Losing those last few pounds :/

JakkiCarter

So, I am having trouble getting my body to where I would like it to be. I seem to be losing weight in all the wrong places. I would really like to have that flat stomach that all the celebs seem to have, and my upper inner thighs are just NOT getting any smaller. I'm wondering if I'm at the point where I should start concentrating less on cardio and more on exercises specifically for toning muscle. I still have a small "pouch" and would REALLY love to get rid of it. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Here are some pictures.

http://i1111.photobucket.com/albums/h470/Yakkilyn/Weight loss progress/IMG_0196.jpg

http://i1111.photobucket.com/albums/h470/Yakkilyn/Weight loss progress/IMG_0194.jpg

http://i1111.photobucket.com/albums/h470/Yakkilyn/Weight loss progress/IMG_0200.jpg

http://i1111.photobucket.com/albums/h470/Yakkilyn/Weight loss progress/IMG_0197.jpg

http://i1111.photobucket.com/albums/h470/Yakkilyn/Weight loss progress/IMG_0198.jpg

xraychick77

you dont 'tone' muscle..you either build is or lose it.

lots of people dont understand that when they lose weight, they lose muscle too (especially if all they've done is cardio and no weight lifting). this tends to make us look 'skinny fat'. meaning no matter how much weight you lose, you'll still look flabby. and to see ab muscles on a woman, we need to get down to around 15% body fat.

we all lose weight differently. usually for women the last to go is the belly and thighs.

you can either A. lose more fat and look like a starving person (very skinny) or B. start eating more, lift heavy weights and gain muscle and gain weight.

killagb

.

JakkiCarter

The thing that intimidates me about lifting weights is when i do strength training, I tend to bulk up way more than I'd like. Is there a way to lift weights yet not get bulky?

melissa_leah

It's a myth that women bulk up when lifting... don't worry about it, it'll make you look how you want to look if you lift! Go for it!

xraychick77

well then you must be extremely genetically gifted. i've been lifting for over a year now with the goal of getting bulking..its very hard for women to become bulky.

i could be a matter of persepective too. what is bulky to you, could be nothing to me.

i dont know what you are trying to accomplish with your body. if you just want a super skinny model look, then just keep trying to lose weight. just lifting alone wont make you bulky..its a long and hard and deliberate process. sorry i cant help more.

JakkiCarter

i'm just looking to lose the pooch and have lean muscles. Thank you for your advice

melissa_leah

Try doing reverse crunches for the pooch, but otherwise, you just need to burn fat and gain muscle to see abs

shauna121211

You look great! I definitely think losing the "last few pounds" isn't your problem. You are looking heaps thin, but if it's a six pack and a super toned body you're looking for, the typical MFP plan isn't going to help you much. You need to start eating a lot more protein and hitting the gym a lot! Don't wipe out cardio completely, but your focus now should be weight training. I honestly think if you are really really set on this goal, you should talk to a trainer and/or nutritionist. My friend trains REALLY hard to have a toned body... I'm talking protein shakes breakfast, lunch and dinner and going to the gym twice a day consistently. And she is VERY strict about her diet and gym routine.

shauna121211

I also think Pilates could help you out if you're consistent about attending!

JakkiCarter

Thank you so much. I've always thought Pilate's looked fun. And I've never tried reverse crunches before, but I do have a yoga ball. I generally go to the gym 2 to 3 times a week and only use the elliptical. I don't have the money for a trainer, but I will definitely give strength training another try.

JakkiCarter

One more question, would strength training also help shrink my inner thighs?

shauna121211

One more question, would strength training also help shrink my inner thighs?

Squats, lunges and wide leg squats will! Do them with the long bar weight over your shoulders. They should HURT! Remember, no pain no gain... you won't get any results unless it burns so much that you can barely do the last one! Increase the weight until your legs feel like jell-o. Squat weight should be about double lunge weight.

If your gym has good classes, take some pilates and also try a Body Pump class or anything similar if they offer it. http://www.lesmills.com/global/bodypump/about-bodypump.aspx <--- check it out. I LOVE that class and that's primarily the only weight training I do. Try it out and if it doesn't work out for you, at the very least you will get some good weight training techniques. Let the trainer know you're new on the first day and they will make sure you're doing everything right.