Fiance says I'm getting too thin, get more muscle (really?!)
txsarge17
Posts: 50 Member
So I'm down to 194 from doing Insanity (total loss of 35lbs in the last few months), and my fiance says I'm starting to look too thin. I have a little muscle mass from when I was younger and worked out, but I'm not large. I've started incorporating free weights in with Insanity (weights at lunch, Insanity after work) and immediately noticed a sizable improvement in my strength from before.
My weight routine is: Monday and Thursday - Chest and Triceps; Tuesday and Friday - Back, Biceps and Shoulders. I rest from weights on Wednesday and the weekend. I am not working legs due to all the squats and lunges in Insanity.
Is this the best way to start building muscle, or should I think about switching to P90X? I've still got a little fat to burn, so I don't want to stop the super cardio, plus I absolutely love the way I feel. I can do laps around my kids these days, when I used to get winded just trying to play in the back yard with them.
My weight routine is: Monday and Thursday - Chest and Triceps; Tuesday and Friday - Back, Biceps and Shoulders. I rest from weights on Wednesday and the weekend. I am not working legs due to all the squats and lunges in Insanity.
Is this the best way to start building muscle, or should I think about switching to P90X? I've still got a little fat to burn, so I don't want to stop the super cardio, plus I absolutely love the way I feel. I can do laps around my kids these days, when I used to get winded just trying to play in the back yard with them.
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Sorry I don't really have the answer to your question, but I have a question of my own. How long have you been doing Insanity for? I am engaged to and need to step up the weightloss level, I do have Zumba and P90X that I plan to start using which one first, I haven't really decided, but in any case. A friend of mine is looking Spectacular from her use of Insanity, so how long have you been doing Insanity for?0
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Congrats on what you have already achieved! Stick to what makes you feel good. Maybe talk to a personal trainer at your gym who can give you some tips and advice with the weights ut dont completely change everything up. Good luck and let me know if you want me to share some p90x work outs with u0
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I made it through 5 weeks back in September 2010 time frame, but then had to have emergency surgery for a gall bladder full of stones. The doc actually said my sudden change of diet probably caused them (who knew changing to healthy could cause trouble). I started again this year, and am 6 weeks in, though I had to take a 2 week break for a military field exercise. I started Phase 2 over again yesterday.
It's funny, because I bought all new clothes around Christmas because I lost so many inches, and now I'm having to replace those too! I love Insanity, and hate that I let myself be so out of shape for so long. I feel better, look better, and have tons of energy. Oh, and I've had to buy new belts. Ran out of holes from my waist shrinking.
If I could give one piece of advise to anyone starting the program, it would be to eat right. Good fats, lots of protein, and don't be afraid of natural sugars (just don't go nuts). If you don't fuel your body, you won't make it through. You'll be tired all the time. I take in at least 2200 calories and that's a deficit for me. I also do 5 meals, where my morning and afternoon meals are 200-300 calorie snacks (fruit, protein bars, nuts & seeds, ect).0 -
First off, let me start by saying “Congratulations!” for the weight you have lost. It is a significant accomplishment and you should be very proud of yourself. I’m personally not too familiar with the insanity workouts, but I do know that you may have more gains with P90X. Please note that I don’t think either of these workouts are designed for you to bulk up. Both are more geared toward athleticism, lean muscle mass, and a “cut” appearance. I would suggest that if you’d like to lose fat as well as increase muscle gains, then you should focus on getting enough protein & whole grains into your diet as well as cut back on cardio. I know you say that you have more fat to lose, but if you did P90X, you would lose that easily since your metabolism would skyrocket- you will gain muscle(but you shouldn’t bulk up to be huge). One of best way to lose fat is by increasing lean muscle mass. If you are overdoing cardio, especially for long periods of time, there is a possibility that you could be breaking down muscle mass, but it is probably most likely due to lack of energy stores(calories). You can also try to take some amino acids to help your mucsle recovery L-Citturline, L-Orthinine and L-Agrinine- reasearch them if you get time. Here is an article I found that may be helpful. Good luck!
“Losing muscle has more to do with inadequate diet than with excessive aerobics. If you suspect you are losing muscle there are four likely causes:
1. You are not eating enough protein. Protein is the only nutrient that is actually used to build muscle. To stay anabolic you must eat five to six protein containing meals. Each meal should be spaced out approximately three hours apart. Research has proven that if you are physically active, you need a minimum of .8 grams to 1 gram of protein per pound of bodyweight.
2. Your carbohydrates are too low. Low carb diets are often used for fat loss, but it is a mistake to cut your carbs too drastically. Carbohydrates are protein-sparing , so even if you are eating large amounts of protein, you can still lose muscle if you your carbs are too low.
3. You are not eating enough calories to support muscle growth. This is the most common cause of muscle loss. When your calories are too low, your body goes into "starvation mode." Your metabolism slows down and your body actually burns muscle tissue to conserve energy. Muscle is metabolically active tissue, requiring a great deal of caloric energy just to maintain it. That's why your body will shed muscle if it thinks you are starving.
4. You are not training with weights. It is a common misconception that if you want to lose weight, you should start with cardio only and add the weights later - another big mistake! It is the weight training that keeps you from losing muscle while you are dieting.”0 -
PS: A great complete protien is Quinoa.. it sounds like you eat pretty healthy, but if you have never tried it, I would suggest trying to incorperating it into your diet.0
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Hippo421, thanks for the info! I do eat a lot of whole grains and get protein from lean meats, protein bars and shakes (snacks and post workout). I also make sure to eat fish and nuts high in Omega 3 fats, as well as tons of green leafy veggies like spinach. I don't see muscle going away, I just didn't have a whole lot under all the fat! :sad:
With Insanity, I now see a lot of definition in my shoulders and upper arms, but I'd like to add some mass. Not looking to be a body builder, but maybe a little more like the guys in Men's Health0 -
It sounds like you eat pretty well. I would suggest incorporating weight lifitng into your routine and see how it goes and try not to overtrain- your muscles need time to recover.0
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