How to LOSE muscle?

Cara2628

Hi, I was wondering if anyone has any tips on how to slim down.

A little background. I was a competitive gymnast for ten years, from age 7 - 17. I quit 2 1/2 years ago. I was pretty bulked up not to mention chubby at 143 lbs and 5'3. I was in shape though. Now I am hovering at around 116 (still 5'3). Since then the only exercise that I have done (a few times per week) is cardio. Usually the elliptical. Yet I haven't lost that "muscular" look, even when I was at my lowest weight of around 110.

I am incredibly insecure about how I look. It is very common for people to come up to me and say "Wow! You are so muscular! Are you a gymnast?" I don't want people making jokes about how I could beat up my guy friends. It is extremely embarrassing and people have always joked about how I have a man body.

Hearing people describe me as "musuclar" and "bulky" makes me cringe. I don't want to be seen that way. I want to stay toned while at the same time achieving a more lean body rather than looking manly and bulked up. I would rather be seen as just skinny or thin or normal. My legs have slimmed down and my 6 pack has faded, but I still have extremely muscular legs and arms. I still have that "gymnast" body. And I don't do any weight lifting whatsoever.

Any help would be appreciated

Graelwyn75

Quite honestly, looking at your profile picture, I cannot see for the life of me what the issue is.
If you think you look remotely bulky or manly, maybe you need to see someone about that, as that is not what I see.

QuilterInVA

Where are all these muscles and bulk? Women don't bulk up like men. You look skinny to me.

AJ_G

Honestly, you look great to me, and I if you don't want to look "muscular" I'd consider putting on some fat as opposed to losing muscle, as the first will make you look natural, while the second will make you look malnourished, but if you're dead set on losing muscle, don't eat very much protein

skrakalaka

Quite honestly, looking at your profile picture, I cannot see for the life of me what the issue is.
If you think you look remotely bulky or manly, maybe you need to see someone about that, as that is not what I see.

This

krrs1980

I don't have any advice for you, but to be honest, you look fantastic. I wouldn't change a thing, except your friends maybe, if they're joking about how you look?? I kid of course, but seriously, you look great!

sc10985

Your body is awesome!!! Wanna trade??? Lol but seriously screw whoever says stuff like that to you. Odds are they're just jealous.

LorinaLynn

Honestly, you look great to me, and I if you don't want to look "muscular" I'd consider putting on some fat as opposed to losing muscle...

This. You look fan-freakin-tastic. A slightly higher body fat percentage would make you look less defined, but be aware that you have a body a lot of women would cut off their pinkies for.

If the people who are saying you look muscular are you friends, explain to them that it's something you're self-conscious about, and could they please knock off the jokes. If they're NOT friends... then who cares what they think? Ignore them.

IronKitty

If you don't like your body for you thats one thing and probably not eating as much protein is the way to do it. But it seems like your critics got in your head, because you look quite slim and toned vs. muscular/bulky or masculine. I have a feeling that the people who said those things to you have their own (not so friendly) motives, because from what I see in your pics they are crazy. I agree with the other commenters that perhaps talking to someone about how you feel about your body might help the most.

PikaKnight

OP, I think you really need to seek some counseling based off of what you have said. I think that right now, getting help is going to help you more than anything else at this point.

EvgeniZyntx

You look beautiful. Really. See someone for your insecurity.

LoraF83

Honestly, you look great to me, and I if you don't want to look "muscular" I'd consider putting on some fat as opposed to losing muscle...

This. You look fan-freakin-tastic. A slightly higher body fat percentage would make you look less defined, but be aware that you have a body a lot of women would cut off their pinkies for.

If the people who are saying you look muscular are you friends, explain to them that it's something you're self-conscious about, and could they please knock off the jokes. If they're NOT friends... then who cares what they think? Ignore them.

^This.

If you're not happy with the definition, gain some body fat.

But you look great and you should be proud of your body. If your friends are making you feel bad about how you look, you need new friends. And if it's strangers....tell them to mind their own business.

Nina1007

Honestly, you look great to me, and I if you don't want to look "muscular" I'd consider putting on some fat as opposed to losing muscle...

This. You look fan-freakin-tastic. A slightly higher body fat percentage would make you look less defined, but be aware that you have a body a lot of women would cut off their pinkies for.

If the people who are saying you look muscular are you friends, explain to them that it's something you're self-conscious about, and could they please knock off the jokes. If they're NOT friends... then who cares what they think? Ignore them.

I 100% agree. However, in 10 years you're going to want the body you have now. Take care of it (not implying that you don't, I'm just saying is all).

I_Will_End_You

You look great, I personally wouldn't change a thing! You don't look manly at all. Whoever told you that is delusional. :noway:

MinimalistShoeAddict

Hi, I was wondering if anyone has any tips on how to slim down.

A little background. I was a competitive gymnast for ten years, from age 7 - 17. I quit 2 1/2 years ago. I was pretty bulked up not to mention chubby at 143 lbs and 5'3. I was in shape though. Now I am hovering at around 116 (still 5'3). Since then the only exercise that I have done (a few times per week) is cardio. Usually the elliptical. Yet I haven't lost that "muscular" look, even when I was at my lowest weight of around 110.

I am incredibly insecure about how I look. It is very common for people to come up to me and say "Wow! You are so muscular! Are you a gymnast?" I don't want people making jokes about how I could beat up my guy friends. It is extremely embarrassing and people have always joked about how I have a man body.

