NEW here and need a little technique advice

[phinfan]

I have a problem with the tire around my waist -hips, lower abs and back. I work out at home with free weights every other day, full body(I love free weights)I use low weights as I don't want to bulk up but get plenty of resistance. I get my cardio on the tredmill 40 min x6 days a week. I wonder if the hip abductor excercises can be done differantly. (done on the floor, lying on my side, lifting with ankle weights). And love handles aren't budging although I do side dips with 25lbs and side curls (I think that's what they are called; lying on my side and lifting my torso and legs up to crunch my side).

I am highly motivated and feel like a loser if I don't work out. I just think that I can do a much better job by technique and mybe changing some of these excercises. I have lost 15 lbs since Feburary by working out and cutting down on fat intake. I have 25 to go and know that I can do it by working out-not impatient just want to do it right.
BTW, I am a girl so that you understand why I don't want to bulk up.

[carcajou]

There is no way to actually 'spot reduce' or trim one part of your body. The only way to get rid of the tire is to keep decreasing the overall fat. The weighted side dips may actually accentuate the 'love handles' or whatever people call it...belt overhang ( on the sides ) so stop doing them. You may want to drop the 'side curls' as well. Do other ab exercises. You are getting plenty of cardio. Are you doing your cardio when you first wake up before eating? It will be MUCH more effective that way. You should employ as many compound exercises as you can to get the biggest muscle groups working...squat, bench press, lat pulldown and don't be afraid of using a little heavier weights. The amount of bulking that the female hormones allow can only be overcome by EXTREME dilligence and work...just ask the women who do 'bulk up' and you'll see what they put themselves through.
I'd say that you are on the right track for the most part. If you are comfortable with what you are doing then just turn your intensity up a little and look at the 'next biggest evil' in your diet and consider ditching or cutting it out. 15 pounds is pretty good since February ESPECIALLY since you probably put on 5-8 pounds of muscle...that means you really lost more like 20-28 pounds of fat!!! Awesome. Remember...work the muscles to fatigue and the more muscle you put on, the more calories you will burn-even while resting. Congratulations to you and keep at it. You are doing yourself the biggest favour that anyone could possibly do for you.

[Helene]

phinfan, don't be afraid to lift heavy. The "bulking" thing is just a myth. I'm a female, I lift very heavy and I am thin and have muscles. To make muscle or tone (the same thing) you have to challenge your muscle. To challenge your muscle you have to lift heavy. The more muscles you have, the more fat you will burn. I think you're doing too much cardio. You are probably burning some muscle doing that many cardio. Stick to 3-4 times a week, 20-30 min. Lift heavy and eat well. Get enough protein for your muscles too. Eat 6 times a day to accelarate your metabolism, drink alot of water. These are the best advice I can give you.

[ebon00]

Lift heavy!!! Otherwise you're probably just increasing non-contractile elements in the muscles and what's the use for that? Then you'll be adding body mass that's almost useless. Lifting heavy doesn't make you big just like that. It takes extreme dedication and a serious commitment. Most people on this board lift very hard and heavy and most of us are not that big (I sure as hell am not).