First of all I would like to say I’m a huge (new-ish) fan of this site… thanx! I don’t think I’ve ever commented or asked a question so here I go:
I am one of those very few females that have a bunch of muscle (and I didn’t get it from working out so don’t get scared out of it, its genetic, I promise…) , which I know is something most want to achieve, but for me, It’s frustrating because that means I can rarely fit in boots and skinny jeans unless they’re stretchy and still, they look umm… for a lack of a better word… weird.
The only time I have ever successfully achieved a leaner look is by doing 2 hours of intense cardio a day and needless to say I injured my leg. Also by not working out at all and only dieting, but I do LOVE to workout. I used to do the (VERY) light weights (3lbs ha!) and all but I found that I rarely got a good sweat so I started on the 5lbs, then 8lbs and now sometimes 10lbs… I do see that I’m getting in better shape but unless I diet, I gain weight… So… time for the big question…
I want to lose a bit of weight, 5-10lbs (i’m at 5’4 and 125lbs) because it helps with my running, but I can’t seem to do it… any ideas?
Thank youuu!
Angie
Specific weightloss questions are hard, because there are so many different variables, and not every person is the same. What I can say is that if you had to do 2 hours of intense cardio to maintain a weight- its not a natural weight for you. You shouldnt have to work out that hard and that often to maintain a weight, and the fact you hurt your leg is proof that you were over training (unless you fell off of a machine or something.)
It might just have been a turn of phrase you use, but the goal of lifting weights isnt to “break a sweat”- thats what cardio is for. Be thankful you are muscle bound, appreciate your body for what it is. I can honestly say that a 5 pound weightloss isnt going to make a difference with your running, 10 maybe, but 5, no. Your weight fluctuates about 5 pounds a day anyway, so I doubt you’ll notice much of a difference in your running performace by losing 5 pounds.
I dont know your definition of the word diet, but no one has to diet. If you eat healthfully, stay within your calorie range, and hit all your food groups, you’ll be fine. Restricting calories isnt going to help, and in most cases it backfires by slowing your metabolism down. If you are gaining weight when you arent “dieting” you are eating more than your body needs.
You are at a perfectly healthy weight, are obviously very active and healthy enough to get through your workouts. I would say to be happy with the weight you are at, stay consistant with your eating and exercise, and realize that 5 pounds isnt going to effect your running very much at all.
There’s nothing wrong with accepting your body the way it is. Some people are bigger than others, some are smaller, taller, shorter, etc. A weight that is right for one person is not right for another, and if you have to workout 2 hours a day to stay at a certain point, its not natural for your body to be there.
I came from an overweight familiy: my mom has been dieting her whole life,without too much success, really. So I grew up with all that and was always a few pounds overweight but not too much.When I was fifteen my mom took me to a doctor to control it (i wanted to of course) and i began dieting for as long as I can remember until now. (i am 31.) I love to eat healthy food, and I began training also, mostly aerobics one hour daily. When I finished university,about 7 years ago,i began to train more: 3.5 hours daily. I have lost weight and i am in a good spot now, weight wise but of course i feel tired in my body and my soul of this. I have more or less the same weight since about 3 years ago. But when i began to eat more,or doing less exercise, i immediately got fat (and my jeans dont fit)
So i was thinking,what can i do? I cannot living like this….
Sol
A lot of what i said to Angie goes for you, too. If you have to work out so much to maintain a weight, your body doesn’t want to be there. Dieting is neccessary- but eating healthy is. You can’t eat whatever you want and expect to maintain a weight, but you also cant be so strict with your food you are driving yourself nuts. You are burning out, and thats not a good thing. It means you are doing too much. Eat in the calorie range you need to be in, workout most days of the week, and your body will even out to the point that it is happy at. If you do this, you wont get fat. You cant have an all or nothing attitude about these kinds of things. Its not kill myself in the gym and diet to the point of bare minimum calories, and you cant not work out and eat whatever you want. Walk the middle line and your body with respond, but most importantly, do it for your peace of mind.
Whats the point of weighing a few pounds less if you are too mentally and physically exhausted from doing so you can’t enjoy it?
We all need to work just as hard at accepting ourt bodies the way they are as we work in the gym. Not everyone is the same. And that’s awesome. Focus on what your body can do for you, as opposed to what size jeans it fits into.
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