit their position.

Your weight doesn't sound bad at all to me.

My advice is drop the weighted runs!! If you damage your joints in your teens you'll be screwed for life!! By all means hike with weight, climb a mountain with weight, walk with weight, but never run!! Unless of course your training for Delta Company and then they will instruct you on when and where to do it under qualified supervision.

My concern is on your diet. In my experience people who sweat over their weight eat badly and exacerbate the problem. Eat plenty of protein, (and stop dreaming, this won't cause you to turn into Arnie!), eat loads of fruit and veg, drink plenty of fluids and concentrate on running, with bodyweight exercises for resistance. If you can master sets of 50 push-ups, 10 pull-ups, 100 sit-ups then you will be in cracking condition. Also at 16, this is a relatively good time to get good at these exercises as they strengthen your core without overloading your frame, as your body is designed to handle its own weight. It will take away any risks of weight training on an underdeveloped physique and give you a huge performance boost.

Oh, and chill out!! If you're stressed, then you sure ain't training, you're just breaking yourself in half.

Good Luck

I'm 5 foot 6, and if you look at me I don't really look fat; most of it is on my stomach, covering my abs (I know they're under there, I feel them!) I do lots of ab workouts, not nearly as much as weights, but I read in various places that burning fat on your stomach can't be done by just abs. i read that there is no workout to burn fat in a specific place, but you have to burn fat overall, and that what you eat will really burn fat there

And about the weights on my back thing; I think I am gonna stop doing that, and maybe hold 10lbs in my hands or something. A dog was chasing me down a street but I was so tired to get on a car I just ran in a open backyard, so I'm done with the weights in my backpack heh (was a Mastiff if you guys were curious).

I agree with the people above regarding the weight on your back. There are many safer ways to go about incorporating weight into your workout. Weight belts, carrying weights, ankle straps. I'd stick to the carrying weights in your hands if that is what you are after.

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Jason Tucker
GeekFit Podcast
http://www.geekfit.com