Not sure what advice to listen to...

Procellifer
Procellifer Posts: 16
edited September 26 in Health and Weight Loss
I'm fairly new to MFP (the main website at least, I've had the app on my phone for some time now), and I'm not sure if I'm doing this quite right.

For starters, I'm not sure if I need to lose weight, which is obviously quite a big thing to be unsure about on a dieting website. I'm 22 yrs old, female, 5'4", and I currently weigh 135lbs, which I'm aware is in the healthy weight category, BMI-wise.

However, my measurements are 40-31-37, so I'm carrying quite a 'podge' (as my boyfriend calls it) around my middle. Now, all the body fat calculators and waist-to-hip ratio calculators are screaming 'girl, you need to shed some flab!' but as I say, I'm in the healthy weight range, and if I had a quid for every person who's said 'you don't need to lose weight', I'd be quite a bit wealthier. This is one time where more information and statistics aren't helpful.

I'd go and actually ask my doctor or something, but I'm sure she has better things to do with her time than deal with my weight loss questions, and besides, it's hard enough to get an appointment for something important, never mind little queries like this.

So, MFPers, particularly apple-shaped ladies like myself, which measurement do you pay the most attention to? And would it be healthy for me to continue losing weight, or is it more reasonable to just try and tone up rather than shed pounds?

Replies

  • penny39
    penny39 Posts: 266 Member
    BUMP
  • mdonovan
    mdonovan Posts: 44
    The thing with carrying your weight in the middle is that it puts you at risk for heart disease and diabetes. If your in the range healthy for your age and height, I would just focus on toning up the middle. However, I am not a professional, so maybe a quick call to your doctor or public health nurse would give you a more concrete answer.
  • TNAJackson
    TNAJackson Posts: 686 Member
    I don't have that problem at all, since I desperately need to lose weight, but if I were in your position, I'd work on toning. More weights, crunches, etc, and less cardio (since if I understand it correctly, cardio is the main thing in losing pounds). From one MFP to another, that's what I would do. :smile:
  • cbirdso
    cbirdso Posts: 465 Member
    My advice would be that you don't need to lose "WEIGHT" you need to lower your body fat percentage. You accomplish this by many of the same behaviors that losing weight entails. Meaning, you have to change WHAT you eat and you need to add exercise to your daily activity. If you are already active now, that is great, but it is not exercise, per se. You need to do some cardio and targeted strength training in a planned routine. You will probably need to watch your calories closely to make sure you are GETTING ENOUGH. You need to be well fueled to burn fat and add toned muscle.
  • WifeMomDVM
    WifeMomDVM Posts: 1,025 Member
    I'm reading a very interesting book right now called "YOU: On a Diet" by two doctors. One is Dr. Mehmet Oz (from the Oprah show) and the other guy's name I can't remember. It's a great read, but from what I can tell you, according to these 2 doctors, you DO have increased risk of diabetes and heart disease and high cholesterol. Ideal waist measurement for ladies to reduce these risks is 27.5" or smaller (30" or smaller for men).

    While the number on the scale says you are a healthy BMI, sounds like a pair of calipers might put your body fat % a little high (making this assumption based on the measurements you provided).

    So my friend, I think Strength Training may be what the doctor orders. Building muscle, will help you stay in your "healthy BMI" - which is another topic I don't want to get into right now), shed fat, and lose inches.

    For starters, I really LOVE the book, "The New Rules of Weight Lifting for Women" by Lou Schuler - check out reviews on Amazon.com if you are skeptical. Try it! I think you will be pleasantly surprised.

    And most important - congrats on focusing on your health and ignoring the nay sayers! Most of the population is not healthy - don't take health advice from unhealthy people!

    Lift like a man, look like a goddess! -Lou Schuler
  • amyann4153
    amyann4153 Posts: 4
    The only way my middle goes down is to not eat starchy carbs, no bread, pasta, rice or potatoes. I have 1/2c cereal for breakfast. I also train 3 times a week at PTI and cardio the other 3 days (I take Sundays off).
    A couple women I work with are also doing on starchy cards except at breakfast and its working.
    Hope this helps.
  • baisleac
    baisleac Posts: 2,019 Member
    Lift.

    If I were in your shoes I would:

    Set my calories for maintenance.
    Lift weights. If you're new to them, check out "Bodyweight exercises" to start out with and find someone who can help you with freeweight form.
    Do light cardio, or better yet, interval training/circuit training.
  • fpueblo
    fpueblo Posts: 241 Member
    I would think that if you are in the healthy range then you might want to try toning up a bit and if the pudge still bothers you try to lose at most 5-7 lbs and see how you feel then. I wouldn't go past the 5-7 lbs range because on some people your height 125-128 looks to thin after toning. it all depends on your frame and how your body hold the weight though...
  • Buckeyt
    Buckeyt Posts: 473 Member
    This might be one of the perfect cases to show the limitations of BMI. BMI does not tell you anything abuot body composition. It could be that while you are at a "mormal" weight for your height, you might have a high body fat % which might explain your boyfriend's description of your middle.

    Don't think about it as having to lose weight, but rather about getting healthy through both better nutrition and increased exercise.
  • WifeMomDVM
    WifeMomDVM Posts: 1,025 Member
    I don't have that problem at all, since I desperately need to lose weight, but if I were in your position, I'd work on toning. More weights, crunches, etc, and less cardio (since if I understand it correctly, cardio is the main thing in losing pounds). From one MFP to another, that's what I would do. :smile:

    While cardio does help one burn fat, one will also lose muscle (which is why eating adequate protein and strength training are so important to help negate this). But cardio is important for people who are not trying to lose fat too. Remember cardiovascular exercise does just that - it exercises your cardiovascular system. Strengthening your heart and blood vessels is important - your heart's one muscle you certainly don't want to overlook! :flowerforyou:
  • Procellifer
    Procellifer Posts: 16
    Thanks for the advice, guys, I shall definitely focus more on the strength side of things (I'm such a weakling atm it's actually rather funny). On that note, anyone got any good workouts to recommend for toning up and building muscle, cos I've never even considered doing weights or anything like that before - always been a bit too girly, I suppose. :P
  • dlaplume2
    dlaplume2 Posts: 1,658 Member
    If I were in your shoes, (which btw being 5'4" myself and weighing 195, I would love to be in your shoes as a starting point. :love: )
    I would do a combination of cardio and strenght training. You may not need to lose weight, and just need to tone up, but you do need to do both. Cardio will help you feel better,it will exercise you heart and give you stamina. Strength training will help you build long lean muscle, which will help you burn calories and look more toned in your own skin. Both of which will help you look and feel better as you get older. (22 is so young) It also couldn't hurt to look at your diet and see if you could eat better. I'm not saying you don't, but it may not be a bad idea to get rid of some bad habits before they become contributing factors to weight gain.

    best wishes to you and kudos for getting control of this before overweight and obesity hit.
  • Helice
    Helice Posts: 1,075 Member
    I say go completely on how you feel.
    So what if your in the healthy range, if you feel fat, and if you can see fat, and if you have a high body fat percentage.
    Prepare to start looseing weight! lol
    Although it does sound more like it's a case of you need to do more exercise, rather than eat less...
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