Updated photo, honest opinions needed
auntstephie321
Posts: 3,586 Member
I was hoping for more of a change, I'm struggling to see any difference which is a little discouraging. I'm not actively trying to lose but I am trying to build muscle and lose fat.
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Your upper back is definitely more defined. You seem to have lost fat there and your thighs are slimmer.
I believe you are making progress and shouldn't feel discouraged at all!3 -
I'm seeing it in the area by your armpits on each side in front photo. Lol
And in the side view on your upper thigh. Much less "sticking out" on the upper thighs going on.
Those are most pronounced but I do think the abdomen is showing slightly more flatness too.2 -
It's really frustratingly slow1
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Look at the difference just above your waistband! It's not as puffy (lack of a better word!) Look at your elbows (yes I'm analysing for you!), the "roll" (again, lack of a better word) is gone! You are workin it!1
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I don't see a lot of difference. Have you logged accurately these past 8 weeks? What's your average deficit? What kind of workouts are you doing?1
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@karlottap lol I totally didn't look at my elbows, I do see a difference there.
it's something 0 -
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Gotta look all over, but there are differences!0
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I wonder why my one leg is bigger than the other0
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It took me a sec, comparing, but i do see differences in multiple areas. I actually think it's good for eating at maintenance + cardio! You'd probably see more difference with strength, from what I know, but so far I haven't managed to stick with a program long enough-due to injuries-to see a difference myself.
(That's why I'm in physical therapy now though!) 1 -
That's the same reason I haven't done weights. I was getting closer to going to pt but after jogging and walking my neck and shoulder started feeling better. So I think I'm gonna try adding in some weights and body weight stuff to see how it goes. I hope pt helps you, I went years ago and it was wonderful.1
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Recomp is a sloooow process. Much slower than weight loss in my experience. I don't lift weights much. Mostly, I run. As an old guy, I didn't expect much change, but my calves showed a pretty good improvement in muscle definition, and my quads are slooooowly showing some muscles. After a friggin 1.5 years!
Wanna see my leg?
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The most pronounced difference I see is shoulder to shoulder, arm pit to arm pit across the front. Look at the actual muscle definition. To me that is a significant change...especially the pit "pooch" area, and your pecs totally make me jealous.1
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auntstephie321 wrote: »
Eating at maintenance and not lifting weights = no change in body composition. It's just not going to happen. Think about the math involved.
Without a caloric deficit you won't lose fat. Without a caloric surplus you won't build muscle. Without weights you won't gain strength or build muscle (or recomp which is sort of possible for beginning trainees).
If you want to see changes, you need to make changes.6 -
@knitormiss thank you for pointing some areas out. now that I look at it on the computer screen in the gigantic format it is in
I can see changes in certain areas and others that look like they are beginning to deflate somewhat.
@kirkor thank you for your input I have to be carful with weights, I tried adding them in previously and aggravated an old neck injury, that's why I started with some cardio, I figured that would be better than doing nothing. I'm going to try to add some weights again and hopefully have less issues this time. the movement of my arms from jogging is helping to strengthen that area, I can tell because at the beginning my arms were getting really fatigued and they no longer do, but I can feel some muscle ache in that region the day after, that extra strength there may help to not aggravate my neck again.2 -
auntstephie321 wrote: »It's really frustratingly slow
Yep. We're in turtle territory...sucks. Actually, turtles look at us and as they pass us they shake their heads in sympathy.
I've done YAYOG for almost 10 weeks now. I can see a slight difference in my shoulder muscles, pecs, and triceps. Other than that, not much else...I am doing harder push and pull variations. I've been doing ab and leg work and making progress there...just can't really see anything. I do very little cardio. I walk. And occasionally do some HIIT. But it's mostly strength. That's where you need to focus. Pick the easiest forms and slowly step up to avoid injury. It doesn't burn mad calories at the time, but it's burning for longer after and building more little calorie torchers for you. It's a long-term metabolic investment. Slow but steady.4 -
I see more muscle in the upper body and your belly is way less fluffy in profile. You may benefit from resistance training. If you can't do weights, maybe some body weight workouts?1
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baconslave wrote: »auntstephie321 wrote: »It's really frustratingly slow
Yep. We're in turtle territory...sucks. Actually, turtles look at us and as they pass us they shake their heads in sympathy.
So, I didn't watch this whole movie, but it reminds me of the scene in I think it was Grumpier Old Men, when some older than the GOM dudes is driving in them in a car, supposedly shaving time off a 5 hour car ride, and you see other cars pass them. Then you see bicyclists pass them. Then you see some young folks jog past. Then the grannies power walking! Then parents with strollers dawdling along. All while they look back at this barely moving older car... And then, just when you're dying watching it, the driver dude literally dies...
