Coming to terms with my new body

halliean
halliean Posts: 9 Member
in Motivation and Support
I don't want this to turn into a pity party... but when i started exercising in January 2016 I was quite petite (110 lbs at 5'4"), and as I've gained muscle I've been having trouble accepting my new body.

At my last weigh-in I was 122lbs and while my belly is definitely shrinking and my arms are looking more muscular, these achievements are totally overshadowed by the distress caused by my growing legs.

As someone who was picked on for being overweight at school, seeing anything get bigger is pretty terrifying and it's hard to feel proud of my progress when my skinny jeans are baggy around the waist but I'm struggling to get them past my thighs.

I'm not going to stop exercising because wanting smaller legs is a stupid reason to quit - I just want to not care.

Does anybody have any suggestions on how to embrace my new body?






Replies

  • mccokat
    mccokat Posts: 130 Member
    Thick thighs make the world go round man.
    But seriously, being stronger is the important thing, working on your health. That's what you're doing, and your body is reflecting that. Obviously your clothes aren't going to look the same or fit the same. That's alright. Change isn't a bad thing. It can be uncomfortable and strange, but just because something has changed doesn't immediately make it bad.
    I know that it's hard to accept, obviously, but you should be proud of your accomplishments, and all the strange, too tight jeans that go with them.
  • middlehaitch
    middlehaitch Posts: 8,486 Member
    It sounds like you are doing a bulk. Is this intentional?

    A woman can only put on between .5-1lbs of muscle a month (the 1lbs being when ones diet is on point and one is following a progressive compound lifting programme).
    So, of your 12 lbs gain you have probably added about 2-3 lbs of muscle, depending on what your exercise programme is. You will also have increases your LBM blood and water volumes.

    You don't say if you have been counting your calories at all during this period.
    If you have been, you may find it is time to do a small cut. Reduce your calories by 250 a day ( .5lbs a week) while continuing with your exercise programme and eating back a percentage of your calories burned.
    Then continue maintaining at a slightly lower weight while exercising- recomp.

    Cheers, h.

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