First post! Wanna burn some fat!

karamevans
karamevans Posts: 16
in Fitness and Exercise
Hey everyone!

I'm Kara! This is my first post! I hope someone can help.

I don't really have much weight to lose but I want to target fat. I train 5 times a week (3 x 1 hour stepper machine and 37 min kettlebell DVD using 8kg kettlebell, 2 x swimming freestyle for 1 hour and plenty of dog walks) and eat a relatively clean diet.

I'm really at a plateau ATM and want my muscles to show more! My problem areas are my bum and thighs!

Has anyone got any advice??

Many thanks :) xxx

Replies

  • phjorg1
    phjorg1 Posts: 642 Member
    I see lots of cardio, but no resistance training. Wanting muscles to show and targeting fat loss is a byproduct of resistance training mostly.

    And diet matters above all. Relatively clean means nothing if you're not tracking calories and macros. And having a plateau the last few weeks is not uncommon. Trick is busting out of it. If it's a short one just keep doing what you're doing. If it's been a while, then we will need a bit more info about your diet to see next step.
  • karamevans
    karamevans Posts: 16
    What are macros? Breakfast is porridge with almond milk, flax seed, Greek yogurt, scoop protein, lunch is chicken and veggie stir fry, dinner usually wholemeal pasta (lunch and dinner maybe switched around) snacks are fruit, nuts, naked bars, seed bars ect.

    Does kettlebell workouts not count as resistance training? I thought they did as I'm using a weight?
  • Emtabo01
    Emtabo01 Posts: 672
    Weight training, try New Rules of Lifting for Women for a starting place.
  • karamevans
    karamevans Posts: 16
    Oh- should add- I had to have a distal femoral replacement (femur bone and knee joint) replacement in my teens, along with 82% of the muscle removed so kind of limited with regards to lifting heavy, high impact exercise ect!
  • thinklivebefree
    thinklivebefree Posts: 328 Member
    Stop eating carbs after lunch, especially from pasta!
  • phjorg1
    phjorg1 Posts: 642 Member
    Does kettlebell workouts not count as resistance training? I thought they did as I'm using a weight?
    using a weight does not mean you're doing resistance training...

    you need to be reaching total muscle failure where whatever you're doing can't go past 15 reps or less for it to be resistance training. And although 16lbs with a kettlebell could be used for such a thing, it is far too low a weight to really challenge yourself on a lot of the core moves like squat, bench, deadlift.

    Kettlebell training is more about the swings, and is measured in time rather than reps. It's a conditioning workout at it's core, not a resistance training one.

    Also, macros are the breakdown of fats, carbs and proteins in your daily intake of food. Yours actually look pretty good. as you normally want your fats proteins and carbs to be somewhat balanced. A common mistake I see people make is eat mostly healthy carbs and thats it in an effort to not eat fat and meats...
  • katy_trail
    katy_trail Posts: 1,992 Member
    Stop eating carbs after lunch, especially from pasta!

    :explode: :noway: :noway: :noway: :noway: :noway:

    meal timing and combos make no difference.
  • phjorg1
    phjorg1 Posts: 642 Member
    Oh- should add- I had to have a distal femoral replacement (femur bone and knee joint) replacement in my teens, along with 82% of the muscle removed so kind of limited with regards to lifting heavy, high impact exercise ect!
    I know the procedure. eep, ya thats going to be a tough one to work around. It def limits lower body movements. but still leaves plenty of options open. And I would actually argue a procedure like that would make resistance training all the more important to try and strengthen your leg as much as possible. That said though, I would obviously advise this done with a template from a proper sports physiotherapist..
  • jfrankic
    jfrankic Posts: 747 Member
    Stop eating carbs after lunch, especially from pasta!

    This is nonsense!! Incorporate more resistance training, the heavier the better but I understand you have some limitations with you knee. It would be good to visit a physical therapist or a specialist to see what he/she can recommend.
  • DopeItUp
    DopeItUp Posts: 18,771 Member
    Stop eating carbs after lunch, especially from pasta!

    And what would this accomplish exactly?
  • karamevans
    karamevans Posts: 16
    Yes it definitely does. My surgeon recommends I do thins like swimming and stationary cycling. However as you can imagine, I have a bit of a dent where the muscle was removed, my squats are horrific as I can only bend my knee 100 degrees, and because of the way my tendons were reattached, I can't bend/ straighten my knee with my foot straight, only at an angle... Argh!
  • notworthstalking
    notworthstalking Posts: 531 Member
    Stop eating carbs after lunch, especially from pasta!

    Not this. Though I find a combination of carbs and protein works to give me the energy I need to work or work out. Pasta can be good for you in your calorie intake.
  • notworthstalking
    notworthstalking Posts: 531 Member
    Yes it definitely does. My surgeon recommends I do thins like swimming and stationary cycling. However as you can imagine, I have a bit of a dent where the muscle was removed, my squats are horrific as I can only bend my knee 100 degrees, and because of the way my tendons were reattached, I can't bend/ straighten my knee with my foot straight, only at an angle... Argh!

    Are you able to do things like push ups and planks?One of the great things about compound lifts in the work your core and upper body. Push ups work your core and chest and your legs a little. Maybe things like that might help? Have you looked into water aerobics?
  • m76b
    m76b Posts: 1,498 Member
    Stop eating carbs after lunch, especially from pasta!

    What??? 50 lbs lost and I eat carb after lunch:tongue:
  • YolieCreator
    YolieCreator Posts: 173 Member
    It may be best if you talk to your doctor first and see what he or she has to say and then get the advice of a trainer. They have plenty of machines that focus on the lower body and butt area. Good luck and I hope you're able to get the results you want
  • Cp731
    Cp731 Posts: 3,195 Member
    Stop eating carbs after lunch, especially from pasta!

    What??^^^^^^^^^^^^ No, don't listen to that.
  • karamevans
    karamevans Posts: 16
    Thanks for all the replies! Yea I don't agree with the no carbs after lunch.. Especially if I'm training in the evening!

    I can most certainly do planks and push ups, ill have to incorporate those into my workout!

    Thanks for the help :D
  • JoRocka
    JoRocka Posts: 17,525 Member
    You can still lift heavy- you just need to know what/how to lift.

    I just went to a mini competition- the guy had one arm- his dead lift was 365. Yeah. There are WAYS of making things happen.

    Still pursue the weights as best you can.

    Keep in mind you can't spot reduce fat- and you cannot "tone" as there is no such thing. If you want to lose fat- you need to drop your body fat% which is done mostly through diet moderation and tweaking.

Categories