I don’t know the answer to this question. I hate that.
I am posting because I am 9 1/2 weeks out from my next figure competition and I hit 40 years old last June. This is my third year competing and it appears that getting rid of fat is more of a challenge for me now.
I have a girlfriend, who is also 40, who told me that to lose weight at our age you literally have to stop eating – or restrict eating. Now – I have never really had to do that but I am feeling it now.
So I tried it just yesterday. I need to drop a couple pounds. This was really more of a test than anything else. Knowing I need to prepare for a competition the right way, skipping meals is not a smart choice because it just messes up my metabolism.
Well, I skipped one of my lunches, leaving a 4 1/2 hour gap in between meals and I was starving. I typically go between 2 1/2 hours to 3 hours in between meals. My energy levels stay even and I am never hungry. I like that.
Well, yesterday I couldn’t even focus. Plus my stomach was growling. I can’t even remember the last time I let my stomach growl. Then I was just in a bad mood.
Now – I don’t weigh myself. I wait until I check in with Pete, my nutritionist and coach because he monitors my body fat ever week. I’ll be seeing him on Friday morning at 7:30 after I am done with my morning workout.
I have been pretty good about my eating. I don’t eat anything fried, no sugar, and no alcohol all week. On a Saturday I will let myself have one glass of wine and on Sunday I will eat a treat along with my cheat meal.
Well, the scale is not budging. I would think once I modified my diet and lay off the bad stuff, that the pounds would drop a bit. I hate sounding so self critical, but what’s my problem?
I haven’t really had to do much cardio either. I have just been blessed with a fast metabolism and great genetics. Well then – I am left to think it’s because I am getting older and my hormones are changing – thus the weight has packed on during the off season and now it’s not sliding off like it usually does.
I am not going to stress about any of this just yet – because I am far from my show. I have nearly 9 more weeks to go and the numbers are far from bad. It’s just interesting that my normal modification has not shown any results.
I have just been happy that the 40 seemed to be the new 30. And I am certainly happy with how well I have aged. But what is going on?
Today I worked out my shoulders and chest. I worked out hard enough that I simply could not lift my arms up anymore and I felt a great pump around my delts.
I drink a gallon of water a day and a cup of coffee in the morning, nothing else. My diet is clean. So I guess I need to start sweating more, huh?
Well – we’ll see. I will post my results on Friday morning…
