Where my "skinny fat" people at?
tdc8557
Posts: 16 Member
Anyone else here dealing with the skinny fat problem? If so, how did you tone yourself up to being skinny fit? Having some ab definition would be nice right now.
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The real answer is to start lifting heavy. Check out programs like New Rules of Lifting for Women, Stronglifts, or Strong Curves.
ETA: http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1161603/so-you-want-a-nice-stomach/p1
For me? Top abs (four pack) showed up with weight loss. Still working on the last two. Arm definition is slowly coming through swimming. Once I lost the saddlebags, my flamingo thighs came back and there ain't nothing to be done about that no matter how much I squat and cycle. (I got some hunky calves, though. Yay swim.)
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Nice link! I know this is the fitness board, but did you have any diets you followed or recipes you'd recommend?0
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I was beginning to see signs that I was losing muscle, becoming more soft than I wanted and it was because I was burning to much by running/elliptical and eating to little. I'm only running once a week (as opposed to 4 miles a day 6 days/wk) and heavy lifting with stronglifts 3x week. I'm eating at maintenance level (1710) as opposed as before (1200). Eat 1g protein fir 1 lb of body weight. I eat 115 a day. Eggs, good fats, protein powder helps me get half what I aim for. I was on my way to being SF but I had to stop and change my mindset before it got worse. I'd read up on it before and could tell that's where I was headed. I'm seeing a lot of good results after a week. Heavy weights and protein seem to be key.0
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My PT is making me so lots of strength training, it's prob to make sure when I have lost my excess I won't be skinny fat.
Although the thought of being skinny fat over fat fat is much better. My arms have got bigger and I have small pecs showing (pretty small)
Once the belly fats gone then who knows, I do cardio training 2-3 times a week and swimming at weekends.
But I will tone it down once I have less body fat don't want to eat my own muscles lol0 -
I think I'd qualify as skinny fat. 5'4" 135 pounds. So in clothing its not looking too bad but pretty flabby without. Been doing some strength training classes and gearing myself up to start some heavier lifting.0
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Me!!! I am 5'4 and 124lbs and have 34.5% body fat. I got a body composition analysis scan 2 weeks ago which recommended that I loose 6kg of fat and replace with 6kg of muscle. (So not actually loose weight!) So that's my goal. At my next scan I'm hoping to see major improvements as I've been lifting 3x a week and also doing cardio. Skinny fat sucks lol x0
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Lift heavy and plenty of protein. If you want a good plan that will help to build muscle and can help you lose fat at the same time (I did in 6 short weeks), check out Shortcut to Shred by Jim Stoppani: http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/jim-stoppani-six-week-shortcut-to-shred.html
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Yup, I'm still skinny fat. I've been doing NROLFW for a couple of month (just started stage 2) and it's looking a lot better already! Eating maintenance, lifting heavy, and doing less cardio (although I do still rely on cardio burns for those days when there is too much cheese or too much beer!). My arms are looking pretty awesome, and my stomach is flattening out a bit. Slowly slowly wins the race!0
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Former (and maybe still slightly) skinny-fat dude here.
The secret was heavy, compound lifts, eating an absolute ton, and keeping the cardio down to just a 10-15 min warmup before lifting. That is it.
I was using isolating exercises like machines and such, but I didn't have any progress, and attributed it to my body type. I also was unaware of the mountains of food I actually needed to consume until I started counting calories.
I started getting serious about it 9 months ago, upgraded to a big-kid gym, conquered my fear of the rack, and the results make me upset at all the time I wasted before trying to get in shape.0 -
I'm working my way up from "skinny fat" -- I lost about 60 pounds last year, but wasn't lifting during that period (just lots of running / bicycling) so I also lost muscle mass. Starting lifting heavy in October & have put on about 8 lbs since then (some fat, some muscle). I recently started carb cycling to try to get rid of my remaining pudge while being able to keep gaining strength...we'll see how that works over the next few months.0
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I've been working out consistently since November and my body is starting to get firmer but I'm not seeing much muscle definition. I'm also really small-5'3 and 96.8 pounds, and that makes it confusing: do I gain weight so I can turn it into muscle? I have no idea how to decide the amount of calories I should be eating because I don't know which direction to go in. Halp!
