Can you tone without losing weight when you are overweight?

noirelb
noirelb Posts: 216 Member
edited November 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
So i just got fitted for my wedding dress (lace back so adjustable) and although it was at its tightest on june 6th at my last fitting....it's now at its loosest. My seamstress said to not lose more weight or the back will look bad. I'm still overweight but i lose everything on my back and torso first so that's why this happened. I still would love to tone my fat arms atleast a bit? I have a punching bag at home. I'm wondering if anyone has ever toned their overweight body without losing weight? Maybe this is a weird question... Not sure.

Replies

  • usmcmp
    usmcmp Posts: 21,219 Member
    Tone is a term used to describe someone with adequate muscle and fairly low body fat. It is possible to maintain weight and look leaner, but the results are usually not very fast unless you are new to lifting and then the visible changes might be a little quicker at first. To do that you would need to follow a progressive lifting routine.

    This process is commonly called recomposition, but a side effect of this is still fat loss which could make your back and torso smaller still. You can't spot reduce the arm fat through exercises, which is essentially what you are asking.
  • stanmann571
    stanmann571 Posts: 5,727 Member
    If you keep going at a deficit/increasing activity/recomp, you'll continue losing weight.

    So you'll have to decide, whether you want to stick with maintenance till the wedding... or if you are ok with the back looking bad(which will really only affect candid photos and not the posed/formal ones)
  • evileen99
    evileen99 Posts: 1,564 Member
    "Toning" is just losing weight so your muscles are more visible. If you want your arms to be smaller, you're going to have to lose weight.
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  • noirelb
    noirelb Posts: 216 Member
    Damn it! Ok i will go to maintenance and do some kickboxing instead of biking so often.
  • noirelb
    noirelb Posts: 216 Member
    Thanks everyone
  • LadyLilion
    LadyLilion Posts: 276 Member
    Okay...everyone says you can't. BUT, I once did an exercise class in college and over the course of a few months I lost almost 2 inches on my waist, while not dropping a single pound. So, in my experience, you can tighten muscles without loosing weight, which is what I did. Now, whether you could make your chubby arms look any slimmer or firmer by building muscles under the fat, I don't know. But what would it hurt to try? Personally, I'd get dumbbells or something as opposed to punching, and try firming up that way.

    Of course, I'm fat and out of shape, so maybe I don't know a thing.
  • stanmann571
    stanmann571 Posts: 5,727 Member
    LadyLilion wrote: »
    Okay...everyone says you can't. BUT, I once did an exercise class in college and over the course of a few months I lost almost 2 inches on my waist, while not dropping a single pound. So, in my experience, you can tighten muscles without loosing weight, which is what I did. Now, whether you could make your chubby arms look any slimmer or firmer by building muscles under the fat, I don't know. But what would it hurt to try? Personally, I'd get dumbbells or something as opposed to punching, and try firming up that way.

    Of course, I'm fat and out of shape, so maybe I don't know a thing.

    That's called recomposition. losing fat and building muscle.

    The issue is our bride can't afford to lose any more inches or her dress will fit poorly.

    But she'd like slimmer arms.
  • stanmann571
    stanmann571 Posts: 5,727 Member
    edited July 2017
    You could also look into padded support garments.

    They aren't necessarily the best option, but they might help compensate if you lose more inches on your torso.

    But since your dress has an open/semi-open back they might be visible...
  • nowine4me
    nowine4me Posts: 3,985 Member
    If you're on a roll losing weight (assuming you need to lose weight), I would keep going no matter what -- as long as you're doing it in a healthy way. You didn't say when your wedding is, but surely there is a way to take in the dress, or make it work.
  • CassondraKennedy
    CassondraKennedy Posts: 229 Member
    Not sure if this is an option, but could you just have the dress altered to fit you 2-4 weeks before the wedding? Why stop losing weight just to make the dress look "not bad" when instead the dress could make you and your new body look amazing!
  • usmcmp
    usmcmp Posts: 21,219 Member
    CassondraKennedy wrote: »
    Not sure if this is an option, but could you just have the dress altered to fit you 2-4 weeks before the wedding? Why stop losing weight just to make the dress look "not bad" when instead the dress could make you and your new body look amazing!

    This is a good point. If it's a back lace up dress and you've basically reached the end of the lacing there should be no reason the seamstress can't take in the sides. I'd consider a second opinion on your dress fit and the potential for more weight loss if your wedding is more than a couple of months away.
  • noirelb
    noirelb Posts: 216 Member
    nowine4me wrote: »
    If you're on a roll losing weight (assuming you need to lose weight), I would keep going no matter what -- as long as you're doing it in a healthy way. You didn't say when your wedding is, but surely there is a way to take in the dress, or make it work.

    Its august 19th but ive been losing a little quicker than i thought! The scale wasn't moving in the past 2 weeks but my clothes fit looser at my waist. I'm thinking maintenance until then and then continue losing weight. It's only 1 month and we wouldn't have time to make the dress smaller unfortunetly since you do that once you've lost mpre weight, not in case you do. Next fitting is 5 days before the wedding so i might do dumbells like one suggested! And stay as is.
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 49,042 Member
    That would be called "recomp" but people doing recomp only have little to lose in body fat. If you're talking about losing body fat off your arms, then nope. Especially if it's only in a few months. Like others said, lose weight and get the dress re altered.

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  • lorrpb
    lorrpb Posts: 11,463 Member
    Just make sure you're eating adequately. Maybe you have pre-wedding jitters and aren't eating as you should if you're losing that fast. It's only a month away, I don't think think this should be a big problem. Hopefully you will keep up your healthy habits after the wedding!
  • noirelb
    noirelb Posts: 216 Member
    lorrpb wrote: »
    Just make sure you're eating adequately. Maybe you have pre-wedding jitters and aren't eating as you should if you're losing that fast. It's only a month away, I don't think think this should be a big problem. Hopefully you will keep up your healthy habits after the wedding!

    Oh for sure! I want to hit prebaby weight! 17lbs to go. I had him 13 months ago. And then probably another extra 15-20lbs for good luck lol
  • noirelb
    noirelb Posts: 216 Member
    Not sure how to post a picture to show the arms and left over fatness lol
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