Need to lose Muscle!!
abbytat
Posts: 14 Member
I'm not sure if this is in here anywhere, but in order to get to my ultimate goal weight with a Fitness % body fat (note...not BMI) of 21% I need to lose roughly 19.7 lbs of lean mass. My intention is to keep my organs and bones ;P so how can I get rid of all that muscle w/o damaging myself??? (I also need to lose 24 lbs of fat) 
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Replies
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I'm not sure if this is in here anywhere, but in order to get to my ultimate goal weight with a Fitness % body fat (note...not BMI) of 21% I need to lose roughly 19.7 lbs of lean mass. My intention is to keep my organs and bones ;P so how can I get rid of all that muscle w/o damaging myself??? (I also need to lose 24 lbs of fat) 0
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What would be the advantage of losing lean mass?? Why on earth would you want to lose muscle???0
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Because if I don't then I can't get to the weight I should be at. I currently have approximately 140 lbs of lean mass (that's bone, muscle, organs). For most women that's their whole weight!!!! I've always been a fairly muscular person (I gain it really easily) so when I started working out I put on a lot of muscle even though I wasn't really trying to. Now I need to get rid of it. I'll still be 79% lean mass at my goal, which puts me at the lower end of the fitness scale. Women generally complain that they can't build enough muscle, my problem is the opposite!!0
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Sorry but I do not understand why you would want to lose muscle. Losing muscle will not help you reduce your body fat %. Muscle, bones, organs, etc. are all part of fat free mass. You want to maintain or increase your FFM while losing fat to lower your body fat%.0
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Still, muscle takes up less space than fat. It if were me I would never even entertain the idea of losing muscle. Health is more based on body fat % than the number on the scale. Why are you trying so hard to "get to the weight you should be at" ? LIke armed forces or something?0
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I too am confused by this. I get what you're saying (and I'm a woman who gains muscle really easily too) but I'm very confused as to why you're so hung up on numbers?! We each possess our own unique composition and the important thing is your body fat to FFM ratios. What is causing your desire to fit within particular prescribed numbers? Anything other than the numbers themselves?:huh:0
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Uh, personally, I would just try to lose the fat first. Your body disposes of muscle it doesn't need or use. If you have it, and you've had it for a while, then you are using it. Getting rid of muscle will cause you to feel weak, and change your ability to do activities. If you get down to say, 14% body fat or so and you still think you need to lose muscle, then you could try talking to a personal trainer.
Plus, muscle is attractive, and healthy. Sorry, it's just contrary to everything I've ever been taught by my trainers, doctors, and physical therapists.
Also, I'm confused why you say getting rid of lean tissue will help you get to a certain % body fat. If anything more muscle will help you get there faster.0 -
Humm...why lose muscle? Are you trying to make it...less beefy looking? Now this is too much:
I could see picking up yoga or some sort of toning to elongate muscle to not look like my BFF above...But removal? No clue?0 -
Wow.... uh... I'm going to throw up! :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: That is so gross to me. WHY?!0 -
:laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
:noway:
:bigsmile:0 -
Ummm....maybe you shouldn't focus so much on the numbers (weight, fat vs lmm) and focus more on how you look and feel.
Don't get me wrong I understand....I too am "overly" muscular, but muscle helps burn fat...so the more you have the better off you are. Muscle is more attractive then fat and takes up less room.
If it's a visual issue, lose the fat first then re-evaluate. Certain workouts/styles (yoga, pilates, ball work, etc) help elongate muscle which will make it appear leaner and not as bulky
If it's a number issue, don't focus on it so much.
Lastly, EW Princess L!!!! :sick:0 -
Humm...why lose muscle? Are you trying to make it...less beefy looking? Now this is too much:
I could see picking up yoga or some sort of toning to elongate muscle to not look like my BFF above...But removal? No clue?
OMG!!! It's Bubble Man!!!!0 -
Humm...why lose muscle? Are you trying to make it...less beefy looking? Now this is too much:
I could see picking up yoga or some sort of toning to elongate muscle to not look like my BFF above...But removal? No clue?
OMG!!! It's Bubble Man!!!!
