Total newbie, totally confused

fitmama0914

Hi, I have a bunch of questions, I'm sorry if this is long, and I'm hoping you all can help. I have recently decided to start working out (again), and I haven't been able to commit to a workout or schedule because every time I find one I think I'll like, I see another "this one is better" article. I am 30 years old, 5'2, and for the last 12 years I have weighed 113 with the exception of pregnancy, and the one time I got down to 102 (not on purpose, and I looked gross). According to an online calculator I have 31 percent bodyfat. Except sporadic workouts, my only physical activity has been from being a parent and chasing kids. So, I am "skinny-fat". At the beginning of the year, I downloaded the fitness pal app, started eating clean and working out-ish (trying to know what I was doing).At a lower activity level, it said I needed something like 1900 calories. At a higher level, it said 2200 or so. At 1900, I had trouble meeting that goal. I was clean eating, and by the time I got to about 1600 I just wasn't hungry anymore....

But, I hear you need to eat more to build muscle? 4 months ago, I had literally sat on my couch for a year, because of high risk pregnancy, and then nursing a baby that wouldn't let me get up....I may be totally wrong, but it seems to me that my eating habits aren't the problem, it's the being sedentary....Do I need a calorie deficit? I have trouble gaining weight in general, will I not build muscle if I don't eat more?

I've also read that for beginners, a three day a week full body workout is best. The last few times I've done that I've never made it past the third workout. So this time, I've started with upper body one day, then lower, then core, then rest....Is this going to be sufficient for my goals? I want to look good under my clothes, not just my jeans.I *think* I have decided I'm going to ignore planned cardio, and the allure of HIIT, and Tabata, and P90x, and stick with the split, until I find out if that'll work or not. I'm ok if it takes a year of work to get where I want, I just don't want it to take 2 years from not knowing what I'm doing.

If this is in the wrong area, please move it

Cherimoose

I have trouble gaining weight in general, will I not build muscle if I don't eat more?

If you truly want to increase your size, yes. If you just want to look more "toned" and reduce your body fat, then no. Your appetite should increase when you lift regularly.

I haven't been able to commit to a workout or schedule because every time I find one I think I'll like, I see another "this one is better" article.

Don't follow articles, follow established program used by millions. That would include Stronglifts, NROL, and Starting Strength.

shadow2soul

I haven't been able to commit to a workout or schedule because every time I find one I think I'll like, I see another "this one is better" article.

Ignore the articles. They will change monthly sometimes more. If your looking to reduce body fat, then weight lifting is the way to go. As a PP mention stronglifts and New Rules of Lifting for Women are great programs. The important thing is to find a program you enjoy and stick to it (no matter what the latest articles say).

There will always be a new fad workout routine and articles about them (just like diets and diet pills). It only takes a short time for a fad to fade and an article will be out about something new that they claim is "better" (just cause an article claims it doesn't make it true).

As for calories, make sure your including calorie dense healthy foods in your diet. Things like:
- Almonds
- Peanut Butter
- Avocado
etc
Lifting weights always makes me hungry. Maybe not the day of the workout, but the next day I feel like I'm starving.

Stronglifts is a good 3x a week full body workout. You can read more about it here:
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/560459-stronglifts-5x5-summary

And you can see the awesome results of it here:
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/948109-progress-photos

fitmama0914

Thanks I'm thinking about trying 30 day shred. And doing cardio. I bought hard body and saw it had crappy reviews, so I exchanged it. I think that way everything will be lined up and structured for me. I've seen starting strength mentioned in forums ..I'll check it out. Thanks.