Losing my favorite asset....

Rebecca_MT

I've been changing my eating habits and exercising for the last 20 days. I have lost 4 pounds so far. I'm 5'2 and currently 112 lbs. I'm trying to gain muscle and lose fat but to my dismay my butt is definitely shrinking faster then other areas. Long story short is there any way to gain muscle mass and still keep my "asset" but just in a more improved way? What exercises could help? I started Jillian Michaels 30 day shred yesterday and didnt know if that would help. Thank you!

rosebarnalice

Ya can't spot reduce or spot gain. Shake that groove thang.

WA_mama2

You can build those muscles.

Squats, lunges, donkey-kicks, box-jumps. All good for boo-tay gains. Gains will be hard on a deficit, but these are still great exercises to do now.

rileysowner

rosebarnalice wrote: »

Ya can't spot reduce or spot gain. Shake that groove thang.

You can spot gain, but not really in a deficit.

Rebecca_MT

Im slowly decreasing my calorie deficit so hopefully it'll help!

LazSommer

There's always your personality.

shadow2soul

While you can't choose where fat comes off, strength training has the possibility of improving your butt. I'm actually in the process of switching from Stronglifts (a strength based lifting program that only uses 5 compound lifts) to Strong Curves (which is supposed to focus more on those glutes), because well my butt is flat. The book has a beginners program, an advanced program and a body weight program in it. I bought the kindle version a couple days ago. My current debate is finishing out this week with stronglifts or just opting out of lifting for the week and starting up Strong Curves next week.

CassidyScaglione

walk uphill. squat. do lunges. ride horses.

Rebecca_MT

LazSommer wrote: »

There's always your personality.

That one's a given

Rebecca_MT

shadow2soul wrote: »

While you can't choose where fat comes off, strength training has the possibility of improving your butt. I'm actually in the process of switching from Stronglifts (a strength based lifting program that only uses 5 compound lifts) to Strong Curves (which is supposed to focus more on those glutes), because well my butt is flat. The book has a beginners program, an advanced program and a body weight program in it. I bought the kindle version a couple days ago. My current debate is finishing out this week with stronglifts or just opting out of lifting for the week and starting up Strong Curves next week.

How has the program been working for you?

LBirkholz725

Squats are a girl's best friend!

sunnybeaches105

Google Bret Contreras. He wrote Strong Curves and he is "the" butt man in the evidence-based fitness blogging/writing/seminar industry.

Rebecca_MT

@sunnybeaches105
Thanks! Im probably going to buy the book from him

gothchiq

Squats. Different kinds of them, not just one kind (in other words, with your feet/legs in various (safe) positions. Also you may find Bret Contreras a good resource. He is "the glute guy."

shadow2soul

Rebecca_MT wrote: »

shadow2soul wrote: »

While you can't choose where fat comes off, strength training has the possibility of improving your butt. I'm actually in the process of switching from Stronglifts (a strength based lifting program that only uses 5 compound lifts) to Strong Curves (which is supposed to focus more on those glutes), because well my butt is flat. The book has a beginners program, an advanced program and a body weight program in it. I bought the kindle version a couple days ago. My current debate is finishing out this week with stronglifts or just opting out of lifting for the week and starting up Strong Curves next week.

How has the program been working for you?

Haven't started yet. I'll be starting next week and I'm thinking I'll either take pics weekly or every other week for comparison. I want reread a few chapters before I start.

gmallan

rosebarnalice wrote: »

Ya can't spot reduce or spot gain. Shake that groove thang.

You can definitely spot gain by building muscle (I have a bigger butt and smaller waist now - which wouldn't be possible unless I'd lost fat overall and gained muscle in a specific area). To gain muscle on your butt you'll need:

1. Calorie surplus;
2. Adequate protein (2xbody weight in kgs is ballpark);
3. Strength training - progressive overload; and
4. Exercises that directly target your glutes in multiple planes and with varying rep ranges, 3-4 times a week.

I also recommend Bret Contreras as a source of information/programming - I did Strong Curves for 12 weeks and it's the best my butt has ever looked.

Rebecca_MT

Thanks everyone! I just bought the book on my phone. I was expecting it to be dry but I'm surprisingly sucked in lol. I'll probably read it through while still trying to slim down (fat) and then start trying to build back up with muscle.

CajunCher2005

Wish it was that easy. Plastic surgery is probably your best bet.

Rebecca_MT

CajunCher2005 wrote: »

Wish it was that easy. Plastic surgery is probably your best bet.

Plastic surgery would definitely be easier but with all my student loan debt and being only 19 I find it nearly impossible lol I feel like working out for a fit butt would be more rewarding!

arditarose

Rebecca_MT wrote: »

Thanks everyone! I just bought the book on my phone. I was expecting it to be dry but I'm surprisingly sucked in lol. I'll probably read it through while still trying to slim down (fat) and then start trying to build back up with muscle.