I wonder if he'd pop if you pricked him with a pin.0 -
To all of you who don't understand...in order for me to reach my goal, I need to lose both the fat and the muscle (otherwise my %body fat will drop below 10%...unhealthy for a woman). The personal trainer I saw for my "free evaluation" (ie sales pitch) told me the same thing...I DO need to drop some muscle b/c when I was 30 lbs heavier I guess my body put it on to support the weight, but I don't need that much anymore. Plus I DO NOT want to look muscular. I want to look soft...sorry for all of you ladies out there going for the muscular look...it's not what I want. I want to be fit, but I don't want to show a lot of muscle. I see a lot of women in the gym who do that and that's cool for them, but not for me. So please if you have constructive advice please post...otherwise I'm not interested!!0
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You might want to seek the advice of a medical doctor for this issue - possibly one who specializes in sports medicine, or a related area.
My quick answer would be that your body will adjust this amount of muscle tissue. You mentioned that you put it on because you were heavier (e.g. If a person has a lean mass of 100 lbs, but weighs 250, they would begin to build muscles to support that excess weight, much like in weight lifting). Once you start to drop weight, you will also stop building the muscle needed to support that weight.
20 lbs of excess muscle tissue is a considerable amount. What do you do to maintain this muscle mass? Maybe you could cut down on those activities (lifting any weights that are heavier than 5-10lbs), and your muscle mass should adjust to what your body needs. Unless you are in a very physically demanding job, your body will not maintain that large amount of muscle unless you are pushing it to do so (i.e. lifting weights / weight bearing activity that is tearing the muscle fibres to promote growth). Women, generally, do not have high enough levels of testosterone to maintain large amounts of muscle without some serious lifting and protein supplementation.
My brother was a body builder (now he's just a "fit guy") and I used to lift pretty seriously in my 20's so it was a hobby that I extensively researched. Not to question your information, but is it possible that your lean tissue estimate is inaccurate? How did you come about these numbers? Just as a side note, I've done body fat tests that come up with a range of 10-25% for my body fat - depending on the methodology used.
I think that some advisable steps would be (1) Seek the advice of a health professional / physician, (2) Start losing the fat, and when you get really close to your goal, you can re-evaluate. If you want to give us some numbers and info, we could see what you are working with (it is also possible, as I'm sitting here thinking, that you are quite tall, which could indeed account for the extra muscle).
Good luck!!!
P.S. I used to be quite muscular, and after I stopped the lifting, had two babies and gained some weight, then lost some weight and started Yoga, I'm "soft and curvy" not muscular at all!!!
:flowerforyou:0 -
To all of you who don't understand...in order for me to reach my goal, I need to lose both the fat and the muscle (otherwise my %body fat will drop below 10%...unhealthy for a woman). The personal trainer I saw for my "free evaluation" (ie sales pitch) told me the same thing...I DO need to drop some muscle b/c when I was 30 lbs heavier I guess my body put it on to support the weight, but I don't need that much anymore. Plus I DO NOT want to look muscular. I want to look soft...sorry for all of you ladies out there going for the muscular look...it's not what I want. I want to be fit, but I don't want to show a lot of muscle. I see a lot of women in the gym who do that and that's cool for them, but not for me. So please if you have constructive advice please post...otherwise I'm not interested!!
Hey, we're trying to understand where you're coming from and help you. You don't really need to get so defensive.
If that is the issue, then as Banks said, as the muscle isn't needed to "support the weight" it will naturally lessen. I really think the numbers can be deceiving. Plus, you can be "muscular" and not be bulky. However, maybe pilates or yoga would help "elongate" the muscle and make it appear smoother and give you the look you are after. I think you will have success if you give it some time and maybe relax just a hair!!0 -
To all of you who don't understand...in order for me to reach my goal, I need to lose both the fat and the muscle (otherwise my %body fat will drop below 10%...unhealthy for a woman). The personal trainer I saw for my "free evaluation" (ie sales pitch) told me the same thing...I DO need to drop some muscle b/c when I was 30 lbs heavier I guess my body put it on to support the weight, but I don't need that much anymore. Plus I DO NOT want to look muscular. I want to look soft...sorry for all of you ladies out there going for the muscular look...it's not what I want. I want to be fit, but I don't want to show a lot of muscle. I see a lot of women in the gym who do that and that's cool for them, but not for me. So please if you have constructive advice please post...otherwise I'm not interested!!
