"Skinny Fat" and unable to shed love handles

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Replies

  • newcs
    newcs Posts: 717 Member
    It might help if you post sample strength routines that you typically do. I've seen lots of people doing routines at the gym that just aren't productive uses of their time so they're spending an hour working out but seeing less progress than others who spend 20min.

    As others have said, diet is huge. Cardio will burn calories but not do much for your mid section if your diet is out of whack (and won't really develop muscles other than in your legs...assuming you run or do other similar cardio). Some good resources for strength are the heavy lifting programs others have mentioned but personally I'm more into bodyweight stuff so I like the Nerd Fitness site/blog/forum and You Are Your Own Gym (there's a book and an app). 3 months isn't very long...stick with a good program and have patience.
  • Joeypox
    Joeypox Posts: 37
    OOO man I know what you mean! Everyone saying the intake is right. More important what you eat (*Not all calories are created the same*). I recently started eating more fibrous vegetables to replace my other carbs like break and etc and have seen good results in the mid section which has ALWAYS been an issue. I have also changed my caloric deficit and added more protein and fiber to make me feel fuller and its been going great! Hope that helps!
  • leeroxboro
    leeroxboro Posts: 142 Member

    I would work to cut fat first, if that is your concern. That will be done with a small-moderate consistent deficit. Build after that. You can't do both at the same time.

    I've seen this posted before and am confused....why can't you do both? Does this mean I need to get to my target weight first and then build?
  • MireyGal76
    MireyGal76 Posts: 7,334 Member
    If you want to build muscle, which will help tighten things up, then you need to eat at some sort of calorie surplus - very mild. Even eating at maintenance has been enough for me... some days I'm under some days I'm over.

    Do a better job of tracking your food so that you know how much you are actually consuming.
    Track your exercise and eat back your exercise cals too (if you are using MFPs calcs)
    Eat more protein

    And if you can't lift heavy, then add in some bodyweight exercises... like squats, planks (front / side), pushups, lunges... those help too.

    Oh, and for me - boxing totally ripped me up... (see profile pics), so depending on how "manly" you want to get (poking fun at the curvy womanly post from page 1), then look at something like that too. It's a great stress reliever!
  • deksgrl
    deksgrl Posts: 7,237 Member

    I would work to cut fat first, if that is your concern. That will be done with a small-moderate consistent deficit. Build after that. You can't do both at the same time.

    I've seen this posted before and am confused....why can't you do both? Does this mean I need to get to my target weight first and then build?

    To build muscle, you need to eat more, you need a calorie surplus.... more than you burn.... to build muscle. To lose fat, you generally have to eat less, a small calorie deficit will mean that you lose fat without losing lean muscle mass.
  • ILiftHeavyAcrylics
    ILiftHeavyAcrylics Posts: 27,732 Member

    I would work to cut fat first, if that is your concern. That will be done with a small-moderate consistent deficit. Build after that. You can't do both at the same time.

    I've seen this posted before and am confused....why can't you do both? Does this mean I need to get to my target weight first and then build?

    You're not going to be able to lose fat and gain significant muscle at the same time after a small amount of newbie gains. But you should still lift while you are losing fat to preserve the muscle you already have, since it's much harder to rebuild it once it's gone.
  • leeroxboro
    leeroxboro Posts: 142 Member
    Thanks for clearing that up for me!!
  • jourdanerin
    jourdanerin Posts: 69
    OOO man I know what you mean! Everyone saying the intake is right. More important what you eat (*Not all calories are created the same*). I recently started eating more fibrous vegetables to replace my other carbs like break and etc and have seen good results in the mid section which has ALWAYS been an issue. I have also changed my caloric deficit and added more protein and fiber to make me feel fuller and its been going great! Hope that helps!


    This is what I did to help my mid-section. I've noticed a lot more definition from cutting down my carb intake from breads and pastas to only 1 serving a day. I try to eat whole grain waffles or toast with peanut butter in the morning then eat salads for lunch and a lean meat and veggie for dinner.

    It seems to be working for me, I am also "skinny-fat". The lighter you are the less calories you burn during exercise too so hang in there!!!

    Less Carbs, More Weights.

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