Just wanting some opinions and advice...

I'm 5'8.5" female with a small frame and an athletic build. I currently weigh 147lbs. My measurments are 35-26-34, my thighs are 23" at the widest. I have an hourglass figure and body fat is about 19%. My legs aren't as slim as I would like them to be and I am not as cut as I would like to be. My arms have the most definition, but they have always been that way. I drive a truck for about 9 hours a day. I put on about 10lbs since I started this job a year ago. I started going to the gym 2-3 times every week since January. I do weight training on those days. Although my weight hasn't changed, I have noticed more tone in my abs and legs. Four years ago I weighed 134lbs but didn't feel as strong as I do now. I have always had a physical job so I'm not used to all the sitting down. I changed my diet and now eat pretty good. I'm very aware of what fuel I put in my body, but I still have my cheat days. I'm looking for advice on fats loss and general opinions on my fitness and apprerance, good or bad. Thank you.

Replies

  • 212019156
    212019156 Posts: 341 Member
    Sounds like you are actually doing quite well. Driving truck is not conducive to keeping weight off so you have to just be extra diligent with the diet. 19% is pretty damn good for a female, so if you can at least maintain that would be great.
  • psuLemon
    psuLemon Posts: 38,432 MFP Moderator
    Fat loss is about diet. Make sure you are in a calorie deficit and you will lose. Maintaining your muscle mass is about protein levels and resistance training. So if you want to lose fat, use a food scale and weigh your food and track every day.

    Also, how are you measuring body fat % ?
  • scubasuenc
    scubasuenc Posts: 626 Member
    19% body fat is good for a woman. I would be over joyed with that kind of BF% and those measurements. But then again it all depends on where you are starting from.... The real question is whether or not you are happy with your body.

    If you are not, then you can do something to change it. Weight lifting with a slight deficit will reduce body fat, but won't build muscle. If you are not happy with how toned you look, you might look at a small deficit, like .5 lb per week to lose some body fat and reveal those muscles.
  • Hornsby
    Hornsby Posts: 10,322 Member
    If you are truly 19%, you are doing something right. That puts you in the "athlete" range for a woman.
  • I used the army body fat calculator. Where they take your measurments and it gives you your estimated body fat % which is within 1-3% of your actual.