I'm sick of the term "skinny-fat"

mwest11

Wayne Westcott, Ph.D. conducted a study in which 72 over weight individuals participated in an eight week exercise program. The participants were placed in two groups. The first group performed 30 minutes of endurance exercise on a stationary cycle. The second group performed only 15 minutes of exercise on the stationary cycle plus an additional 15 minutes on weight resistant exercises. At the conclusion of the study, the "endurance only" group lost a total of 3.5 lbs.; 3 lbs. of which was fat and a half pound was muscle loss. On the other hand, the "endurance and weight resistive" group lost 8 lbs. with an actual fat loss of 10 lbs. and an increase of 2 lbs. of lean body weight.

(8 week program, 72 over weight individuals)

Endurance Training (30 min)

Weight Change (lbs) -3.5
Fat Change (lbs) -3
Lean mass Change (lbs) -0.5

Endurance (15 min) & Weight Training (15 min)

Weight change (lbs) -8
Fat change (lbs) -10
Lean mass change (lbs) +2

Westcott, W., Fitness Management. Nov., 1991.

IronmanPanda

Fortunately I don't have to justify my choices with anyone but myself. I know what my goals are and what I need to do to reach them.

redfroggie

Congrats on moving and losing the weight you already have!

meerkat70

Fortunately I don't have to justify my choices with anyone but myself. I know what my goals are and what I need to do to reach them.

Well said.

lauleipop

It doesn't make sense for marathon runners to have upper-body bulk. It does nothing for them and represents extra weight they have to move forward in a race. Your body adapts to the sports you do. If you are a runner, bulky muscles don't make sense and are actually a hindrance to performance.

This would by why I don't lift heavy.

rmac18

if I wanna do cardio instead of lifting "heavy" then get off my back about it! This is still the beginning of my journey, let me get comfortable with the fact that I am even moving my body anywhere besides from the bed to the couch. I haven't lifted one single weight yet and I've lost 30 lbs.

30 lbs down from 279 is healthier...any way you look at it.

That is all.

Great job on losing 30 lbs. I have no idea what "skinny fat" means either but if someone called me that I wouldn't feel good about it. The first 50 pounds I lost was from changing my diet, losing some bad habits and logging lots of hours on an elliptical trainer building my endurance and strength. When I first started 20 minutes was all I could do and over time I eventually could go 90 minutes plus. Eventually the weight loss slowed down and I found that doing different types of workouts got me going. I'd do elliptical one day, cycling, running, stair climber, strength training and HIT training and varying the types of workouts. That kick started the next 35 pounds or so for me, then I found that I need to up my calories a bit. In my opinion you are doing great, keep doing it and over time you may also you need shake things up a bit but I wouldn't worry about that as long as you are exercising regularly and losing weight and inches. I started at 306 and I think some people may not realize that sometimes you just need to lose some weight in order to be able to do more things as you progress. It gets easier over time and at some point having a balance of different types of exercise keeps it fun and your goals and needs will evolve.

Chipmaniac

Wayne Westcott, Ph.D. conducted a study in which 72 over weight individuals participated in an eight week exercise program. The participants were placed in two groups. The first group performed 30 minutes of endurance exercise on a stationary cycle. The second group performed only 15 minutes of exercise on the stationary cycle plus an additional 15 minutes on weight resistant exercises. At the conclusion of the study, the "endurance only" group lost a total of 3.5 lbs.; 3 lbs. of which was fat and a half pound was muscle loss. On the other hand, the "endurance and weight resistive" group lost 8 lbs. with an actual fat loss of 10 lbs. and an increase of 2 lbs. of lean body weight.

(8 week program, 72 over weight individuals)

Endurance Training (30 min)

Weight Change (lbs) -3.5
Fat Change (lbs) -3
Lean mass Change (lbs) -0.5

Endurance (15 min) & Weight Training (15 min)

Weight change (lbs) -8
Fat change (lbs) -10
Lean mass change (lbs) +2

Westcott, W., Fitness Management. Nov., 1991.

Wow! The group that did more activity lost more. Who would have thought?

wareagle8706

OP. You do understand that if you didn't post the thread in the 1st place, no one would be getting on your back about anything.

