I'm Sorry! I've searched EVERYWHERE - Skinny Fat

MissTomGettingThin

I've genuinely read loads about skinny fat and I am terribly confused.
People talk about gaining weight to gain muscle and by doing this, gain fat too.
But we're trying to lose the fat...

So, am I right in thinking ideally we should build masses of muscle by eating loads and lots of protein THEN diet to lose fat whilst using strength training and cardio?

If this is right - what do we do if we're near goal weight but skinny fat?
Put it back on again?

I'm sorry - I feel really thick and I know people have posted that they've repeated themselves over and over and over again but I am hovering around 155lbs, have muscle showing on my thighs and arms but my stomach is massive without clothes - although a UK size 12 jeans fit me.

Again I am sorry. :O(

billsica

skinny fat is when you are thin, but out of shape, so your just as unhealthy as a fat person.

If you are healthy and working out and stuff... then I wouldn't say skinny fat.

bry_all01

skinny fat is when you are thin, but out of shape, so your just as unhealthy as a fat person.

If you are healthy and working out and stuff... then I wouldn't say skinny fat.

That is what I used to be. Now, I am bulking up for my muscle mass.

Rae6503

Doesn't sound like you are "skinny fat", just that you still have some fat stores. While losing you do what you can to avoid becoming skinny fat by lifting weights and eating 1 gram of protein per pound of lean body mass (I just guessed 130ish). This is what I am doing. This should help maintain as much muscle as possible while losing the rest of your fat.

MissTomGettingThin

Thanks.
I really didn't want to post about this.
i've put it off for days.
I've searched the forums and online and come up with the same confusing information.
People post that you can't lose weight and gain muscle.
I KNOW I have.
I have hard muscle where I didn't before and I can lift more - muscle must have increased if I can lift more?

But the fat isn't going. I've upped my calories to lose only half a pound a week and need to carry on for a few weeks to see if it helps but feel as though I might be wasting hours doing cardio ... maybe I need to do more weights as well.

Thanks for the replies.
Sorry I seem to have started some negativity.

bry_all01

Thanks.
I really didn't want to post about this.
i've put it off for days.
I've searched the forums and online and come up with the same confusing information.
People post that you can't lose weight and gain muscle.
I KNOW I have.
I have hard muscle where I didn't before and I can lift more - muscle must have increased if I can lift more?

But the fat isn't going. I've upped my calories to lose only half a pound a week and need to carry on for a few weeks to see if it helps but feel as though I might be wasting hours doing cardio ... maybe I need to do more weights as well.

Thanks for the replies.
Sorry I seem to have started some negativity.

Can you increase your protein and carbs a little and try to reduce the fat? Also, I forgot to look and see how many calories you are taking in a day, as that could have an effect, too.

MissTomGettingThin

Thanks.
I really didn't want to post about this.
i've put it off for days.
I've searched the forums and online and come up with the same confusing information.
People post that you can't lose weight and gain muscle.
I KNOW I have.
I have hard muscle where I didn't before and I can lift more - muscle must have increased if I can lift more?

But the fat isn't going. I've upped my calories to lose only half a pound a week and need to carry on for a few weeks to see if it helps but feel as though I might be wasting hours doing cardio ... maybe I need to do more weights as well.

Thanks for the replies.
Sorry I seem to have started some negativity.

Can you increase your protein and carbs a little and try to reduce the fat? Also, I forgot to look and see how many calories you are taking in a day, as that could have an effect, too.

I'm just going over my goals.
I upped my daily sugar goal because of fruit but am not sure if I should reduce it again.
I will do as suggested by an earlier poster - thank you - and sort the protein out.
I'll also look at carbs.

Thank you.

bcattoes

Thanks.
I really didn't want to post about this.
i've put it off for days.
I've searched the forums and online and come up with the same confusing information.
People post that you can't lose weight and gain muscle.
I KNOW I have.
I have hard muscle where I didn't before and I can lift more - muscle must have increased if I can lift more?

But the fat isn't going. I've upped my calories to lose only half a pound a week and need to carry on for a few weeks to see if it helps but feel as though I might be wasting hours doing cardio ... maybe I need to do more weights as well.

Thanks for the replies.
Sorry I seem to have started some negativity.

Skinny fat is when you are thin but still have visceral fat around your organs that can't be seen. You can get rid of that fat with any type of exercise (cardio or strength training).

Here is a good article explaining it, if you are interested:
http://www.health.harvard.edu/newsletters/Harvard_Womens_Health_Watch/2010/August/taking-aim-at-belly-fat

duckpond11

Thanks.
I really didn't want to post about this.
i've put it off for days.
I've searched the forums and online and come up with the same confusing information.
People post that you can't lose weight and gain muscle.
I KNOW I have.
I have hard muscle where I didn't before and I can lift more - muscle must have increased if I can lift more?

