Need to lose Muscle!!

dragonscapes24

I too understand where you are coming from. Most people look at me and think that I weigh about 190 to 200 when I actually weigh in at 285. When I was in high school I was really fit and 160 lbs was a size 10. I should mention that at 160 most people thought I was anorexic cause I looked so thin.

I would suggest pilates and yoga instead of weight lifting, not to lose muscle but to reshape what you have. Also running is great for toning and reshaping muscle rather than building it. It may also help wiht the big calf problem. Please don't rely on numbers like the BMI calculators give because with people like us they are unaccurate at best and dangerous at worst.

I would also get a second opinion from another trainer or health professional. It can be hard to find one that understands where you are coming from but they are out there.

I understand the defensiveness from your end, but please understand that everyone that posted a response was just giving you the best advice they have and was not trying to be mean or rude. Your response to the advice that YOU ASKED FOR however was a little rude.

Jenn

firegirlred

I am not a doctor.

At 5'4" I am 140 pounds. I am also a size 5-7. According to most BMI calculators, I am about a 24 or higher. According to calipers and the water method, I am approximately an 18-20 based on state of hydration and time of month. My weight loss goals were set in accordance with a sports trainer.

I UNDERSTAND YOUR FRUSTRATION BETTER THAN YOU THINK.


There are two ways to cause muscle to weigh less. The first is atrophy. It is attributed to lack of use (as in couch potato) or disease.

The second is through high rep, low weight training or isometrics. This includes the type of repetition that you see in cardio-type exercises. Pilates, as recommended by a previous poster, would fall into this category. 8-10 reps (or fewer) is massive size building, 10-15 reps will build and tone, 20 reps or higher at a low weight will tone without building the kind of muscle that is associated with size. If you want to look soft, you will have to keep some fat if you do not give up weight lifting. And 5-10 lb weights are not "small" weights for some people, like yourself. You can somewhat "refine" your muscle by doing only weights you can lift 30 times or more. Your legs are the strongest athletic muscles in your body and if you teach them that they have to carry you long distances without breaks, or sit on the couch, they will refine or atrophy.

I do have an extensive amount of medical training for not being a doctor. Losing muscle can be akin to playing with fire. To much, to fast, and you cause collateral damage.

To lose weight in the way you want, you should seek the opinion of someone educated for four years or more with required continuing education to become a sports trainer. Not a personal trainer. And no insult intended to your mother the trainer. LOSS OF MUSCLE TOO QUICKLY CAN RESULT IN HEART ARRHYTHMIAS AND DEATH. There are many examples in the media lately that come down to this kind of death. Personal trainers, while educated in a broad spectrum of fitness and exercise, do not generally have the type of training required to monitor your health and wellness in your best interest, in addition to prescribing a specific kind of diet that is necessary to achieve your goals without damaging your organs.

Please don't criticize or blow off the advice given to you by the other posters. You are touching on a sensitive issue, and your responses to the "advice" given to you will put off many people who are members of this website to lose fat and look good. Building muscle is associated with maintaining a higher metabolism and remaining fit. The majority of MFP members are doing the best that they can to look fit and be healthy, and your specific issues go against years of struggling otherwise for many of us.

I do not want to minimize your self consciousness in any way. Please consider what I have posted carefully. I would love to see you achieve your goal. My personal self consciousness lies in remaining "feminine" while in my current occupation. Butch is common in firefighting. So I understand your point of view pretty well. One of my partners is four inches taller than I am, and measures biceps and calves the same as I do. I wear a larger pant size than he does because the uniform pants do not accommodate my thighs very well. They are larger than his.

jamerz3294

OMG! You found my "before" picture, LOL!! :laugh:

ChubbyBunny

Ummm....maybe you shouldn't focus so much on the numbers (weight, fat vs lmm) and focus more on how you look and feel.

Don't get me wrong I understand....I too am "overly" muscular, but muscle helps burn fat...so the more you have the better off you are. Muscle is more attractive then fat and takes up less room.

If it's a visual issue, lose the fat first then re-evaluate. Certain workouts/styles (yoga, pilates, ball work, etc) help elongate muscle which will make it appear leaner and not as bulky
If it's a number issue, don't focus on it so much.

Dang so glad my advice was over looked.

PrincessLaundry

I am a pole dancer.

:laugh:

ChubbyBunny

I am a pole dancer.

:laugh:

Shhhhh....this is not confession!
You'll give the rest of us away!

TNTPete

Okay - so a lot of heated things going on this thread but I'll try to add some constructive advice:

1 - your body is your body and you can't change the make up, so whether you like to be muscular or not it seems you are programmed to be. Plus, you stated 1 hr of cardio and 15 reps of high weights... goes against your desires. So ...
2. As said before - elongate (stretch, yoga, pilates), rest more, and eat healthy for the fat loss.

Question for you - why are you trying to fit into a cookie cutter shape? You can be sexy, attractive all of that with your muscular build. I don't think you should be thankful that you have more muscle than other woman who want that type of build but ya gotta work with what you're given. You will get there - just gotta change the mindset, light weights/higher reps and really stretching. Boot camp training isn't for creating a slender dancer body, but a bulkier muscular body.... see if hubby can get you dancing lessons/ballet instead for your cardio... Just a thought!!

Good Luck on becoming the you - you want to be.