Overweight student

[Firebird92]

Ok so here is the deal, I am currently a student at a local community college. I am 6'0 and i weigh 238 pounds. I am clearly out of shape. I am a husky build like my father who is in good shape but still looks like a big guy. My problem is next quarter I'm trying to become a fire cadet. I wanted to this quarter but A I know I'm not in shape, I mean I looked over the agility test and I know I can pass it but still. B Paperwork was still being processed when the 20 avail. slots filled. My real problem is for the last two months I have been trying to lose weight and have not lost a single pound. I count calories (Eat less than 2100 a day) and my BMI says I would have to eat 3500 a day and be a couch potato to maintain my weight. But I lift weights and do cardio for a couple hours a day 3 or 4 days a week but I have not seen a single change. I feel like this is truly the only thing holding me back. I know no FD is going to hire some overweight 20 year old when there are people more physically fit trying for the same job. I was hoping that some of you may know how to remedy my situation perhaps tips or hints that could possibly help me out.

Note: National Avg for my Height/Age/Build is 204 which seems unachievable at this rate.

[BULL321]

Don't give up. It will come with time, and hard work. And remember, muscle weighs more than fat.

[zzyyzx]

Duplicate post...

[zzyyzx]

First, I hate BMI and "national averages." They seldom seem realistic.

Of course, you should check with your doctor before any changes in your exercise/diet routines. Take a step back and look at your daily habits. When are you eating your meals? You should be eating at least 5 times throughout the day. What are you eating? I can eat 2100 cal in Snickers bars but I may not lose weight. For your weight training, you should be doing more reps with less weight and consider doing some sort of circuit training. For your cardio, try to keep your heart rate around the 120-130ish range. Also, change your exercises every couple weeks so your body can't adapt to the same stuff. Keep a journal with you and write down everything you eat and drink.

If you can honestly say that you have been trying to do this, it may be worth a trip to a medical doctor that specializes in weight loss. First, they should run some tests to make sure everything is alright and then use this information to build a nutritional program for you. They may suggestion some vitamin supplements (not the stuff from GNC, but more like regular vitamins). Remember that a realistic healthy weight loss is less than 5 pounds per month.

[ScareCrow57]

When I got out of basic training a few years back I was 6'2" 210 pounds. According to the goofy charts I was overweight. At the time I had 6 pack abs, as opposed to the keg abs I now have. I could do push ups all day long and run the mile in 5 minutes. Ignore those silly charts, pay attention to the agility test and what you need to do.

[Acklan]

When I got out of basic training a few years back I was 6'2" 210 pounds. According to the goofy charts I was overweight. At the time I had 6 pack abs, as opposed to the keg abs I now have. I could do push ups all day long and run the mile in 5 minutes. Ignore those silly charts, pay attention to the agility test and what you need to do.

At the risk of damaging my rep. I agree with ScareCrow57. This is excellent advice.

[ChiefKN]

Counting calories works. If you take in less then your body needs you will lose.

If you are working out and actively putting on muscle mass, then you might not be losing weight. However, you are going to be stronger and more fit (and less fat). Remember muscle weighs more than fat.

Get a set of calipers and take some body fat measurements.

As others have mentioned, height and weight charts are not the be all and end all.

Are you running? How far can you run and in what time?

[sixthehard]

You can't train a bad diet! Eat alot of chicken and salad but don't torture yourself on your diet just keep it up. I was in the same boat as you i just went nuts on the elipticle
(to save my knees the pounding) and like the earlier post said lots of reps of mid weight not 3-4 max weight.

What i do to this day is think of my dream dept when i'm getting tired and imagine them saying (you get it done and you got a spot on our dept) YOU WILL GET IT DONE! trust me.

Keep it up! if you want it that bad it will happen. Also apply every where you can not just cadet but for FF aswell who knows you may just get the spot .

Cheers!

[johnny46]

Get a tapeworm.

[Firebird92]

Get a tapeworm.

Lol not a thread here can continue without a spot of humor.

[WD6956]

When I got out of basic training a few years back I was 6'2" 210 pounds. According to the goofy charts I was overweight. At the time I had 6 pack abs, as opposed to the keg abs I now have. I could do push ups all day long and run the mile in 5 minutes. Ignore those silly charts, pay attention to the agility test and what you need to do.

Good info.

I am 6'5, close to 250 and in great shape. Forget all that height to weight ratio nonsense.

[CGITCH]

If you are increasing your running endurance, and increasing strength it is possible that you aren't loosing weight due to more muscle and less fat.

[popknot]

Pass the CPAT. Screw the charts.

Strength train. If you're over the "chart weight" but you bench press 300, it'll wash.

[sTages19]

In all honesty I do not believe that you are trying very hard. Be in a 500 calorie deficit diet and work from there. Eat healthy, not just low calories they should be good calories. When you workout out, work hard dont just go through the motions. As for lifting do some tabata work. Cardio wise if you just want to lose the fat in the quickest way possible do HIIT training as opposed to long distance cardio. Also I agree that those charts are bogus, but dont get it in your head that its all this new found muscle why you havent lost weight, youll just be teasing yourself. Yes you have probably gained some muscle mass but not nearly enough to keep your weight stagnant. Work hard and clean up your diet.

[nameless]

Is your fitness level improving? Don't get caught up on weight. You need to pass an agility test, not pass a weigh in for what you are trying to do. If you are able to run faster and further and lift more weight why worry? As someone else said try calipers and doing some skin fold measurements. Are your clothes feeling loose or baggy?

[RspctFrmCalgary]

Some people lose inches faster than pounds ... measure your upper arms, chest, waist, thighs and calves.

[johnny46]

My BMI is 28. In the academy, with 6% body fat and less muscle mass, I was a 27. BMI is stupid, performance is everything. That idiotic chart wants me to be 170. That would make me a beanpole. 5'10" 170 lbs? Srsly? I would like to slap the no doubt anorexic moron who designed that idiocy. It would probably break his feeble bird bones.

[Tipys]

What i do to this day is think of my dream dept when i'm getting tired and imagine them saying (you get it done and you got a spot on our dept) YOU WILL GET IT DONE! trust me.

I do this same thing. And to always keep that in Mind. I wear my Dream departments shirt when at the gym. (Boston FD) It pushes me to do more while I am there.

I am with others on here about the gaining muscle at the same rate of losing fat. I been hitting the gym for months. I stay right around 160lbs but I know I am feeling healther and more fit as time goes.

[johnny46]

I stay right around 160lbs

I remember being a high school freshman, too.

[CGITCH]

Just for fun I looked up my BMI (6'2", 165 lbs) and it said I was 21 or so. I'm the skinniest person on the planet and my BMI is 2-3 points about the underweight. Stuff is wrong.