Don't Freak Out

SymphonynSonata
SymphonynSonata Posts: 533 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
As the title says, don't freak out. I'm going to mention a name in this post that a lot of you hate. I don't agree with the person's morals, way of presenting, ethics, practices, et cetera. However, I do like her body. And I'm curious.

FREELEE THE BANANA GIRL.

Freelee has a pretty amazing body, IMO. She and I have a similar structure (small bodied, our hip to waist ratio appears to be very similiar, etc), however, she is in shape (has some muscle definition) and I am not (little to no muscle definition). Now, I know that I can never have someone else's body and I'm fine with that. I love my body, but I'd love it more with a little muscle on it.

So, I've read and sifted through a lot of posts on here - and on other websites - and it seems that the general consensus is that to (as a woman) achieve that (here's another word a lot of you hate) "toned" kind of look you need to lift. I know I'm not going to get gonzo muscle by lifting. That's okay. I don't want huge muscles, I just want to firm up my areas and show a little more definition in my stomach, as well as firm out my thighs and lift my rear some. Like Freelee's body. If I happen to have the best genetics on the planet and get "ripped" "huge muscle" "bulky" muscular, that's cool too; I just need some direction.

I was about to buy weights and then I read that Freelee does cardio - a ton of running and bike riding.

To achieve similar results to Freelee, as far as body comp, would I be better off weight lifting or doing cardio?

Ref: maq4.jpg - Honestly, her body (to me) looks more akin to someone that lifts, but I'm pretty sure all she claims to do is cardio. I don't believe a lot of the stuff that comes out of her mouth, so I'm at a loss. Thanks for any advice or opinions!

Replies

  • DianeinCA
    DianeinCA Posts: 307 Member
    I have NEVER heard of that person.

    Please to read: http://bretcontreras.com/how-to-attain-a-slender-look-like-jessica-alba-zoe-saldana/
  • Platform_Heels
    Platform_Heels Posts: 388 Member
    I don't see any muscles on her so my guess is she doesn't lift.

    Or if she does she doesn't lift heavy.
  • SymphonynSonata
    SymphonynSonata Posts: 533 Member
    I have NEVER heard of that person.

    Please to read: http://bretcontreras.com/how-to-attain-a-slender-look-like-jessica-alba-zoe-saldana/

    Thank you! Awesome link!
  • JoRocka
    JoRocka Posts: 17,525 Member
    Not all about body shaming but that woman has no muscle what so ever.

    She's just lean.

    And that's it.

    I feel sad for her actually- but heavy lifting won't get you her body- but it will get you a much.. ahem- more amazing body IMNSOHO. (my not so humble opinion)
  • MityMax96
    MityMax96 Posts: 5,778 Member
    @ OP

    If you are similar to her....

    Do yourself a favor, lift weights. :wink:
  • Platform_Heels
    Platform_Heels Posts: 388 Member
    @ OP

    If you are similar to her....

    Do yourself a favor, lift weights. :wink:

    Not everyone likes to lift though.

    (FWIW: I love lifting but it's not something everyone does. I have a friend who runs and does P90X but will not hit the gym and lift weights simply because she doesn't want to. For her running and P90X keep her motivated. She just doesn't like to lift).
  • AllOutof_Bubblegum
    AllOutof_Bubblegum Posts: 3,646 Member
    The answer to ANY question is ALWAYS "more weights".





































    A. L W. A. Y. S.
  • jlvanderstoel
    jlvanderstoel Posts: 24
    Weight lifting will make you toned, but you need cardio to get to a low body fat percentage to get the lean look.
  • CorlissaEats
    CorlissaEats Posts: 493 Member
    As the title says, don't freak out. I'm going to mention a name in this post that a lot of you hate. I don't agree with the person's morals, way of presenting, ethics, practices, et cetera. However, I do like her body. And I'm curious.

    FREELEE THE BANANA GIRL.

    Freelee has a pretty amazing body, IMO. She and I have a similar structure (small bodied, our hip to waist ratio appears to be very similiar, etc), however, she is in shape (has some muscle definition) and I am not (little to no muscle definition). Now, I know that I can never have someone else's body and I'm fine with that. I love my body, but I'd love it more with a little muscle on it.

