3 Fat Chicks on a Diet Weight Loss Community - Torn and looking for advice

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Petite Powerhouse (Post 4210166)

You definitely don't have to lose weight to change your body proportions. When I started lifting I weighed 129. That year I made myself a dress. A couple of years later I was still 129. I tried on the dress. It was too small in the shoulders and back and way too big in the waist, hips and thighs. I had completely changed my body through lifting, but I weighed the same.

I've seen pictures of other women my height who weighed around 130, like I did, and I am always shocked. I was much smaller, much smaller at that weight—because of weight training.

I agree with your doctor about cardio—especially aerobic cardio. If you do too much of it, you do lose muscle. That is why your body-fat percentage will be higher at the end of your journey if cardio is not tempered with weight training.

My mother in law and I are within a couple pounds of each other (she weighs 5 less). We are the same height and she has a MUCH smaller frame than I do. BUT... I wear 2-3 dress pant sizes smaller than she wears.

She thinks it's because we are built differently (she has big hips). Dude, I have big hips too - how else would a 11 lbs 14 ozs baby come out naturally? Difference? I work out! I do a mix of cardio and weights and it makes a HUGE difference in body shape. I'm getting some nice muscle whereas she is just flab. Of course I'm going to be smaller - significantly. She cannot believe that I can wear some 8s when she is needing 14s.

Quote:

Originally Posted by sontaikle (Post 4210256)

I just look odd right now. I have muscular arms and legs but a flabby middle. I'm not sure if it's because I need to exercise my core more, or if I need to wait for the skin to catch up.

This is probably just about where you carry your fat on your body. And a little belly fat can hide whatever core muscles you've been developing down there. At any rate, the solution is fat loss rather than more core exercises (not that those aren't good for you!)

Quote:

Originally Posted by sontaikle (Post 4210256)

I think it's more high protein + weight lifting than anything else. I would love to do Paleo but I know I wouldn't be able to restrict myself like that. I do try to keep paleo as much as possible, but I would rather eat the right amount of protein without snapping and binging because I've restricted my food too much :lol:

When you lift VERY HEAVY and eat enough to build muscle it does amazing things for your body. I'm constantly getting compliments on my arms and legs, which I attribute to weight lifting.

I just look odd right now. I have muscular arms and legs but a flabby middle. I'm not sure if it's because I need to exercise my core more, or if I need to wait for the skin to catch up.

My guess is that it's mostly loose skin. Your weight loss is recent and I'm sure your skin is not done with shrinking up yet. Of coruse, it could be your last little bit of fat left too, but if you keep doing what you are doing - full body work, you will get the best body "you" can get.