But the fat isn't going. I've upped my calories to lose only half a pound a week and need to carry on for a few weeks to see if it helps but feel as though I might be wasting hours doing cardio ... maybe I need to do more weights as well.

Thanks for the replies.
Sorry I seem to have started some negativity.

Hi! I have been doing a lot of research lately on the best way to burn fat and quickly, and I can tell you right now that yes, you are wasting your time with cardio IF you are doing steady state aerobics type cardio. What you need to do is high intensity interval training and some serious strength training with NO girly weights allowed. I recommend checking out these 2 books "The New Rules of Lifting for Women" and "The Female Body Breakthrough". They have some excellent workouts that will get rid of that last bit of fat.

Shanna_Inc86

skinny fat is when you are thin, but out of shape, so your just as unhealthy as a fat person.

This is it exactly...nothing more complicated than that...you're thin either b/c you're naturally thin or you starve. Work out, eat healthy and you'll be fine.

taem

have you gone to scooby's workshop's website? he talks about gaining muscle while losing weight. he's on youtube a lot as well. good luck!

MissTomGettingThin

Thanks everyone.
It's everyone's post - I just worry about posting another question the same as everyone else!!
:O)

I've changed my goals and am going to hit the gym hard tomorrow.
I have been trying to add some interval training so will go with that and will up my weights too.

Thanks all.
Amanda

fteale

I think the term skinny fat is really offensive. It seems to be purely used as a put down by people who think they have a better body than someone else, despite being heavier.

MissTomGettingThin

I think the term skinny fat is really offensive. It seems to be purely used as a put down by people who think they have a better body than someone else, despite being heavier.

I got this wrong with reference to me.
I'm not skinny fat :O)

But looking at pictures of what people mean by it you can see what they mean.

Softer bodies as opposed to toned ones.

fteale

I know plenty of thin people with no obvious muscles who still look good. I just think the term is generally used offensively, or even enviously about people who are irritatingly thinner than the person talking/posting.

Shanna_Inc86

I think the term skinny fat is really offensive. It seems to be purely used as a put down by people who think they have a better body than someone else, despite being heavier.

Ok....maybe its because I'm less the politcally correct sometimes but if you're "overweight" you're fat....I was damn near 200lbs...I was fat...end of story...FAT lol the nice term is overweight but whatever. I was out of shape, I ate crap food and I was really unhealthy. Someone who is skinny fat just got blessed with a great metabolism usually. lol I have a close friend who tries so hard to gain weight and she can't and even she said she was skinny fat. She loves junk food and hates working out...she knows she's unhealthy. lol

bry_all01

I think the term skinny fat is really offensive. It seems to be purely used as a put down by people who think they have a better body than someone else, despite being heavier.

I don't. I was an unhealthy skinny person and now not so much. So, I was a skinny fat person...

HappyLuna

I know plenty of thin people with no obvious muscles who still look good. I just think the term is generally used offensively, or even enviously about people who are irritatingly thinner than the person talking/posting.

Its nothing to be offended about. I think its a good term to help people who are naturally thin (You know those people who eat ever they want, never exercise but are still skinny) realise that you can still be unfit. Its not nothing to do with someone looking better and more to do with fitness.

In a women's running magazine this week there was an article "Can you be fat and fit". The answer in short was yes! You can be overweight and physically more fit than someone who is a healthy weight but doesn't exercise. This means just because you are skinny (Or a healthy weight) doesn't mean you are not at risk of heart disease ect. As there is more than like more internal fat on your organs than external fat.

Basically its best to be within your healthy weight range and exercising to ensure you are in the best shape you can be. But I don't think its something to get offended by. However I can see how the term 'skinny fat' could give people the wrong impression.

Delicate

Would it not be better to try and get rid of fat and build muscle at the same time, since if you have alot more to get rid of, your body will use its energy source even if you have a large deficient?

It would be easier on your body as their would be less of a weight increase rather than if you soley built muscle and kept all the fat?

Skinny fat is used for unhealthy 'skinny' people, I know quite a few of them who even have an adversion of walking up or down a single flight of stairs. But if they cant see the fat on them they tend to ignore it, dispite how unhealthy it can be.

ObviousIndigo

bump

Rae6503

I know it IS possible to build muscle while on a calorie deficit but it's hard. I usually only happens if you are new to fitness. And you can definitely strength and reveal the muscle you do have, you just don't build any extra muscle weight like some people think.

