Am I being realistic?

ccano
ccano Posts: 149 Member
edited September 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
I am 136 lbs, 5'8", and 22 years old. My goal weight is 125. I just want to know if losing a pound a week is a realistic goal when I'm technically working on my "last 10 lbs." I'm trying not to be disappointed when I don't lose anything in a week...but I don't want to be maintaining quite yet, because I'm not down to my goal weight. I work out 6 days a week with at least a half an hour of cardio all six days, plus I've started doing strength training.

How long would you say does it take to get at least a little toned? I'm just all flab right now and it's driving me insane. I want to have a firm tummy and no jiggly thighs. I don't need to have a 4-pack or anything, I just want to be flat and firm. Again, what should my expectations be realistically?

Replies

  • ccano
    ccano Posts: 149 Member
    I am 136 lbs, 5'8", and 22 years old. My goal weight is 125. I just want to know if losing a pound a week is a realistic goal when I'm technically working on my "last 10 lbs." I'm trying not to be disappointed when I don't lose anything in a week...but I don't want to be maintaining quite yet, because I'm not down to my goal weight. I work out 6 days a week with at least a half an hour of cardio all six days, plus I've started doing strength training.

    How long would you say does it take to get at least a little toned? I'm just all flab right now and it's driving me insane. I want to have a firm tummy and no jiggly thighs. I don't need to have a 4-pack or anything, I just want to be flat and firm. Again, what should my expectations be realistically?
  • Anna_Banana
    Anna_Banana Posts: 2,939 Member
    A half a pound a week is probably more realistic for you. If you are really working hard at toning up, you could see results in 3 to 4 weeks.
  • Chellekk
    Chellekk Posts: 421 Member
    To get a little toned. I would say realistic changes will happen in 6 weeks.
  • kerrilucko
    kerrilucko Posts: 3,852 Member
    I don't think 125 at 5'8" is realistic period. I'm 5'6", healthy BMI for someone my height is 118-155 sooo I'm guessing yours is somewhere around 128-165. Just a guess. Why not just try toning your body, you'll look leaner without acutally dropping lbs.

    If you don't have a lot of fat on you, it won't take lone to see results from strength training. I've beenn working on toning fofr about 2 weeks now and I see major improvements.
  • ccano
    ccano Posts: 149 Member
    Thanks for the info everyone. I used the BMI tool here on MFP and it says my healthy weight range is 122-165. If I get down to 130 and I like what I see, then I won't keep trying to lose. In middle school I'm pretty sure I was underweight (I had my growth spurt and suddenly my weight didn't match my height), and it didn't look good. I remember people pointing out that I looked too skinny.

    So should I focus less on cardio and more on strength training then?
  • marisa0918
    marisa0918 Posts: 178
    From the sounds of your stats it seems like you just need to tone up. Why don't you try breaking up your days?

    Do something like

    Strength Mon, Weds, Fri
    Cardio Tues and Thurs
    then rest on Sun
  • LuckyLeprechaun
    LuckyLeprechaun Posts: 6,296 Member
    I'd say yes. but understand that as muscle is more dense than fat, as you get more toned, your body may shrink while the scale goes up. And that's good!! In your situation, the measuring tape means more than the scale does.

    And I hope you know I am sooooo jealous. I am also 5'8" and would LOVE LOVE LOVE to weigh 136.

    :tongue:
  • deamarie
    deamarie Posts: 90
    DO NOT GET DISCOURAGED IF THE SCALE DOES CRAZY THINGS when you start weight training!!! Especially if you are new to it. Weight training provides amazing results that you will be very happy with if you stick with it. Don't let the scale scare you. Let your ultimate goal be that tight, toned body that you want!!

    What kind of weight training program are you going to incorporate? I would suggest getting a personal trainer for a few sessions or get into some classes where someone can watch your form. I see so many people wasting their time because they really don't know that they are doing. You will see results MUCH faster if you have good form and do challenging exercises.
  • deamarie
    deamarie Posts: 90
    Also, make sure you up your protein intake to allow your muscles to repair and recover. If you have not been weight training, they will really need this! Good luck!
  • Renae_Nae
    Renae_Nae Posts: 935 Member
    I would look at your overall goal again. I'm 5'4 and my goal weight is 130!
  • yellow_pepper
    yellow_pepper Posts: 708 Member
    Right... As everyone says, a low weight does not equal toned. I have a friend who shares clothes with me. She weighs 117 - the same SIZE but she's afraid to go out in a bathing suit.

    If I were you, I'd work on developing a fitness routine that will tone you up with a combination of cardio and strength-training, with emphasis on the strength training! Yoga and pilates-inspired exercises will do wonders for your mid-section. As for the thighs, that's my problem area, too. But I find that running coupled with a good amount of pli'es (ballet's version of the squat) keeps me firm and unafraid to hit the beach - even in the winter!
  • ccano
    ccano Posts: 149 Member
    So what are some good foods with a lot of protein?

