"Skinny-fat" the struggle is real.

"Skinny Fat"! That's me for sure.

"Skinny Fat"! That's me for sure. A little back story on me...

I have been overweight my entire life. Ever since I was a child. Yo-Yo dieted. Tried everything. Some weight came off. More came back.

I had started a very successful exercise and diet regimen after my son's first birthday, mid 2010. I was making great headway too. Walking 30 minutes & doing the Julian Michaels Yoga Melt Down every single night. I had lost 30 lbs and 8 pant sizes in 4 months. Then my (then) current health and physical issues collided with more (now) health and physical issues to make new ones. Which put my physical activity on the fast track to nowhere and on back the lbs I packed!!!

My health has worsened over the years and my physical capabilities have not improved any either. But I figured my weight couldn't be doing my health any good. So, for the 2nd time, I started on MFP on 1 January 2013. I had finally had enough of being overweight. I was going to lose it this time, dang it!! But for good.

Alright, 1 1/2 years later...

I had lost 85 lbs (115). Gone down 25 pant sizes (0-5 depending on the style/cut/brand). Because of my physical limitations I haven't been able to actually do much in the way of exercise, per say. My exercise was pretty much my day to day life. Keeping up with toddler, his preschool life, my MULTITUDE of Dr's appts, physical therapy, keeping up my house, etc etc etc... That all seemed to be just enough to keep me active to where I had, what I call, "fit flab". Or, "skinny fat".

All of my new cute (skinny) clothes hung so nice. Hugged where they should. While my remaining "leftovers" stayed hidden. Nothing is more exciting than buying new clothes for your new figure. For me, it was even more exciting. I have 3 sisters. All of whom have always been super slender. Never been plagued by the battle of the bulge. EVER! One of my sisters walked into the hospital to have her daughter, walked right back out wearing her size 00 jeans 2 days later.

As of today...

My son started kindergarten the end of August. Then my car dumped out on me, beyond repair, in September. Thus leaving me basically home bound. In hibernation/hermit status. I have no mode of transportation. No means of getting about on my own personal will. I am completely at the mercy of others. Then I had a hysterectomy in December. Which my healing

I agree with the lifting weight,lift heavy, etc...
I am skinny fat, look fine fully clothed, but show the arms/legs/stomach...ughh.
Now that I have lost most of the extra weight I will be starting a lifting program and walk in the evenings.
Kind of disappointing when you lose the weight and still don't look like you expected. Afraid weights are the only answer.
Good luck All.

You need to lift some weights. You don't need to lose any more weight. I am going to post this as an example and hopefully it will make you realize that weight shouldn't be the end all and be all of your body composition...

arditarose wrote: »

NotQuiteNorm wrote: »

Smiley_Emi123 wrote: »

arditarose wrote: »

Go for what? You won't fix being "skinny fat" by losing another 10 pounds. And by looking at your profile picture, you maybe should not lose any weight. You have to work on your body composition with a resistance/weight training program.

+1. You don't need to lose weight you need body recomp

Not necessarily - even bodybuilders lose fat to go from 'muscley-fat' to lean and muscled, I think the term is 'cutting'. Especially if you don't want to look necessarily muscular, I do suggest working out to tone up, but losing the weight is often necessary!

-from my personal experience in the past

But if you are already at a healthy weight and have little fat, a recomp is nice. Why continue losing more fat if you are already thin? And perhaps you're not ready for a bulk. Body builders cut and bulk, yes, but we're not all body builders. You can change your body lifting heavy with maintenance calories.

100% agree with Arditarose

No offense to OP or some of the others, but your mind really is in wrong place. You are so afraid of the scale and the number you won't get the results you want for your body.

My biggest advice would be to listen and follow the advice of people here that have proven to have results you want. If you continue to do the things you've done in the past that doesn't give you 100% of your goal you will spin in circles. Stop listening to the advice of people that are just blurting out the same answers that haven't worked for you before.

The marketing word of tone is made up to sell products and is used too much around here. Way too much. Your not going to look too muscular by just lifting weights. It is very hard for a man to gain muscles not alone a woman.

You don't want to be skinny fat, then gain muscle either through recomp or bulk...not in some belief in "tone".

allison_moushey wrote: »

I'm "skinny fat" too. I'm 5'4 and 112lbs. I've read a lot on here to not worry about losing weight, but to maintain calorie intake and work on strength and resistance training. I have never been to a gym and don't know how to use any of the equipment so I'm kinda embarrassed to go. But I guess everyone starts somewhere!

Everyone does start somewhere! When I started I was using the machines and a gym trainer was hustling on the floor and convinced me to at least take the free fitness assessment with her. It was enough to get me to invest in a few private training sessions. The rest is history!

I also did a search for skinny fat and found this thread. I'm female 5'4" and about 120 lbs. I used to be 112 lbs, but I stopped working out for a couple years and I crept up to about 120 lbs. I have very small bones, but the weight just makes me skinny fat. People always say I look good and that I'm skinny and I always say....no, believe me I have fat and they just look at me like I am crazy. I just started incorporating weights and I am on my second week working out 6 days per week. I have stuck to about 1200 calories. I'm trying not to worry about the scale too much and trying to just go by how I look and feel. I am just wondering how long it will take to notice results.

arditarose wrote: »

Luvs2jumprope2013 wrote: »

I also did a search for skinny fat and found this thread. I'm female 5'4" and about 120 lbs. I used to be 112 lbs, but I stopped working out for a couple years and I crept up to about 120 lbs. I have very small bones, but the weight just makes me skinny fat. People always say I look good and that I'm skinny and I always say....no, believe me I have fat and they just look at me like I am crazy. I just started incorporating weights and I am on my second week working out 6 days per week. I have stuck to about 1200 calories. I'm trying not to worry about the scale too much and trying to just go by how I look and feel. I am just wondering how long it will take to notice results.

You'll see better results if you eat more. 250 under your maintenance.

Will do....thank you!!

Luvs2jumprope2013 wrote: »

I'm assuming it is best to do weight training and not so much cardio?

If you like cardio, do some. But you should be following a structured program with a progressive overload. I'm sure some were mentioned in the thread already.