I had a baby 4 months ago and have made great strides in getting back my "pre-baby" body. However, now I feel I may need to take a new approach or new direction to get me where I ultimately want to be.
I'm looking for a lean muscular shape, not like a body builder, but not soft either. I'd like to be cut, maybe like Kim Lyons or such (just to give you an idea of what I'm trying to achieve). Through going on a whole foods diet, and cutting out saturated fats, sugars, dairy, alcohol, breads, pasta, etc... basically eating only lean meats (turkey & chicken breast), grilled fish, egg whites, veggies for carbs, salads and protein shakes, and a blend of cardio/strength training, I have gotten much leaner. I was 105 lbs/5' 2" and toned before the baby, after baby went from 140 lbs down to 108, which I am now. And I can tell that I have put on some lean muscle mass.
My dilemma is this- I still have some unwanted body fat around, you guessed it, my tummy. Not a lot, but it is there. I want to put on some muscle, but have read that trying to do both of these things well (putting on muscle AND decreasing fat) are so opposing that at this point with not much left to lose it will be a very slow process. So, should I just concentrate on burning fat first, and keeping with the low weights/high reps, lots of cardio, and then when I get the fat down, only then try to increase my protein, decrease cardio, and increase the amount of weight I am lifting?
Any advice you can give would be helpful. I am just afraid that while keeping with the weight loss I will be losing muscle as well, though I am taking in .9g of protein/lb body weight per day, eating 5-6 small meals, 1 gallon water per day.
Thank you!
I'm looking for a lean muscular shape, not like a body builder, but not soft either. I'd like to be cut, maybe like Kim Lyons or such (just to give you an idea of what I'm trying to achieve). Through going on a whole foods diet, and cutting out saturated fats, sugars, dairy, alcohol, breads, pasta, etc... basically eating only lean meats (turkey & chicken breast), grilled fish, egg whites, veggies for carbs, salads and protein shakes, and a blend of cardio/strength training, I have gotten much leaner. I was 105 lbs/5' 2" and toned before the baby, after baby went from 140 lbs down to 108, which I am now. And I can tell that I have put on some lean muscle mass.
My dilemma is this- I still have some unwanted body fat around, you guessed it, my tummy. Not a lot, but it is there. I want to put on some muscle, but have read that trying to do both of these things well (putting on muscle AND decreasing fat) are so opposing that at this point with not much left to lose it will be a very slow process. So, should I just concentrate on burning fat first, and keeping with the low weights/high reps, lots of cardio, and then when I get the fat down, only then try to increase my protein, decrease cardio, and increase the amount of weight I am lifting?
Any advice you can give would be helpful. I am just afraid that while keeping with the weight loss I will be losing muscle as well, though I am taking in .9g of protein/lb body weight per day, eating 5-6 small meals, 1 gallon water per day.
Thank you!
