Lose Weight or Tone Up?

Angie80281 · May 2011

How do you know when it's time to stop losing weight and just focus on muscle toning? I'm about 4 or 5 pounds away from my goal weight and 10 pounds from my pre-pregnancy weight. I didn't have a lot of weight to lose (20-30 lbs) but it's very noticeable on my tiny frame. I've had several people tell me lately that I'm getting too thin or "wasting away". However, no one ever said anything about it before I got pregnant, and I was smaller then.

I'm within a healthy weight range now, but I still have a flabby tummy and "bingo wings" on my arms, which I am working on toning. How do I know whether I should switch to maintenance calories and keep doing strenght training, or continue exercising while eating at a calorie deficit? I'm more concerned with how I look than what the scale says, so it's not like I'm bound and determined that I *have* to reach pre-pregnancy weight. However, I don't think I look too skinny. Suggestions?

kimmerroze · May 2011

If your healthy, and within 10 pounds of your goal weight, (which usually is set at our VERY BEST) then I think you are safe to up your calories. You could always eat at a 200 calorie deficit, and up the weight lifting to get the toned look you are going for.

My goal weight is 135 I am 7 pounds away, but I bumped my calories up to a deficit of 250 (.5 pound loss per week) and have been training like a mad woman.

When you tone, you need more calories or your body wont let go of your fat stores.

So I think you are safe to start now.

JennBennett410 · May 2011

How tall are you? What size clothes are you wearing?
I am still 145 pounds, and I am only 5'4. However, i am wearing mostly 6 and some 4's. I know I need to lose some belly and tone up my arms, but I am currently not that upset with the number on the scale. I have very tone legs and I know I can attribute that to running.
I think it is where your body is comfortable. I know my trouble zones, I also know if I don't do anything about them, they won't change...I just wish there was a magic cream to get rid of this belly fat (I have had 6 pregnancies and two babies,

and emotionally ate threw every pregnancy, in fear we wouldn't hold the pregnancy)
GOOD LUCK!

Jessaamine · May 2011

I'm having the same issue! I'm not ready to set myself to maintenance yet, but I figured I can focus on tone and the fat will go with it.

ladyhawk00 · May 2011

Congrats on your progress! Yes, you should probably start preparing for maintenance. The best way to do this is to gradually increase cals by small amounts to find your maintenance level. Like driving, when you come to a stop sign, you want to slowly apply the brakes and come to a smooth stop - not wait til you're 5 feet away and slam on the brakes.

Increase cals by 100 or so for a couple of weeks; then add another 100, etc. until you find your maintenance cals. And remember, your maintenance weight should be a range of at least a couple lbs, not an exact number - you will have fluctuations.

Angie80281 · May 2011

How tall are you? What size clothes are you wearing?
GOOD LUCK!

5'0" and about 119 lbs right now. I was 110 before the kids, but I'm not even sure I'd look good being that light now, so I set my goal to 115. I'm wearing a size 4 now. Like I said, I'm definitely not complaining about where I'm at, but I figured losing a few more pounds wouldn't hurt. Most people just congratulate me, but the few who have made "too thin" comments have got me wondering. Thanks for your advice!

saintsbootcamp · May 2011

I agree with kimmeroze, we women usually set our goal weight at something that is ten lbs less than what we should be...lol. My suggestion is to use the bmi tool on here and see where your at as far as range of healthy for your heighth and weight. That should help you assess whether losing more is a good idea. Sounds to me though like toning and maintenance are where you should be heading. Toning requires more calories especially in protein....good luck mama♥

Lose Weight or Tone Up?

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