^This^

And Skinny-fat means someone who is thin but leads an unhealthy lifestyle such as not exercising or eating right. Has nothing to do with how you workout. But all the other people that have already said this are correct - If you want to continue to lose FAT and not MUSCLE you have to do body weight exercises or resistance exercises eventually.

timmymon

I am a fan of the term myself

marieautumn

when i say skinny fat, i mean people who are skinny but have no muscle tone at all. like they are a couple weeks of bad eating away from being flabby.

diddyh

I think the term describes what I don't want to be perfectly. To me it refers to people who are in a healthy weight range but are unhealthy due to high body fat and/or lack of physical activity. I've known many, many people who fall into this category. I've known many smokers who stay thin due to the smoking but are not healthy at all. I want to be at a healthy weight but be healthy at the same time. I find the term motivating.

wareagle8706

Wayne Westcott, Ph.D. conducted a study in which 72 over weight individuals participated in an eight week exercise program. The participants were placed in two groups. The first group performed 30 minutes of endurance exercise on a stationary cycle. The second group performed only 15 minutes of exercise on the stationary cycle plus an additional 15 minutes on weight resistant exercises. At the conclusion of the study, the "endurance only" group lost a total of 3.5 lbs.; 3 lbs. of which was fat and a half pound was muscle loss. On the other hand, the "endurance and weight resistive" group lost 8 lbs. with an actual fat loss of 10 lbs. and an increase of 2 lbs. of lean body weight.

(8 week program, 72 over weight individuals)

Endurance Training (30 min)

Weight Change (lbs) -3.5
Fat Change (lbs) -3
Lean mass Change (lbs) -0.5

Endurance (15 min) & Weight Training (15 min)

Weight change (lbs) -8
Fat change (lbs) -10
Lean mass change (lbs) +2

Westcott, W., Fitness Management. Nov., 1991.

Wow! The group that did more activity lost more. Who would have thought?

Wow.... You totally missed the point on that one.... over your head big time....

lind3400

Skinny-fat is real... though I think of it as those really skinny people who eat like crap, never exercise and never gain weight.....not someone who does cardio and eats healthy and loses 30lbs.....

Debbe2

Good job on your loss! As you lose more weight you may find you're interested in exploring strength training and challenging your body through other non aerobic activity. Personally I like diversity in activity and I like to feel strong. I equate strength with health. I do a lot of cardio as well as strength training and cardio endurance feels great too.

wareagle8706

Skinny fat beats fat fat every day of the week.

Personally, I'd rather look like a lean cyclist than a buffed-up body builder. The mistake that the lifters make is to assume that everyone wants to look like Schwarzenegger. We don't.

It takes a lot more than lifting heavy 3x per week to look like Schwarzenegger. Just pointing that out.

Point taken though.

Just saying... as a female... not likely to look the the ex-governor.

Chipmaniac

OP. You do understand that if you didn't post the thread in the 1st place, no one would be getting on your back about anything.

^This^

And Skinny-fat means someone who is thin but leads an unhealthy lifestyle such as not exercising or eating right. Has nothing to do with how you workout. But all the other people that have already said this are correct - If you want to continue to lose FAT and not MUSCLE you have to do body weight exercises or resistance exercises eventually.

Cardio is resistance exercise. It's just a lot of reps. Every time I stride while running I'm pushing my 200 pounds forward. You should see how cut my legs have become running and cycling all while on a serious caloric deficit. I also do the rowing machine which has helped with core strength as well as arms and back "toning".

andreachirillo

OP. You do understand that if you didn't post the thread in the 1st place, no one would be getting on your back about anything.

^This^

And Skinny-fat means someone who is thin but leads an unhealthy lifestyle such as not exercising or eating right. Has nothing to do with how you workout. But all the other people that have already said this are correct - If you want to continue to lose FAT and not MUSCLE you have to do body weight exercises or resistance exercises eventually.

People were getting on my back (and everyone else's) before I made this post. And some must have a different definition of skinny-fat because I have been told more than once "If you don't start lifting heavy soon, your gonna end up skinny-fat."

dane11235813

Endurance runners may have large burns but take into consideration how long they run. I've burned up to 1,000 in 50 mins doing HIIT or Circuit Training with weights. Plus I get the benefit of strengthening and improving my bone density, something that typically doesn't occur when merely running.

i'm calling BS on this. there's no way you're burning 20 calories a minute at 160 lb bodyweight.

chauncyrenayCHANGED

Where were all those people when I started my fitness journey?

All I did was cardio, and I never knew that strength was important. I was small and untoned. Blech!

Now, I incorporate strength, but it is SO hard to lose!

andreachirillo

Skinny-fat is real... though I think of it as those really skinny people who eat like crap, never exercise and never gain weight.....not someone who does cardio and eats healthy and loses 30lbs.....

My sentiments exactly! :happy:

wareagle8706

OP. You do understand that if you didn't post the thread in the 1st place, no one would be getting on your back about anything.

