I'm a skinny fat person: a rant
Well, by the thread title you can see where this is going. The thing that I have feared has come upon me. I weighed in this morning at 121.2# which should make me really happy. The last time I weighed that little (ironically) was when I joined my current gym. The "orientation PT" asked me what I wanted to accomplish with my workouts. I specifically remember saying "I don't really want to lose any weight but I want to increase my cardio endurance."
I originally set my goal at 120 remembering that but thinking that it would be virtually impossible to accomplish. I also thought that I would be quite happy with my body & I'd be able to wear all of my old clothes if I ever lost that much. Wrong. I'm back to being able to fit into most things but there's still lots of stuff that won't even zip, much less look good on. Now, there's no doubt that I am much happier with myself than I was 9 months ago but I really expected to be perfectly happy by the time I got to this weight. AND, what I thought would be impossible has really not been that hard. Don't get me wrong, finding the will power to say no to the chocolate and finding the motivation to get to the gym has NOT always been easy. As long as I have done those things though, the weight has steadily come off. I've lowered my goal to 115 now but I'd be completely happy to be at 120 with about 8-10 fewer pounds of fat. I started taking belly dancing classes but it is kind of disgusting being in class and seeing my belly...um...dance without me.:o I know what I need to do to keep from being a skinny fat person (and I'm doing it for the most part) so I guess I'm not really looking for advice, just venting a little. I think it was Mel who said that it took 6 months to lose the weight and 4 years to get the body she wanted, but I'm a single women in my 30's. I don't have that kind of time:lol: |
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Don't rush a good thing. At 120# I doubt that any man would even notice those problem areas on an otherwise beautiful woman, anyways, if a man doesn't love you because you don't have the perfect body well I say dump the smuck!! Julie, sounds like you know what to do but are just in a rush to do it. Start doing more weight training and your muscles will shift around and give you that buffer look we all want. |
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Julia... I've thought a long time about answering your post. I've had several ideas .. almost all of which involved my telling you about the many times I thought I was at goal.
But I was reminded of two pieces of advice I got here at 3fc. Probably on the maintainers forum. First ... optimum fitness is a meandering journey with a variable destination. When we decide to lose weight .. we begin by counting pounds on the scale. But as we move along we become aware of other variables like inches, loose skin, muscle tone, endurance etc. Progress then begins to have many faces ... other than the number on the scale. Second was about looking to the past. Don't compare yourself now to some wistful image you seem to recall from the past. You have lived in your body. Pardon the expression but it's slightly used. I'm lighter now than I was when I was 25 but I've got a few stretch marks, varicose veins ... I'll never have a 24 inch waist again. My body has done me good service over the years, I appreciate that and I'll have to forgive the differences. You're just having a rough spot Julia. Something will twig and you'll be bright and optimistic again real soon. You've done awesome work so far and you'll figure out what to try next. I'm sure. |
How about staying 120# but replacing 5# of fat with muscle? When you are this light isn't dropping more weight likely to make you even more skinny-fat?
I don't think anyone needs to weigh less than 120#, unless they are very short indeed. Keep honing that physique, but do consider that you may not need to be lighter. I really like the way natural female bodybuilder's look, and would be all for it if wife (5'6" 128#) put on 10# of muscle. |
Julia- Take a deep breath! Stop trying to lose weight. It took me 4 years for a few reasons: 1) I was in denial about my true eating patterns and what my weight had to be to get the desired body fat level; 2) I'm a heck of a lot older than you and that makes a difference; 3) I want to look like a serious bodybuilder. Not everyone wants this look and if I didn't work in a gym 12 hours a day I wouldn't be aiming for it either.
What do you want to look liike? The fitness models in magazines usually only look like that for a few weeks a year. The ones who have "made it" usually have clauses in their contracts which give them 8-12 weeks advance notice for a photo shoot so they can lean down. Maintaining at 12% body fat would be a full-time job for most people. Take a look at the article I posted a few months ago: Quote:
You say you are running out of time? Nope, you're at the perfect point in time. You still have lots of hormones to build muscle and strong bones, lots of stamina, drive, and you know that what you want is achievable! If an old lady can do it, so can you! I wasted the first three years of building my body because of stupid eating. You've already conquered that. And don't do it for a man...you know that what are now is desirable...do it for YOU! Mel |
Mel, you're the best! :D
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Hi Julia - first off, congrats on your progress so far. You have done great and all the bright folks who have commented are right that it takes some time but not as long as you might think! I have one thought, though, as someone approximately your age (I'm 29, almost 30). For me, anyway, the last year or two I've started to realize what I can't get away with anymore. I've lost a fair amount of weight before and this time it's just not as easy. I'm a tad achier after working out and I have to be more careful about not injuring myself and planning my meals better. This might be the case in your situation too, and I guess we just have to grin and bear it (and hide from the wonderful older ladies on LWL who will say "just wait for a few more years and see how you like it, little missy" :lol: )
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Thanks for the encouragement ladies (and gent)
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I've increased my strength training from about 15 min/3x per week to about 1/2hr 3x and added a lot of different lifts that I wasn't doing before. If I do much more than 1/2 hr at a time I get to the point that I can't even lift my arms - or stand the thought of climbing the stairs back out to the street. I think I might get some db's to use at home so I can split my workouts up more throughout the week. Maybe get some lightish ones (10-15#s) for the lifts that I can't use heavy stuff for and save the heavy ones for when I'm at the gym. It just doesn't seem worth the drive to the gym if I'm not going to be doing cardio. Quote:
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That is funny that you admire your belly dancing instructor's physique. My wife is Egyptian and she would slap me if I told her she was built like a bellydancer.
I would definitely consider Mel's advice to do some bodybuilding. Even a little bit of weight training should cure you being "skinny-fat". |
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