My fat doesnt turn into muscle

amorrowmuffin
amorrowmuffin Posts: 50
in Health and Weight Loss
It seems no matter how much I work out, the fat around my core will not burn or turn into muscle. I lose inches no problem but i cant gain any muscle. I eat healthy and I drink plenty of water. I work out at least 3 times a week. Im really not a fan of weights, i try and stick to mainly cardio....swimming, belly dancing, walking, running. tennis.
«134

Replies

  • Vansy
    Vansy Posts: 419 Member
    Fat won't turn to muscle.

    If you want to GAIN muscle you need to do more then cardio. You should do some circuit work, plyometrics, calisthenics, weights, etc. if you want to gain muscle.
  • kdiamond
    kdiamond Posts: 3,329 Member
    Well, you can't turn fat into muscle. :wink:

    What you can do is burn fat through exercise and diet, and eventually replace that with muscle. Building muscle is all about eating at a surpus, and you would need to lift weights to build any substantial muscle. From what you're describing however, you have fat you want to get rid of and that occurs by creating a deficit either by diet and/or exercise.

    If you're losing inches, you're doing good so far, keep at it.
  • sabolfitwife
    sabolfitwife Posts: 423 Member
    It's been my experience that the more cardio I do, the more my gut shrinks. However, if you do weights (I'm currently using "Barbie" weights -- 5 lbs), you build up your muscles which in turn helps rev up your metabolism and helps you burn fat quicker. So, lift some weights, start small and move up. I cannot afford a gym membership or a weight bench or anything, I'm going to stick to my free weights, invest in a kettle bell and find heavy things at home to lift. I really would like to find a tire to work myself up to flipping!! Good luck!
  • ruststar
    ruststar Posts: 489 Member
    Nobodies' fat will turn into muscle - you have to lose fat to reveal the muscle and perhaps build up the muscle you already have. If what you're doing isn't getting results try shaking up your routine. Work out 5x a week, add some strength training if you're not doing any, and add more general activity into your daily life. Also, many people will tell you abs are made in the kitchen, meaning diet has more to do with it than exercise. I don't know how much I agree with that, but it never hurts to pay more attention to the quality and quantity of what you're eating.
  • Tilran
    Tilran Posts: 627 Member
    Im really not a fan of weights, i try and stick to mainly cardio....swimming, belly dancing, walking, running. tennis.

    Unfortunately, muscle does not come from those activities. You need to add strength training to grow muscle.

    Everything you are doing actually will eat away at fat and muscle which is why you are seeing size drops.
  • amorrowmuffin
    amorrowmuffin Posts: 50
    Thanks everyone :)
    Unfortunately I HATE weights LOL but ill up the cardio and start working with light weights high reps!
  • amorrowmuffin
    amorrowmuffin Posts: 50
    Also, I eat extremely light and healthy already so the only thing left to do is go hard with the exercise :):)
  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    Thanks everyone :)
    Unfortunately I HATE weights LOL but ill up the cardio and start working with light weights high reps!

    that wont really work.... lift heavy things...
  • sijomial
    sijomial Posts: 19,809 Member
    To build muscle you have to put the muscles under stress, easy with weights as you just lift heavier.
    You can use cardio machines though - but you will have to slow the speed and increase the effort. e.g. walk on the running machine with maximum elevation. Crank up the resistance on the X-Trainer and consciously use your arms....
    If you are running/cycling outside - find a big hill :)
    Generally, varying your workout has more impact than just doing the same workout for longer.

    Good luck!
  • amorrowmuffin
    amorrowmuffin Posts: 50
    im planning on slowly upping the weights and resistance. I have scoliosis so my muscles and nerves dont take to it very well..I get muscle spasms all night if i go too hard too soon.
  • WendyTerry420
    WendyTerry420 Posts: 13,274 Member
    Thanks everyone :)
    Unfortunately I HATE weights LOL but ill up the cardio and start working with light weights high reps!

    I was going to respond "that would be magical" based on the title, but it looks like others have explained it.

    If you "hate" weights, then my suggestion is to do things like push-ups and chin-ups and such. It is a good thing to be strong enough to lift your own weight. Also, you will lose weight faster and burn more fat when you incorporate body weight exercises in with your cardio.
  • mmapags
    mmapags Posts: 8,934 Member
    Thanks everyone :)
    Unfortunately I HATE weights LOL but ill up the cardio and start working with light weights high reps!

    that wont really work.... lift heavy things...

    This^^ That won't develop your muscle tissue. Also, I don't know that you really need to "gain"muscle. You probably have good muscle tissue. You just need to burn off the fat and develop the muscle. Cardio will make your heart healthy and give you endurance and use calories but it is not the most efficient for burning fat and developing muscle. That would be strength training.
  • amorrowmuffin
    amorrowmuffin Posts: 50
    Thanks everyone, I really appreciate it :)
    I dont know much about anything beyond cardio :P
  • mfkn_Titanium
    mfkn_Titanium Posts: 131
    You're not eating the right foods. Eat pizza and drink vodka - my fat is turning into muscle....it's miraculous to watch.
  • mmapags
    mmapags Posts: 8,934 Member
    Thanks everyone, I really appreciate it :)
    I dont know much about anything beyond cardio :P

