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Want to lose muscle
e_v_v
Posts: 131 Member
Hi!
I've been an athlete for my whole life, consisting of mostly gymnastics. Therefore, I'm very muscular. I'm about to graduate college and move on with my life, and one of my goals is to slim down. I don't have a need for all this bulk. I'm wondering what type of exercises and diet systems would help me remain fit but not have bigger biceps than my husband--so reduce my muscle mass. Get what I'm saying? Any and all advice would be much-appreciated!
I've been an athlete for my whole life, consisting of mostly gymnastics. Therefore, I'm very muscular. I'm about to graduate college and move on with my life, and one of my goals is to slim down. I don't have a need for all this bulk. I'm wondering what type of exercises and diet systems would help me remain fit but not have bigger biceps than my husband--so reduce my muscle mass. Get what I'm saying? Any and all advice would be much-appreciated!
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Replies
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A ginormous calorie deficit will do the job0
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TavistockToad wrote: »A ginormous calorie deficit will do the job
Plus no exercise0 -
queenliz99 wrote: »
Plus no exercise
Or lots of steady state cardio and not eating back your exercise calories.
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I can't believe I'm writing this.The only time I lost any noticeable amount of muscle was when I took up crocheting and sat on my butt for hours on end and did no other activity. If you don't use your muscles you will lose them. I wasn't trying to lose lbm, but I did.0
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Eating low on the protein, don't strength train, near the top end of a calorie deficit. Or just get a buffed out husband who doesn't care. Of course, I'd not endorse not training and eating low protein. Losing muscle takes quite a bit of effort and ANY physical activity that reactivates it can get hypertrophy to happen again.
BTW, your pic doesn't looked "bulked up" at all.
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
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Low protein (high enough for good health) + steady state cardio.0
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I wish muscle was transferable. I'd happily accept some of your "excess bulk"!
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BTW, your pic doesn't looked "bulked up" at all.
Just what I was thinking.0 -
Simply not training as much will help out. Don't use them and you'll lose them. Keep eating healthy, keep working out, just not as intensely as you were with the gymnastics. I DON'T recommend a large calorie deficit or lowering protein; be patient, find other ways to workout that don't use as much strength and the muscles will decrease on their own0
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I also agree that you don't look in the slightest bit 'bulky'0
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Hi! First of all, you don't seem "big" in your picture at all! but everyone has their own ideal body
Now if you want to lose muscle, you should maintain a healthy diet consisting in low fat low protein and high carbs. Why high carbs you would ask? Well because the training you will have to do to lose muscle requires it! You should start running/jogging/walking long distances at steady pace, trekking is also very good! Just notice the physique of marathon athletes or any long distance runner, and you'll see they are all pretty slim, with fibrous but small muscles, which are ideal for resistance, instead of bulky muscles that are ideal for explosive and heavy WO. Hope it helps and good luck!! 0 -
Is your avi current?
Going from an active college lifestyle to full time employment often translates to added fat/weight (more sedentary hours in general, more money for food, etc.) It's likely you'll meet your goal of increasing your body fat % with relatively little effort.0 -
Eating low on the protein, don't strength train, near the top end of a calorie deficit. Or just get a buffed out husband who doesn't care. Of course, I'd not endorse not training and eating low protein. Losing muscle takes quite a bit of effort and ANY physical activity that reactivates it can get hypertrophy to happen again.
BTW, your pic doesn't looked "bulked up" at all.
Do you have any evidence to support this? Whenever I gain muscle though weight training and then I stop the training and the diet that earned me that muscle, it went away quickly. Would I get it back faster if I started that training once more than I did during the initial gain and specific diet? Yes. Would it just accidentally come back without effort and specific diet? My thinking is no.
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You don't look bulky at all. In fact, I think you look very nice.
You'll probably be fine without doing anything drastic . you'll graduate college and move forward with a desk job likely and won't be training so much because you'll be busy working and having an adult life. So because your lifestyle will change so much, you likely won't be training so often anyway. I wouldn't even worry about losing muscle if I where you. You look great already and once your out in the real world, you probably won't be training much anyway.0 -
Maybe keep doing what you're doing and buy hubby a shake weight?0
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I'm looking for all that bulk and also not seeing it0
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try doing some yoga also, that can help stretch out bulky muscle. Also lots of veggies with not too much protein.0
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I found being hit by a car and spending 3 months on crutches was very effective - but only lost muscle from the leg that was dangling uselessly.
Inactivity will result in muscle loss. Simple as that, no need to reduce protein or even a calorie deficit.
But like many others in this thread I don't think you are very muscular at all let alone bulky.
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This must not be a current pic because I don't see any bulk.0
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Take your husband to the gym. Get him a structured program. Make him eat tons of food. Bang problem solved.0
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We all have different goals and there's nothing wrong with not wanting to have more than average muscle mass. However, OP, your avi doesn't indicate that you do and I'm a bit concerned that you are not really seeing reality when you look in the mirror.0
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Spending time in a wheelchair will result in muscular atrophy.0
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I agree though. You look like you're 120lbs at the most. In no way do you appear bulky. It might just be you seeing yourself as you truly are. It's very easy to get caught up in "how we think we should look". You look fit and healthy, but definitely not bulky and muscular.0
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No offense...though I don't think this would offend you in this case. You don't look like you have that much muscle.0
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Add me to the "you look great in your avatar picture" group.
But as you get away from what is essentially a life of leisure (college for MOST people),
and don't have as much time or energy to devote to sports, your body will change.
Most people don't like what happens, but if you want to lose fitness, lose muscle, and
gain fat, maybe you will.
If your husband is insecure about how strong or fit or beautiful you are,
it's his problem to deal with. Maybe counseling would help him?0 -
Everything is relative. I think this thread needs a pic of the OP standing next to her boyfriend.
With them both wearing tank tops.
And then we'll see what's up
Haha. True.0 -
Atrophy happens (dependent from person to person on how long after not working out) when muscles don't get used. For some it's a month or so, others may take a little longer. It's much easier to regain muscle back the next time around than to initially build it in the first place. Hence why athletes or previous lifters who stopped for a period of time, can gain back muscle (a little) on a deficit.
Do you have any evidence to support this? Whenever I gain muscle though weight training and then I stop the training and the diet that earned me that muscle, it went away quickly. Would I get it back faster if I started that training once more than I did during the initial gain and specific diet? Yes. Would it just accidentally come back without effort and specific diet? My thinking is no.
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
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Not really. Muscle is attached to bone and no amount of yoga, stretching, pilates, etc. will stretch it any further than where it's attached. If someone is "bulky" that means they have fat covering their muscles. Leaning out would reveal definition of whatever musculature that person has.chelseasans wrote: »try doing some yoga also, that can help stretch out bulky muscle. Also lots of veggies with not too much protein.
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
0
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