Do any ladies at maintenance want to share height & weight ?

CarlydogsMom wrote: »

VickiLogan11 wrote: »

Really interested in seeing others height and weight as I'm not sure I'm seeing myself right since I lost weight iykwim. Maintaining in the range of 129-134 llbs and I'm 5'9". Although I'm not feeling happy at top end of that range. I would like to see where others are at. I'm especially interested in getting lean and seeing others who are already there so I can have an idea of that. Thanks in advance.

You seem to be at a point where your weight is within the recommended range. I got there too (5'10", 145), and also wanted to get leaner (i.e. lose some of the excess fat and build muscle). I highly recommend you sit back and think a bit about your goals. Are you focused on a weight number (seems to be, given your question), or do you want to shift to a different goal (muscle, lose fat %, other)? Figure out your goal/goals, and go from there.

If you want to continue losing weight, eat at a calorie deficit. If you use primarily cardio as your exercise, you'll burn both fat and muscle. If you lift/train while doing so, you'll retain more muscle.

If you want to build muscle, shift your thinking. Two primary ways:
1. Weight lifting/training while eating at maintenance calories: you'll see a spurt in what's called "noob" gains while your muscles are learning new tricks and strength builds rapidly, but then slows down over time because you're only eating at maintenance. You will slowly "re-comp," or slowly build muscle while losing fat. It is a long, frustratingly slow process for most people, but can happen over a longer period of time. Or:
2. Weight lifting/training while eating in a slight (note the word slight) caloric excess. Muscle does not typically use your excess fat stores to fuel growth (hence why #1 is difficult); if you eat in excess, you can fuel those rapid, new gains and keep gaining in strength and mass. Then, when you're happy with your first set of gains (this means you have to think about and clarify your goals), you go on a "cut," where you maintain your muscle mass while eating in a deficit. You won't see alot of gains in strength while on a cut, but you'll keep your muscles while losing fat.

If you want to try the "build muscle" route, really, you have to shift your entire world view. Well, it's not that scary, but seriously. Ignore the scale numbers, other than perhaps weekly or even monthly check-ins. Weight seriously fluctuates while weight training and if you're trying to build muscle, you WANT to see some slow gains (i.e. 1/2 lb per week).

Do alot of reading on these forums. Especially look at the Eat, Train, Progress group and read their stickies.

Depends on your GOALS. More muscle? Deal with getting rid of the "I must looooozzee more pounds!!!" mentality. Just toss it.

Lose more pounds? Do the thing you've done to get where you're at. I think, though, you'll end up being exactly where you are now--at a number that SEEMED to be where you wanted to be, but at a body condition that isn't quite cutting it for you. Experiment and figure out a way to get where you want to go, and have a different focus. Not the number on the scale, but the shape/condition of your body.