    So, I've read and sifted through a lot of posts on here - and on other websites - and it seems that the general consensus is that to (as a woman) achieve that (here's another word a lot of you hate) "toned" kind of look you need to lift. I know I'm not going to get gonzo muscle by lifting. That's okay. I don't want huge muscles, I just want to firm up my areas and show a little more definition in my stomach, as well as firm out my thighs and lift my rear some. Like Freelee's body. If I happen to have the best genetics on the planet and get "ripped" "huge muscle" "bulky" muscular, that's cool too; I just need some direction.

    I was about to buy weights and then I read that Freelee does cardio - a ton of running and bike riding.

    To achieve similar results to Freelee, as far as body comp, would I be better off weight lifting or doing cardio?

    Ref: maq4.jpg - Honestly, her body (to me) looks more akin to someone that lifts, but I'm pretty sure all she claims to do is cardio. I don't believe a lot of the stuff that comes out of her mouth, so I'm at a loss. Thanks for any advice or opinions!

    Weeeeeell, to start with- it would help if you had her bone structure. I have to agree with other posters- she is lean, not muscular. Her body fat % is low which shows whatever muscle she does have which might be the reason for your question. A combo of cardio and strength training will get you as close as your genetics allow.

    Cardio to burn the calories and ditch the layer of fat. Strength/lifting to get the right foundation that will eventually show.
  • JoRocka
    JoRocka Posts: 17,525 Member
    Weight lifting will make you toned, but you need calorie deficit to get to a low body fat percentage to get the lean look.

    FTFY
    Not everyone likes to lift though.

    (FWIW: I love lifting but it's not something everyone does. I have a friend who runs and does P90X but will not hit the gym and lift weights simply because she doesn't want to. For her running and P90X keep her motivated. She just doesn't like to lift)

    mai BF ^^^^^^
    He once asked me why I didn't just do 200 hindu squats instead of trying to squat 200 pounds.

    I almost cried. He is just so incompetent and clueless about working out
    He hates the idea of a gym. seriously- HATES it. Thinks it's only for people who like to talk.

    Which makes me sad because he's missing potential- but I agree you do not NEED the gym to lift or get fit- the reality is most people don't have the drive or the where with all to do a progressive body weight/at home program.
  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    You can get resistance from cardio. Bike riding and running can both provide resistance, which is what is needed to build muscle. Certainly not as much as lifting weights, but it is still resistance. And it burns calories, which means you get to eat more while still maintaining the calorie deficit needed for weight loss.

    Those who say this girl as zero muscle are clearly exaggerating. She looks fit. But they are correct that she does not look like she lifts weights, but if her look is your goal, then clearly you are not looking for a weight lifter look.
  • CitizenXVIII
    CitizenXVIII Posts: 117 Member
    The reason people hate the word 'tone' is because it implies an action that is pure fiction. You do not get muscle definition by working the muscles, you get it by peeling away the fat that lives over them. Now in your picture, you appear to already have a low amount of body fat, which makes me think you have very low muscle mass. Building more muscle would definitely be something I would pursue.

    Lift - Yes, most efficient way to build muscle. I'd look into the program at hundredpushups.com to work your core, though.

    Scary part, you are going to need to fuel your body if you want it to grow. Means eating lots of protein, and more calories in a day than your body typically needs.
  • charleigh78
    charleigh78 Posts: 247 Member
    Please to read: http://bretcontreras.com/how-to-attain-a-slender-look-like-jessica-alba-zoe-saldana/


    Excellent article! Thanks for sharing.
  • MityMax96
    MityMax96 Posts: 5,778 Member
    @ OP

    If you are similar to her....

    Do yourself a favor, lift weights. :wink:

    Not everyone likes to lift though.

    (FWIW: I love lifting but it's not something everyone does. I have a friend who runs and does P90X but will not hit the gym and lift weights simply because she doesn't want to. For her running and P90X keep her motivated. She just doesn't like to lift).

    True....but I was replying to OP and her question.
    And lifting was part of her post.....soooooo.....lift
  • JoRocka
    JoRocka Posts: 17,525 Member
    You can get resistance from cardio. Bike riding and running can both provide resistance, which is what is needed to build muscle. Certainly not as much as lifting weights, but it is still resistance. And it burns calories, which means you get to eat more while still maintaining the calorie deficit needed for weight loss.