Not sure if this really applies to you but it's a good read anyway. The author is a MFPer.

http://body-improvements.com/2011/07/22/what-happens-when-you-reach-your-goal-weight-unsatisfied/

servilia

I've always thought of skinny fat as a person who is thin, but what is there is all flab. Like a girl I know. She's thin, that is, she doesn't take up a lot of space but if her arm happens to touch her side it suddenly looks twice or three times as big from the side.

ladyhawk00

This is a really great article that explains "skinny fat", with pics.

http://www.crossfitsouthbay.com/2011/05/skinny-fat/

bcattoes

I know plenty of thin people with no obvious muscles who still look good. I just think the term is generally used offensively, or even enviously about people who are irritatingly thinner than the person talking/posting.

That may be true on a site like this. But medical personnel generally use it as a layman's way of pointing out the most dangerous type of fat that can't be seen whether you are skinny or fat. It's not about how you look, it's about fat around your organs. Not everyone that is skinny with no muscles has it.

fteale

I know plenty of thin people with no obvious muscles who still look good. I just think the term is generally used offensively, or even enviously about people who are irritatingly thinner than the person talking/posting.

Its nothing to be offended about. I think its a good term to help people who are naturally thin (You know those people who eat ever they want, never exercise but are still skinny) realise that you can still be unfit. Its not nothing to do with someone looking better and more to do with fitness.

In a women's running magazine this week there was an article "Can you be fat and fit". The answer in short was yes! You can be overweight and physically more fit than someone who is a healthy weight but doesn't exercise. This means just because you are skinny (Or a healthy weight) doesn't mean you are not at risk of heart disease ect. As there is more than like more internal fat on your organs than external fat.

Basically its best to be within your healthy weight range and exercising to ensure you are in the best shape you can be. But I don't think its something to get offended by. However I can see how the term 'skinny fat' could give people the wrong impression.

I don't think there's anything wrong with the concept that a thin person can be unhealthy. Of course they can, but the term "skinny fat" is almost always used offensively - by that I mean as an attack or an insult.

servilia

I know plenty of thin people with no obvious muscles who still look good. I just think the term is generally used offensively, or even enviously about people who are irritatingly thinner than the person talking/posting.

Its nothing to be offended about. I think its a good term to help people who are naturally thin (You know those people who eat ever they want, never exercise but are still skinny) realise that you can still be unfit. Its not nothing to do with someone looking better and more to do with fitness.

In a women's running magazine this week there was an article "Can you be fat and fit". The answer in short was yes! You can be overweight and physically more fit than someone who is a healthy weight but doesn't exercise. This means just because you are skinny (Or a healthy weight) doesn't mean you are not at risk of heart disease ect. As there is more than like more internal fat on your organs than external fat.

Basically its best to be within your healthy weight range and exercising to ensure you are in the best shape you can be. But I don't think its something to get offended by. However I can see how the term 'skinny fat' could give people the wrong impression.

I don't think there's anything wrong with the concept that a thin person can be unhealthy. Of course they can, but the term "skinny fat" is almost always used offensively - by that I mean as an attack or an insult.

Not in my experience. I just use it as an objective observation. It's certainly not a compliment but I haven't really seen or heard people being attacked in such a way. To each their own..

bcattoes

You can't look at someone and tell if they are skinny fat or not. The fat is not visible to the naked eye. There are several medical tests that can identify it, but just because someone is skinny and out of shape does not make them "skinny fat", if you are using the term correctly.

tristahenry

This is a really great article that explains "skinny fat", with pics.

http://www.crossfitsouthbay.com/2011/05/skinny-fat/

Amazing website! Thank you!

HappyLuna

I know plenty of thin people with no obvious muscles who still look good. I just think the term is generally used offensively, or even enviously about people who are irritatingly thinner than the person talking/posting.

Its nothing to be offended about. I think its a good term to help people who are naturally thin (You know those people who eat ever they want, never exercise but are still skinny) realise that you can still be unfit. Its not nothing to do with someone looking better and more to do with fitness.

In a women's running magazine this week there was an article "Can you be fat and fit". The answer in short was yes! You can be overweight and physically more fit than someone who is a healthy weight but doesn't exercise. This means just because you are skinny (Or a healthy weight) doesn't mean you are not at risk of heart disease ect. As there is more than like more internal fat on your organs than external fat.

Basically its best to be within your healthy weight range and exercising to ensure you are in the best shape you can be. But I don't think its something to get offended by. However I can see how the term 'skinny fat' could give people the wrong impression.

I don't think there's anything wrong with the concept that a thin person can be unhealthy. Of course they can, but the term "skinny fat" is almost always used offensively - by that I mean as an attack or an insult.

Not in my experience. I just use it as an objective observation. It's certainly not a compliment but I haven't really seen or heard people being attacked in such a way. To each their own..

I have never seen it as an attack or insult. However, I am sure people do take it like that because we can all take words and comments, twist them in our heads and then say its an personal attack. We have all done it one point in our lifes. That negative little voice in our head can get the better of all of us. We are all slightly neurotic.