I know the scene was funny, but when we are going slow enough to compare it to health things... UGH... Anyway, hope it made you smile.2 -
@knitormiss I haven't seen that one, but it sounds pretty accurate1
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auntstephie321 wrote: »It's really frustratingly slow
You have to remember, you are attempting to simultaneously engage your body in two contradictory metabolic processes. To lose fat, you need to be in a caloric deficit, but to actually build muscle, the body needs a slight caloric surplus. The way that people have done it in the past is to get into cyclical diets, for example, eat a 500 kcal deficit on non-work out days and a 500 kcal surplus on work out days so you are eating right around net maintenance. Its a difficult balance to strike and you have to be on top of all your numbers so you don't overshoot (gain muscle and fat) or undershoot (always losing).
There are two sources of gains in the gym, muscle efficiency and muscle growth. Most of the early strength gains are due to an increase in efficiency as opposed to size. As a newbie (or new again if you haven't been lifting in a while) you will probably need to get through the efficiency stage before seeing any size growth.
Also, remember that if you drop your body fat low enough, you will automatically look more in shape due to there being less fat to cover your muscles and the definition will show through.
I don't have the patience for recomping at the moment. This time around, I chose to shed the weight first, then worry about building the muscle. I do lift, but its once a week, so that I don't lose the muscle I have already. Keto is also very muscle sparing, so that helps as well.3 -
@ryanb1385 thank you for all that info. I guess I'm not technically trying to build muscle, I want to be stronger but not looking to get bigger, if that makes any sense. I really just want the fat to continue to leave. it seems to be even though I'm not losing any weight, that's why I say I'm eating at maintenance because the scale hasn't gone down so I must be right around maintenance, I don't super accurately log anymore, I've loosened up a bit over the past few weeks or so.1
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auntstephie321 wrote: »@ryanb1385 thank you for all that info. I guess I'm not technically trying to build muscle, I want to be stronger but not looking to get bigger, if that makes any sense. I really just want the fat to continue to leave. it seems to be even though I'm not losing any weight, that's why I say I'm eating at maintenance because the scale hasn't gone down so I must be right around maintenance, I don't super accurately log anymore, I've loosened up a bit over the past few weeks or so.
That makes perfect sense, and is a common goal. Heavy compound lifts will get you there the fastest (if you can do them, I remember something about injuries in your posts), and maybe a slight caloric deficit, or just keep on keeping on as it seems to be working for you. Body transformation is a slow process, don't give up on it yet1 -
You won't "get big" by lifting heavy. Women in general have more of type 1 muscle fiber, endurance fibers. They don't bulk easily.
If you eat at maintaining and not providing stimulus for muscle growth, you'll just stay the same. If you wanna ease into things try BWF as suggested above or just a lighter load/the bar until you're comfy to up your game. fitnessblender.com has a lot of exercises targeted to women.
I'm gonna buy this, so I can rehab my shoulder at home and work on upper body strength:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00KYH38KS/ref=mp_s_a_1_11?qid=1462297245&sr=8-11&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=woss+suspension+trainer
Cheering on you!3 -
Foamroller wrote: »You won't "get big" by lifting heavy. Women in general have more of type 1 muscle fiber, endurance fibers. They don't bulk easily.
Women also dont have the test in their bodies to "get big" like men, unless they start on the needle, but that's a whole other discussion.Foamroller wrote: »
If you eat at maintaining and not providing stimulus for muscle growth, you'll just stay the same. If you wanna ease into things try BWF as suggested above or just a lighter load/the bar until you're comfy to up your game.
100% Agree
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www.nerdfitness.com/blog/2011/07/21/meet-staci-your-new-powerlifting-super-hero/
www.nerdfitness.com/blog/2013/09/26/an-update-with-staci-our-powerlifting-superhero-plus-academy-scholarships/
Seriously. She looks smaller at a high weight. It's all about the muscle, baby!!!!2 -
Yup! Shoulders, arms, thighs are showing it! Keep up the work!1
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@knitormiss lol I've read those before I must be building some muscle cuz when I compare to my photo last july there is a major difference but I weigh more currently than I did then1
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I looked at the pictures some more. Look at the puffiness difference at the front view (and side view) armpit area! The ribs, below your top, are more defined. The back view I can see a definite difference in the lower shoulder blades as they look sharper. Even your hands look smaller to me. Don't discount what you are doing for yourself! Even with your "slips" in food choices you look awesome!1
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Oh, btw: there's some hard work showing in that leg picture there @wabmester!
And Steph, please proceed with caution on the weights! I know you know this, but it's so easy to aggravate old injuries! But, best of luck! I know it's needed at this point, but I haven't been able to even lift one pound weights without inducing pain (sooooo much more than just soreness), and I'm not doing more than two reps of five! Anyway, be careful! I hope you find a way without pain!1 -
@karlottap oh I know it, I did some 7lb weights yesterday, just a very little bit and I can feel the soreness in my right shoulder/neck area that I have problems with. its really annoying to want to do something and know that I can't2