    Those who say this girl as zero muscle are clearly exaggerating. She looks fit. But they are correct that she does not look like she lifts weights, but if her look is your goal, then clearly you are not looking for a weight lifter look.

    no one has ZERO muscle.

    But that girl doesn't have much.
    She just looks lean, but there is no way in my mind she looks fit.

    There is a tremendous difference between having a lean body with some definition and having some solid muscle and definition. A great deal of fitness model wanna be's are just extremely lean and actually lack substantial muscle mass.
  • contingencyplan
    contingencyplan Posts: 3,639 Member
    You can get resistance from cardio. Bike riding and running can both provide resistance, which is what is needed to build muscle. Certainly not as much as lifting weights, but it is still resistance. And it burns calories, which means you get to eat more while still maintaining the calorie deficit needed for weight loss.

    Those who say this girl as zero muscle are clearly exaggerating. She looks fit. But they are correct that she does not look like she lifts weights, but if her look is your goal, then clearly you are not looking for a weight lifter look.

    Resisted cardio is not the same as strength training. In order to stimulate muscle growth, the resistance should be at such a high level of intensity that the repetitions needed in order to reach a state of fatigue can be counted on two hands. Otherwise all you're stimulating is endurance/cardiovascular fitness. You're not inducing hypertrophy, which is the key to adding muscle mass.

    OP: The woman in those pics has very little actual muscle and the only reason she looks "fit" is because she has a very very low level of bodyfat, making what little muscle she has show through. It looks like she does nothing but cardio and eats at a constant deficit.
  • Holly_Roman_Empire
    Holly_Roman_Empire Posts: 4,440 Member
    My muscle and fat content were similar to hers before I got pregnant, and I got there by doing step aerobics, spin class, and running (along with a calorie deficit).

    BUT...I never had a waist to hip ratio like hers. That's genetic. I also had more visible cellulite on my butt and thighs than I do now that I'm lifting. Some women could try to get that lean and lose their butt and boobs completely. You can get that lean without lifting, but you probably won't look exactly like her.
  • Holly_Roman_Empire
    Holly_Roman_Empire Posts: 4,440 Member
    You can get resistance from cardio. Bike riding and running can both provide resistance, which is what is needed to build muscle. Certainly not as much as lifting weights, but it is still resistance. And it burns calories, which means you get to eat more while still maintaining the calorie deficit needed for weight loss.

    Those who say this girl as zero muscle are clearly exaggerating. She looks fit. But they are correct that she does not look like she lifts weights, but if her look is your goal, then clearly you are not looking for a weight lifter look.

    Resisted cardio is not the same as strength training. In order to stimulate muscle growth, the resistance should be at such a high level of intensity that the repetitions needed in order to reach a state of fatigue can be counted on two hands. Otherwise all you're stimulating is endurance/cardiovascular fitness. You're not inducing hypertrophy, which is the key to adding muscle mass.

    OP: The woman in those pics has very little actual muscle and the only reason she looks "fit" is because she has a very very low level of bodyfat, making what little muscle she has show through. It looks like she does nothing but cardio and eats at a constant deficit.

    I agree with the bolded point, and I would add that a lot of folks would rather maintain their muscle mass or build muscle so they can eat more. I am kind of one of those people.
  • cherrilovee
    cherrilovee Posts: 194 Member
    It doesn't look like she has any muscles what so ever. She's lean but I rather be chubby and strong. Just my opinion though.
  • __freckles__
    __freckles__ Posts: 1,238 Member
    I have NEVER heard of that person.

    Please to read: http://bretcontreras.com/how-to-attain-a-slender-look-like-jessica-alba-zoe-saldana/

    Another one for this^^. Not everyone wants visible muscle definition. And that's fine. I'm with a lot of the people on this website that are going for a more "fit" look with muscle definition. But not everyone wants that. Let the OP look how SHE wants. And everyone keep doing their own thing. :flowerforyou:
  • Dogwalkingirl
    Dogwalkingirl Posts: 320 Member
    I wont freak out but I HATE this woman! She is skinny and I am willing to bet very very weak. This could be due to her VERY strict eating habits. If you already have bone structure like her and you want to look like her (even though I don't see this as an ideal) cardio and calorie deficit will get you there I suppose. Stop watching her on Youtube..I don't know who is more annoying her or your brain dead boyfriend.

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