Hello, I am new and have a question

C

cmariel

New member
Hello all!

I am a 35 year old female who is bound and determined to reach my goal weight/size this year and become an athlete in the process. :)

I started losing weight last summer/fall and lost 17 pounds through diet and a reasonable amount of exercise. On average, I lost an average of 2 pounds per week by eating around 1600 calories a day and exercising 3 days a week. Due to some circumstances in my life, my weight loss was put on hold through the holidays and I picked it back up in January.
Since then, I have stopped weighing myself for a number of reasons: First, I was getting a little too obsessed with the scale. I found that it would completely make or break my mood and sense of well-being, depended on what it read. Second, I have begun working with a trainer and she agrees that I should gauge my weight loss by measuring myself instead of the scale, at least for awhile.

Anyway, since mid January, I have been working out 4-5 days a week, (cardio at least 4 times per week, strength training twice a week for one hour per time.) My trainer is TOUGH ( I love it!!!) She works my core in every single session, as well as focuses on one major area (chest, back or legs.) She rocks my world and I swear it's the best money I have ever spent.

In 9 weeks of working with her, I have lost inches off my chest, waist and hips and have gone down 1-2 sizes. My goal is to go down another 5 sizes, (I am guessing another 50-60 pounds or so.)

I have a very hourglass shape. The three biggest areas I hold weight are my lower abdomen, my upper arms and my inner thighs. Despite the fact that my body looks different and is getting smaller and tighter, I have lost NO inches off my upper arms and upper thighs, nor have a seen a difference in my lower abdomen.

This is SO incredibly disheartening!! I am sure a lot of you can relate, but there are so many days I look in the mirror and see no difference at all, despite the fact I know my body has changed and continues to do so. I really need to see a shift in my "problem" areas to know this is working. Don't get me wrong...I feel great, I am SO strong, my endurance has vastly improved, and I kinda feel like a rockstar at the gym. But I really need to SEE a change. I know it has to do with overall fat loss, but I also know there is no possible way that I am not losing fat. Through diet and exercise, I am taking in 7000-8000 calories per week LESS than what I am putting out, (that includes the calories burned through exercise, not just diet.)

PLEASE, please, please...do any of you have any similar experiences where it took awhile to see a loss of inches in your arms or thighs or lower abs? Did it change? When did it happen?

Thanks so much. I glad to be here. :)
 
Welcome ! =)

I'm afraid that when you're in calorie deficit, you can't gain muscle, aka you're dieting and can only train to maintain muscle (so you can't really get stronger, fitter arms, legs but you can maintain what you've got and loose the fat, but am sure you knew that already :) )

Fat and weight tends to be lost in same proportion overall on the body, hence you will see your overall shape get smaller, toner etc..

We women tend to accumulate fat in those exact spots: upper arm, waist and thighs but those places will also be the last to loose the fat. I just suggest you stick to your diet, the fat there will eventually have to be lost and I am sure you will see the difference. When you've reached your weight goal, maybe you could build some muscle and help put those though spots into shape?

I know it can be a bit disapointing, am in the same situation here. but I'm sure you can do it :)
 
Congrats on your weight loss so far!

Everyones body is different. Where you might hold weight in those placest the longest, it may be the first place it comes off for others. It's frustrating, I know. When I first began my weight loss journey, all the weight seemed to come off of my legs first...so I had small legs, with quite a large upper body. It was ridiculous looking! I wish I would've taken a picture, but I was quite embarassed of my body and didn't want to log my progress through pictures, although it would've been nice to show you that it does eventually come off! Then I lost weight from my boobs...small legs, no boobs, big weight. Horrible! Ha

Good news though, I am finally proportioned evenly...although I still struggle with my thighs, arms, and lower abdomen. Then again, I keep thinking, am I ever going to be happy with what they look like? I just keep working at it, overall fat loss. Strict diet, cardio, weight training, and Turbo Jam and someday I'll get there!

Keep up the good work and don't let a few problem areas get you down! The fact that you feel great and stronger prove that something is working! And it sounds like you have a great trainer! Good luck on the rest of your weight loss journey...keep us all updated. :)
 
Thanks, ladies, for your responses!

Shep03, I loved reading about your disproportionate weight loss! I could totally relate to it and it cracked me up. It sounds like we have the same "problem areas" so I am glad to hear they eventually got smaller.

sunui, I am actually really confused by something you said:

"I'm afraid that when you're in calorie deficit, you can't gain muscle, aka you're dieting and can only train to maintain muscle (so you can't really get stronger, fitter arms, legs but you can maintain what you've got and loose the fat, but am sure you knew that already)"

I have gained quite a bit of muscle, actually. My arms are more defined and toned, just not smaller, (AT ALL.) My entire core is WAY stronger than when I started...it's kind of shocking, actually. As my trainer has said, my whole body composition has changed, in that I have lost fat but gained muscle. So I am not sure what you are referring to.
In order to lose body fat, you have to take in less calories then you are putting out, which is why I explained the calorie deficit. But I am still eating enough every day to build muscle and it's evident from the way my body is changing.
Can you please clarify what you meant? I probably just misunderstood, but it sounded like you were saying that a person could either lose fat or gain muscle but not at the same time, and that has not been my experience at all.

Thanks again! :)
 
=) well sorry i was a bit in a rush and probably wasnt very clear.

You have probably strengthened the muscles you already had and hence definitely look more toned and healthy than before but most people will tell you that trying to gain muscle and loose weight at the same time isn't the most efficient way to do either.
Your body can't build something from nothing. No matter how much you try. aka your body needs energy and protein to build that muscle. the body doesn't like converting fat to muscle. If you got no fat and are in deficit, then it'll start undermining muscle?
This doesn't mean you can't look toned, because you can strengthen and maintain the muscle you already had, which are probably the differences you notice in your body and core. :) but I didn't mean it impossible, just pursuing both goals at the same time isn't very effective.

but Steve, the almighty and plenty of other people here could explain this better.

http://weight-loss.fitness.com/weight-loss-through-exercise/10566-misconceptions.html

I cant find the correct post but here's one.. sorry =(
keep us tuned with your progress! :)*
 
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