Contributed by anomie101
Okay, I feel somewhat accountable to share the mistakes I made in hopes to lose weight in a short period of time. When I first joined the gym about more than a year ago, I started to take my food intake very lightly as I thought, hey I eat and then I burn, so just eat whatever lar since I’m going to shed off the fats later.
But I soon came to find that, that mentality was dead wrong. I became obsessed with RPM (RPM is a 50-minute indoor cycling class based on outdoor riding. You ride to inspirational music over the equivalent of 20-25 kilometres of varied terrain, controlling the intensity of your workout with a resistance dial and pedal speed). I would attend 3 classes a week and since I’ve been told that RPM is THE GX class to look forward to as it burns most calories, I was in no position to take any extra initiative e.g run on a treadmill etc.
Apart from my obsession with RPM, I was also a Starbucks coffee freak. I used to consume a cup of Mocha Frappuccino (400++ cal) everyday, and sometimes twice a day. It went on for about a year when I realised that I had gained 3 kilos. I was so frustrated as I didn’t know what went wrong. At the time, the fasting month was just round the corner and I was eager to lose the 3 kilos ASAP before Raya. So during the fasting month, I only had Salad and a cup of Starbucks coffee for buka puasa. I would do RPM EVERYDAY with no carbo intake in my body (how I acquired the energy is still a wonder till today). I was THAT desperate.
But one night, while I was using the leg-press machine I was approached by a Personal Trainer named Julian, whose intention was to fix the way I used the machine initially. I have heard so much about him through a friend so I took the opportunity to ask him questions about my workout regime. He then signed me up for the free PT session that supposedly all new members get which I never got. (Hmm…) But the 2 sessions would only start after Raya. So after about 2 months of doing RPM everyday and eating only salad and Mocha Frappuccino for lunch/dinner, I began to wonder why I still wasn’t seeing any results.
Then after the Raya holiday was over, the free PT sessions began, and boy, what have I done to my body. I found out that I have been doing EVERYTHING wrong. I have been losing muscle instead of fat because I had no protein to help build the muscles and no carbs to help burn the fats so what I have been losing for the past 2 months was muscle. Since I ‘starved’ myself to death, I have also accidentally lowered my metabolism which further increased the difficulty for me to lose weight.
When Julian explained everything to me I felt like breaking down and crying because I was so guilty for treating my body wrong. But I didn’t give up. I started taking everything in moderation again. I cut down my sugar intake from one cup everyday to only two cups/one cup a week. I changed my workout regime from focusing on just one part of my body (legs) to the whole as I have learnt that you cant focus on one specific area to lose fats from that area only.
In the meantime, I did a lot of reading/research about fats, fitness etc. and I was determined to live healthy. Now, it’s been 3 months and I think I have managed to get my metabolism in a range where it can allow me to lose weight, I have also been eating right by taking more fruits and veggies without neglecting my carbohydrate and protein intake and everything else.
I’ve learned what moderation is and I have now successfully lost the 3 kilos I gained. I hope no one will make the same mistakes I made.
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This post was written by...
Noel Chelliah, ACE-CPT, ACE-LWMC, has been recognized as one of the Top Transformation Experts in Malaysia. No stranger to being overweight himself, Noel has gone through a life-changing transformation himself, from fat, to fit. In 2010, Noel founded the DailyMuscle Body Transformation Camp, which today helps hundreds of individuals exercise and practice healthier habits. In his spare time, Noel serves the community with various programs that promote a healthier lifestyle, and enjoys playing with his dogs.
My name is Noel Chelliah, and I’m a Transformation Specialist and founder of the 
{ 13 comments… read them below or add one }
Thanks for sharing …. I need to analyze what I am doing wrong also :)
One good book to recommend. Burn the fat, feed the muscle has all the informations you need about fat lose (please be in mind that fat lose and weight lose is totally different thing). It is only be sold as e-book. Go to http://www.burnthefat.com/. I was damn over weight last time. Even i don’t follow 100% the advice and tips. Somehow my result is amazing (even though cannot see the 6 packs :P means that still has lot of improvement). Anyway, i am a person who dislike to do the exercise myself so i oops for body combat and body pump classes
DM : haiya..you should have told me you were gonna feature my comment as an article ler….
don’t i get some sort of royalty? LOL.
[quote]“and no carbs to help burn the fats so what I have been losing for the past 2 months was muscle.”[/quote]
hm… how do I know when too much carb is too much, and when too low is too low?
i sometimes wonder if i’m actualy doing the wrong thing too. i’m trying to cut fats, esp the abdominal area and a little at the thighs.
i am currently doing weight training: different muscle groups each day, sometimes up to twice a week if muscle recuperates in time. abs exercise abt 3x/wk: decline leg-hip raise, ball crunch, medicine ball sit-ups, lying leg-hip raise, broomstick twist, 45 side bend, dumbell side bend..
other than that, i have taichi class.
but, i do cardio, whether a jog, run, body combat or power attack class, at least 4, sometimes even 5 times a week.
someone told me i’m doing too much, another friend mentioned that’s just about right. the former added to not do more than half an hr of cardio, so that i don’t ‘lose muscle’, the latter said that 45 mins is adequate to burn fats.. as classes and running should b about that long anyway.
help. :S it’s frustrating to see other body parts ie legs n arms doing well, but the waist/ abs only show a little improvement/ definition.
Hi fitchick…
recently started to gym more religiously, going almost everyday.. working on the different muscle groups etc. Also started on more Bodypump, Balance adn RPM classes..
Quite pleased… bodyfat has dropped 2% points over 3 weeks and muscles are more defined and developing a more cut shape… Like what you mentioned, if only the waist/abs can be as easily defined :p
Cheers all..
my fat percentage has dropped by 4.. APPARENTLY since e last measurement.. which i cant recall exactly when.. heh.. i do not quite believe that.. sigh
hi boonhan… :)
From my experiences, it’s very hard trying to convince ppl (especially girls) that muscle weighs more than fat and that it’s important for the metabolism…
Nice one…thanks for sharing anomie101 & DM.
Kudos
my pleasure :P
anomie101… I know another rom freak who’s into starbucks frappucinos and can’t live without them it seems… All that’s burned during the class topped up again with the cup of java ;)
Colin T.: As a guideline, meals should follow a 40 percent carbohydrates, 30 percent protein and 30 percent of healthy fat. When I’m dieting and my carb intake goes too low… I can normally tell as I’d feel a little lightheaded towards the end of the day, and a bit lethargic when its time for my workout.
shikinazlan: Muscle tissue is a man & woman’s best friend.
DM: Thanks!
hi……
How do you lose weight on your stomach without strengthening your abs?