Strength training and having a thick waist.

debbiesteinman
debbiesteinman Posts: 55 Member
edited November 2024 in Fitness and Exercise
I've been doing weight and strength training for almost 2 years now and my waist circumference just remains the same. I have reshaped my entire body but my waist is "thick". Will this eventually thin out or what exercises should I do or avoid?

Replies

  • Unknown
    Unknown
    This content has been removed.
  • debbiesteinman
    debbiesteinman Posts: 55 Member
    Thanks. I am trying to drop carbs to 80g and up the protein to 140g but man is it tough!
  • kwtilbury
    kwtilbury Posts: 1,234 Member
    debbiesteinman wrote: »
    Thanks. I am trying to drop carbs to 80g and up the protein to 140g but man is it tough!

    It's really more about caloric intake than macros. I'd make sure you get the minimums for protein and fat (140g sounds a little high for you) and focus on a caloric deficit.
  • quiksylver296
    quiksylver296 Posts: 28,439 Member
    edited April 2016
    debbiesteinman wrote: »
    Thanks. I am trying to drop carbs to 80g and up the protein to 140g but man is it tough!

    Those are your macros. What type of calorie range are you shooting for? That's the ultimate decider.

    I shoot for 1930 calories per day. I try to get 145 grams of protein into those 1930 calories. When I do that, my carbs and fat usually fall into place. (I am not low-carb. I cannot sustain my weightlifting without plenty of carbs.)
  • SezxyStef
    SezxyStef Posts: 15,267 Member
    it may be your build..not much can be done about that sometimes.
  • jemhh
    jemhh Posts: 14,261 Member
    SezxyStef wrote: »
    it may be your build..not much can be done about that sometimes.

    This is really important to think about. It could absolutely be your build. It could be a combo of your build and that area being the last to lose fat. Do you feel that you have excess fat in that area or do you feel like you are lean enough for your liking, just with a larger waist than you'd prefer?
  • robininfl
    robininfl Posts: 1,137 Member
    For me it just seems to be the way I'm built - have been very skinny but never got hourglassy, now am fit but still just don't get a little waist. It measures OK I guess but never looks like it goes "in". My ribs end about an inch above where the hipbones start, so I am not sure it's possible without some kind of severe body modification.

    There is a lady at my work who is close to my height and in good shape with what looks like a 20-22" waist and ribcage and wider hips and big boobs (though I think those are purchased). A true natural wasp waist, she looks like she is wearing a magic corset. I do not understand where her lungs, and everything else goes with such a small ribcage and waist.

    We are all built differently, even when we are in good shape we are our shape.
  • jemhh
    jemhh Posts: 14,261 Member
    robininfl wrote: »
    We are all built differently, even when we are in good shape we are our shape.

    Agreed.

    My waist is consistently between 31" and 32". I do still have excess fat around my middle but I'd be surprised if I ever got under 30".
  • jmalenica
    jmalenica Posts: 1 Member
    Above answers are quite good. Worry about your calories and try to go to a deficit. As well your genetics play a huge part. That being said, many bodybuilders complain about squats and deadlifts adding too much size to their legs and waist even while mailing a slim physique. If you incorporate these in your workouts, I would not stop but merely cut down. They are great functional movements but when we're talking about body composition this may help obtain your goal of a smaller waist. Hope this helps
  • DaddieCat
    DaddieCat Posts: 3,643 Member
    One of the symptoms/signs of a bodybuilder on gear is a distended midsection and increased waist circumference.

    I've never heard a natty bodybuilder complain about this... not even once.
  • SezxyStef
    SezxyStef Posts: 15,267 Member
    BecomingBane wrote: »
    One of the symptoms/signs of a bodybuilder on gear is a distended midsection and increased waist circumference.

    I've never heard a natty bodybuilder complain about this... not even once.

    what?

    you do realize the OP is a woman right? and one of our goals typically is hourglass or slim mid section...
  • DaddieCat
    DaddieCat Posts: 3,643 Member
    SezxyStef wrote: »
    BecomingBane wrote: »
    One of the symptoms/signs of a bodybuilder on gear is a distended midsection and increased waist circumference.

    I've never heard a natty bodybuilder complain about this... not even once.

    what?

    you do realize the OP is a woman right? and one of our goals typically is hourglass or slim mid section...

    I was referring to your comment, which even for a women tends not to make any sense.. and female bodybuilders use gear too, it's not limited to the male population.
  • jemhh
    jemhh Posts: 14,261 Member
    edited April 2016
    BecomingBane wrote: »
    SezxyStef wrote: »
    BecomingBane wrote: »
    One of the symptoms/signs of a bodybuilder on gear is a distended midsection and increased waist circumference.

    I've never heard a natty bodybuilder complain about this... not even once.

    what?

    you do realize the OP is a woman right? and one of our goals typically is hourglass or slim mid section...

    I was referring to your comment, which even for a women tends not to make any sense.. and female bodybuilders use gear too, it's not limited to the male population.

    I don't think that the OP or @SezxyStef were talking about distended or increased midsections. I took them both to be talking about women who do not have waists that are as defined as is typically seen as the norm or the ideal (for lack of a better term.) Maybe it was the term "thick" that made it sound like the OP was talking about a distended midsection but I don't think that's what we're talking about here.