That was the path I took. I lost until I was lean enough to bulk. My big butt got pretty flat. Once I started doing a lot of the lifts in the Strong Curves book in a surplus I gained 3 inches back and now I'm cutting again to see if any of it is muscle. It's a process. And I guess I'm not building my dream butt in one bulk and cut cycle lol.

Rebecca_MT

@arditarose
Thats honestly what scares me about bulking! (If anyone can shine light on this that'd be great) When I gain weight it is mainly in my thighs and its predominantly fat, which is what im trying to lose. I'm nervous that if I "bulk" it'll be counter productive to what I'm currently trying to achieve with my calorie deficit (less body fat).

arditarose

Rebecca_MT wrote: »

@arditarose
Thats honestly what scares me about bulking! (If anyone can shine light on this that'd be great) When I gain weight it is mainly in my thighs and its predominantly fat, which is what im trying to lose. I'm nervous that if I "bulk" it'll be counter productive to what I'm currently trying to achieve with my calorie deficit (less body fat).

When you bulk you need to have a heavy lifting program with a progressive overload set up. You should probably not do it as a beginner lifter. You can see changes by lifting in maintenance and trying a body recomp if that's the case.

When you're bulking you are lifting heavy in a surplus so you will gain some muscle, as well as fat. Of course it's counter productive to what you're doing at the moment. Because you want to lose fat. But once you lose the fat and you're lean enough (not more than 22% body fat), and you want to gain muscle/change your physique...you make a decision between a bulk or a recomp.

Rebecca_MT

arditarose wrote: »

Rebecca_MT wrote: »

@arditarose
Thats honestly what scares me about bulking! (If anyone can shine light on this that'd be great) When I gain weight it is mainly in my thighs and its predominantly fat, which is what im trying to lose. I'm nervous that if I "bulk" it'll be counter productive to what I'm currently trying to achieve with my calorie deficit (less body fat).

When you bulk you need to have a heavy lifting program with a progressive overload set up. You should probably not do it as a beginner lifter. You can see changes by lifting in maintenance and trying a body recomp if that's the case.

When you're bulking you are lifting heavy in a surplus so you will gain some muscle, as well as fat. Of course it's counter productive to what you're doing at the moment. Because you want to lose fat. But once you lose the fat and you're lean enough (not more than 22% body fat), and you want to gain muscle/change your physique...you make a decision between a bulk or a recomp.

Thank you for explaining! I've heard of a "lean bulk" would this be a better option since I've never done any serious lifting? I had a trainer but with my school schedule it was too much so I know basic moves but I feel like I would look silly walking into the weight section of the gym as I have always stuck with cardio!

arditarose

Rebecca_MT wrote: »

arditarose wrote: »

Rebecca_MT wrote: »

@arditarose
Thats honestly what scares me about bulking! (If anyone can shine light on this that'd be great) When I gain weight it is mainly in my thighs and its predominantly fat, which is what im trying to lose. I'm nervous that if I "bulk" it'll be counter productive to what I'm currently trying to achieve with my calorie deficit (less body fat).

When you bulk you need to have a heavy lifting program with a progressive overload set up. You should probably not do it as a beginner lifter. You can see changes by lifting in maintenance and trying a body recomp if that's the case.

When you're bulking you are lifting heavy in a surplus so you will gain some muscle, as well as fat. Of course it's counter productive to what you're doing at the moment. Because you want to lose fat. But once you lose the fat and you're lean enough (not more than 22% body fat), and you want to gain muscle/change your physique...you make a decision between a bulk or a recomp.

Thank you for explaining! I've heard of a "lean bulk" would this be a better option since I've never done any serious lifting? I had a trainer but with my school schedule it was too much so I know basic moves but I feel like I would look silly walking into the weight section of the gym as I have always stuck with cardio!

I think your best bet is to get on a lifting program NOW. First of all, it's going to help you maintain muscle mass/lose less muscle at the moment (we lose muscle along with fat unfortunately), and you'll have a better baseline once you're at goal weight. Second, you'll have more time practicing the lifts and be a little more experienced for when you start upping your calories. Programs that are tried and true: Strong Lifts 5x5, New Rules of Lifting for Women, Strong Curves (this is the booty program, you can start it now), All Pros Beginner Routine, Starting Strength.

I think the best option would be to start one of these, get to your desired body fat %, and then decide what to do. Honestly you might want to lift in maintenance for a bit before a bulk.

A lean bulk is just a 250 calorie surplus. A half pound per week gain. That's what I did...though a little fast because it was during the holidays. I definitely got chubby but after 3-4 weeks of cutting I feel relatively lean again.

Rebecca_MT

@arditarose
Thank you so much for all the information! I'll probably start the Strong Curves program in the next couple days and get in the gym to start lifting. I'll eat at my maintenance calories as well.

arditarose

Rebecca_MT wrote: »

@arditarose
Thank you so much for all the information! I'll probably start the Strong Curves program in the next couple days and get in the gym to start lifting. I'll eat at my maintenance calories as well.

Awesome! Great program. Love Bret Contreras.