    Google Starting Strength. Stronglifts 5x5 and NROLFW. You'll find out all you need to know.
  • amorrowmuffin
    amorrowmuffin Posts: 50
    awesome, thank you :)
  • amorrowmuffin
    amorrowmuffin Posts: 50
    LOL, ill try that :P
  • peuglow
    peuglow Posts: 684 Member
    It seems no matter how much I work out, the fat around my core will not burn or turn into muscle. I lose inches no problem but i cant gain any muscle. I eat healthy and I drink plenty of water. I work out at least 3 times a week. Im really not a fan of weights, i try and stick to mainly cardio....swimming, belly dancing, walking, running. tennis.
    Fat doesn't turn into muscle.... Fat is fat, and is broken down with proper diet. Muscle is built from ... get this .... other muscle. I'd recommend reevaluating your diet and working on some core strengthening exercises. If you don't like weights,try this for your abs:

    Planks
    Crunches (in all their glorious forms)
    Leg Raises

    you can find a wealth of other killer ab workouts online. For free.
  • HeidiMightyRawr
    HeidiMightyRawr Posts: 3,343 Member
    Im really not a fan of weights, i try and stick to mainly cardio

    This is why you're not gaining any muscle. You need resistance to build muscle and cardio just doesn't cut it.

    Also, it's VERY hard to gain muscle while in a deficit. You're eating to lose weight right? You can't really do both at the same time (burn fat and build muscle) apart from very small newbie gains, but you would have to be doing resistance training for that.

    Also to add, fat doesn't turn into muscle. You burn fat or gain muscle, 2 separate things. Plus you can't spot reduce (ie: you can't make the fat come off your stomach first, it will come off where it comes off...with a calorie deficit.)

    What you CAN do to help the situation, and what I would recommend is to stick with a small calorie deficit (you will lose fat on this) Eat adequate protein, start a resistance training program, one that challenges you, not just light weights with endless reps! - I always seem to find that the people who hate weights are doing such programs, I'd hate it too if I was doing light weight / high reps, it would bore me rigid and I'd never get to my goal!
    Stick to this for a period of time and you should get the results you're looking for. Patience :)
  • lizziebeth1028
    lizziebeth1028 Posts: 3,602 Member
    Body weight exercises are good too for building strength - pushups, planks, squats, lunges and other calisthenics. Just google and you can get a ton of ideas. Also Yoga!
  • Z_I_L_L_A
    Z_I_L_L_A Posts: 2,399 Member
    It seems no matter how much I work out, the fat around my core will not burn or turn into muscle. I lose inches no problem but i cant gain any muscle. I eat healthy and I drink plenty of water. I work out at least 3 times a week. Im really not a fan of weights, i try and stick to mainly cardio....swimming, belly dancing, walking, running. tennis.

    You do know you've triggered the politically correct people to respond right?
  • ironanimal
    ironanimal Posts: 5,922 Member
    It seems no matter how much I work out, the fat around my core will not burn or turn into muscle. I lose inches no problem but i cant gain any muscle. I eat healthy and I drink plenty of water. I work out at least 3 times a week. Im really not a fan of weights, i try and stick to mainly cardio....swimming, belly dancing, walking, running. tennis.
    So why would your body create muscles it's not going to use..?
  • Meg_78
    Meg_78 Posts: 998 Member
    I am a gainer so weights are more important to me that cardio, But this is me (http://photos.myfitnesspalllc.netdna-cdn.com/images/photos/726/820/19726820_4192.jpg), 10 lbs heavier than when I started (I plan to add 13 more at least) and I look pretty much the same size but tighter, more defined, so weights really are a great help for reshaping your body. I can't wait to build more noticeable muscle. Its really worth your time and effort to start some strength training if you want to see the fat go, and have muscles to show.
  • urfitnesspal2
    urfitnesspal2 Posts: 62 Member
    It seems no matter how much I work out, the fat around my core will not burn or turn into muscle. I lose inches no problem but i cant gain any muscle. I eat healthy and I drink plenty of water. I work out at least 3 times a week. Im really not a fan of weights, i try and stick to mainly cardio....swimming, belly dancing, walking, running. tennis.
    So why would your body create muscles it's not going to use..?
    That is a GREAT question! Something I need to remember myself.
  • magerum
    magerum Posts: 12,589 Member
    The only way to gain muscle is to eat at a surplus of calories and do some form of resistance training.
  • ginabops
    ginabops Posts: 26
    Can't turn fat into muscle. You can raise your lean muscle and burn fat. Friend me and I can give you more details.
  • amorrowmuffin
    amorrowmuffin Posts: 50
    It seems no matter how much I work out, the fat around my core will not burn or turn into muscle. I lose inches no problem but i cant gain any muscle. I eat healthy and I drink plenty of water. I work out at least 3 times a week. Im really not a fan of weights, i try and stick to mainly cardio....swimming, belly dancing, walking, running. tennis.

    You do know you've triggered the politically correct people to respond right?


    YES LOL i knew what i meant and thats all that matters haha
  • amorrowmuffin
    amorrowmuffin Posts: 50
    ok so to be clear, I want to lose weight and gain muscle. I eat right and I drink at least 8 glasses of water a day. Yes i do mostly cardio, but when i say i want to gain muscle its because i literally have none. When my scoliosis started it felt like all my muscles shut down and turned to fat :(
  • mfkn_Titanium
    mfkn_Titanium Posts: 131
    Work on eating closer to maintenance then and lift HEAVY weights.
  • iLoveMyPitbull1225
    iLoveMyPitbull1225 Posts: 1,690 Member
    Thanks everyone :)
    Unfortunately I HATE weights LOL but ill up the cardio and start working with light weights high reps!


    They are trying to tell you to do the opposite of this. lift heavy.

Categories