Small arms and legs but have a big belly

hensue11
hensue11 Posts: 64 Member
edited December 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
Asking for hubby - what would do first, try and lose the belly and then try and build mass or vice versa.......how did you manage to lose the gut?

Replies

  • hensue11
    hensue11 Posts: 64 Member
    Thanks so much for such a detailed reply. He is 48years, and actually has quite a muscular and broad back, but arms is small, chest is 41" and stomach measured around navel area is 42". I am trying to keep the motivation there, and we have started strength training, at the moment he seems uncoordinated and looks a bit awkward, I am hoping with practice he will get the form down. Will try with mass first then.
  • Packerjohn
    Packerjohn Posts: 4,855 Member
    edited November 2016
    hensue11 wrote: »
    Thanks so much for such a detailed reply. He is 48years, and actually has quite a muscular and broad back, but arms is small, chest is 41" and stomach measured around navel area is 42". I am trying to keep the motivation there, and we have started strength training, at the moment he seems uncoordinated and looks a bit awkward, I am hoping with practice he will get the form down. Will try with mass first then.

    He need to lift and reduce his calories. And perspective, no offense, someone that has a 41 in chest and 42 in waist is most likely not quite muscular. Does he lift weights regularly or have a very active job?

    The general diet and training suggestions from @rachelblesso above are good, he should not bulk. His bodyfat and stomach fat are way too high.

    Best of luck.
  • trigden1991
    trigden1991 Posts: 4,658 Member
    hensue11 wrote: »
    Thanks so much for such a detailed reply. He is 48years, and actually has quite a muscular and broad back, but arms is small, chest is 41" and stomach measured around navel area is 42". I am trying to keep the motivation there, and we have started strength training, at the moment he seems uncoordinated and looks a bit awkward, I am hoping with practice he will get the form down. Will try with mass first then.

    If he has a good amount of muscle then I would advise losing the fat first. If he wants to add muscle, he will require a caloric surplus which will cause muscle and fat gain. Get lean first then slowly bulk.
  • StealthHealth
    StealthHealth Posts: 2,417 Member
    It would be unusual to find someone who has a muscular back but skinny arms and legs. I'm struggling to imagine a movement (exercise or something in everyday life) which would cause that. My guess is that he is fatter than you think.

    Either way I think that the advice would be to lift whilst eating at a moderate calorific deficit. This will ensure that he retains most of what muscle he has but loses fat.
  • rainbowbow
    rainbowbow Posts: 7,490 Member
    StealthHealth wrote: »
    It would be unusual to find someone who has a muscular back but skinny arms and legs. I'm struggling to imagine a movement (exercise or something in everyday life) which would cause that. My guess is that he is fatter than you think.

    Either way I think that the advice would be to lift whilst eating at a moderate calorific deficit. This will ensure that he retains most of what muscle he has but loses fat.

    This is probably the case. I don't know about you, but i've dealt with many people who claim "it's all muscle" or that they are somehow strong whilst being very overweight. A simply assessment often reveals the complete opposite (both lack of strength and endurance).


    I also agree that the advice I would give would be to begin lifting weights (and moderate cardio for his health) around 3-4 times a week while eating a slight calorie deficit. As stated by the above poster, this will ensure that he atleast retains as much muscle as possible while losing body fat.
  • trigden1991
    trigden1991 Posts: 4,658 Member
    rainbowbow wrote: »
    StealthHealth wrote: »
    It would be unusual to find someone who has a muscular back but skinny arms and legs. I'm struggling to imagine a movement (exercise or something in everyday life) which would cause that. My guess is that he is fatter than you think.

    Either way I think that the advice would be to lift whilst eating at a moderate calorific deficit. This will ensure that he retains most of what muscle he has but loses fat.

    This is probably the case. I don't know about you, but i've dealt with many people who claim "it's all muscle" or that they are somehow strong whilst being very overweight. A simply assessment often reveals the complete opposite (both lack of strength and endurance).

    I think most "big" guys who lift are guilty of this! Strength or just attending the gym does not mean you inherently have muscle!
  • SingingSingleTracker
    SingingSingleTracker Posts: 1,866 Member
    hensue11 wrote: »
    Asking for hubby - what would do first, try and lose the belly and then try and build mass or vice versa.......how did you manage to lose the gut?

    He needs to cut the weight first as that's a pretty large gut if his waist is 42". Fine to lift during that process to begin adaptation, but no mass will be added while eating at a deficit to lose the abdominal weight.

    Once he gets to the picture on the left, he can start thinking about increasing muscle mass. But that gut is very dangerous for his health - so it must go.

    26642755411_c0fcd05f11_o.jpg
  • hensue11
    hensue11 Posts: 64 Member
    Thanks to everyone. No offense taken....maybe I am biased ;-).....
This discussion has been closed.

Categories