I'm stuck and need advise!

So here it is. I'm a 24 yr old female, 4'11" and weigh 111lbs. I've lost a total of 34 lbs with 6 more to go to reach my GW. I've noticed though that nothing has been significantly changing with my body for the past 5 months and I'm getting a little discouraged. I've tried many different things that I've heard help with plateau's and such like playing with my calorie intake, or switching up my workouts. This is just not working for me anymore, I'm not really concerned with lbs anymore so much as I would like to decrease my body fat %, lose more inches on my body and I want to just get that fit, tight, toned body with a good amount of muscle definition along with becoming stronger. I'm not trying to look like those bulky really muscled women but I do want lean muscle. I'm really at a loss on how I can achieve this goal of mine.

Replies

  • kwaz29
    kwaz29 Posts: 190 Member
    Start lifting. Heavy. You won't get bulky.

    Lean/toned is the same thing as having muscle. You just look lean and toned when you don't have any more fat covering your muscles. You won't swell up like a body builder overnight, or probably reach that ever, because it takes extreme dedication, a calorie surplus, and lots of time in the gym. Lifting heavy for you will just give you that toned look that you are hoping to achieve.

    Check out the Stronglifts or New Rules of Lifting for Women groups and threads on here-they will give you inspiration and more information on how to get started.

    ETA: Helpful links

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1169757-i-am-the-woman-in-the-freeweights-section-of-the-gym

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/948109-progress-photos

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/560459-stronglifts-5x5-summary
  • _lyndseybrooke_
    _lyndseybrooke_ Posts: 2,561 Member
    1.) Lift heavy things. Women don't bulk like men, and they certainly don't bulk without meaning to.
    2.) Eat more. 1200 or less calories is only going to give you crappy workouts - you need to fuel your body sufficiently in order for it to perform.

    Also, I see quite a few days where you haven't been logging. You can't really say you've plateaued if you don't even know how much you're eating - which you don't if you're not logging accurately and consistently.
  • 212019156
    212019156 Posts: 341 Member
    To reiterate getting bulky is hard to do even for men, so go hit those heavy weights.
  • tar0809
    tar0809 Posts: 122 Member
    How much more should I eat? I am afraid that if I eat more then I'll gain some weight back. Yeah I don't usually log the weekends.
  • kwaz29
    kwaz29 Posts: 190 Member
    How much more should I eat? I am afraid that if I eat more then I'll gain some weight back. Yeah I don't usually log the weekends.

    I'd be more worried about gaining weight from the un-logged weekends than adding back a couple hundred calories during the week.
  • tar0809
    tar0809 Posts: 122 Member
    I get so busy during the weekend that I usually forget to log anything, but I can try to remember, but I still feel that won't help since I know I eat decent on the weekends, sometimes I know I eat way less on the weekends then I do on the weekdays though.
  • tar0809
    tar0809 Posts: 122 Member
    bump
  • kwaz29
    kwaz29 Posts: 190 Member
    How much more should I eat? I am afraid that if I eat more then I'll gain some weight back. Yeah I don't usually log the weekends.

    Go here: http://scoobysworkshop.com/calorie-calculator/

    Calculate your calorie goal. Try it for 4-6 weeks along with beginning a lifting program-you may gain weight initially but if you stick with it and log everything accurately, then you should see some progress.