love handles

nhinalta

Hey guys, thanks for all the advice so far.
Another question... I seem to be developing love handles and a bigger belly. I'm eating at least two (100% natural) peanut butter sandwiches (on multigrain bread) a day and at least two bananas a day. Are those causing weight gain? I'm doing ab exercise during most work-outs and can actually feel the ab muscles under the flab. Also I'm drinking a shake after workouts (Dymatize Elite Whey Protein Isolate) and taking Purple K creatine. Are these causing the flab?
PS, I'm not doing a lot of pre or post cardio because I look(ed) too skinny as is.

chalk

I'm a bit confused as to what shape you actually are.
Are you getting fat?
Or are you skinny?
What is your daily diet? Hope its not only peanut butter sandwiches and a protein drink. Post up your normal daily diet for us to look at.
Also, what about your workouts?
The problem might be that you workout is too much OR too little. You may also, depending on what else you eat, be taking in too many calories from fat or simple carbs.
The creatine might make you hold a little more water but it's not going to make you fat. And it's not your whey either. Give us a bit more info so we can see where the problem is.

Nick500

as chalk says nhinalta, post up your complete diet and training plan and we will scrutinize it and sort it out for you ..

nhinalta

Yeah, I guess I'm a bit confused at my body type too. Seem to be skinny in the arms and legs and more barrel shaped on the core. I hope to post a pic in the near future. My diet varies from day to day, but goes something like this...
morning: banana & creatine
(workout--early--about 4:am)
post workout: protein shake & banana
mid morning: 2 peanut butter sandwiches on multi grain bread
Lunch: Salad bar (cottage cheese, lettuce, pickles, 2 boiled eggs, tuna--all low fat with an little dressing)
mid afternoon: trail mix or pretzels
supper: usually a low fat meat (bar-b-q), vegatable, potato, salad
evening snack: frozen yogurt or icecream or cereal with soya milk.
and occasionally a few cheats consisting of refined sugar (candy, chocolate, pastry). Hope this gives you enough info.

nhinalta

sorry, forgot to post the workout...
about 5 times a week (at a gym)... day 1 upper, day 2 lower
workout consists of machines and free weights (usually 3 sets, 10 reps, but I'm trying to increase the weight as often as possible with less reps) {push ups, chin ups between upper body weights/machine. A trainer told me not to rest between sets, but to do the push ups etc. Basically, to not stop... just keep going until I'm done.}
I do abs during most workout days-- incline sit ups (20 x 3 sets) , plank (2 minutes), jack knife, elbow to opposite knee (60).
For cardio I do rollerblade when I can (but rainy weather has prevented this for an entire month!)
Also always take stairs (2 at a time).

chalk

4am training! 24hr gym?
What time do you go to bed?
Anyway, your diet is quite poor. Peanut butter is ok in its place but 2 peanut butter sandwiches. Get rid of that. Also those pretzels are full of fat. And the cakes etc...I don't think I need to say anything

Meal 1 - you need more. try oats, and some scrambled eggs & banana for fast carbs.

Post workout - protein drink inc. approx 50grams carbs.

Meal 2 - approx 1 1/2 hours after your PWO drink.
Chicken or turkey breast & some rice or potatoes

Meal 3 - A tin of tuna, salad and some bananas

Meal 4 - Chicken or turkey etc with rice or potatoes.

Meal 5 - A sandwich of some sort (if its peanut butter then switch this meal with Meal 3).

Meal 6 - Before bed. either a protein drink or some milk or some cottage cheese.


WORKOUT

Mon. Chest 12 sets & Biceps max 8 sets
Tue. Back 12 sets & triceps max 8 sets
Wed off
Thu Legs 12 sets & abs
Fri. Shoulders 8sets & traps 8 sets & some cardio (but not too much approx 30mins)
reps 6-12 increase weight when you can do more.

Follow this diet and routine and you should see some results. If you start putting on too much of the wrong kind of weight the either do an extra day of cardio OR an easier option reduce you calories.

Ther's no guarantee that this will work for you but stick with it for a month at least and see how it goes. I'm sure the others will comment and suggest some ways of improving this.

Squatty

Agree with Chalk about the diet. Between 4 am and mid morning you only have 2 bananas as solid food. Need some carbs in first thing. I normally have about 100g of oats.You could mix a protein shake in with it if its a struggle.

Not sure about the pretzels and the evening ice cream.You may have to knock them on the head if getting rid of the love handles is the goal

Jonny

SUrely Ice Cream Before Bed isnt the greatest Idea as well!
ops:

kirstenc

last year i tried miscaller caesin (think thats how you spell it!!) before bed. Not sure evryone else's views on it?

Nick500

Gotta ditto everyone else,

'evening snack: frozen yogurt or icecream or cereal with soya milk.
and occasionally a few cheats consisting of refined sugar (candy, chocolate, pastry). Hope this gives you enough info.'


This is awful!

Nick