Maybe I should go get a scan to see what's actually going on with my body right now-where do I do that? Thanks for the responses guys! Keep 'em coming
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I've been working out consistently since November and my body is starting to get firmer but I'm not seeing much muscle definition. I'm also really small-5'3 and 96.8 pounds, and that makes it confusing: do I gain weight so I can turn it into muscle? I have no idea how to decide the amount of calories I should be eating because I don't know which direction to go in. Halp!
Definition comes with lower body fat (assuming the muscles are there).
Are you using a particular program (aka, Stronglifts, Starting Strength, NROL), a trainer-designed program, or just ad-hoc lifting?
The tried-and-true method is bulk-cut -- eat a bit above maintenance with plenty of protein while you build muscle (and add fat), then switch to a deficit while continuing to lift (and usually adding more cardio on the non-lift days).
Other methods (recomps of various sorts) are more controversial. They're certainly harder to do right.0 -
I've been working out consistently since November and my body is starting to get firmer but I'm not seeing much muscle definition. I'm also really small-5'3 and 96.8 pounds, and that makes it confusing: do I gain weight so I can turn it into muscle? I have no idea how to decide the amount of calories I should be eating because I don't know which direction to go in. Halp!
Maybe I should go get a scan to see what's actually going on with my body right now-where do I do that? Thanks for the responses guys! Keep 'em coming
I got mine done at my gym. I am getting a more advanced (or accurate!) one at the hospital next month, a DEXA scan. But this is to check my bone density, the bonus is that it reads your body fat % too so I will have that to compare! I hope it has gone down!!
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Started "skinny fat" when I joined. Did the low calorie diet thing, lost about 12kg, still didn't look right, just looked gaunt, despite heavy lifting (strength did go up but didn't look right) and HIIT. Cranked up the calories and continued to focus on heavy lifting, less cardio (I still play sports). Look much better now!0
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Former (and maybe still slightly) skinny-fat dude here.
The secret was heavy, compound lifts, eating an absolute ton, and keeping the cardio down to just a 10-15 min warmup before lifting. That is it.
I was using isolating exercises like machines and such, but I didn't have any progress, and attributed it to my body type. I also was unaware of the mountains of food I actually needed to consume until I started counting calories.
I started getting serious about it 9 months ago, upgraded to a big-kid gym, conquered my fear of the rack, and the results make me upset at all the time I wasted before trying to get in shape.
I've never done real weights at a real gym before and I find it very intimidating. Any tips for how to get over it?
Also any good ideas on how to work out the calories I should be taking in? A lot of things I've seen have said to multiply my body weight by 10, but that seems really low to me.0 -
I am skinny fat and fat mainly in my tummy area. I am reading convict conditioning and going to have a go at calisthenics. I am really weak so have to start slowly but steadily. I am 157 cm and 5 1kg and eating 1200 calories.0
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Former (and maybe still slightly) skinny-fat dude here.
The secret was heavy, compound lifts, eating an absolute ton, and keeping the cardio down to just a 10-15 min warmup before lifting. That is it.
I was using isolating exercises like machines and such, but I didn't have any progress, and attributed it to my body type. I also was unaware of the mountains of food I actually needed to consume until I started counting calories.
I started getting serious about it 9 months ago, upgraded to a big-kid gym, conquered my fear of the rack, and the results make me upset at all the time I wasted before trying to get in shape.
I've never done real weights at a real gym before and I find it very intimidating. Any tips for how to get over it?
Also any good ideas on how to work out the calories I should be taking in? A lot of things I've seen have said to multiply my body weight by 10, but that seems really low to me.
