Need to understand body fat %!

It's hard to convince anyone who has a perception about their body, that it isn't so as far as others looking, but fwiw, your legs are not out of proportion at all from what I see. Continued weight loss without strength training will result in more muscle loss....maybe not much with only a 5lb goal, but there will be some if your bf is only 22% now....some of that 5lbs will have to be muscle....and as Tavistock says, it's hard to build back. You can maintain what you have easier than get it back once it's gone.

I’m looking at your profile picture and you do not have big legs. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Body_dysmorphic_disorder

AllanMisner wrote: »

I’m looking at your profile picture and you do not have big legs. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Body_dysmorphic_disorder

This. You have thin legs. You even have that coveted-by-some thigh gap. If you want legs like a Victoria's Secrets model, strap on some sky high heels and use photoshop like they do.

@katiejanecollins‌ First let me start by saying that if your profile picture is accurate, you look absolutely stunning. That being said, if you are trying to change the look of your legs, doing the same cardio/HIIT workout numerous times a week is not going to get you there.
You should consider adding in strength training a few times a week. Exercises like squats, step-up lunges, dumbbell jump squats, abductor and adductor work will all get your legs looking very tight.

All too often people focus specifically on cardio and end up looking much thinner, but not what they were hoping for. If you want to look like an athlete, train like one.

For calories, check out the calculator on Scooby's Workshop, it's very accurate and has worked well for me, better than the MFP calculator.
Also, don't factor in calories burned from strength training, only from your HIIT training.

If you're interested, I'd be happy to share a few workouts I've used with other females that they had great success with.

Good luck!

From someone who is also small and has legs as problem areas, I understand how you're feeling.

I think you are where I am about a year ago, doing a lot of cardio but not seeing the toned up results you want.

Just a couple of things first, unfortunately cellulite is just a part of life for us women, there's no special exercises or creams or workouts which will get rid of that apart from trying to gain muscle which gives your skin to have a more 'smooth' appearance, if that makes any sense. Secondly, if you want to lose 'a smidge' of weight on your legs, that's fine, personal preference, however you can't spot reduce fat, you just have to do the calculations of calories in/calories out and add some exercise and fat will come off everywhere.

But anyway, back to my original thought process, I believe you are where I was a year ago, one big thing has changed my life, my legs and my confidence. Lifting weights. And not just the odd light dumbell, I mean serious weights.

On here are some amazing women who have shown that lifting weights works wonders, it helps strengthen your muscle, maintain or increase (depending on diet), seems to help the cellulite issue, gives shape to legs... it works completely differently to your cardio work outs.

In a nutshell, cardio helps your calorie deficit and helps you to lose body fat however you might still seem to have areas of 'flab' or pockets of fat.

Look up Stronglifts or other weight lifting begineers programs. I seriously can't recommend enough. Not only now do I have more confidence, shapely legs, arms, bum, abs... I also get a lot of praise in the gym, a lot from regulars in there, for how much weight I can lift!

Do it, you won't regret it.

I don't... for the simple reason I hardly used to take any photos of myself or legs (apart from face ones!) before I started as I reallllly didn't like myself. Being on here has made me wish I had taken more before photos so I can compare... That's probably why it's taken me a while to see differences because I'm just relying on my own memory rather than photographic evidence.

But have a look on the forums on here, in the success stories, in fitness exercise, there's loads of women showing the positives of weight training.

And trust me, you won't bulk up. Women aren't built that way. The only way you could bulk up is by serious serious lifting and meticuously watching your diet and every gram that goes into your mouth. For us every day folk, stick to a good diet, good amounts of protein, good few weight lifting sessions and trust me, you will see the world of difference.

If you're part of a gym then go speak to a trainer, they'll be able to point you in the right direction.

Cellulite is genetic and there's not much you can do to "rid" yourself of it if your body weight is close to where it should be. Even thin females have cellulite.

There are topical creams that help camoflauge them, but they are just temporary.

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

katiejanecollins wrote: »

I never used to have it, it's just since I gained weight, which is what made me think it would go if I lost the weight! Maybe not... damn.

Research it. You'll find that it's at the cellular level and really the only TRUE way to rid yourself of it is surgery (removal). Now you can reduce it's appearance by having a lower body fat %, but unfortunately you can't target where you want fat to be lowered on the body by eating or exercise. Body fat is lost systematically so if you lose 1%, it comes from all over. So while you may lose some from your legs, you'll also lose some from your upper body too.

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition