What seems to be happening is that the tide of fat is receding from my extremities toward my midsection. Which isn't surprising; my gut is always the first place to store it and the last to lose it. Only problem is, I didn't think I actually had much fat on my calves or upper arms. Either I was wrong or possibly some of this is muscle loss. The body-fat measuring scale remains mum: it hasn't registered any noticeable changes in rane of weight or fat, either way.
Edited to add: I checked with a couple trainers in the gym this morning, when I went there to shower after rowing; they seemed to agree that it was more likely a case of fat loss (and fat does tend to use a LIFO - last-in-first-out - queue) than muscle loss. They did say I still ought to be doing some weights, because trainers never understand about jobs and other timesucks, but conceded that rowing is at least resistance training.
I put the numbers behind the cut tag to spare those who don't care. I think I'll try to do this every month or so.
Current data
1" below shoulders: 41.0
Upper arms, flexed: 11 1/8"
Waist: 28.5" (drat)
Hips: 37"
Upper thigh, flexed: 21.5"
Middle of calf, flexed: 14.5"
Previous data, May 25.
1" below shoulders: 41.5
Upper arms, flexed: 11.5"
Waist: 28.5" (eek)
Hips: 37"
Upper thigh, flexed: 21.5"
Middle of calf, flexed: 15.5"
Paula, my own physical tendency is to hold on to fat in my core and my upper arms. And now, suddenly, it's disappearing although the only thing I've changed is that I'm using a whey protein supplement along with my soy protein supplement.
I did some Googling around the issues of dairy and this is what came up:
http://health.discovery.com/centers/womens/calcium/calcium.html
My weight numbers are staying up, but my body fat number dropped 1% in two weeks. Even the spousal unit has noticed that my body is getting harder, and it takes ALOT for him to notice change. Waist down half an inch, arms down 1/4" but scale steady, which means I'm building more muscle. I think this is the final tweak I needed.
It's stupidly hard to get the 1300 milligrams of daily calcium they recommend for old broads such as me. I take a supplement, but from what I've been reading only about half of what's written on the pill is actually absorbed. I'm better off to grab it from dairy if I can, apparently.
After my workouts I drink my protein shake which is now equal parts whey and soy protein and I wash down a piece of fruit with it to give me the two parts protein, one part carbs. My mid-morning and mid-afternoon snacks are now half a cup of no fat active yogurt with fresh fruit and before bedtime I drink a glass of the whey protein.
See if upping your calcium helps you erode the core some.
Posted by: Marn, eh at August 24, 2005 07:55 AM