Skinny fat people and cutting

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Replies

  • Jolenebib
    Jolenebib Posts: 142 Member
    If you start lifting and gaining muscle, you will probably gain a little weight, HOWEVER, you won't gain "inches". In all reality, you will probably lose inches. Don't worry about the number on the scale once you start focusing on weight training - start tracking measurements. Muscle weighs more than fat and takes up less space. If you are happy with your current size, don't be afraid to weight train because it'll only make you stronger, leaner and your body fat percentage will go down. You also won't get bulky unless you follow one of the body builder programs which are designed to gain lots of mass.
  • BruteSquad
    BruteSquad Posts: 373 Member
    If you start lifting and gaining muscle, you will probably gain a little weight, HOWEVER, you won't gain "inches". In all reality, you will probably lose inches. Don't worry about the number on the scale once you start focusing on weight training - start tracking measurements. Muscle weighs more than fat and takes up less space. If you are happy with your current size, don't be afraid to weight train because it'll only make you stronger, leaner and your body fat percentage will go down. You also won't get bulky unless you follow one of the body builder programs which are designed to gain lots of mass.

    I agree with what I think you mean...but my pet peeve is "muscle weighs more than fat." A pound is a pound. A pound of feathers is the same as a pound of lead, the volume is different. I believe what you mean is a volume of muscle weighs more than the same volume of fat. So if you are size x with 20% fat, you are actually lighter than if you are size x with 10% fat.
  • rml_16
    rml_16 Posts: 16,414 Member
    I am really confused about this. There's so much info. I know this has already been posted but I wanted to asks own questions.

    If you are slim, but still have high body fat (16-20%) should u cut cals and do cardio first, or should you maintain cals and lift weights?

    I want muscle, definitely. But I'm having a very hard time deciding if I want to gain weight for it.

    I want to be as lean as healthily possible with muscle definition. I do not want large muscles, but I want them very well defined.

    The only meat I eat is fish or sea animals. Nothing that lives on land and eats corn and slosh.

    16-20% body fat on a woman is not "high."
  • secretlobster
    secretlobster Posts: 3,566 Member
    but my pet peeve is "muscle weighs more than fat." A pound is a pound. A pound of feathers is the same as a pound of lead, the volume is different. I believe what you mean is a volume of muscle weighs more than the same volume of fat. So if you are size x with 20% fat, you are actually lighter than if you are size x with 10% fat.

    It's actually mass, not volume. The mass of an object is equal to the object's density times its volume.

    That's why muscle that takes up the same amount of space as fat will weigh more - It is denser.

    For people who are looking to lose a significant amount of fat, weight is a significant measure. But for those who aren't looking to lose a significant amount of fat, or weight overall, the scale is nonsense.
  • BigDaddyBRC
    BigDaddyBRC Posts: 2,395 Member
    haha guys, i made a mistake, i am actually 25% body fat, not 20%.

    my thighs jiggle. and i have arm flab. i am not very toned.

    You're fine. Look great. If you want definition, you need to build muscle. So Lift. Otherwise, you look great
  • Axels91
    Axels91 Posts: 213

    thanks for that! although i would like to not be as large. i probably see this differently than you guys but i would rather look like yelena soboleva.

    She got that body partially through steroids

    so are you saying it isnt possible to achieve without them?
  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    16-20% BF is not high for a women.
  • rml_16
    rml_16 Posts: 16,414 Member

    thanks for that! although i would like to not be as large. i probably see this differently than you guys but i would rather look like yelena soboleva.

    She got that body partially through steroids

    Plus she's about the same size as the girl the OP says is "too large."

    I think there's some lack of realistic perspective going on.
  • Axels91
    Axels91 Posts: 213

    thanks for that! although i would like to not be as large. i probably see this differently than you guys but i would rather look like yelena soboleva.

    She got that body partially through steroids

    Plus she's about the same size as the girl the OP says is "too large."

    I think there's some lack of realistic perspective going on.

    She appears larger because she doesn't run she just lifts and boxes and stuff like that
  • mes1119
    mes1119 Posts: 1,082 Member

    thanks for that! although i would like to not be as large. i probably see this differently than you guys but i would rather look like yelena soboleva.