Hey, we're trying to understand where you're coming from and help you. You don't really need to get so defensive.
If that is the issue, then as Banks said, as the muscle isn't needed to "support the weight" it will naturally lessen. I really think the numbers can be deceiving. Plus, you can be "muscular" and not be bulky. However, maybe pilates or yoga would help "elongate" the muscle and make it appear smoother and give you the look you are after. I think you will have success if you give it some time and maybe relax just a hair!!
Montanagirl - you said it better and clearer than I (hey - I'm tired! - it's late on the East Coast!!!)...
- The muscle will lessen as you no longer use it to support excess weight
- Yoga and Pilates are GREAT and keep muscles toned yet flexible
- We are here to support you! Keep us posted on your progress!
:flowerforyou:0 -
High reps, low weight, cardio, cardio, cardio, eat clean!0
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I'm curious of your height and current weight??? Will you share these? This will help us figure out what the numbers and % are for you.
(In my best SheArnold voice...) SHE WANT TO PUMP!!! YOU UP!
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Sit on the couch... Don't lift any weights, especially with your legs. If you do work out, do just cardio. And count yourself lucky. Many of us would be happy to have your "problem."
By the way. Get a second opinion. Many trainers are not as educated as they might seem. One who is advocating losing muscle to obtain a number seems like a dangerous person to take advice from. And definitely talk to a doctor. That muscle you want to lose has more benefits to keep than to try to lose. It would be healthiest to achieve a percentage then brag about that than a number.
By the way, bubble man, I see your socks in there. Most guys just try to get away with one. Pretty "ballsy" to try to get away with two.0 -
To all of you who don't understand...in order for me to reach my goal, I need to lose both the fat and the muscle (otherwise my %body fat will drop below 10%...unhealthy for a woman). The personal trainer I saw for my "free evaluation" (ie sales pitch) told me the same thing...I DO need to drop some muscle b/c when I was 30 lbs heavier I guess my body put it on to support the weight, but I don't need that much anymore. Plus I DO NOT want to look muscular. I want to look soft...sorry for all of you ladies out there going for the muscular look...it's not what I want. I want to be fit, but I don't want to show a lot of muscle. I see a lot of women in the gym who do that and that's cool for them, but not for me. So please if you have constructive advice please post...otherwise I'm not interested!!
Wow and here I thought a lot of us were being helpful and offering constructive advice.....well....minus bubble man.0 -
Wow and here I thought a lot of us were being helpful and offering constructive advice.....well....minus bubble man.
Ya, he was pretty useless. I just couldn't get that guy out of my mind when I heard somebody say they wanted to lose muscle. EEEEK!!! It can be used as a "what not to wear" though....
:laugh:0 -
True....a garbage sack and string isn't not the most......stable... ensemble.
No air circulation for sure.0 -
Sit on the couch... Don't lift any weights, especially with your legs. If you do work out, do just cardio. And count yourself lucky. Many of us would be happy to have your "problem."
By the way. Get a second opinion. Many trainers are not as educated as they might seem. One who is advocating losing muscle to obtain a number seems like a dangerous person to take advice from. And definitely talk to a doctor. That muscle you want to lose has more benefits to keep than to try to lose. It would be healthiest to achieve a percentage then brag about that than a number.
By the way, bubble man, I see your socks in there. Most guys just try to get away with one. Pretty "ballsy" to try to get away with two.
I was thinking the same thing!! I guess, we women, decide to wear padded bras sometimes--I wonder if there is such a thing as a padded jock strap (or whatever they are called?!). Probably not--what guy would want anyone to know they needed "extra help" in that area??:laugh: :blushing:0 -
All joking aside though....and you may not like this...."constructive advice"....I believe it is never wise to force your body to lose muscle mass until it either needs to or wants to.
Only my 2 cents and it may not be worth anything to you.0 -
By the way, bubble man, I see your socks in there. Most guys just try to get away with one. Pretty "ballsy" to try to get away with two.
I was thinking the same thing!! I guess, we women, decide to wear padded bras sometimes--I wonder if there is such a thing as a padded jock strap (or whatever they are called?!). Probably not--what guy would want anyone to know they needed "extra help" in that area??:laugh: :blushing:
Ya, it's totally like Build a Bear. Before competition, you go, some girl steps on the little button machine, and stuffs....you up!
