Ideal Weight but Still Look Fat, and Not Skinny Fat

shphippen wrote: »

Whoopes yeah 150 minute sorry about that, had a lot of stuff to write down and think about. The problem is I get bored with weight training and was wondering if there is anything else I could do that would provide the same benefits but be more engaging.

Also, my doctor did serveral blood test at my request and determined I would not be skinny fat based on the results.

Did you bring up the issue of "skinny fat" with your doctor? Because either she/he did not understand what you were asking or you did not understand what he/she told you. "Skinny fat" means you are a normal/"healthy" weight for your height but your BF% is still unhealthily high. That cannot be determined by a blood test. (Blood tests could indicate whether or not you are suffering from some of the detrimental effects that correlate with high BF%, but cannot directly measure your BF%.)

As for something else you can do that would provide the same benefits as weight lifting ... you might look into "you are your gym" (body-weight) type workouts. Because you seem most concerned about your mid-section, you may be able to see benefits from activities that are not traditionally seen as resistance training. Gymnastics, yoga, and Pilates will all require you to support your own weight in ways that may be challenging at first, and provide at least some possibilities of progressive resistance as you move on to more difficult skills, postures, etc. Serious (intensive, frequent, sustained) dancing, swimming, and racket sports are some other things that could also show some of the aesthetic results you're looking for. None of these things (other than body-weight workouts) is likely to have as obvious results as quickly as lifting for as little time investment each week, but you never know until you try.

Also, it's always possible that your perception that you "still look fat" is just that: a perception, possibly based on a distorted view of your body or of bodies in general and what is normal. Hint: unless you work in a medical practice in Hollywood, you don't really have a clue what a movie star's stomach looks like when the Spanx and air-brushing are gone.

If you dislike weight lifting, I recommend some type of bosyweight resistance training-circuits, intervals, etc. squat jumps, push-ups, planks, jumping jacks!! Fitnessblender is a great site with free videos for that.
Regarding being skinny fat-resistance training should help tighten things up for lack of a better word. As far as I'm aware, there is no test that can be done to determine if you are skinny fat, the closest thing I could think of would be calculating your body fat percentage, but almost every method of doing so is highly inaccurate.

1. Comparing yourself to movie stars is an exercise in futility. They live unrealistic lives and are photoshopped.
2. Read the recomp thread linked above.
3. Do an actual strength training program. Practice focusing on the muscles you are working, not on the mirror. You should feel like a bag of jelly and Wonder Woman all at the same time when you're done, if you were working hard enough .
4. We tend to not see ourselves as we see others. I doubt anyone else sees you as "fat".

Hang in there!

1. Your perception of what you look like could be off. Remember models and such are photoshopped
2. Weight training will help increase muscle definition

Strength training, as others have said, doesn't have to be heavy lifting in the traditional sense. There's a lot of options. Even something like pole dancing requires a butt load of strength.

I use Fitness Blender and enjoy the mix of bodyweight cardio and dumbbell work with moderate weight and moderate reps without thinking about it. I get that aspect. Doing sets with long breaks isn't for me but I do enjoy lifting heavy-ish things and more importantly the results that will come from it.

And blood work isn't going to tell you if you're skinny fat, that's a body fat percentage thing.