    The ballet pli'es sound like a great idea and I can do them right here at home. I go to the gym on base, which is free (yay!), and I know they have personal trainers because I see them working there with other gym-goers. But I'm not sure if you have to pay for their services. I'm going to check tomorrow when I go back to the gym.

    I don't even have the slightest idea what pilates entails, but I'll do some googling for that information. Maybe I'll pick up a work out video too. I'm very new to all this. If I can tone my body, I won't care what the scale says nearly as much. Thank you guys so much for the info. :flowerforyou:
  • ccano
    ccano Posts: 149 Member
    And from what I've been reading here, I think I may need to be eating more than the supposed 1200 cals a day. Not sure though. I'm so confused...
  • marisa0918
    marisa0918 Posts: 178
    If you are going to be doing more strength training then I would up your calories and your protein intake. Tuna, fish, natural peanutbutter, cottage cheese all have a good amount of protein in them. I also drink 2 whey protein shakes daily, but thats just me
  • akb2006
    akb2006 Posts: 198 Member
    Well the best thing you can do to determine how many calories you need is to logg in your food and excersize and it will tell you how many more to eat. 1200 is not a lot especially if your excersizing. If your not eating your excersize calories or at LEAST half of them I can guarentee the scale wont be your friend. I agree that the weight goal is probably a little unrealistic I'd invest in a tape measure and just tone things up. You might stay the same weight, might loose a couple pounds, or might even gain a couple but you'll look a lot leaner, and probably even be in a smaller size clothes.
  • ChubbyBunny
    ChubbyBunny Posts: 3,523 Member
    Wow.... 125 is still at the LOW end of your range.
    It may not be practical.
    You are in a healthy range for your height.

    I suggest focus on toning your body.
    What works for me is using weights or using my body weight in exercises.
    You may have added weight loss but you'd be getting the LOOK you want.
    It sounds like that physical look is what's pushing you not the actual numbers.

    Does that make sense?
  • ccano
    ccano Posts: 149 Member
    I really appreciate the input. It's definitely helping me to figure out what I need to be focusing on. I am not unhappy with the number I see on the scale. 136, I know, is well within my healthy range. But yeah, the flab is making me unhappy. I have rolls when I sit down...ugh. I wear a size 9 (sometimes 11, depends on the brand, of course). A few years ago I probably hovered around 130 and I was much happier with how I looked. I wore a size 5 or 7. Even then, of course, I was not toned because I didn't work out back then. So I just changed my goal weight to 130 and I'm going to do more strength training. To lose one pant size and tone up is my new goal then. I'm excited... :happy:
  • ChubbyBunny
    ChubbyBunny Posts: 3,523 Member
    Yay!
    You can do this!
    :flowerforyou:
  • MisdemeanorM
    MisdemeanorM Posts: 3,493 Member
    I'm 5'8" and 135 is my GOAL weight. I'm stuck at 150 which is still considered a very healthy weight for my height. I have honestly kinda stoped on the wanting to lose weight goal and just focused more on the putting on muscle, getting into a size 6 jean (last time i was 150 I was a size 10 this time i am an 8 so weight does not tell you too much about size!), being able to keep up full pace for 45 mins on the elliptical, getting more flexible in yoga, etc. Rather than on purely a LB goal. I would LOVE to be 135, but I am fine if I never make it out of my 145-155 fluxuation range as long as I stay healthy with it.

    By the way, I have a friend 5'8" 135 lbs who is trying to PUT ON weight because she feels it is unhealthy skinny for her height... she does look very thin...
  • ccano
    ccano Posts: 149 Member
    If I had a photo of me in a bathing suit and the guts to post it on a forum like this, I would. I think everyone's body is different, even if some of us are the same height. I have fairly broad shoulders for a female, small chest, curvy hips. I was 145 last September and I was developing a pear shape (lord knows I wouldn't gain weight in my chest..that remained just as small as ever) that I just didn't like.

    I hate, hate, hate putting on a bathing suit. I have the cellulite on the back of my legs, the flabby tummy and thighs...fully clothed no one would tell me I need to lose weight or tone up. Everyone scoffs at me if I say I want to lose a little. But I don't wear a bathing suit everyday, they always see me completely covered up! I want a nice bikini body. :)
  • Innerglow
    Innerglow Posts: 1,074 Member
    For pilates :bigsmile: check out the winsor pilates series, I love it!
  • honey2101
    honey2101 Posts: 29
    yes 1lb-2lbs is realistic + doable.
    I would recommend yoga for toning it is soooo good. :)
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