:noway: Oh no she din't!0 -
So, this is the problem generally with asking women about muscle...most have a difficult time gaining any and tend to have this same reaction...that they'd love to have my problem. No...you really wouldn't and I'm sorry I'm so defensive, but I'm sick of women telling me that. MOST women cannot maintain muscle, but I can I guess. I'm tired of...as one of my favorite MADTv sketches says "looka like a man".
Last night I got my hubby to let me take his measurements. My calves are the same size as his!!! That's no bueno to me. Also, mine are more muscular looking than his...also no good. That means I have way MORE muscle in them than he does in order for them to look muscular and be the same size. I'm not saying I want to look flabby, but I don't want a six pack and I don't want my arms to be even skinny and buff. (That was a rather funny pic of the buff chick, whoever posted that)
My mom's been a "trainer" all my life and even she was shocked when I showed her my calves. She said most of her powerlifting male friends couldn't get their calves to look like that...and I'm not doing anything to work them!!!
People have asked for my #'s. Yes, I'm tall (someone asked about that). I'm 5' 8.5" and I weigh 195lbs. I used to be 225, but I lost it thanks to the valentines gift that I begged my husband for (he was really afraid that it would backfire on him); Billy's Boot Camp. I've been stuck around this same size for 2 years now. I can't get rid of the junk in the middle (and I've never had a particularly big stomach, it's only started shifting recently).
The % body fat was done 2 ways. In the gym, the trainer used calipers. At home I used an online approximation by taking my measurements. I know those are the most reliable, but they are the best estimate I can get at the moment. Also, they were fairly close to each other, so it's a good enough estimate for my purposes. My goal is to get to a size 9 or 11. I'm not trying to go crazy. At my height a 9/11 looks great on me (I know from my past), so that's the goal.
If you're still reading...I'm impressed. So, for my immediate goal of getting down to 180 lbs at 24% BF I need to lose 12.8 lbs of fat and yes, 1.2 lbs muscle. From there I would like to continue.
For those who told me cardio...I do about 1 hour of cardio a day. Thanks to the person who mentioned only 5-10 lbs on the weights. That's so hard for me to go that low, (b/c I can do sets of 15 reps at higher weight...and I was told that as long as I could do at least 15 I wasn't going to build muscle...I'm beginning to think that was a lie) but I'm going to force myself to do it...what about when I use the machines though????0 -
And by the way...that guy has serious problems!!!! I think he's looking down b/c whatever was in there is beginning to attack!!0
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I haven't read all the posts, so this may already be said, forgive me. I gain muscle really easily myself and have struggled dealing with the fact that the BMI calculators say I am obese when people looking at me say I'm fine. My freshmen year of college I decided to play softball, even though I wasn't planning on doing so when I started school, hence I didn't train at all over the summer. After 2 weeks of training with the team, I had 16-1/2" bisceps. Bigger than a few of the guys. I definitely know how you feel!
If you research a lot, you'll find that these aren't accurate for people with athletic builds. You should concentrate more on how you feel. I usually weight 20-30 pounds more than someone who is the same "size" as me or larger. It is hard to understand, I know. For almost all my life, clothes don't fit. My shoulders and arms are too big for most shirts. My legs are 1 or 2 sizes bigger than my waist. Plus you have all the BMI's telling you you're fat. You just have to learn that those are estimates. A true BMI is found through the caliper tests or by water displacement tests. That same semester, a caliper test in health class said my BMI was 14 but the calculators put it more like 28! Don't sweat the numbers!
If you still want to lose the bulkiness, I have found that switching to pilates from lifting weights has helped. And, when I do lift, I concentrate on more reps of a lower weight. Increased weights is what increases the bulk. Hope this helps.0 -
Thanks so much...finally someone who understands!!!
I know what you mean about the weight thing. My little sister is currently a size 9, but when I asked her what she weighed it was 130...at a 9 I'm around 145-150!!! ;-). I'm really just going for a clothing size, not a particular weight. But I would like my BF to be on the lower end!
According to BMI I'm obese!! But BF% says I'm acceptable...
Pilates it is then!!!0
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