Hearing people describe me as "musuclar" and "bulky" makes me cringe. I don't want to be seen that way. I want to stay toned while at the same time achieving a more lean body rather than looking manly and bulked up. I would rather be seen as just skinny or thin or normal. My legs have slimmed down and my 6 pack has faded, but I still have extremely muscular legs and arms. I still have that "gymnast" body. And I don't do any weight lifting whatsoever.

Any help would be appreciated

I looked at your pictures and you did not look "bulky" at all. As a runner I think both your body and your BMI (20.5 at 143 lbs and 5'3.) are perfect!

Woomytron

Sounds to me that your "friends" are a bit jealous. I hear it all the time from people that are bigger (or bigger then a person they are talking about) that "skinny is gross" "she needs a hamburger" "men don't like bones" ect ect ect.


You look wonderful. Don't change your body because someone else doesn't like it, only do it if YOU want to. :flowerforyou:

CMB1979

This is what you would call a "First world" problem if the world were a big diet program.

3dogsrunning

Honestly, you look great to me, and I if you don't want to look "muscular" I'd consider putting on some fat as opposed to losing muscle...

This. You look fan-freakin-tastic. A slightly higher body fat percentage would make you look less defined, but be aware that you have a body a lot of women would cut off their pinkies for.

If the people who are saying you look muscular are you friends, explain to them that it's something you're self-conscious about, and could they please knock off the jokes. If they're NOT friends... then who cares what they think? Ignore them.

^This.

If you're not happy with the definition, gain some body fat.

But you look great and you should be proud of your body. If your friends are making you feel bad about how you look, you need new friends. And if it's strangers....tell them to mind their own business.

Both of these.

I'm first in line with a pinky to offer. You look amazing.

I have a friend like you. She too was a gymnast, then cheerleader, and has the type of body you describe. She has an amazing body. Muscular does not equal manly.
I can understand where you are coming from but I do think your perception is a little skewed. Embrace it.

I sometimes want to ask people if they are/were gymnasts or weight train, but I don't because people take it in a negative way. I don't mean it that way at all. I admire that body type (among others). It would be a compliment from me.

NavyKnightAh13

Sounds like friends are jealous.

Honestly, you look amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

lina011

embrace how your body looks, seriously some people would kill to look like you

ironanimal

Get fatter.

erikkmcvay

Stop listening to stupid people. You look great and are NOT that big.

bumblebums

I think you need different friends, not a different body.

SrJoben

116...getting called bulky? What? I don't believe you. Troll thread.

On the small chance this is true:

Either your friends are idiots or you are are taking offense to comments that are not meant to be judgmental or negative or to be taken seriously at all.

The appropriate response is to tell them to shut up and ignore them. If you can't do that you might need to get some form of counseling. Being that deeply uncomfortable with a body type a lot of people would kill for does not seem well adjusted to me.

Judging from your pics you don't look all that muscular, even for a woman. Further evidence of screwed perception.

AmyRhubarb

I think anyone calling you bulky or manly has a very skewed perception. You look fabulous - nothing manly or bulky about you in any of your photos!

I think sometimes people say lame stuff out of jealousy or whatever - I'm a 45 year old 5'8" woman weighing 135-140lbs and had a friend tell me I'm going to "blow away". :huh: Seriously. This after we had dinner together and I put down two servings of chili verde tacos, then a little extra meat & avocado, topped off with dessert. Blow away? Hardly. I think she just doesn't get why I lose while eating well and she struggles while eating steamed chicken breast and dry salad, and skipping desserts.

Either way - like others have said, tell your friends it bugs ya, and if they don't stop, get new friends!

insyweensy

As a former gymnast myself, I can totally see where you're coming from. I still have pretty big shoulders and legs and all that, but I have managed to lose a bunch of my muscle. Let me say first, that I don't recommend trying to lose your fabulous arms and legs. I lost some of my muscle by eating fairly low protein (like 25% of my daily calorie intake), doing a bunch of cardio (commuting 45 min per day by bicycle and running 4-6 miles maybe 5 days per week), and netting 1200 cals/day. That said... Over the past couple years I have backtracked to my pre-MFP weight, and am struggling even more to get back down this second time around. I noticed at my thinnest that I was not as strong as I used to be (which is a huge blow when you have been so strong for so long), I actually missed my muscular arms a lot (when you grow up with muscles it's hard to imagine what it's like without them... like losing a body part... sorta), and I'm sure my metabolism is not as fast as it used to be.

So yes, people will joke that you can beat them up. Heck, you probably can. But I think most people comment because they really wish they had rockin' arms like yours. If you really want to give them up, you can. But that comes with a price (lower metabolism, smaller muscles than you've had your entire life, etc.).

JennW130

People must be saying this out of pure jealousy because you look FANTASTIC. I would kill for that body lady!!! I'm going to have to murder myself in the gym to get that

FlaxMilk

You are itty bitty and beautiful. Yes, your muscle is visible, but you don't look bulky or big. You look like a woman who is in incredible health. Embrace that, own that, and show off when someone teases you.

PS: If my body looked like your's, I'd be begging for tips on how to keep it the way it is. :flowerforyou:

jmc0806

Your friends must either be joking or crazy. You look great

Barbellerella

lol wut

Wetcoaster

You look too skinny to me ......so not sure if serious.