    You can't make your body look like someone else's. Everyone has different genetics that determines their ability to grow muscle and hold fat in certain areas. You can't just do the same plan as someone else and expect to look like them.
  • rml_16
    rml_16 Posts: 16,414 Member
    She appears larger because she doesn't run she just lifts and boxes and stuff like that

    They look the same size to me.

    *shrug*
  • mes1119
    mes1119 Posts: 1,082 Member
    She appears larger because she doesn't run she just lifts and boxes and stuff like that

    You need to decide what you want. You obviously don't want to be skinny fat but you cut down every suggestion about weight lifting or gaining muscle.

    There is no "TONING", it doesn't exist. You can't make your muscles look a certain way, you can only make them bigger or smaller or make it easier to see them by dropping body fat percentage.
  • Katie3784
    Katie3784 Posts: 543
    Just want to point out that for a woman, 16-20% body fat is by no means high! 18% is essential body fat for women, and 20% is ideal.
  • EthanJeremiahsMama
    EthanJeremiahsMama Posts: 534 Member
    Bump, interested in that answer
  • aproc
    aproc Posts: 1,033 Member
    Like everybody else said...thats not high..

    Setting that aside, people who are skinny fat will generally see better results from lifting. Not strength training and doing too much cardio is what can often cause someone to be skinny fat. Once you build some muscle, that problem would resolve itself. (and to build muscle, you shouldn't be eating less calories. You would want to up your calories a bit to see results from weights) But from what you said...your bodyfat is not high. (Strength training is still a good idea!)
  • Nopedotjpeg
    Nopedotjpeg Posts: 1,805 Member
    haha guys, i made a mistake, i am actually 25% body fat, not 20%.

    my thighs jiggle. and i have arm flab. i am not very toned.

    Lift heavy things and don't eat like a bird.
  • Nopedotjpeg
    Nopedotjpeg Posts: 1,805 Member
    HEY GAIZ! IS 16-20% BODYFAT HIGH FOR A WOMAN?!
  • SofaKingRad
    SofaKingRad Posts: 1,592 Member
    I'm not an expert, but you probably could keep your calorie content to maintain, then just focus on lifting. It should work. But, then again some broscience out there will say otherwise.
  • future_runner
    future_runner Posts: 136 Member

    ok, i normally take in about 1500, without watching what i eat. i think my biggest problem is sedentary. but when i read things about weight loss they always say its 80% of your diet that will make the difference.

    thank you for the info
    A lot of diet is what you eat. You may want to keep your calorica intake the same but alter the type of foods you are eating. Whole grains and good sources of fat, fruits and veggies. Bake your fish, not fried. (I am not sure you are already doing this but you are eating unhealthy you should switch to better for you things. And a combo of strength and cardio :)
  • crystallayne
    crystallayne Posts: 109 Member
    I think as you start to put on muscle you will put on weight naturally. My theory on this is that I really don't care so much what I weigh just so long as what I weigh does not jiggle. However I can't looked toned by the layer of fat that covers my trouble areas, so I do a lot more cardio. Back to you, I would focus on weight training, lots of reps with low weight to get you that sleek toned look you have been seeking. If you are serious about the weight training you may want to up your calories a little bit, you need to feed your muscles. Also be aware as some people have already posted if your body fat % gets too low it can be disastrous for the female body you will stop menstruating and your bones will get weak. Good Luck
  • kdiamond
    kdiamond Posts: 3,329 Member
    What are your stats? Height, weight?

    I looked terrible at 105 pounds...skinny fat all the way. I did a mini bulk, went to 113 pounds, then did a 'mini' cut, back down to 110 pounds, all while eating 1800+ calories a day and lifting heavy 4x a week with minimal cardio. That was over a year ago. Still maintain the look today, and I am in the best shape of my life.

    The point being...LIFT HEAVY. Do not be afraid to gain a little weight at first, you can build your strength and muscles and then cut a little of the "fluff" at that point. Takes a while though, I bulked for 3 months.

    If you really want some good info on bulking, go to www.bodybuilding.com - quite a few people have had success doing this.
  • mes1119
    mes1119 Posts: 1,082 Member
    HEY GAIZ! IS 16-20% BODYFAT HIGH FOR A WOMAN?!

    :glasses:

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