Underweight with "love handles"?
cristal762
Posts: 5
I've recently dropped about 15lbs in total over about 5-6 months. I rarely eat junk food (maybe one ice cream every couple of weeks) I also eat a low-carb, high protein diet. I do cardio 3-4 times a week (20 min HIIT and 40-60min very brisk walking) and I do Jillian Michaels 30 day shred daily along with 15 minutes of callanetics (not calisthenics). Right now I'm under weight at 5"9 and 115lbs with a BMI of 17. However I still have these pesky love handles and saddlebags paired with some bingo-wings. I'm a little worried about losing more weight seeing as I'm already underweight and I can see some of my bones.
I'm really confused about what to do and I was looking for some input? All answers will be appreciated!
I'm really confused about what to do and I was looking for some input? All answers will be appreciated!
0
Replies
-
Skinny fat basically0
-
Sounds like loose skin to me. If so, the only answer is surgery0
-
@oongiemongie - Defiantly not loose skin, it doesnt droop at all. it's pretty firm but it just won't budge!0
-
Read this, you sound just like where Staci got:
http://www.nerdfitness.com/blog/2011/07/21/meet-staci-your-new-powerlifting-super-hero/0 -
Weight lifting. As heavy as you can go.
Thankfully you've realized you don't need to lose anymore weight so congrats for that!0 -
You could try strength training...that's supposed to be a good way to improve body composition without losing more weight, and you definitely don't want to lose more if you are already underweight.
Also, you may need to accept that having body fat is part of being a woman. We're designed to have more fat than men- our hormones dictate it. We stop having periods, have brittle bones, have our hair fall out, and have other symptoms of poor health with little nutrition. We will never have 6% body fat and be healthy, even though men can be healthy at that percentage. So you may need to try to accept the fat you do have as a normal, healthy part of your body.0 -
I honestly cannot quite comprehend how you would have any fat left on your body at 5'9 and 115 Ibs.
When I was 126Ibs at 5'10, there was no fat to be seen.
I am thinking this might be more down to your perception than anything else.
I can understand someone having a little fat still at the lower end of normal weight, but not when underweight, which you are by quite a bit.0 -
Thank you everyone for your responses so far! I feel like I should mention that I wasn't always "skinny fat" I was a complete twig just a few years back without even trying I looked practically starved.. but then my eating habits got bad and on came the weight0
-
Thank you everyone for your responses so far! I feel like I should mention that I wasn't always "skinny fat" I was a complete twig just a few years back without even trying I looked practically starved.. but then my eating habits got bad and on came the weight
strength and weights, the only thing that will help is building muscle.
0 -
Lift. Heavy. Weights.
This will help so very, very much.
Ditto on the congrats for realizing you don't have to lose more weight to get rid of the flab.
Not only will it help with that, but you will feel so good and your confidence will soar.
Enjoy!0 -
DYEL, bro?0
-
You gotta tone it up. Protein plus working out will make you more lean, also eat an adequate amount of calories to maintain (if you like the weight you're at now!)0
-
Like everybody already said, toning and weight lifting could help.
I will say that it might be the way your body is shaped. I have always had love handles, even as a child and even when I was an underweight teen. I think maybe they are just my hips..could this be you too?0 -
darleyschroed- Definitely could be me. When I was a tiny size 0 I remember still having a bit of love handles. Not like they are now (size 2) but they were undoubtedly there
Once again thanks for everyones answers I'll start trying more strength training tomorrow!0 -
I'm really trying to be supportive of everyone- guys, girls, all different shapes and sizes, because, so often we are going through much the same struggle, just in a different way. when you are close to a healthy weight it is very hard to lose, so I try to have empathy for them too.
However, apparently we are dealing wtih different definitions of having extra hips or saddle bags issues.
I'm dealing with a 12 inch difference between the smallest part of my waist and hip measurements.
I can understand how people of any size can need to firm up, but saddle bags is not the word for a couple of inches
of anything.
I second the weight lifting. Do 1 rep max for all your exercises if possible.0 -
darleyschroed- Definitely could be me. When I was a tiny size 0 I remember still having a bit of love handles. Not like they are now (size 2) but they were undoubtedly there
Once again thanks for everyones answers I'll start trying more strength training tomorrow!
About 4 months ago, when I was about 10 pounds heavier, a friend told me it would be good for me to lose my "love handles". I was kinda sad about this and was hung up on them. But when I grab my love handles or poke them, it's all bone. So unless I remove the skin from my sides, I will always have them
haha
Def do strength training though!0 -
This feels like sooooo long ago, but I was pretty underweight at one point, and despite that I still had some padding on my hips and upper thighs. It's just how I'm shaped. Strength training might have changed some things, but overall body shape is genetics.0
-
Lift heavy and eat at a small surplus of 2-300 calories on the heavy lifting days. Put on a few pounds of muscle you will look great! On the days you don't lift eat at maintenance. Change your body composition so that you change your lean body mass to fat ratio. Give it a couple months and you will notice some changes!0
-
I honestly cannot quite comprehend how you would have any fat left on your body at 5'9 and 115 Ibs.
When I was 126Ibs at 5'10, there was no fat to be seen.
I am thinking this might be more down to your perception than anything else.
I can understand someone having a little fat still at the lower end of normal weight, but not when underweight, which you are by quite a bit.
