I am a girl, and I want to build muscle

OH, and each of the days that I lift, I follow the lifting with an hour of cardio. Usually the elliptical.

and on days where I lift I drink a protein shake to aid in muscle recovery.


as far as diet goes, I am trying to eat 6 times a day. Three meals that are between 250-400 cals with 200 cal or less snacks.

and I usually eat back my exercise cals.

Have you tried Zumba?

Have you tried getting up and looking into it for yourself rather than asking other people to tell you want to do? Why should people do your research for you? Do you want us to come to the gym and lift the weights for you too? :explode:

I like muffins.

Have you tried getting up and looking into it for yourself rather than asking other people to tell you want to do? Why should people do your research for you? Do you want us to come to the gym and lift the weights for you too? :explode:

I like muffins.

And muffins like you.

As a general suggestion start writing down what you lift, reps, weights and rest between. Multi-muscle lifts are a good place to start. Squats, push-ups, dips and pull-ups come to mind. Free weights help build small support muscles that are not stressed by the machines. Ask a trainer to guide you through proper form and practice, practice, practice them. Proper form will help you get big without the injury. It's far easier to start doing it right, rather then trying to relearn it once the weight gets dangerous.

To continue to build muscle you need to stress your muscle more then the previous workout. I've had a couple of lady friends who complain they can't build muscle, but they never progress past the brightly colored 10 pound weights. Shoot for about 8 *good form* lifts. If you are able to 10, 12 or more, the weight is too light to continue the muscle building.

Start slow and low, plan to build over time. Your muscles are more flexible then the tendons that attach them to your bones. They will be sore for a while, longer then your muscles. It's better to give them a chance to adapt and get used to the new way of doing business.

As a previous reply mentioned you will probably see some great gains at first, then tapering off perhaps to a plateau. Having a record to review will show when this happens. Add weight or change routine to stress you body into adapting by building muscle again.

Good luck, keep with it!

I need a good workout
I need a good diet plan
(please) give them to me.
No more slacking off for me, I'm doing this for real.
I am 5'1", 120 lbs on a good day, and I eat 1300-1600 calories a day.
I don't want something that has 'good reviews' I want something, even if it's just small tips, that you know works.
Thank you and good day.

you're already slacking off. if you don't have the fortitude to look up your own diet and workout plan you probably aren't ready to follow thru with whatever i come up with for you to do.

check back in when you're ready to stop hitchhiking

i'm in a similar situation, but I weigh a bit more than you. Anywho, my boyfriend helped me with weight lifting. I try to lift three days a week, at the gym

day 1- back, biceps, forearms
day 2- shoulders triceps, chest
day 3- legs (glutes, hammies, quads, hip adductor abductor, calves)

all three days, core

here are some of my favorite exercises for some of these muscle groups:

calves
standing, feet shoulder width apart, dumbells in each hand (yesterday I used 17.5 in each hand), arms dangling at sides but not resting on your body. Then you go up on your tiptoes and back to the ground. 4 sets of 15 reps. YOU WILL FEEL THE BURN. the magic happens when you work through the burn

shoulders
Grab a circular weight (I use a ten pounder) Grasp the weight with both hands so its in front up you. With straight arms, lift it to eye level, then lower it. 4 sets of fifteen.

shoulders
grab 2 5lb circular weights. One in each arm. Lift arms to the sides till the are parallel with the ground. 4 sets of 15.

glutes- the booty!
I love love love bumping up the incline on the treadmill as much as possible. Then I walk backwards as long as I can till it burns too much (I try to make it to five minutes)

For the other muscles groups. I just find the machines at the gym meant to work those muscles and then do four sets of 15 at a comfortable weight.

Blessings in your journey!

And as sweet and well meaning as this post is, this is why it's not a good idea to ask a question like you just have on an open forum. The spectrum is just too broad and the advice you will receive won't be tailored to your needs. You really need to do your own research based on your goals.

I need a good workout
I need a good diet plan
(please) give them to me.
No more slacking off for me, I'm doing this for real.
I am 5'1", 120 lbs on a good day, and I eat 1300-1600 calories a day.
I don't want something that has 'good reviews' I want something, even if it's just small tips, that you know works.
Thank you and good day.

And I quote:

I need a good workout
I need a good diet plan
(please) give them to me.

Thats not asking advice, or what has worked for others, that's asking people to do the research for you IMO. It's not hate, or people being mean. It's just saying it as it's typed by you. Maybe re phrase the question?

Holy crap, I asked a simple question and I'm getting so much hate. It's not even just thing like 'hey, I can't really answer your questions, and here's why.' It's more like 'shame on you for trying to get help. omg, the audacity you must have to ask us what we did to get thin, like dont be lazy and do it yourself.'

You already know the low self esteem that accompanies being out of shape, and yet this is how this site treats each other?

I don't get it either. Your OP seemed perfectly innocuous to me, but it seems to have pushed some people's buttons. Everything I think I know about strength I got from reading discussions on mfp, so don't give up on us yet!

Sorry I have no experience to share yet and I hope you'll have plenty of success :flowerforyou: