Goal weight met - still fat?! HELP!

tsalagi82
tsalagi82 Posts: 76 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Hi everyone! I'm a 31yo female, 5'5", mom of three, and now down to my goal weight: 135 lbs. YAY! I thought for sure all my problems would be eliminated by the time I met this weight goal. I look great with clothes ON, but clothes off....wow, you would swear I was a different person. I cannot wear shorts, dresses, etc. because my legs are still SO chunky. I've seen people much larger than me with great legs, but mine are dimply and fat...all the way down to my calves - there is no definition. My bottom half is a size 6, my top half is about a 4 or less.

Ok, now that I'm done ranting....should I lose more weight to get rid of the leg/hip/butt fat or do a combo of more weight loss and strength/cardio, etc.? I'm not sure if this is simply a matter of toning up or not, so I'd love some advice. I like the size I'm at right now, just not the fat.

HELP!

Replies

  • UmmSqueaky
    UmmSqueaky Posts: 715 Member
    Weights. Heavy weights. Lift em.

    The end.
  • tsalagi82
    tsalagi82 Posts: 76 Member
    Weights. Heavy weights. Lift em.

    The end.

    I love this, lol. Thanks!
  • ninav1980
    ninav1980 Posts: 514 Member
    Ive seen my legs shrink and tone up right befor my eyes, lol. Still have a little more to go, but very happy so far.
    I do cardio and tons and tons of squats, lunges, with and without weights.
  • tsalagi82
    tsalagi82 Posts: 76 Member
    Ive seen my legs shrink and tone up right befor my eyes, lol. Still have a little more to go, but very happy so far.
    I do cardio and tons and tons of squats, lunges, with and without weights.

    Oh that's awesome! I'm on day 10 of a 30-day squat challenge, so it sounds like I'm headed in the right direction. Thanks!
  • ThatMouse
    ThatMouse Posts: 229 Member
    Yep, lift - and in particular, squat and deadlift.

    I originally aimed for 125lbs, but I'm now at 120lbs and I still have quite a bit more fat than I want. I found my BF% (estimate, really, as I'm not about to drop $250+ on a DEXA scan yet) and went from there. I revised my goal weight to 107-110lbs based on my current BF% and my goal of 18%.

    This link may help you determine your goal weight if you know your BF%: http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/fat-loss/body-composition-calculations.html

    In most cases, though, it's gonna be building that muscle mass and lowering the body fat percentage that will make you look sexy naked.
  • tsalagi82
    tsalagi82 Posts: 76 Member
    Yep, lift - and in particular, squat and deadlift.

    I originally aimed for 125lbs, but I'm now at 120lbs and I still have quite a bit more fat than I want. I found my BF% (estimate, really, as I'm not about to drop $250+ on a DEXA scan yet) and went from there. I revised my goal weight to 107-110lbs based on my current BF% and my goal of 18%.

    This link may help you determine your goal weight if you know your BF%: http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/fat-loss/body-composition-calculations.html

    In most cases, though, it's gonna be building that muscle mass and lowering the body fat percentage that will make you look sexy naked.

    Ok, I need some help with that. I calculated my BF to be 25%, but I don't know what my goal BF/weight should be in order to not look fat anymore. Make sense?
  • Graelwyn75
    Graelwyn75 Posts: 4,404 Member
    Weights. Heavy weights. Lift em.

    The end.

    This. Also, boxing is a very good way to tighten everything up. That is my main form of exercise.
  • sparklefrogz
    sparklefrogz Posts: 281 Member
    I don't know what my goal BF/weight should be in order to not look fat anymore. Make sense?
    These three sites were really helpful to me:

    http://www.builtlean.com/2010/08/03/ideal-body-fat-percentage-chart/
    http://www.cordianet.com/calculator.htm
    http://strengthunbound.com/measure-body-fat-easily-accurately-home/

    To compare, I'm 5'8" and asked myself this question at 155 lb. I'm down to 150 lb now, eating at a deficit and doing a progressive bodyweight routine while watching protein intake to keep my lean body mass intact. I intend to re-evaluate how I look at 145 lb and may go as low as 140 lb depending on what I see in the mirror and the measuring tape.

    Edit to add: this website also helped me figure out whether to lose fat or focus on toning up: http://www.aworkoutroutine.com/should-i-build-muscle-or-lose-fat-first/
  • jadunn64
    jadunn64 Posts: 3 Member
    Work on weights and give your body time to adjust to the weight loss. If your like me, I am my own worst critic, and do not see myself as other people do. Like I said, work on the weights and cardio and hang in there, it will happen.
  • AmyRhubarb
    AmyRhubarb Posts: 6,890 Member
    I had the same issue. I agree with the others on lifting heavy - best way to get the changes it sounds like you're looking for.

    Be prepared though - lifting requires fuel, so eating properly is going to be key. And you will likely see a gain on the scale due to a new lifting program, but learn to ignore the scale or just use it for laughs, and make friends with a tape measure. I dropped a full size without losing anything on the scale, but the fat and inches were still coming off. And take some pictures - sometimes you won't see the changes week to week and month to month in the mirror, but having photos to make comparison will show your progress.

    Two good reads for inspiration to eat right (aka eating the proper number of cals for your goals) and lift heavy:

    http://www.nerdfitness.com/blog/2011/07/21/meet-staci-your-new-powerlifting-super-hero/
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/799682-lifting-gaining-weight-losing-curves-getting-bulky

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