Don't let it intimidate you! Look, I was super nervous about starting a weight lifting regimen at my gym because they're all buff guys there and I'm this tiny shrimp of a girl lol I didn't want to look clueless or out of my depth. I highly recommend stronglifts 5x5. Www.stronglifts.com there's an app as well that's super easy. If you can't find a friend to go with you (even if it's once, it'll help you feel more at ease) ask someone who works at the gym to show you where the equipment is. Tell them what exercises you're planning to do and they'll explain or demonstrate, watch your form and help you get introduced to it. Stronglifts has videos that are good in helping proper form. Stronglifts use compound exercises not isolated muscle groups. You work more at once with compound weight exercises (squats, barbell row, bench press and deadlifts and overhead press)
You can TOTALLY do this. All it takes is a few times and it's the same exercises so you'll get into a new comfortable routine.
You got this! Plus gym ppl are usually really nice and willing to help!
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Pick up heavy objects. Put heavy objects down. Rinse. Repeat. Profit.0
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Former (and maybe still slightly) skinny-fat dude here.
The secret was heavy, compound lifts, eating an absolute ton, and keeping the cardio down to just a 10-15 min warmup before lifting. That is it.
I was using isolating exercises like machines and such, but I didn't have any progress, and attributed it to my body type. I also was unaware of the mountains of food I actually needed to consume until I started counting calories.
I started getting serious about it 9 months ago, upgraded to a big-kid gym, conquered my fear of the rack, and the results make me upset at all the time I wasted before trying to get in shape.
I've never done real weights at a real gym before and I find it very intimidating. Any tips for how to get over it?
Also any good ideas on how to work out the calories I should be taking in? A lot of things I've seen have said to multiply my body weight by 10, but that seems really low to me.
Don't let it intimidate you! Look, I was super nervous about starting a weight lifting regimen at my gym because they're all buff guys there and I'm this tiny shrimp of a girl lol I didn't want to look clueless or out of my depth. I highly recommend stronglifts 5x5. Www.stronglifts.com there's an app as well that's super easy. If you can't find a friend to go with you (even if it's once, it'll help you feel more at ease) ask someone who works at the gym to show you where the equipment is. Tell them what exercises you're planning to do and they'll explain or demonstrate, watch your form and help you get introduced to it. Stronglifts has videos that are good in helping proper form. Stronglifts use compound exercises not isolated muscle groups. You work more at once with compound weight exercises (squats, barbell row, bench press and deadlifts and overhead press)
You can TOTALLY do this. All it takes is a few times and it's the same exercises so you'll get into a new comfortable routine.
You got this! Plus gym ppl are usually really nice and willing to help!
I love this advice, thank you! I plan on doing the 5x5 eventually!0 -
FWIW The first day I went to the gym with the goal to bypass the cardio and go into the separate free weight room... I had a panic attack and didn't get out of my car. I drove home and cried. BUT! I had a friend go with me and I overcame the fear. Now we lift together when we can but I've gotten used to the form/weights/atmosphere after only 3 lifting days. Don't let fear win 0
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As for calories, set it to maintenance and aim for that number. Kick up your protein too!0
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I'm new to this too so we'll figure it out together! Feel free to friend me!
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I think "skinny fat" is where I am as well
I want desperately to lose the spare tire around my hips. I have the mommy belly hang as part of that. I'm doing Stronglifts right now but may not be able to progress if I can't find a gym that's affordable since I have limited free weight equipment and safety is an issue. Wish gyms would let you share memberships lol 0 -
Couple of things to keep in mind: 1) if one is truly "skinny fat" (I.e. Low level of fat free mass for one's height), that is usually a genetic body type. The prescription is still the same (resistance training), but the expectations also need to be realistic as to how many pounds of muscle can be gained. 2) having excess fat in an unwanted area is not necessarily "skinny fat". Fat distribution patterns are also inherited--someone who preferentially stores fat around the middle will struggle to become super lean and defined in that area, even if they achieve low levels of body fat.0
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