Obese to Figure Competitor Examples?

LadyoftheIron

Has anyone gone from very large (250-300 lbs or more) to a figure/body building competitor? Or know of anyone who has?

Honestly, this is what I'd like to get to one day.

But do you lose weight, and then go at it? Or do you just start following proper building diet and exercise and the body will follow?

JennLifts

I didn't do it, but usually people lose the fat then build the muscle. Either way, strength training should be part of your losing, to retain any muscle you do have.

LadyoftheIron

Of course, but that doesn't really answer my question.

Should one follow a diet and exercise program specific to weight loss? Or would following a figure/bodybuilding diet and exercise program while still obese be more productive?

And is there much difference at all? And if so, what are the differences?

And does anyone have any examples of people (women!) who've done this to inspire others?

katschi

I found this blog for you.
Perhaps you could get in touch with her and ask her for tips.
Her highest weight was 220 lbs.

http://www.bikiniorbust.com/progress-pictures/

Soccerstar19

Well if your going on a body building diet then you're going to be eating more calories so you can gain muscle and lose a little fat, but if you go on a diet to lose weight you're going to lose fat and build some muscle. So personally I would follow a diet that is aimed at weight loss.

stormieweather

http://bodyspace.bodybuilding.com/31233/

Most bodybuilders alternate cutting with bulking. During cutting, you eat at a deficit to lose fat, but you still lift heavy weights (to minimize the muscle loss). During bulking, they eat at a surplus, and while lifting heavy to maximize the muscle gain. Then they may take a break for a bit, then repeat.

I'd suggest bodybuilding.com, but stick to the women's sections to avoid the steroidal and/or adolescent a'holes.

circusmom

Google Tosca Reno, she went from overweight to WOW, and did it in her 40's. I know she has a book out (haven't read it yet).

Arizona_JR

http://bodyspace.bodybuilding.com/31233/

Most bodybuilders alternate cutting with bulking. During cutting, you eat at a deficit to lose fat, but you still lift heavy weights (to minimize the muscle loss). During bulking, they eat at a surplus, and while lifting heavy to maximize the muscle gain. Then they may take a break for a bit, then repeat.

I'd suggest bodybuilding.com, but stick to the women's sections to avoid the steroidal and/or adolescent a'holes.

Bodybuilders are the other extreme when it comes to yo-yo dieting. They do some crazy unhealthy things to their bodies when peaking.

stormieweather

Not all of them. A few do, I agree. But there are plenty of natural bodybuilders who do it in a healthy manner.

It's wrong to lump all bodybuilders into one statement.

http://liftforlife.com/content/

Arizona_JR

Not all of them. A few do, I agree. But there are plenty of natural bodybuilders who do it in a healthy manner.

It's wrong to lump all bodybuilders into one statement.

http://liftforlife.com/content/

Wouldn't you call gaining weight (between competitions) and drastically losing weight (prior to a competition) YO-YO dieting - natural or not? This is how most bodybuilders (competitive) can gain size, but look shredded in competition. It's still YO-YO dieting.

That link you posted set off a virus alarm on my computer, so I couldn't open it. What was it about?

LinaBo

Three examples of what one can achieve, going from 250+ lbs down to competition-level body fat/musculature. I make a point of scouring the internet for such examples, because I too am in that weight bracket, hoping to get super fit again:

I found this woman after her being in the news about being kicked out of a water park over her swimsuit. The story said she had lost a whole bunch of weight, so I looked her up and found out she had a bodyspace. Even though she wasn't very cut for that story, she HAS been): She gives me hope for my inner thighs and inner, upper arms. What little doubt I have had about my butt getting back to a "being able to bounce a quarter off of it"-awesome has gone away, too: http://bodyspace.bodybuilding.com/Maddi/

Same lady, for both of these:
http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/elizabeth-shed-140-lbs-and-changed-life-forever.html
https://www.facebook.com/pages/LizFIT-Elizabeth-Hronek-Atkins/150720244971579?fref=ts

Not a competitor, that I know of, but this is another that can show you where you can go from a high of 274 lbs (and in this case, unlike the first two, she didn't have a tummy tuck. If you go to her Bodyspace from the article, she also posts a lot of photos of her progress): http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/female-transformation-sarah-bell.htm

Bonus fitspo: Sharee Hansen,, who was as high as 256 lbs at 5' 8". Not fitness competitor-like, but it just goes to show how amazing you can look, even coming down from such a high weight, and even before her tummy tuck/thigh lift. She documents everything (including lots of before, after, and during photos) on her blog, Funeral For My Fat: http://funeralformyfat.tumblr.com/

kimbtaylor1

Of course, but that doesn't really answer my question.

Should one follow a diet and exercise program specific to weight loss? Or would following a figure/bodybuilding diet and exercise program while still obese be more productive?

And is there much difference at all? And if so, what are the differences?

And does anyone have any examples of people (women!) who've done this to inspire others?

This is my ultimate goal as well. One of my co-workers competes. So I have picked her brain a little here and there between sets in the gym. What she says is you have to tone as you go. Don't just get on the tread mill and run for hours at a time without any other exercises in the mix. As you are loosing weight you can start toning the muscles you have under the weight you are dropping. Once you are the weight you want to be at then you would start more of a weight triainers diet and eat to gain mass.

MoRiv1986

Bump!