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Would love to make it to a size 7

fancyshawl
fancyshawl Posts: 14 Member
edited September 2024 in Fitness and Exercise
I just joined a few days ago and have been keeping up with my daily counts.
The thing is, I've been working out at a gym since June, and I have not seen any significant results. I've been pretty active my whole life (ex-gymnast, black belt (though not actively practicing), modern/jazz dancer), but things have slowed down in several ways since I got married 7 years ago. I've been at a certain size (around 9-10) for all of my adult life (although I wear 11-12s since I like loose fitting clothes), have been pretty muscular except for the recent flab due to being out of shape somewhat). I would LOVE to be a size 7, and 25 lbs lighter (I'm at 150 right now--never, never have been this weighty). I honestly don't think it will ever happen. I know pounds are not as much of an issue as inches, but I've never been a small person, so I'm not trying to over-reach and yearn for a size 3 because I know it won't happen.
So now, working out at the gym, I'm seeing some tone come back, but no weight has come off nor can I fit into a pair of size 10 pants that I want to get into. I've been listening to the experts who say that weight training should be the focus and cardio secondary. It makes sense--just the presence of muscles burn fat and calories. But I think that I am bulking up, despite what trainers say (women don't have enough testosterone to bulk up), but the fact is, it seems I'm getting nowhere. I'm a pseudo-vegetarian, and I wasn't eating too healthy for maybe the first couple of months that I started up at the gym (thought I could eat fried fish and fries and be okay). Now I'm back on track, thanks to myfitnesspal.com. But I wanted to see if anyone had any advice for someone who's not too heavy (I'm borderline) but a bit bulky from having strong muscles. I don't want to go over my THR because I'll burn my muscle, but I don't know how else to get slim. I've done pilates and yoga, but I want to burn more calories. Should I not use too much weight and focus on mid-level cardio?

Trying to see what REALLY has worked for people.

Replies

  • fancyshawl
    fancyshawl Posts: 14 Member
    I just joined a few days ago and have been keeping up with my daily counts.
    The thing is, I've been working out at a gym since June, and I have not seen any significant results. I've been pretty active my whole life (ex-gymnast, black belt (though not actively practicing), modern/jazz dancer), but things have slowed down in several ways since I got married 7 years ago. I've been at a certain size (around 9-10) for all of my adult life (although I wear 11-12s since I like loose fitting clothes), have been pretty muscular except for the recent flab due to being out of shape somewhat). I would LOVE to be a size 7, and 25 lbs lighter (I'm at 150 right now--never, never have been this weighty). I honestly don't think it will ever happen. I know pounds are not as much of an issue as inches, but I've never been a small person, so I'm not trying to over-reach and yearn for a size 3 because I know it won't happen.
    So now, working out at the gym, I'm seeing some tone come back, but no weight has come off nor can I fit into a pair of size 10 pants that I want to get into. I've been listening to the experts who say that weight training should be the focus and cardio secondary. It makes sense--just the presence of muscles burn fat and calories. But I think that I am bulking up, despite what trainers say (women don't have enough testosterone to bulk up), but the fact is, it seems I'm getting nowhere. I'm a pseudo-vegetarian, and I wasn't eating too healthy for maybe the first couple of months that I started up at the gym (thought I could eat fried fish and fries and be okay). Now I'm back on track, thanks to myfitnesspal.com. But I wanted to see if anyone had any advice for someone who's not too heavy (I'm borderline) but a bit bulky from having strong muscles. I don't want to go over my THR because I'll burn my muscle, but I don't know how else to get slim. I've done pilates and yoga, but I want to burn more calories. Should I not use too much weight and focus on mid-level cardio?

    Trying to see what REALLY has worked for people.
  • jenifergotti
    jenifergotti Posts: 325 Member
    I too am aiming for a size 7. I was working out at the gym about 3 times a week and would do 30 min. of cardio and 30 min. of weight training. I didn't lose a pound. Since I have started focusing more on cardio., I have lost 12 pounds in a little over 2 months. I still do my weight training, but not with weights, I just use my own body weight. Now, I do cardio for about an hour 3 times a week and weight training 1 day a week. It's amazing how my body is changing. I have a good friend who is a personal trainer, she told me that the only thing to get rid of exsisting fat is cardio. So I switched over and voola! Good luck! :happy:
  • fancyshawl
    fancyshawl Posts: 14 Member
    Thanks for the tip. I had thought about doing that, and tried it for a week until I met with a trainer (although I'm not seeing one regularly--can't afford it!), and she told me her tips--3 days weight training a week along with cardio after the weights, with alternate days doing cardio. When I was doing cardio for that week, I was really going hard-probably going over my target heart rate, which later I remembered burns muscle, which is not what I should do.
    I'm thinking of doing that 10 minute trainer system and save the money from having to pay the monthly gym membership. To think of doing cardio for a whole hour makes me cringe. I get so bored and I need variety. It takes a lot in me just to do a solid half-hour on a machine. I don't know. I might try 3 months of focusing more on cardio and see what happens. If I see the weight drop, I might continue.
    Thanks again!

    Anyone else have any thoughts?
This discussion has been closed.