I'm 5'8" and 117lbs. Underweight. And I still have pinchable fat at my belly (pooch) and on my back. The belly pooch is visible in pictures, I have a side view pic up on my profile. So, it's possible! I am naturally thin and that's just where I store fat.
& to the OP I totally understand how frustrating it is. So many girls have naturally low BMIs like me but have flat stomachs naturally too! why can't it be meee I feel so awkward haha.0 -
I second the weight lifting. Do 1 rep max for all your exercises if possible.
Nope 1 rep is not enough!! It's not enough to put on muscle!!
Lift heavy between 5-7 reps!!0 -
I've recently dropped about 15lbs in total over about 5-6 months. I rarely eat junk food (maybe one ice cream every couple of weeks) I also eat a low-carb, high protein diet. I do cardio 3-4 times a week (20 min HIIT and 40-60min very brisk walking) and I do Jillian Michaels 30 day shred daily along with 15 minutes of callanetics (not calisthenics). Right now I'm under weight at 5"9 and 115lbs with a BMI of 17. However I still have these pesky love handles and saddlebags paired with some bingo-wings. I'm a little worried about losing more weight seeing as I'm already underweight and I can see some of my bones.
I'm really confused about what to do and I was looking for some input? All answers will be appreciated!
Reading this again imo i think you would have been better off not losing those 15pounds and instead lifted heavy weights whilst eating at maintenance or slightly above maintenance so as to put a bit of muscle on. This would have sculpted your body into the shape you desired. You would have lost fat whilst adding a little muscle.0 -
I'm really trying to be supportive of everyone- guys, girls, all different shapes and sizes, because, so often we are going through much the same struggle, just in a different way. when you are close to a healthy weight it is very hard to lose, so I try to have empathy for them too.
However, apparently we are dealing wtih different definitions of having extra hips or saddle bags issues.
I'm dealing with a 12 inch difference between the smallest part of my waist and hip measurements.
I can understand how people of any size can need to firm up, but saddle bags is not the word for a couple of inches
of anything.
I second the weight lifting. Do 1 rep max for all your exercises if possible.
1RM will result in myofibrillar hypertrophy. OP need sarcoplasmic hypertrophy. Do 8-12 reps per set. If you can do 15 reps at that weight, you're not doing enough weight. Lift every other day, eat 20% above TDEE on lifting days and 20% below TDEE on rest days if you want to maintain your weight.0 -
-
I'd gain back the 15 pounds you lost for starters while also lifting heavy weights so that a significant portion of the weight regained is as muscle.0
-
I second the weight lifting. Do 1 rep max for all your exercises if possible.
Nope 1 rep is not enough!! It's not enough to put on muscle!!
Lift heavy between 5-7 reps!!
1 rep max is a type of test, to see how much weight you can lift.
there's no point doing bicep curls with 3lbs weights if you can lift 20lbs.
and you won't know how strong you are until you try.0 -
This feels like sooooo long ago, but I was pretty underweight at one point, and despite that I still had some padding on my hips and upper thighs. It's just how I'm shaped. Strength training might have changed some things, but overall body shape is genetics.
Yes I agree, your overall body shape is genetics and some things you will not be able to change but heavy weights will make you the best version of yourself. As ou progress with your weights program some parts of your body you may even be surprised at how good you can look with the right lifestyle & application in the gym.
For example with me I have nicely defined legs, arms and everywhere else except my tummy. I'm trying to get as close to a 6 pack as I can. I dunno if I'll get there as i might not have the genetics for it. I'm going to keep at to see how far I can go. I'm 5 '2 57 kg, heavy frame with muscle (athletic type)
At my reappraisal I learnt since August i had put on 3.5 cm on each leg and that's whilst eating at a moderate defecit! I have the genetics for putting on muscle! I also lost 4 cm off my waist, lost 2 off my hips 5 off my chest, 1cm off my arms and am still the same scale weight. So I lost fat in my waist, chest hips & arms and added muscle to my legs. That's why the scale didn't move0 -
I second the weight lifting. Do 1 rep max for all your exercises if possible.
Nope 1 rep is not enough!! It's not enough to put on muscle!!
Lift heavy between 5-7 reps!!
1 rep max is a type of test, to see how much weight you can lift.
there's no point doing bicep curls with 3lbs weights if you can lift 20lbs.
and you won't know how strong you are until you try.
Well yes for sure do a 1 rep test but this shouldn't be the weight lifting program if you want to make significant changes in composition!
Edited to say: please ensure you have a spotter present when attempting a 1 rep strength test!0
Categories
- All Categories
- 1.4M Health, Wellness and Goals
- 393.6K Introduce Yourself
- 43.8K Getting Started
- 260.3K Health and Weight Loss
- 175.9K Food and Nutrition
- 47.5K Recipes
- 232.5K Fitness and Exercise
- 430 Sleep, Mindfulness and Overall Wellness
- 6.5K Goal: Maintaining Weight
- 8.5K Goal: Gaining Weight and Body Building
- 153K Motivation and Support
- 8K Challenges
- 1.3K Debate Club
- 96.3K Chit-Chat
- 2.5K Fun and Games
- 3.8K MyFitnessPal Information
- 24 News and Announcements
- 1.1K Feature Suggestions and Ideas
- 2.6K MyFitnessPal Tech Support Questions