    Or at least that's what I thought we were talking about. I know that I am not taking any verboten supplements.
  • kwtilbury
    kwtilbury Posts: 1,234 Member
    BecomingBane wrote: »
    One of the symptoms/signs of a bodybuilder on gear is a distended midsection and increased waist circumference.

    I've never heard a natty bodybuilder complain about this... not even once.

    No one's talking about GH gut, bro.
  • DaddieCat
    DaddieCat Posts: 3,643 Member
    I think my comment was taken out of context. I was referring mostly to @SezxyStef 's comment that bodybuilders complain about thickness from things like squats.

    I know many bodybuilders, both natty and on gear, male and female in both cases. The only ones I've ever heard make this complaint were the ones on gear due to the distended midsection issue mentioned previously.

    I have, on the other hand heard many bodybuilders, both male and female recommend squats for leanness overall, but who suggest refraining from any kind of additional core work during a lifting program in order to prevent added "thickness".

    Apologies if my comment was confusing, or misunderstood and I can easily see how it could have been.
  • jemhh
    jemhh Posts: 14,261 Member
    BecomingBane wrote: »
    I think my comment was taken out of context. I was referring mostly to @SezxyStef 's comment that bodybuilders complain about thickness from things like squats.

    I know many bodybuilders, both natty and on gear, male and female in both cases. The only ones I've ever heard make this complaint were the ones on gear due to the distended midsection issue mentioned previously.

    I have, on the other hand heard many bodybuilders, both male and female recommend squats for leanness overall, but who suggest refraining from any kind of additional core work during a lifting program in order to prevent added "thickness".

    Apologies if my comment was confusing, or misunderstood and I can easily see how it could have been.

    I see the confusion--it wasn't @SezxyStef who said that. It was @jmalenica .
  • SezxyStef
    SezxyStef Posts: 15,267 Member
    BecomingBane wrote: »
    I think my comment was taken out of context. I was referring mostly to @SezxyStef 's comment that bodybuilders complain about thickness from things like squats.

    I know many bodybuilders, both natty and on gear, male and female in both cases. The only ones I've ever heard make this complaint were the ones on gear due to the distended midsection issue mentioned previously.

    I have, on the other hand heard many bodybuilders, both male and female recommend squats for leanness overall, but who suggest refraining from any kind of additional core work during a lifting program in order to prevent added "thickness".

    Apologies if my comment was confusing, or misunderstood and I can easily see how it could have been.

    where did I ever say that? please quote it.

  • DaddieCat
    DaddieCat Posts: 3,643 Member
    SezxyStef wrote: »
    BecomingBane wrote: »
    I think my comment was taken out of context. I was referring mostly to @SezxyStef 's comment that bodybuilders complain about thickness from things like squats.

    I know many bodybuilders, both natty and on gear, male and female in both cases. The only ones I've ever heard make this complaint were the ones on gear due to the distended midsection issue mentioned previously.

    I have, on the other hand heard many bodybuilders, both male and female recommend squats for leanness overall, but who suggest refraining from any kind of additional core work during a lifting program in order to prevent added "thickness".

    Apologies if my comment was confusing, or misunderstood and I can easily see how it could have been.

    where did I ever say that? please quote it.

    My bad... not you, as was already pointed out. Sorry for putting words in your mouth.
  • WakkoW
    WakkoW Posts: 567 Member
    I have a pretty flat stomach, but it's not really tiny. My waist is 28 inches. It is the last place I gain weight too.. well, that and my breasts. But I can't imagine it measuring much less unless I was to lose quite a bit more weight. And I've never used 'gear'.

    We are all built differently.
  • ShodanPrime
    ShodanPrime Posts: 226 Member
    kwtilbury wrote: »
    BecomingBane wrote: »
    One of the symptoms/signs of a bodybuilder on gear is a distended midsection and increased waist circumference.

    I've never heard a natty bodybuilder complain about this... not even once.

    No one's talking about GH gut, bro.

    Yeah, was good for a laugh though.
  • debbiesteinman
    debbiesteinman Posts: 55 Member
    You guys all sound like you are a lot younger than me. Thanks for all the advice. I'm 62 and I was eating between 1300-1400 calories daily. I do a lot of kettle bell & strength workouts with a trainer 3x/wk plus I do cardio and other weights 5-6 x/wk on my own. Despite all this I have stayed in a plateau for quite a while until I started fasting. I think at my age the hormonal issues and age needs a little more of a shock to jump start fat loss so I have been doing 16-8 and 20-4 fasts. As well, I've been doing 500-600 calorie days just to shock my body and so far it has helped. I do hit my macros and feel ok and try to eat more protein on my kettle bell workouts. Hope all of you reach your goals.
  • stanmann571
    stanmann571 Posts: 5,727 Member
    BecomingBane wrote: »
    One of the symptoms/signs of a bodybuilder on gear is a distended midsection and increased waist circumference.

    I've never heard a natty bodybuilder complain about this... not even once.


    Actually it has more to do with certain bulking/cutting protocols than gear, although gear does enable those protocols to be more effective.
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