So confused

dana82 · 04-Dec-05, 04:04 PM

Okay....I'm so confused as to what to do as far as my workout routine. I know this is obviosuly more a body building site so most people would say do the weight training..but I'm still hesitant. I kinda go through phases with working out and dieting. I have aten clean and just did cardio and pilates and gone down in size rather quickily....I have also done cardio with a lot of weight training and it honestly took me longer to go down in size with the weight training...why would that be? I'm not sure which to do? Trainers and people into fitness say do the weight training you will burn more fat but why does it take me longer that way?

**threenorns** · 04-Dec-05, 05:02 PM

are you talking "size" or "weight"? honestly, with the weight training, you'll go down in *size* faster, but weight slower because you're burning fat pounds but gaining muscle pounds which are smaller and better-looking.

doing just cardio and diet will cost you more muscle weight than fat weight. you'll be smaller and lighter, but you'll not look any better. that's where "skinny fat" ppl get it - they just shrink in scale, they don't change actual composition.

dana82 · 04-Dec-05, 06:13 PM

okay this is what I mean say I start out at a size 6 and I just do caridio and diet I will fit into a size 4 quicker then when I train with weights granted yes I'm tighter it just takes longer...Is that supposed to happen? I feel like my body is wierd or something?

Gearloose · 04-Dec-05, 06:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dana82

okay this is what I mean say I start out at a size 6 and I just do caridio and diet I will fit into a size 4 quicker then when I train with weights granted yes I'm tighter it just takes longer...Is that supposed to happen? I feel like my body is wierd or something?

A lot of that rapid weight loss with diet & cardio is water loss. You'll shrink a couple of dress sizes pretty fast, but you haven't lost all that much bodyfat. That's why you regain it so fast when you slip off the diet & stop the cardio.

**threenorns** · 04-Dec-05, 06:46 PM

ah yes - i forgot about that: each gram of carb stored in your body as glycogen binds to 2 or 3 grams of water. because you go on such restrictive diets, your glycogen stores get depleted and that water is excreted. that's why you might notice you have a wee slip-up - couple slices of pizza, for example - and BAM! instant five-pound weight gain.

how tall are you? one thing to note is that if your target size/weight is not reasonable for your body, it will be damned near impossible to achieve and impossible to maintain without extreme effort. there are times it really pays to listen to your body.

dana82 · 04-Dec-05, 07:01 PM

Hey thanks for the replies! I'm 5'2....I think I have a small frame though because my wrists are tiny...my ideal weight is 110-115. Do you think I can achieve a lot in 3 months? It's just the beginning of weight training for me is very frustrating because I honestly do almost swell up or something...

**threenorns** · 04-Dec-05, 07:21 PM

sorry - i'm five-two and that whole "ideal weight" thing is utter drivel.

my ideal weight - based on past experience - is 125 - 140. i look fabulous in that range (although body fat was still high - no abs to speak of) - lower than 125 and i looked ghastly - bones jutting out at shoulder and hip.l this time around, i have a lot more muscle mass - if i'd had this much muscle back then, i'd've weighed closer to 150, maybe even 155 instead of 140 and i'd still have been a size 7 or so.

instead, concentrate on just doing the work - never mind the end result. when you're happy with what you see, THEN you're at your "ideal" weight. don't base it on some lame insurance chart drawn up by pencil-necks who haven't a clue and came up with the numbers by deciding 100 pounds for the first five feet, then five lbs an inch after that, give or take 'x' %.

here's what you do:

throw the scales out the window. if you MUST use them, get a good, solid wooden crate, turn it open side down overr the scales, then weigh yourself. it's about as meaningful.
get someone to take your measurements - it's very difficult to accurately measure yourself. make sure you know where those measurements were taken - jot down notes so you don't go up or down even an inch because it makes a big difference
take photos in your undies against a dark background if you're pale, light background if you're darker-complected.
shove that all in a drawer for the next two months.
follow a SENSIBLE diet, do cardio six days a week (best is to alternate HIIT with low to moderate intensity), and do the weights three days a week.
after two months, redo the measurements and photos and compare. decide if you need to keep cutting or if it's time to switch to maintenance.

dana82 · 04-Dec-05, 08:21 PM

I'll go to CVS tomorrow to buy a camera

**threenorns** · 04-Dec-05, 10:52 PM

**.V.** · 05-Dec-05, 07:55 PM

Do the right eating, the weight training, and the cardio. It's a total package.

As you build muscle it DOES make the fat burning faster and easier - they said that already. But one thing that we all tend to forget - when you first start building muscle and burning fat - muscle gains will be easier and quicker in the beginning than they are later on. The new muscle under the fat layer may push the fat out for a short while and make you look "bigger" even though you are really going down in size. This is actually a good thing - because when it happens, if it even does (it doesn't for some, does for others) you are very close to the muscle starting to show through. After that - you've got it made. Hang in there, eat right, do your cardio, and do your weights.

ajarvis · 06-Dec-05, 04:14 PM

I'm just over 5'2 and my ideal weight is between 140 and 145 otherwise I look to skinny! Right now at 146 I'm a size 4. So just agreeing with everyone in ignoring the whole "ideal weight" according to most websites/trainers etc. of figuring it out. Worry more about proper diet and exercise and you'll know when you're at your ideal weight because of how you feel and look.