^This^

And Skinny-fat means someone who is thin but leads an unhealthy lifestyle such as not exercising or eating right. Has nothing to do with how you workout. But all the other people that have already said this are correct - If you want to continue to lose FAT and not MUSCLE you have to do body weight exercises or resistance exercises eventually.

Cardio is resistance exercise. It's just a lot of reps. Every time I stride while running I'm pushing my 200 pounds forward. You should see how cut my legs have become running and cycling all while on a serious caloric deficit. I also do the rowing machine which has helped with core strength as well as arms and back "toning".

Last time I checked rowing machines use RESISTANCE, so that makes complete sense... not sure what your point was there.

Also, I suppose I should add that running NOT ON A TREADMILL is a TYPE OF resistance exercise because you are having to propel yourself forward, BUT a treadmill is propelling your body FOR YOU which takes away the majority of the body weight part of the exercise... same with elliptical machines and the like, they take away the body weight or resistance portion of "cardio" exercises therefore will burn your muscle if you're not careful in planning meals and the like...

Chipmaniac

OP. You do understand that if you didn't post the thread in the 1st place, no one would be getting on your back about anything.

^This^

And Skinny-fat means someone who is thin but leads an unhealthy lifestyle such as not exercising or eating right. Has nothing to do with how you workout. But all the other people that have already said this are correct - If you want to continue to lose FAT and not MUSCLE you have to do body weight exercises or resistance exercises eventually.

People were getting on my back (and everyone else's) before I made this post. And some must have a different definition of skinny-fat because I have been told more than once "If you don't start lifting heavy soon, your gonna end up skinny-fat."

Don't listen to them. Just try to mixup your cardio activities to work your entire body (I recommend a rowing machine, or actual rowing if you are near water) and you'll be fine. The lifters just like to pick on people who don't subscribe to their philosophy. It reminds me of those great Planet Fitness commercial where they guy throws the body builders out of the gym.

katemme

I was the classic skinny fat and much as you hate the term being where I was when I started is shocking . 10 months ago I waked into my gym at my goal weight and told my trainer although I was 128 lbs and a us size 4 when I looked in the mirror all I saw was flab . I was in the idel weight zone on BMi charts but when my body fat was measured I was 39 per cent body fat . It was a huge shock . I am now 10 months in and the exact same weight 128 lbs with a 24 per sent body fat working at getting to 20 per cent . I hate hate cardio . I dont knock anyone for doing it its just not for me . I lift heavy as I can for me and do strength ,core and stretching with 20 mins hiit cardio which works for me . I have lost so many inches and when I look in the mirror I see a different person .

I have had people walk past me who don't recognise me and guys from school tell me I am so much hotter now at 37 than when I was in school etc . A 39 per cent body fat in someone who was essentially a very normal weight was unhealthy and shocking so yes skinny fat does exist

Exactly!! I am 109 size 2 but there are people bigger than me who look better because they have lower body fat! If I took a picture of my stomach you'd think I'd weigh more. Right now its a combination of bloat/food/fat. blegh

angelew

"Skinny-fat" would be a trophy for me...LOVE it!

wareagle8706

OP. You do understand that if you didn't post the thread in the 1st place, no one would be getting on your back about anything.

^This^

And Skinny-fat means someone who is thin but leads an unhealthy lifestyle such as not exercising or eating right. Has nothing to do with how you workout. But all the other people that have already said this are correct - If you want to continue to lose FAT and not MUSCLE you have to do body weight exercises or resistance exercises eventually.

People were getting on my back (and everyone else's) before I made this post. And some must have a different definition of skinny-fat because I have been told more than once "If you don't start lifting heavy soon, your gonna end up skinny-fat."

I guess what that person means is you're gonna get smaller but you won't have any muscle. If that's what they mean then we're talking about the same thing.

Mercenary1914

I use to be skinny-fat....but in my definition...it's where you have noodle arms, bird chest, and a beer gut...That was me

IronmanPanda

When someone in this thread can beat me in a Half or Full Ironman then I will gladly take into consideration your training advice. :flowerforyou:

holly1283

I agree! Hell I been fat so damn long skinny-fat would be a trophy for me. IJS lol

I agree AMEN (for those who don't know it just means so be it)

weighlossforbaby

I am not into lifting either, I am into walking right now Congrats on your weight loss. I just started my journey a month ago

mwest11

I do understand the term "skinny-fat"... I think the OP doesn't quite understand. I was just trying to shine a light on her original argument about her current routine of cardio only. Just trying to help..