Having troubles - Need advice

[ColdWater]

Hi everyone, I'm new here, so Hello!
Anyways, I'm having some problems with my weight. Well, not so much my weight...but more my weight distribution(?). I'm 6'2, and 140 lbs. According to my BMI, im underweight, but I don't get it. My arms are very skinny. Everyone says I have really skinny arms and I recently bought some weights and have been looking up bicep triceps and forearm exercises. That's besides the point though...I seem to have slight man boobs, they aren't that big or anything but if i take off my shirt, they're there. I also have like 2 rolls of fat on my stomach if I'm to sit down. I really don't understand, im very light and my arms are so skinny, but i still have this excess fat on my stomach and chest area.. If it helps, I used to be overweight when i was younger about 3 years ago, but now ive lost it all and am even 'underweight' according to BMI calculators. I don't know what to do..i don't eat junk food or anything at all (i'll have the occasionally cookie or something but no fast food and soda or anything like that), and i wanna gain weight so im not so skinny on my arms. When im standing, you can also see my ribs, but when i sit down i have 2 rolls of fat!! So im really confused. I WANT to gain weight so im not underweight, but i also want to lose weight so i dont have manboobs and this fatty stomach. BUT if i lose weight you'll see ribs even more and ill look so skinny when standing. I'm really upset and don't know what to do. I'm 18 and a male, just to let you know. Any advice would be greatly appreciated; Thank you!!

 

[MAR1984]

basically, sounds like you are skinny fat. Don't take that as an insult, basically that means you're weight is low, but you're fat % is high. From what I understand, you're going to need to tackle it in at least 2 stages - you need to lose fat, and you need to gain muscle. You can't do both at the same time. Gaining muscle requires you to eat a surplus of calories. You will gain weight, and with the right balance of fat, protein, and carbs in your diet combined with the right workout, you hopefully gain mostly muscle, but also you will gain SOME fat. To lose fat, you have to be in a calorie deficit, and you really can't count on gaining any appreciable amount of muscle while trying to lose fat. Again, with the proper balanced diet and the right workout, you hopefully lose mostly fat and hold on to the most muscle possible, but you will lose some muscle when you lose weight. You may end up going through cycles of gaining muscle followed by losing fat over and over again until you reach a point where you're happy. Basically, its bodybuilding, as I understand it. I'm losing weight right now, and hopefully doing it so I'm losing mostly fat and holding on to muscle. I imaging before I'm all said and done, I will reach a point where I won't want to lose more weight/fat, and instead will focus on building muscle. After I build a bunch of muscle, I'll cut again to lower my fat % and be able to show off my new muscle. BUT, this may be years down the road for me, if ever. Right now, my only concern is losing fat and staying committed.

Thats the broad how to. there are other members around here more qualified to get into specific how to's. The stickies in the nutrition and exercise subforums contain a ton of information that can get you started. Its a steep learning curve, but you'll get the best results from taking time to learn how, rather than being told how.

Good Luck!