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Dang genetics! :frown: I have no idea where the fat will come from, but praying it won't be my boobs! But yeah, I'll keep lifting I guess :) since it is probably too early to see results anyways. Good for you for getting in good shape though girl, your profile picture is looking good!

Thanks for sharing! I don't know if I count as skinny fat or not... since I discovered the word for it I always thought of myself as a skinny fat person. But yep, I do have visible muscles in my biceps and triceps with I flex, but my arm also jiggles when I wave, and I have a bra bulge :frown: When I'm relaxed, there's…

Haha you may be right! But you can clearly see her abs and arm muscles :tongue: the Photoshop will be my very last, backup plan.

It sounds like I'm on the right track then. What's a good carb:protein:fat intake ratio? I'm not sure what I should set it at on MFP. I've heard to gain muscle you should eat at least 1 gram of protein per pound of body weight, but what about fat and carbs?

Definitely. :tongue:

Thanks for sharing your thoughts, I hope I didn't offend anyone with the post, though I see no reason to be. Those are just my views. Also, respect to the people who have put in immense hard work in training! Haha and about Michelle Obama - I've seen her and yes, her arms are infamous for being crazy sexy and toned, and I…

Calories can be so fussy!

Wow congrats, that's awesome! Keep up the good work. I have a feeling my path of progress will be very similar to yours, since I made the commitment of getting in shape 3 weeks ago, but have only been watching my diet and doing bodyweight stuff. Best of luck!

So I guess it is true what they say about beginners - it's a "holy grail" stage where fat loss and muscle gain are possible simultaneously. Definitely gonna make the best of it haha. The discussion in here is so great, thanks to all contributors! :)

Completely agree! <3 thank you for the advice, I will definitely check out the book!

The feedback here is so great, I hope others are also getting something useful from this discussion. I have adjusted my intake to maintenance, which is about 1700-1800. Oh, and also, lots of protein! But part of me is still reluctant, because the flab on my belly and upper arms is instinctively making me want to remain in…

Sounds good, and congrats on your success!! I've conquered my fear of becoming bulky from lifting - just from all the research and success stories it would seem for a person in my situation, weights are the way to go. During the recomp process though, will I look bigger and bulkier from the new muscle AND the fat layer on…

Wow thanks so much for all the replies, you beautiful people!! Keep up the amazing work, you guys are so inspiring :) I've adjusted my goals to be eating at maintenance and starting to lift weights. This will be my first time in the weights section at my gym so... here goes nothing! Could anyone give some advice as to what…

Hey girl! Thanks for replying :) speaking of pre and post workout meals, what are some tips you come give? I spend 40 mins 6 days of the week focusing mainly on strength training (15% cardio) with body weight and a couple dumbbells. It's definitely too early to see results, but I would love to hear about your experience…

Loving the stories, thanks a bunch for sharing! This has already been a lifestyle change (I'm spending so much more time in the kitchen now!) so let's just see where this path goes :)

Thanks for all the replies! Beginning to put together a better plan for getting in shape. Out of curiosity, how long do you think it will take to achieve results?

Bingo! losing fat over weight is definitely my objective - I've got a really petite frame, so any excess fat is really quite visible. I suspect my body fat percentage is on the higher side anyways. Would you recommend a caloric intake @ maintenance level? I'm doing 30min+ strength workouts with body weight pretty much…

Hey! Thank you for replying and sharing :) love to know that so many of us are in this together! Do you think body weight strength training & 10lb dumbbells at home will be enough? I don't usually have enough time to drive all the way to the nearest gym and back! I'm definitely open to investing in some other equipment if…

Isn't it?! I have no clue whether to lose fat first through diet, start building muscle even with the fat still attached, or both!